This beloved tradition transforms railway stops into magical winter festivals while supporting local food banks in the fight against hunger. This beloved tradition combines festive entertainment with community giving, proving that the holiday spirit truly rides the rails in Western Canada. Here’s everything you need to know about when this beauty of a train will pass through your area.
The rhythmic rumble of train wheels meeting the tracks takes on an extra magical quality as the CPKC Holiday Train, adorned with thousands of twinkling LED lights, winds its way through Alberta’s winter landscape. Celebrating its 26th year, this rolling concert venue continues its mission of spreading joy while addressing food insecurity in local communities.
The 2024 Holiday Train features an incredible lineup of talent across multiple shows. Canadian multi-platinum-selling artist, music producer, and actor Tyler Shaw is teaming up with Indigenous singer-songwriter Shawnee Kish to deliver soul-stirring performances that blend contemporary hits with holiday classics.
On top of that, New York-based pop-rock outfit the American Authors are joining forces with Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter KT Tunstall for shows that promise to get everyone in the holiday spirit. Additionally, the Canadian reggae fusion band Magic! will be pairing with rising star Sofia Camara to round out the rotation of performers, ensuring each stop features awesome music and tons of holiday spirit that will warm up even the chilliest Alberta evening.
For Alberta residents eager to catch this dazzling spectacle, the Holiday Train will make several stops throughout the province. If you don’t see your town on the list, it might be the perfect excuse to take a road trip to the nearest destination to catch it. Here’s the lowdown on the schedule:
December 8, 2024
Medicine Hat (3:15 pm) - Queen & North Railway Street East of CPKC Station
Featuring American Authors and KT Tunstall
Tilley (5:30 pm) - Southeast Side of Crossing HWY 876
Featuring Tyler Shaw and Shawnee Kish
Brooks (6:40 pm) - 1st Ave Rear of Civic Building
Featuring American Authors and KT Tunstall
Gleichen (8:45 pm) - 3rd Ave & Crowfoot Street
Featuring Tyler Shaw and Shawnee Kish
December 11, 2024
Blackfalds (1 pm) - Broadway Ave & East Ave
Featuring Magic! And Sofia Camara
Lacombe (2:15 pm) - Leh Thompson Fish Pond
Featuring Magic! And Sofia Camara
Ponoka (4 pm) - 50th Street & 47th Ave
Featuring Magic! And Sofia Camara
Wetaskiwin (5:45 pm) - CPKC ES Building 4009-50th Street
Featuring Magic! And Sofia Camara
Millet (7 pm) - Railway Pedestrian Crossing 50th Street & 48 Ave
Featuring Magic! And Sofia Camara
Leduc (8:30 pm) - Railway Intersection at 50th Ave (Main Street) & 47th Street
Featuring Magic! And Sofia Camara
December 12, 2024
Josephburg (3:15 pm) - Moyer Recreation Centre
Featuring Magic! And Sofia Camara
Edmonton (8:15 pm) - South of Edmonton CPKC Station, 7935 Gateway Blvd
Featuring Magic! And Sofia Camara
December 13, 2024
Innisfail (12:55 pm) - 50th Street
Featuring Magic! And Sofia Camara
Olds (2:30 pm) - 50th Street
Featuring Magic! And Sofia Camara
Didsbury (3;45 pm) - 20th Street & 18th Ave
Featuring Magic! And Sofia Camara
Airdrie (5:30 pm) - Nose Creek Park Main Street
Featuring Magic! And Sofia Camara
December 14, 2024
Calgary (6:30 pm) - Anderson C-Train Station
Featuring Magic! And Sofia Camara
December 15, 2024
Cochrane (3 pm) - Behind Provincial Bldg between 4th Ave & 2nd Ave
Featuring Magic! And Sofia Camara
Stoney Nakoda (4:25 pm) - Morley Trading Post
Featuring Magic! And Sofia Camara
Canmore (6 pm) - Railway Pedestrian Crossing on 10th Street
Featuring Magic! And Sofia Camara
Banff (7:15 pm) - Banff Railway Station - 327, Railway Ave
Featuring Magic! And Sofia Camara
Each stop will bring with it a 30-minute outdoor concert featuring the train's impressive stage car. The car opens its doors to reveal world-class performances against a backdrop of holiday lights and seasonal decorations. But the true spirit of the Holiday Train goes beyond entertainment—it’s about giving back.
“The Holiday Train unites people in the spirit of the season as it travels across Canada and the United States while generating critical support for our neighbours in need through the program’s support of local food banks,” says CPKC President and CEO Keith Creel. “We are pleased to again send this magical train on a four-week trip across our network, spreading holiday joy as we collect food and raise money to fight food insecurity.”
CPKC donates to each community’s local food bank during the stop, and attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items or monetary donations. Since its inaugural journey in 1999, the Holiday Train program has raised more than $24.3 million and collected approximately 5.3 million pounds of food for community food banks in Canada and the U.S.
The Holiday Train’s complete journey spans an impressive 167 communities across seven provinces and 13 states over 23 days, creating a continental celebration of giving that brightens the holiday season for countless families.
Visitors are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes before each scheduled stop and bring warm clothes for the outdoor celebration. While each event is free, bringing a food item or monetary donation to the local food bank is encouraged to help neighbours in need this season.
Bundle up, grab your donation, and join the thousands of Albertans who make the CPKC Holiday Train a memorable part of their holiday tradition. After all, there’s nothing quite like the magic of a brightly lit train bearing gifts of music, hope, and holiday cheer on a crisp winter night.
Britanny Burr is a freelance writer and a contributor to Great West Media. This story was written for the Great West Media & Southern Alberta Newspapers Cool Winter Guide advertising feature. The Cool Winter Guide is a special feature about winter activities, bucket list adventures, winter attractions, events, and road trip-worthy food & beverage destinations across Alberta. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff.
