A train covered in festive lights, pulling live music and a food-bank fundraiser behind it, is heading back to Ontario. The CPKC Holiday Train kicks off its 2026 run on November 19 in Montreal, then winds across Canada and the United States with stops in 182 communities — several of them in Ontario throughout November.
The Ontario leg includes Belleville, Brighton, Bowmanville and Oshawa before the big Toronto stop on November 29. That show runs 8:30 to 9 p.m. at the CPKC Yard office parking lot at 750 Runnymede Rd., with sets from American rock band American Authors and Canadian singer Tyler Shaw. From Toronto the train pushes on to Vaughan, then Parry Sound, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Kenora — a proper cross-province tour.
Watching is free, but there's a catch in the best sense: organisers ask attendees to bring cash or non-perishable food items, which get handed over to local food banks. The tradition has serious numbers behind it. Running since 1999, the Holiday Train has raised more than $28.3 million and collected over 5.6 million pounds of food for community food banks across the continent.
American Authors' Zac Barnett summed up the appeal: the lights and music are the draw, but the real point is neighbours showing up for neighbours. It's a rare event where the price of admission is a can of soup.
One practical note — everything happens outdoors in late November in Canada, so warm layers are non-negotiable. Arrive early for a good viewing spot near the stage car, since the whole show happens trackside while the train sits lit up like a moving Christmas display. The full Canadian schedule is on CPKC's website if your town isn't on the list above, or if you want to chase the train to more than one stop.
For travellers, this is an easy add-on to a Toronto city break in late November: a free, half-hour festive event that pairs nicely with the city's other seasonal lights and markets, and does some good while you're at it. Just check the schedule before you go — the train only stops briefly in each community before moving on.
