The first hayride of 2026 at Fort Zumwalt Park goes out on Thursday, October 8. As of today, September 30, nobody can book it. The city requires at least two weeks' notice for hayrides, so a new booking has to be for October 14 or later. October 14 is a Wednesday, and rides only run Thursday through Sunday, so Thursday, October 15, is the first ride still open to a new booking.
The rest of the season works the same way. From October through December, O'Fallon's 48-acre historic park hosts hayrides, a pioneer homestead tour, one of the region's largest drive-through light displays, and a three-night walking event. Almost every one of them books ahead on its own schedule. The best evenings go to whoever books them early.
| Experience | 2026 Dates | Price | How It Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| October hayride and bonfire | Oct. 8–25, Thu–Sun | $175 resident / $185 nonresident, up to 20 riders | Reservation, at least two weeks' notice |
| Homestead Days tour | Oct. 11 | $6 ages 13–54; $5 ages 3–12 and 55+ | Final tour date of the season |
| Celebration of Lights drive-through | Nov. 27–Dec. 30, 6–9 p.m. | $18 car, $40 van, $65 bus | Advance ticket, no reservation |
| Lights trolley | Thu–Sun except Dec. 6, plus Dec. 21–23 | $18 | Reservation, two weeks ahead |
| Holiday hayride | Mon–Thu evenings except Dec. 7, 8 and 24 | $165, up to 20 riders | Reservation, two weeks ahead |
| City train rides | Nov. 30 and Dec. 14 only | $85 per train car | Reservation, two weeks ahead |
| Old-Fashioned Holiday Stroll | Dec. 6–8, 6–8:30 p.m. | $10; free for age 2 and under | Advance ticket, on sale Nov. 2 |
October's Hayrides Opened to Residents in June
The October hayrides are a tractor-pulled ride of about 30 minutes through the park's woods. A bonfire follows, and groups can bring their own food and drinks to picnic around it. Thursday and Friday rides leave at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday have two departures, at 5:00 and 6:30 p.m.
The city's WebTrac registration system shows when booking opened. Resident households could reserve 2026 rides starting in June. Nonresident windows opened in September. That gave O'Fallon households about three months to book first. In the record for the Friday, October 9 ride, the meeting spot is listed with a maximum of 20 people.
Residents pay $175 for a ride of up to 20 people or $225 for up to 40. Nonresidents pay $185 and $235. A second hayride costs $60, and only on a 20-person booking. Split across a full wagon of 20, the resident rate is under $9 a person, bonfire included. Because the registration record caps the meeting spot at 20, call the parks office at 636-474-2732 before planning around the 40-person tier.
With the two-week rule, eight ride dates are still within reach as of September 30: October 15 through 18 and October 22 through 25. That's twelve departures in all, counting both weekend times. Each is first come, first served.
The Last Homestead Days of the Year Falls on October 11
Most people go to the hayrides for the leaves, but the wagon also passes the reason this park exists. On October 11, the last Homestead Days of the year opens Zumwalt's Fort and the Heald Home to visitors. Earlier 2026 tours ran monthly from June through September. Admission is $6 for ages 13 to 54 and $5 for ages 3 to 12 and 55 and older.
According to the city, Jacob Zumwalt and his extended family settled here around 1798 and built a log home. Local families used it as a refuge during the War of 1812. The reconstructed fort opened in 2015. The city's account calls it a family home used for mutual protection rather than a military post, and says there is no evidence it was ever attacked.
Nathan and Rebekah Heald bought the property from Zumwalt in 1817. Their son Darius was born in the homestead fort on January 27, 1822. In 1884 he built the brick house known as Stony Point. O'Fallon bought the Heald Home and park land from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for $1 in 1978 and restored the house in 2001.
Mid-October, the Park Starts Turning Into a Light Display
Once the hayrides wind down, the park's everyday uses start to give way. The city's park page describes the yearly changeover for Celebration of Lights. Limited access starts on a Monday in mid-October. The park closes to cars, with limited parking at the front entrance. Walking and fishing are still allowed. The Fort disc golf course and the playground close while crews set up displays and move large equipment through the park.
The notice on that page gives "Monday, October 12," which matches the 2026 calendar. It also lists a January 2026 reopening, though, so check the exact 2026 closure and reopening dates with the city before counting on a weekend round of disc golf or a playground visit late in October.
Lake Whetsel, the 3.5-acre lake created by damming a spring in the 1970s, stays the park's walking loop and fishing spot. The daily limit is four channel catfish, and all other fish are catch and release. Anglers ages 16 to 64 need a valid fishing permit. The Fort, O'Fallon's only disc golf course, has 18 holes and no fee for open play. Course maps are on the UDisc app.
Celebration of Lights Sets Aside Nights for People on Foot
Celebration of Lights started in 1991. Local organizations, churches and businesses design and pay for each scene. The city says the display draws more than 13,000 vehicles a year, plus more than 15,000 people during the Old-Fashioned Holiday Stroll.
The drive-through is the easiest piece of the season to plan. Tickets must be bought in advance, at $18 per car, $40 per van and $65 per bus. Then you can use them on almost any evening through December 30 between 6 and 9 p.m., with no reservation.
The display closes to cars on five nights: November 30 and December 6, 7, 8 and 14. Those dates line up exactly with the walking and riding events. November 30 and December 14 are the only two nights for the City Train Rides. December 6, 7 and 8 are the three nights of the Holiday Stroll. The whole display is closed on Christmas Day.
Each reserved option has its own rules:
- Trolley rides are enclosed, heated, and decorated with holiday music. They run Thursday through Sunday at 6, 7 and 8 p.m., except December 6, plus December 21, 22 and 23. The 2026 price is $18, and each trolley holds up to 30 passengers. Park at Alligators Creek Aquatic Center, 403 Civic Park Dr., and arrive 15 minutes early. Snacks and sealed drinks are fine. Popcorn and alcohol are not allowed.
- Holiday hayrides run Monday through Thursday at 5:45, 6:30, 7:15 and 8:00 p.m., except December 7, 8 and 24. They cost $165 for up to 20 riders and load at the Plackemeier Drive entrance, where parking is limited and carpooling is recommended.
- City Train Rides cost $85 per car, which seats five adults and five children. Time slots run every 30 minutes from 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. on the two train nights, with entry from Plackemeier Drive.
The city asks for reservations at least two weeks ahead, if spots remain. Customer-initiated refunds carry a fee of $5 or 10 percent, whichever is greater. Less than seven days before the ride, there are no refunds or credits.
The holiday hayride's flat $165 is below even the $175 resident rate for an October wagon. On weeknights in December, that price buys a wagon for 20 people through the lights.
The Stroll Tickets Go On Sale in Early November
The Old-Fashioned Holiday Stroll runs Sunday through Tuesday, December 6 to 8, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Admission is $10 per person, and children 2 and under are free. Tickets must be bought ahead of time. The main event listing says sales open Monday, November 2. The page's FAQ says the ticket link goes live November 3, so check the city's page that week.
Two city events in the same stretch take place away from the park. The Tree Lighting Ceremony is Wednesday, November 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the O'Fallon Municipal Centre, with Santa, crafts and train rides. The new Holiday Sip & Shop runs Saturday, November 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Krekel Civic Center, with live acoustic music and food and drink vendors.
The Season by Booking Deadline
Here is the season sorted by when you need to act, using the two-week rule where it applies:
- Now: Reserve an October hayride for October 15 or later through WebTrac or by calling 636-474-2732.
- October 11: Attend the final 2026 Homestead Days tour of Zumwalt's Fort and the Heald Home.
- Mid-October: Fit in disc golf and playground visits before vehicle access is limited. Confirm 2026 dates with the city.
- November 2: Buy Holiday Stroll tickets.
- November 13: Reserve a trolley ride for opening weekend, which starts Friday, November 27.
- November 16: Reserve a train car for November 30.
- November 30: Reserve a train car for December 14, the last train night.
Drive-through tickets can be bought anytime before you go, since they don't hold a set night.
Booking each piece of the Fort Zumwalt season early, from the October wagon to the December train car, mostly comes down to knowing the dates. That same advance planning applies to bigger changes. If your plans for the coming year include a move within or out of O'Fallon, The Monschein Team would be glad to walk through the timing with you. Request a complimentary home consultation and personalized market plan.
