All aboard for Franklin Park! Locomotive aficionados and casual tourists alike will love Franklin Park, a welcoming village that’s been a hub of rail transportation since its incorporation in 1892 — and before then, actually! The village had rail tracks and a train station by the mid-1870s. You can even visit Franklin Park’s historic switching tower, which is over a century old.
Today, 48 different trains serve Franklin Park, making it easy to get to and an excellent spot for train spotting. You can even ride the rails to Franklin Park from O’Hare International Airport or hop on a train right to Franklin Park from downtown Chicago.
The Village of Franklin Park celebrates its past and present as a railway town each summer with Railroad Day, a special part of the village’s annual carnival and fair, Franklin Park Fest. At Railroad Day, kids and adults alike can explore vintage rail cars, enjoy immersive train exhibits and more — and that’s on top of all the fun to be had at Franklin Park Fest, which has live music, carnival rides, games, classic all-American fair foods and, for adults, a beer and wine garden.
Franklin Park has more to offer than railroads and trains too! Take a spin on the ice at the Franklin Park Ice Arena or cut a rug at the Chicago Rebels Swing Dance club.
You’ll love Aracely’s Bakery, where you can get delicious Mexican conchas, tamales, flan and other delectable treats. Franklin Park is also home to Tata’s Pierogi Factory Outlet, a totally unique and family-owned shop that sells Polish classics, including stuffed cabbage, soups and, of course, pierogi.
No matter where your vacation train is headed, make Franklin Park your next stop.
