While every year Chicagoans await the chance to jump aboard the CTA Holiday Train, it isn’t the only train Santa rides as Christmas approaches Chicagoland.
Having returned last year for the first time in 2 years, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will once again roll through the Chicago area ahead of winter’s arrival bringing glowing lights, holiday decorations, and musicians to several stops close to the City of Chicago.
Like the CTA Holiday Train, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train’s purpose is to raise money, food, and awareness for people struggling with food insecurity while simultaneously spreading festive cheer.
Traveling across Canada and the United States it brings professional musicians to numerous destinations providing free concerts from the train’s brightly decorated stage and making donations to local charities along the way.
According to the official release at cpkcr.com, since its inception in 1999, the train has reportedly raised more than $22.5 million, and more than 5 million pounds of food for food banks across North America.
This year the 2023 CPKC Holiday Train will begin its journey in Maine on Monday, November 20 before travelling across the continent and finishing in Alberta on Tuesday, December 19 making several stops in Illinois along the way.
This year the train will stop in several locations close to Chicago including Bensenville, Illinois, Pingree Grove, Illinois, and Gurnee, Illinois as well as Byron near Rockford, Illinois.
Here is a breakdown of information about the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train’s Illinois destinations:
Bensenville, Illinois
When: November 25 at 6:45 p.m.
Where: Park adjacent to the intersection, Railroad Avenue and S York Street
Performers: Seaforth and Kiesza (7:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.)
Pingree Grove, Illinois
When: November 26 at 8:45 a.m.
Where: Village Hall, Railroad Street and Reinking Road
Performers: Seaforth and Kiesza (9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.)
Byron, Illinois
When: November 26 at 11:45 a.m.
Where: Tower Road near High School
Performers: Seaforth and Kiesza (12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.)
Gurnee, Illinois
When: December 3 at 5:10 p.m.
Where: Gurnee, Ill. Viking Middle School, 4460 Old Grand Avenue
Performers: Tenille Townes and Breland (5:15 p.m. – 5:40 p.m.)
Read the full Canadian Pacific Holiday Train schedule.More information can be found at cpkcr.com.