The holiday season will officially arrive on rails Wednesday night as the CPKC Holiday Train will make its first stop of the 2025 tour in Montreal West.
The brightly decorated train, carrying live performers and holiday cheer, is set to draw a crowd eager to kick off the season while supporting local food banks.
“Every year, our railroaders take great pride in bringing the Holiday Train across our network, this year reaching even more communities for the first time,” said Keith Creel, CPKC President and CEO. “We are thrilled to send this beautiful train filled with lights and music to spread the joy of the season and proud to support the giving spirit of the holidays assisting people experiencing food insecurity. It’s incredible to see communities come together every year to celebrate the holidays while supporting local food banks.”
The train will pull into the Montreal West EXO Commuter Station around 7 p.m., featuring live performances by Smash Mouth and JJ Wilde.
Attendees are encouraged to bring heart-healthy food donations or monetary contributions for community food banks.
A second stop will follow later Wednesday night in Beaconsfield, also featuring the same performers.
Since 1999, the Holiday Train has raised more than $26 million and collected over 5.4 million pounds of food for community food banks in Canada and the U.S. The initiative not only brings much-needed donations but also raises awareness for food insecurity.
Now in its 27th year, the CPKC Holiday Train travels across Canada and the United States, raising funds and collecting food for families in need.
This year’s tour includes 196 live performances in six Canadian provinces and 13 U.S. states, with 13 communities receiving the train for the first time.
Performers this year include Barenaked Ladies, Tyler Shaw, Brittany Kennell, Jade Eagleson, American Authors, Pynk Beard, Teigen Gayse, Lanco, Tiera Kennedy, and Dylan Marlowe.
Each stop features free performances, lights, and music, creating a festive atmosphere while encouraging local donations.
