The nip in the air signals that the holiday season is just around the corner. Start your celebration off right by coming out to see the Caltrain Holiday Train, presented by Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

Glowing with more than 60,000 lights and holiday decorations, the glittering “show train” will stop at eight train stations Dec. 1 and 2, collecting toys for local children.

Free entertainment will be provided at each of the station stops prior to the train’s arrival. During each 20-minute stop, people can enjoy holiday music led by a traditional Salvation Army brass band and on-board carolers. Santa, Mrs. Claus, Frosty and the whole gang will get off the train to greet children and pose for pictures.     

Members of the United States Marine Corps Reserves and representatives from the Salvation Army will be on hand to collect donations of new, unwrapped toys for Bay Area children who might otherwise go without this holiday season. 

The train starts both nights at the San Francisco Caltrain Station with musical entertainment at 4:00 p.m. and a chance to meet Santa before heading down the Peninsula. The same show will be repeated at four station stops each night.

Santa’s helpers can get into the holiday spirit by donating or becoming a sponsor on the Caltrain Holiday Train website: www.holiday-train.org. Community Support. The Holiday Train would not be possible without generous financial support for everything from decorations and wiring to costumes.

The Dirk and Charlene Kabcenell Foundation, Knight Foundation and Linear Technology Corporation are “Trainmaster” sponsors. IDEO and Rinat are “Railway” sponsors.  Media sponsors include Comcast, the Daily Journal, 94.5 KBAY in the South Bay and, in the North Bay, 96.5 KOIT, 102.9 KBLX, 98.5/102.1 KFOX and 95.7 THE GAME.

Bayside Equipment Company of Redwood City donated the use of a generator to light up the decorations. Other in-kind sponsors include Jim’s Handyman Services, McCune Audio & Lighting, Peterson Technical Services, the Subway store located in the San Francisco Caltrain Station and Whole Foods Markets in Campbell, Los Altos, Palo Alto, Redwood City and San Mateo.