It’s back! If you grew up in Canada, the CPKC (formerly CP) Holiday Train is probably a core memory of the holiday seasons from your childhood. We are over the moon to announce that the train will be chugging across Canada and the U.S. for another year from November 20th to December 19th. You need to keep your eye on the prize to catch this baby on its way through. It’s on a tight schedule, and can only make a brief stop at each location. Before we dive into the schedule, let’s talk more about this exciting tradition.
About the CPKC Holiday Train
With the primary goal of supporting food banks. This festively adorned train features live performances by skilled musicians, and it's all about spreading awareness and collecting funds and food donations for local food banks. At every stop, CPKC contributes to the nearby food shelf and urges those in attendance to contribute as well.
Since its establishment in 1999, the CPKC Holiday Train has been a charitable powerhouse, having raised over $22.5 million and gathered more than 5 million pounds of food to aid community food banks throughout North America.
How amazing is that? Each of the mini-concerts is under half an hour long. You’ll want to get bundled up and join your community near the tracks before it pulls up so you don’t miss a single second.
CPKC Holiday Train Performers
There’s a big roster of amazing performers that will be hopping on the train for a handful of stops each. Some locations will see one of the performers. Some will see two. This year’s roster includes Anyway Gang, BRELAND, Kiesza, Mackenzie Porter, Seaforth, Tyler Shaw, Dallas Smith, Tenille Townes, Trust, and Virginia to Vegas. How incredible is that lineup? Essentially, the train will pull up, covered in thousands of twinkling lights and holiday decorations. The concert will kick off immediately, and once the show is over, it will be on its merry way.
For Alberta, parts of the province will be getting a show by Anyway Gang, and others will be seeing Tyler Shaw and Kiesza.
CPKC Holiday Train 2023 Schedule
Let’s talk about that schedule! The train starts in Maine before heading to Quebec, Ontario, New York, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and finally to Alberta before continuing on. The first Alberta stop is Provost on December 6th. Here are the Alberta dates and times:
- December 6th: 5:55pm, Provost, Alberta
- December 6th: 9:00pm, Hardisty, Alberta
- December 7th: 1:05pm, Camrose, Alberta
- December 7th: 3:25pm, Wetaskiwin, Alberta
- December 7th: 5:00pm, Ponoka, Alberta
- December 7th: 6:50pm, Lacombe, Alberta
- December 7th: 8:05pm, Blackfalds, Alberta
- December 8th: 12:45pm, Innisfail, Alberta
- December 8th: 2:20pm, Olds, Alberta
- December 8th: 3:30pm, Didsbury, Alberta
- December 8th: 5:15pm, Airdrie, Alberta
- December 9th: 5:45pm Calgary, Alberta
- December 11th: 12pm, Okotoks, Alberta
- December 11th: 1:35pm, Blackie, Alberta
- December 11th: 3:15pm, Vulcan, Alberta
- December 11th: 7:00pm, Lethbridge, Alberta
- December 12th: 9:15am, Fort Mcleod, Alberta
- December 12th: 10:35am, Pincher Creek, Alberta
- December 12th: 12:40pm, Coleman, Alberta
- December 19th: 3:00pm, Medicine Hat, Alberta
- December 19th: 5:15pm, Tilley, Alberta
- December 19th: 6:35pm, Brooks, Alberta
- December 19th: 8:35pm, Gleichen, Alberta
If you don’t see your town on this list, it might be the perfect excuse to make a little road trip to the next closest destination. See the full schedule here.
Britanny Burr is a freelance writer and a contributor to Great West Media. This story was written for the 2023/24 Cool Winter Guide advertising feature. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff.
