They don’t make Sundays like this anymore. Not unless you’re in the Sierra National Forest, where pines whisper old railway ballads, and the scent of steam hangs in the air like a long-lost memory. That’s right, folks. The Yosemite Jazz Train is back in 2025—and it’s blowing its whistle with more soul, swing and scenery than ever before.
The beloved Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad, a heritage gem nestled just outside Yosemite National Park’s southern gate, is ringing in its 60th anniversary the only way it knows how: with a series of toe-tapping, whistle-blowing, jazz-drenched train rides through some of California’s most majestic forests—and leading the charge? Blues powerhouse Tommy Castro & The Painkillers, kicking off the first of nine Sunday sessions on May 18.
Picture this: you arrive at the historic station to the sounds of clinking glasses, chef-crafted appetisers being passed around, and some local wine coaxing stories from strangers. The engine chugs, the brass band warms up, and before you know it, you’re aboard a 1910 Shay steam locomotive, chuffing through whispering pine groves toward a natural amphitheatre at Lewis Creek.
Once there, you’re greeted not by rows of plastic chairs, but by pine-needled earth and sky—and the full-bodied sound of live jazz echoing through the forest. Think Santana meets the Sierra Club. Armstrong with altitude. It’s live music the old-fashioned way, minus the noise complaints.
🎷 The 2025 Jazz Line-up Reads Like a Love Letter to the Genre
Here’s the Sunday roll call, scribbled neatly in nostalgia and sealed with a saxophone solo:
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May 18 – Tommy Castro & The Painkillers: Blues & Local Brews
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June 15 – Laurie Morvan: Red Hot Rockin’ Blues
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June 29 – Brian Simpson & Steve Oliver: Smooth with a side of groove
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July 13 – Acoustic Alchemy: For the dreamers and romantics
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July 20 – Peter White: Smooth Jazz’s golden child
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August 10 – Keiko Matsui: The heartbeat of East-meets-West
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August 24 – Elvin Bishop Big Fun Trio: The name says it all
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September 14 – Rick Braun: Slick brass, slicker shoes
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October 12 – Hiroshima Trio feat. June Kuramoto: Global soul under a California sky
But the music is only half the magic. This experience refuses to be rushed. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early, explore the delightful Thornberry Museum, try their luck at gold panning, or pop into the Kids Depot Toy Store (which, let’s be honest, is just as fun for nostalgic grown-ups).
Need a little warmth? Bring a jacket or blanket—while the jazz may sizzle, the forest can chill as the afternoon fades to twilight.
A Celebration 60 Years in the Making
This year marks a significant milestone for the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad—six decades of keeping California’s logging and rail history alive with real steam, timber, and grit. While the Jazz Train is the belle of the ball, she shares the track with other beloved rides like the Moonlight Special, the Melodrama, and the spooky-but-charming Halloween Limited Train.
Daily excursions on The Logger also run from April through November, ideal for those who prefer quiet contemplation with their creosote and canopy views.
Tickets are already moving faster than a bebop solo, so jazz fans and nostalgia seekers are urged to book early via https://ymsprr.com/. It’s all aboard for music, memory and a mighty good time.
Why This Train’s Got Soul
What makes the Yosemite Jazz Train more than just another concert? It’s the heady mix of movement, music, tradition, and rhythm. Where else can you glide through a 19th-century logging route, only to be serenaded by jazz legends in the heart of the forest?
This isn’t just about entertainment. It’s a revival of railways, real instruments, good wine, and even better company. It’s a nod to times when Sunday meant community, and a train ride wasn’t just transit, but theatre.
In a world clicking past at digital speed, this is the slow, soulful exhale we didn’t know we needed.
By Bridget Gomez
