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Date: 5/18/2023
EAST LONGMEADOW — The Depot at Graham Central Station, 64 Maple St., will host a Spring Fling event on Saturday, May 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m..
This is The Depot’s first event for the spring season. There will be crafts, games, a scavenger hunt, face painting, bubble station, popcorn, chocolate covered pretzels, ice cream and train rides for families in the area and surrounding towns to enjoy. Plus, Thomas the Tank Engine Train will make a special appearance.
Event Coordinator Erin Ewick said, “We wanted to do something fun for spring where kids and their families can participate in some activities. The Depot is a family oriented and friendly place. We want people to come, feel comfortable and have a good time.”
The Depot building sits alongside the Redstone Rail Trail Bike Trail. It was built in 1876 as a stop on the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad. The East Longmeadow Train Depot was part of a network of railway lines taking passengers from Boston to New York City and from New Haven to Lowell and Turners Falls. During the Great Depression, the building was turned into the Community Feed Store which sold coal, heating oil, hay, and animal feed. In 2010, Steve Graham and his wife Jean bought the building then bought the land in 2020. The Grahams turned it into an ice cream shop and opened in 2021.
Last year, the Depot had a grand opening of their miniature railroad train on the Redstone Rail Trail. This year, they created a mini playground and expanded their train with an inside and outside loop and built a mine shaft tunnel that the train runs through that’s 50 feet long. “We are adding different things to hopefully see the entire community enjoy our little train depot,” said owner Steve Graham. “It’s a lot of fun to see all the kids smiling and laughing. That’s the biggest reward for us.”
Tickets are $10 for children, which includes a train ticket, entrance to the event and a hot dog with a drink. Extra train rides are $3. Tickets can now be purchased inside the Depot and on the day of the event. In case of unpredictable weather, the rain date will be Sunday, May 21.