February 3, 2026
CVV News

In honor of Black History Month, Gold Runner will run special trains to Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park for its 2026 Black History Month Festival. The event will take place Saturday, February 7, 2026, beginning at 11:00 AM and concluding at 4:00 PM. Gold Runner has scheduled a special stop at the park for multiple trains, bookable at exclusive half-price “Allensworth fares.”

Travelers from Northern California, the Bay Area, and the Central Valley are invited to enjoy a scenic day trip aboard the Gold Runner, arriving directly at the gates of this historic landmark and celebration. Attendees are encouraged to book now to secure their seats and to enjoy further savings by combining discounts, as detailed on the Gold Runner Deals webpage at: goldrunner.com.

The fun-for-all-ages event will feature food trucks, music, dancing, merchandise vendors, and guided tours of historic buildings.

This year’s Black History Month Festival train marks the first trip to Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park under the Gold Runner name, continuing a rail service that has become a familiar connection between travelers and this historic California landmark. What began in 2018 with just 97 passengers has grown into a well-loved tradition, with more than 300 riders in 2024 and over 500 passengers traveling by train to the 2025 Juneteenth Festival. Each year, more Californians choose the train as their way to gather, celebrate, and connect with the story of Allensworth. With direct service and exclusive discounted fares, Gold Runner continues to make it simple for travelers across the state to take part in this annual celebration.

Founded in 1908 by Colonel Allen Allensworth, a former enslaved man, Allensworth was created as a town where Black families could build lives, businesses, and institutions on their own terms. Today, it is preserved as a California State Park and stands as the only California town to be founded, financed and governed by African Americans, giving it a singular place in the state’s history. The park’s history is kept alive through its annual events, which invite visitors to gather, learn, and celebrate at the very place where this remarkable community once stood.

With the special Gold Runner train providing direct service to the festival, traveling to Allensworth has become easier and more welcoming for visitors from across the state, turning the trip into part of the experience and helping more people reconnect with this important piece of California history.

“California State Parks is proud to continue our partnership in bringing visitors directly to Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park, one of California’s most distinctive and important historic places,” said Lori Wear, California State Parks. “As a town founded, financed, and governed by Black leaders, Allensworth holds a powerful place in California’s story and in our shared history. These special train trips have opened the site to thousands of visitors from across the state, and each year we see festival attendance grow as more people discover Allensworth through this service. We’re excited to welcome even more visitors this February and in the years ahead.”

Arrival options for the event include:

Southbound: Train 702 arriving at 11:41 a.m. and Train 710 arriving at 12:41 p.m.
Northbound: Train 715 arriving at 11:41 a.m. and Train 717 arriving at 2:47 p.m.
Return options after the event include:

Northbound: Train 717 departing at 2:48 p.m. and Train 719 departing at 4:48 p.m.
Southbound: Train 710 departing at 12:42 p.m. and Train 712 departing at 3:40 p.m.
A discounted fare will be applied automatically when tickets are purchased. If eligible, riders can then combine this reduced ticket with additional savings regularly available, which include:

Infants under 2 years of age ride for free
Children aged 2-12 years old ride half-price every day
Seniors (62+ years of age) receive 15% off
Veterans & active-duty military members receive 15% off
Disabled riders save 15% off

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Visitors attending the festival via Gold Runner trains will arrive at the Allensworth station (CNL), which will serve as a special stop for this event. Upon arrival, a complimentary 35-passenger shuttle provided by Tulare County Area Transit will transport riders between the train platform and the historic schoolhouse. Typically, a whistle stop available only to pre-booked groups, the Allensworth station (CNL) will be fully activated for travelers on February 7, offering a rare and seamless opportunity to experience this historic park by rail.

Train tickets to Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park can be booked online at the Colonel Allensworth landing page or by contacting Carmen Setness, Community Outreach Coordinator for San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC), at csetness@sjrrc.com.