Calgary 
Events Description
The Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Holiday Train program is returning to the rails to raise money, food, and awareness for food banks and hunger issues across Canada and the United States.
Two trains will make the festive journey, travelling through both the U.S. and Canada to bring holiday cheer to many communities along CP’s network. Each event is free, with CP encouraging attendees to open their cupboards and wallets to help address hunger needs in their communities. Local food banks will be accepting donations at each stop to ensure those less fortunate have enough healthy food this holiday season.
Holiday Train is about 1,000 feet in length with 14 rail cars decorated with hundreds of thousands of technology-leading LED lights and a modified boxcar that has been turned into a travelling stage for performers.
HOW MUCH
Tickets:
Free
Donations to Local Food Banks are Appreciated.
How to get tickets?
At the door
Canadian Pacific Holiday Train Schedule – Calgary & Southern Alberta
For Central Alberta, see here
Airdrie – Performers: Anyway Gang — Dave Monks (Tokyo Police Club), Sam Roberts (Sam Roberts Band), Menno Versteeg (Hollerado), and Chris Murphy (Sloan).
- Friday, December 8, 2023 — 5:15 p.m. (Show: 5:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.) @ Nose Creek Park, 1641 Main Street
Calgary – Performers: Anyway Gang
- Saturday, December 9, 2023 — 5:45 p.m. (Show: 6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.) @ Anderson C-Train Station south parking lot
Okotoks – Performers: Tyler Shaw and Kiesza
- Monday, December 11, 2023 — 12:00 p.m. (Show: 12:15 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.) @ Along Dagget Street between Northridge Drive and Veterans
Blackie – Performers: Tyler Shaw and Kiesza
- Monday, December 11, 2023 — 1:35 p.m. (Show: 1:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.) @ Across from Post Office – 1201 Railway Avenue (CPKC
track adjacent to Railway Avenue)
Vulcan – Performers: Tyler Shaw and Kiesza
- Tuesday, December 11, 2023 — 3:15 p.m. (Show:3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.) @ CPKC railway crossing at 1st Avenue and 2nd Street
Lethbridge – Performers: Tyler Shaw and Kiesza
- Tuesday, December 11, 2023 — 7:00 p.m. (Show: 7:15 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.) @ 2nd Avenue N and 12th Street behind Save On Foods
Fort Mcleod – Performers: Tyler Shaw and Kiesza
- Wednesday, December 12, 2023 — 9:15 a.m. (Show: 9:15 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.) @ Railway crossing on 5th Avenue
Pincher Creek – Performers: Tyler Shaw and Kiesza
- Wednesday, December 12, 2023 — 10:35 a.m. (Show: 10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.) @ Railway crossing – Range Road 302 off HWY 3
Coleman – Performers: Tyler Shaw and Kiesza
- Wednesday, December 12, 2023 — 12:40 p.m. (Show: 12:45 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.) @ East of railway crossing south of 17th Avenue
between 69th and 70th Streets
Medicine Hat – Performers: Dallas Smith and MacKenzie Porter
- Tuesday, December 19, 2023 — 3:00 p.m. (Show: 3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.) @ Queen Street and North Railway Street, east of CPKC Station
Tilley – Performers: Dallas Smith and MacKenzie Porter
- Tuesday, December 19, 2023 — 5:15 p.m. (Show: 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.) @ Southeast side of railway crossing at HWY 876
Brooks – Performers: Dallas Smith and MacKenzie Porter
- Tuesday, December 19, 2023 — 6:35 p.m. (Show: 6:45 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.) @ 1st Avenue, rear side of Civic bldg.
Gleichen – Performers: Dallas Smith and MacKenzie Porter
- Tuesday, December 19, 2023 — 8:35 p.m. (Show: 8:45 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. ) @ CPKC tracks at 3rd Avenue and Crowfoot Street
More to Do:
In case you decide to go, the temperature during the CPR Holiday Train in Calgary, will be -28C.
For US citizens, -19F. That’s 19 below zero so dress warmly.
I mentioned earlier pictures IN the locomotive. No such but plenty of pictures can be taken in front of the loco and hundreds of people take photos of the kids this way.
The area there is not as well lit as the parking lot but there is lots of security around and they let people take pictures, provoding that there is no abuse.
The entertainment meanwhile takes place in a converted boxcar, mid-train.
If you are mostly interested in the lights, the train in the parking lot is not an area as desirable as being along the track , I suggest the overpass at the Heritage LRT station, because the train will be close to a fence and crowds will gather around that fence at the Anderson station final stop.
While the train in on the road between Alyth CPR yard and Anderson station, music will be coming from the train (has in the past), so video is strongly encouraged along the track, also as the train arrives. The arrival will be covered live by at least one of the 3 Calgary broadcasters and aired at the end of the 6 o’clock news. In past years on Global Calgary (Shaw cable 7 or equivalent in a hotel)
Again dress warm, particularly for feet as you will be standing in snow or ice.
Also factor the wind, which will make it several degeees colder.
Let me enlighten your readers.
The train will specifically be parked between Anderson Station and the overpass (trains go underneath), near where the buses enter the Anderson Garage. See it on Google maps and look specifically for the tracks which enter the car barn. It’s directly opposite.
There is plenty of crowd, so arrive early, to secure a parking spot.
The train usually shows up a bit earlier than advertised (about 6:30 instead of 6:45). As it comes into view, the train blows the horn
The entertainment will always be facing the parking lot, the other side is the garage, the listing owner asked the question and it’s answered here..
People can walk the entire length on the train on the parking lot side, the other side is a secure area for Calgary Transit.
The area is “moderately lit” but not quite around the locomotive but there is enough Transit security around that things are perfectly safe, even to proceeding right to the front of the locomotive. There is a fence between the train and the parking lot and no one will be allowed inside the fence (patrolled by the CPR police).
There are lots of people taking pictures in and around the locomotive.
Alternate places to see the train if you stay at a hotel on Macleod Trail, is at the Chinook Station LRT crossing, the crossing at Heritage Station (as well as a pedestrian overpass by the station as well as from a parking lot opposite Southland LRT station, where the train will be passing by shortly, before its final stop at Anderson Station and then, backing up by there, to get back to the CPR Alyth Yard after the show.
There is free admission but the Calgary Food bank is there to collect either canned and dry food (pasta etc.) or cash. 100% of donations go to the Calgary Food Bank. The trucks will be located in the parking lot (which is very well lit)
On a scale of 5, it’s a solid 5, especially for kids.
Dress warm. There may be coffee/hot chocolate available from food trucks.
Following the show, the train will then back into Alyth Yard.
Thank you for taking time to give all the pertinent information about the Calgary event.
The map above is in error and shows last year’s location.
The proper address this year for the 2016 Holiday Train, is 11015 Anderson Station Way (corner Anderson Road & Macleod Trail)
The train will be located between the station itself and the Anderson Road overpass.
Parking is available.
The train usually arrives just a bit earlier than advertised (@ 6:30pm).
Thank you! The website does not state exact address: just Anderson C-Train Station – South C-train parking lot. Time as per website is 06:45 PM.
We do not know to which side the stage with the performers opens.