2013 May Aboard the Verde Canyon Railroad
Cinco de Mayo ~ National Train Day ~ Liberty Wildlife
Throw Mama ON the Train ~ Starlight Tours

The Verde Canyon Railroad will be kicking off an exciting May with 5 great special events.  Celebrate Cinco de Mayo Celebration on May 5th, take a  Saturday Starlight Ride on the 25th, or join in National Train Day, “Wild Splendor” with Liberty Wildlife , and Throw Mama ON the Train in between. See below for the details.

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta
May 5th, 2013
It doesn’t require much of a Spanish vocabulary to recognize the word fiesta. Fiesta means party and that’s what unfolds as Verde Canyon Railroad celebrates Cinco de Mayo. The Verde Canyon Railroad hosts a lively fiesta saluting a rich heritage. The roots of Hispanic culture run deep in the Verde Valley so Cinco de Mayo reverberates throughout the region. The fun begins before the train departs the station. The rhythmic vitality of spicy latin music sets the festive mood while delicious south-of-the-border entrees and specialty drinks are prepared fresh from the Copper Spike Café.

National Train Day
May 11th, 2013
2013 marks the 60th birthday for Engines 1510 and 1512 of the Verde Canyon Railroad consist. Verde Canyon Railroad is the proud owner of two fine FP7 locomotive engines, both manufactured in 1953 by General Motors’ Electro-Motive Diesel in LaGrange, Illinois. The Verde Canyon Railroad is proud to celebrate this in conjunction with National Train Day! The knowledgeable staff will take visitors on a complimentary 20-minute tour showcasing these impressive engines (only two of 10 remaining in North America), through the mid-1900’s passenger cars and on a tour of the John Bell Museum which highlights the Railroad’s storied past. The exhibits and tours featuring railroad-themed displays, representatives from local attractions, live music, a presentation by Liberty Wildlife Raptor Rescue and a barbeque lunch, will be at the Clarkdale train depot. This free event is open to the public.

Throw Mama on the Train
May 12th, 2013
Throw Mama ON the Train for Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12th, and she’ll remember it for the rest of her life. Mom will have four hours to decompress from endless tasks and frantic schedules. All afternoon mom’s only responsibility will be to soak up the sights and enjoy indulgent pampering that Verde Canyon Railroad has made famous for two decades.

Liberty Wildlife Patio Presentations
May 16th, 2013
18 Handlers will be presenting a variety of raptors and native “critters”, will answer questions and pose for photos during depot patio presentation. Presentations are all open to the public and are from 11:00 am until 1:30 pm. By partnering with Scottsdale’s Liberty Wildlife, Verde Canyon Railroad provides visitors the opportunity to see wild raptors at the depot and onboard the train.

Starlight Tours
May 25th, 2013
On summer evenings, it’s not just the stars in the sky that come out to play in Verde Canyon. As the sun slips behind distant mountains, cool air sweeps through the Canyon signaling the resident wildlife to begin their nightly rounds. The Canyon comes alive with the luminous glow of moon-kissed skies on Verde Canyon Railroad’s popular Saturday Starlight Tours. The train departs the depot at 5:30 pm and as it rumbles through the Canyon, the low slant of sun bathes the high cliffs in soft golden hues. The train reaches the turn-around point of Perkinsville amid a scandalous sunset. The return trip offers a serene glimpse into the nocturnal wildlife set against a dazzling canvas of celestial bodies. The Verde Canyon Railroad passengers also have two unique options for “play” during these enchanting evening rides: Grape Train Escape and Tequila Sunset Limited.

 To learn more about these special events, or to make your reservations please visit the Verde Canyon Railroad!

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