A decked-out train lit up like a Christmas tree, live music in the cold mountain air, and a free price tag: the CPKC Holiday Train is back for its 28th year, and Alberta gets 21 stops between December 8 and December 15, 2026.
The tour overall hits 182 communities across Canada and the US from November 19, but Alberta's stretch starts in the southeast on Tuesday, December 8, with a four-stop run through Medicine Hat (3:15 p.m.), Tilley (5:30 p.m.), Brooks (6:40 p.m.) and Gleichen (8:45 p.m.), all with sets from American Authors and Tyler Shaw.
From there the route shifts north and west. Calgary hosts the train on Friday, December 11 at 7 p.m., with Sam Roberts Band and Owen Riegling taking over performing duties for the rest of the province's schedule. Saturday, December 12 is a six-stop blitz through central Alberta: Blackfalds, Lacombe, Ponoka, Wetaskiwin, Millet and Leduc, between 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Sunday brings Josephburg (6:15 p.m.) and a late Edmonton stop at 8:15 p.m.
Monday, December 14 covers Innisfail, Olds, Didsbury and Airdrie, and the finale on Tuesday, December 15 is arguably the most scenic: Cochrane at 3 p.m., Stoney Nakoda at 4:25 p.m., Canmore at 6 p.m., and Banff wrapping things up at 7:15 p.m. with the Rockies as a backdrop. Each performance runs roughly 30 minutes, so timing your arrival matters if you want to catch a whole set.
The whole thing is free, but there's a point beyond the lights: the train raises money and donations for local food banks, so bringing canned goods or cash is very much part of the deal.
One safety note worth repeating. CPKC asks spectators to stay 15 metres (50 feet) back from the tracks at all times, and no photos or videos from the rails or the ballast rock. Stand clear of the locomotive and cars — the train keeps moving, and it's bigger and quieter than you'd expect.
Why it's worth planning around: catching the train in Banff or Canmore lets you pair a festive 30-minute concert with a mountain town weekend, while the small-town stops like Tilley or Millet offer the same spectacle with a fraction of the crowds. Since each visit is short, pick one stop rather than trying to chase the train between towns. Dress for serious winter cold, arrive early for parking near the tracks, and check the official schedule for exact street locations before you head out.
