"We're very proud of you and wish you the best as you finish this project." Missouri Transportation Commission Chair Warren Erdman said that to a Kirkwood crowd on Sept. 15, as reported by the Webster-Kirkwood Times. It was a ribbon cutting for the 1893 Kirkwood Train Station. Dozens of dignitaries and residents stood on the newly completed outdoor patio while construction went on inside and outside the building.
"Finish" is the word that matters for the next few weeks. On Saturday, Nov. 21, downtown Kirkwood's holiday season starts at that same depot, and Santa is scheduled to pose for photos inside it. A few hours later the first Kirkwood Festival of Trees opens a few blocks away at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center. That makes Holiday Walk day a morning-to-afternoon route this year, and the station that opens it is still getting its last touches.
What the depot looks like now, and what's still underway
The station has been city-owned since 2003. The Times reported that more than $4.2 million in grants and about $1 million in local donations paid for the restoration, so grants and donations covered the whole project. The City of Kirkwood's ribbon-cutting announcement credits the Historic Kirkwood Train Station Foundation's fundraising as part of that.
Here's what you'll see on Argonne Drive:
- A new slate roof with copper flashing
- The rail platform roof extended east from the main building, returning the station to the way it looked in 1941
- A new storage building on the site
- Larger, accessible restrooms
- A geothermal heating and cooling system
The interior was the last piece. At the September ceremony, officials said at least a month of work remained before the inside could serve passengers. They also said murals by Kirkwood native Bryan Haynes would be among the finishing touches. During construction, passengers used a temporary station across Kirkwood Road at 110 E. Argonne. Amtrak has a separate multimillion-dollar upgrade to the platforms and crossings slated to begin in spring 2027.
Art McDonnell, former mayor and president of the Foundation, told the Times the station will become a community hub for private and civic events once the work is done. The Holiday Walk is built around the depot, from Santa's photos inside to the noon performance on Station Plaza. Before you go on the 21st, check the Downtown Kirkwood events page for any change to where Santa will be.
November 21, from depot to KPAC
The day has two Santa appearances in two buildings, with downtown's shops in between. The Amtrak Missouri River Runner listing and the Festival of Trees page give the 2026 times:
- 8:40 a.m. Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive in downtown Kirkwood and the Holiday Walk begins.
- 9 a.m. to noon. Santa poses for photos inside the train station.
- 10 a.m. The Festival of Trees opens for viewing in the KPAC lobby and stays open until 4 p.m.
- Noon. The Lucille Rapp Tumblers and Dancers perform at Station Plaza.
- 1 to 2 p.m. Santa appears again at KPAC's festival kickoff, with hot cocoa and coffee.
- 5 p.m. The Holiday Walk wraps up. Many downtown specialty stores run sales and special offers during the day.
The first Santa slot ends at noon and the second starts at 1 p.m., so families who miss the station line still get a second chance at KPAC that afternoon. The noon performance at Station Plaza fills the gap between them.
The Summit at the farmers' market site lists its Christmas tree lot and Gingerbread Shoppe opening the same day. They're listed for Nov. 21 through Dec. 23, open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. If you pick up a tree on Holiday Walk day, it can be the last stop on the route. Until then, The Summit still has its pumpkin patch and Kids Fall Fun Zone open daily through Halloween.
How the Festival of Trees works
This is the festival's first year. Kirkwood-area businesses, organizations, and community partners decorate the trees and wreaths, and each display is meant to reflect the group that made it. Some come with gift cards, products, or themed decorations.
The raffle is how a display ends up in your living room. Raffle tickets are $5 each and sold online. You choose which tree or wreath each ticket goes toward. The drawing is Friday, Dec. 4, at 2 p.m., and winners take their trees home that day to display for the holidays. Proceeds go to the Kirkwood Arts Foundation and KirkCare.
Viewing hours are tight, so it helps to plan around them:
| When | Festival of Trees viewing hours |
|---|---|
| Saturday, Nov. 21 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Monday through Friday, Nov. 23 to Dec. 4 | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. |
| Saturday, Nov. 28 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Any KPAC performance during the run | One hour before and during the show |
The two Saturdays are the only weekend days with set hours. On weekdays, viewing ends at 2 p.m., so if you work during the day, a KPAC performance in the festival window may be your easiest way in.
The rest of the season, by date
Holiday Walk day sits in the middle of a calendar that starts in early November and runs nearly to Christmas. Here's what's announced on the Downtown Kirkwood events list and the KPAC calendar:
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m. | Winter Opera St. Louis, The Most Happy Fella | KPAC, Ross Family Theatre |
| Nov. 7 | Wine Walk | Downtown Kirkwood |
| Nov. 21 | Holiday Walk and Festival of Trees kickoff | Train station, Station Plaza, KPAC |
| Nov. 28 | Small Business Saturday | Downtown Kirkwood |
| Dec. 4, 2 p.m. | Festival of Trees raffle drawing | KPAC |
| Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m. | Erin Bode, A Cold December Night | KPAC, Strauss Black Box Theatre |
| Dec. 12 | Holiday Cheer | Downtown Kirkwood |
| Dec. 17 to 19 | Rocky Marlowe Productions, Let It Be Christmas: A Rock Opera | KPAC, Ross Family Theatre |
Let It Be Christmas tells the Christmas story through Beatles songs. Its Dec. 18 performance starts at 7 p.m. If you have young skaters, Session 2 of lessons at the Kirkwood Ice Arena starts the same week as the Wine Walk. Monday classes begin Nov. 2, Wednesday classes Nov. 4, and Saturday classes Nov. 7, and all three run into mid-December.
Newer stops along the route
Some of the shops along the Holiday Walk route have opened since last year's walk. Fox's Finest Meats, Seafood & Marketplace opened at 159 W. Argonne Drive. That's on the same street as the station, and longtime Kirkwood residents Kevin and Luke Beattie, a father and son, own and run it. If you're planning a holiday dinner, it's a short walk from Station Plaza.
A few blocks away, chef-owner Lona Luo opened a second Lona's Lil Eats at 612 W. Woodbine Avenue, with a grand opening on Aug. 15. First Alert 4 reported that it's an 84-seat, 4,500-square-foot space, so it may be a good fit for a group lunch between the two Santa slots.
For holiday catering, The Greek Kitchen Shop is back inside the Schnucks Kirkwood food hall at 10233 Manchester Road. Owners Joe and Lisa Kandel run it as a smaller takeout and catering counter. Honey Nail Lounge is also new, at 1247 S. Kirkwood Road, if you want an appointment before a holiday party.
The station itself runs on volunteers. The Times reported that about 46 people staff the Kirkwood stop whenever passenger trains pull in, and that Kirkwood is now the second-busiest stop on the Missouri River Runner line. On Nov. 21, the trains, the volunteers, and the crowd waiting to see Santa will all be on the same block of Argonne.
If you have friends or family coming in for the Holiday Walk and they want to see Kirkwood's historic homes around downtown, I'm glad to show them the blocks near the depot. When you'd like a clear picture of the market around the station, Jason D Cooper is here to help. Schedule a personalized consultation.
