Longtime community event expanding this year with local business host sites

Year after year, the Delavan Train Show grew within the community, garnering increasing interest from volunteers, vendors and attendees as more displays and events were added to the longtime extravaganza.

The pandemic, however, stopped the momentum in its tracks.

More than half a decade later, Delavan’s Mayor, Ryan J. Schroeder, said the family-friendly favorite is on a course to return to its former glory as local businesses are again serving as host sites for the event.

“We’re building it back up to where it was before, and getting the businesses downtown included,” said Schroeder, who has been instrumental in planning some of the show’s logistics in recent years. “It’s an event for everyone, and it’s free.”

This year’s two-day Delavan Train Show is scheduled to take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 7, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 8.

Six host sites have been announced for this year’s train displays:

• American Legion Post 95, 111 S. Second St.
• Baymont Inn and Suites, 215 E. Walworth Ave.
• Brick Street Protein, 225 E. Walworth Ave.
• Delavan City Hall, 123 S. Second St.
• Patty’s Deli, 124 E. Walworth Ave.
• World Finance, 218 E. Walworth Ave.

The Delavan Train Show was relaunched several years ago as pre-COVID life re-emerged. It returned smaller, with the city hall and local Legion post serving as the two host sites.

“We’re all excited to get back to expanding it into a larger footprint,” Schroeder said.

For Schroeder, the return of the event to its pre-pandemic height also is a cause for reflection as it enters its 19th year in Delavan.

Brad and Sara Deschner are credited with planting the seeds for the event nearly two decades ago, inspired by their son’s interest in trains as a hobby. Initially, the show was housed in a local bank lobby; its growth was organic as more

hobbyists expressed interest in participating.

“They started expanding it into the downtown businesses, and it just continued to grow from there, to the point where 5,000 to 6,000 people were coming in over the weekend,” Schroeder said.

By 2017, the Delavan Train Show was at a crossroads, and a consensus ultimately was reached to form a committee to oversee the logistics. Schroeder has been a part of the committee

“This is such a great event, and it’s a chance to showcase our community and the businesses that participate,” Schroeder said. “It would be a shame to let it go. We have more of a committee structure now, where there are more volunteers that can help make everything more smooth.”

As the finishing touches are put on the 19th annual Delavan Train Show, Schroeder is quick to credit the volunteers who help ensure the event goes off without a hitch, year after year.

“I’m thankful for the dedic

ated volunteers,” Schroeder said. “They’ve stepped up to attend the meetings and help organize everything. I appreciate the businesses that have come forward to participate.”

For up-to-date information on this year’s Delavan Train show, visit the event website.