The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train is back again!
It’s rolling through Minnesota this coming week, December 6th – 15th, and will be stopping in various cities for entertainment and to collect food donations. In fact, it has collected over 4.5 million pounds of food since 1999.
It’s a 1,000-foot-long train with 14 rail cars all decorated with THOUSANDS of LED lights. Musicians will entertain onlookers with music and then go on their merry way to the next stop.
Of course, there will be other fun activities at each location, provided by each host.
AND THESE EVENTS ARE FREE! Just bring a food donation if you can.
For example, on Sunday, December 10th at the St. Paul Union Depot station, there will be fun before the 7:00pm arrival including:
Schedule of events:
5:00-6:45 PM: VIP Lounge opens, enjoy concessions, holiday shopping, model trains, family activities including oversized games and craft stations.
5:30 PM: Free General Admission gates open
6:45 PM: Train arrival
7:00-7:45 PM: Outdoor live concert by Tenille Townes and Breland!
7:45-8:00 PM: CP Holiday Train Departs
Plus, Metro Transit is offering free rides to Union Depot during Hub for the Holidays. Go green and download your free pass at uniondepot.org/holiday.
Unfortunately, there is no opportunity to ride the train, but you’ll be able to see it and enjoy festivities galore.
Here is their Minnesota schedule:
December 6th
- Rochester at 1605 Civic Center Drive NW (1 p.m.)
- Owatonna at 1145 Park Drive (3:40 p.m.)
- Waseca at 308 South State Street and HWY 13 (5:15 p.m.)
- Janesville at Veteran’s Memorial Park (7 p.m.)
December 7th
- Austin at 550 11th Street NE (5 p.m.)
December 8th
- La Crescent at The Commadore Food and Spirit (7:15 p.m.)
December 9th
- Winona at Amtrak Station (3:30 p.m.)
- Wabasha at Gambie Avenue railway crossing (5:30 p.m.)
- Hastings at CPKC Depot (8 p.m.)
December 10th
- Cottage Grove at South Seiben Bridge (5 p.m.)
- St. Paul at Union Depot (6:45 p.m.)
December 11th:
- Golden Valley at Golden Hills Drive railway crossing (4:45 p.m.)
- St. Louis Park at W. Lake Street and Library Lane (6 p.m.)
- Minneapolis at Lions Park (8 p.m.)
December 13th:
- Loretto at Hennepin County Road 19 railway crossing (4:15 p.m.)
- Buffalo at 5th Street NE railway crossing (5:45 p.m.)
- Annandale at Downtown Park (7:15 p.m.)
- Eden Valley at State Street railway crossing (8:55 p.m.)
December 14th:
- Glenwood at CPKC station (10:15 a.m.)
- Alexandria at 8th Avenue E railway (11:30 a.m.)
- Detroit Lakes at Holmes Street railway crossing (2:20 p.m.)
- Mahnomen at West of U.S. 59 and South of E Washington Avenue (4:20 p.m.)
- Plummer at Central Avenue railway crossing (6 p.m.)
- Thief River Falls at 405 3rd Street East (7:30 p.m.)
December 15th:
- Elbow Lake at U.S. State Hwy 59 railway crossing (4:15 p.m.)
Here’s the full Minnesota schedule:
You can find out more on their website.