The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train visits many Minnesota towns on its annual trek through the northern U.S. / Canadian Pacific

Holiday Train Rolls Into Minnesota

All aboard! Canadian Pacific's annual holiday tradition continues as the CPKC Holiday Train returns to Minnesota Dec. 11-18, 2026, bringing live entertainment and Christmas cheer to 25 communities while collecting donations for local food banks.

All Aboard the Holiday Train

The Holiday Train is a great way to get into the festive spirit. It's about 1,000 feet in length with 14 brightly decorated rail cars. Each one is lit with hundreds of thousands of LEDs and holiday designs celebrating the spirit of the giving season.

Depending on the day and time, visitors can enjoy free musical performances by Allen Stone, Shawnee Kish or Jamie Fine. Any food or cash donations will also benefit the local community.

Crowd outside the CPKC Holiday Train — Gather around the CPKC Holiday Train at one of its many stops in Minnesota

Please note: You don't actually get to ride the Holiday Train. It's more of a pop-up concert experience. Or as the railway says on its FAQ page, "Once the train stops, a boxcar door lowers to reveal a stage for live music and a presentation supporting the local food bank. After the performance, the stage closes and the train continues to its next stop."

Canadian Pacific Holiday Train in winter — CPKC Holiday Train

2026 Minnesota Holiday Train Schedule

All of the details below are in Central Time. Dates, times and locations are subject to change; check the official CPKC Holiday Train schedule before heading out.

Dec. 11

Rochester — 1:15 p.m.
1605 Civic Center Drive NW

Owatonna — 3:45 p.m.
Railway crossing at 1145 Park Drive, near the Owatonna Bus Company

Waseca — 5:30 p.m.
308 S. State St. and Highway 13

Janesville — 7:15 p.m.
Veterans Memorial Park, 236 Front St., between Main and Craig streets

Dec. 12

La Crescent — 2:15 p.m.
Railway crossing at 517 S. Chestnut St., at the entrance to the city maintenance building

Winona — 3:45 p.m.
65 E. Mark St.

Wabasha — 5:45 p.m.
Bruegger Park, Gambie Avenue

Red Wing — 7:15 p.m.
Bay Point Park overflow parking lot, Levee Road and Bay Point Drive

Hastings — 8:45 p.m.
500 E. Second St.

Dec. 13

Cottage Grove — 5:15 p.m.
7064 West Point Douglas Road, south of the Seiben Bridge

St. Paul — 7 p.m.
Union Depot, 214 E. Fourth St.

Dec. 14

Golden Valley — 5 p.m.
Golden Hills Drive

St. Louis Park — 6:15 p.m.
Lake Street and Library Lane

Minneapolis — 8:15 p.m.
37th Avenue and Stinson Boulevard

Dec. 16

Loretto — 4:30 p.m.
County Road 19 railway crossing

Buffalo — 6 p.m.
Fifth Street Northeast

Annandale — 7:30 p.m.
Downtown Park, Harrison Street

Kimball — 9 p.m.
Willow Creek Park, 230 Main St. S.

Dec. 17

Glenwood — 10:15 a.m.
20 15th St. NE

Alexandria — 11:45 a.m.
Eighth Avenue and Nokomis Street

Detroit Lakes — 2:45 p.m.
Holmes Street railway crossing, near the Holmes Community Center

Mahnomen — 4:20 p.m.
U.S. Highway 59 and East Washington Avenue

Plummer — 6:15 p.m.
Central Avenue railway crossing

Thief River Falls — 7:45 p.m.
405 Third St. E.

Dec. 18

Elbow Lake — 4:30 p.m.
U.S. Highway 59 railway crossing