The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train is coming back to Minnesota again!

It’s rolling through Minnesota December 12th – 17th, 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 North America’s longest rolling food bank fundraiser and is 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 Saturday, December 13th at the St. Paul Union Depot station, there will be fun before the 7:00pm arrival including:

Schedule of events:
11 AM – 7 PM: Holiday Bake Sale
11 AM – 9 PM: European Christmas Market
6:45 PM: Train arrival
7 – 7:30 PM: Outdoor live concert with American Authors and Pynk Beard
7:30 – 7:45 PM: 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 full Minnesota schedule:

December 12th 

La Crescent at 517 South Chestnut Street (2:15 p.m.)

Winona at 65 East Mark Street (3:45 p.m.)

Wabasha at Bruegger Park (5:45 p.m.)

Red Wing at Bay Point Park (7:15 p.m.)

Hastings at 500 East Second Street (8:45 p.m.)

December 13th 

Cottage Grove at 7064 West Point Douglas Road (5:15 p.m.)

St. Paul at Union Depot (7 p.m.)

December 14th 

Golden Valley at Golden Hills Drive (5 p.m.)

St. Louis Park at Lake Street & Library Lane (6:15 p.m.)

Minneapolis at 37 Avenue & Stinson Boulevard (8:15 p.m.)

December 15th 

Loretto at County Road 19 Railway Crossing (4:30 p.m.)

Buffalo at 5 Street Northeast (6 p.m.)

Annandale at Downtown Park  – Harrison Park (7:30 p.m.)

Eden Valley at State Street railroad crossing (9 p.m.)

December 16th 

Glenwood at 20 15 Street Northeast (10:15 a.m.)

Alexandria at 8 Avenue & Nokomis (11:45 a.m.)

Detroit Lakes at Holmes Street Railway Crossing near Holmes Community Center (2:45 p.m.)

Mahnomen at US 59 & East Washington Avenue (4:20 p.m.)

Plummer at Central Avenue Railway Crossing (6:15 p.m.)

Thief River Falls at 405 3 Street East (7:45 p.m.)

December 17th 

Elbow Lake at US State Highway 59 Railway Crossing (4:30 p.m.)

You can find out more on their website.