The Holiday Train is returning to Nelson this year.
Canadian Pacific (CP) has released the schedule for the 15th year of the Holiday Train, which will stop here on December 11 at 6:45 p.m. at the railway crossing at Lakeside Park (1900 Lakeside Dr.).
The schedule, available on CP’s website at www.cpr.ca and on CP’s Facebook page, outlines plans for the “train of lights” to partner with communities in collecting food and money for local food banks.
The 2013 CP Holiday Train program launches on November 25 in Kahnawake, Quebec, formally kicking off the three-week journey of two brightly decorated trains across Canada and the United States.
The Canadian train will wrap up its journey December 16 in Port Coquitlam.
Since the Holiday Train program first launched in 1999, it has raised $7.4 million and 3 million pounds of food for local communities.
Musicians travelling aboard the trains will play more than 150 free concerts from their boxcar stage.
CP asks that attendees bring a non-perishable food or cash donation. All donations stay with the food shelf in the community where they’re donated.
Items like infant formula, canned meats, and spaghetti sauce are in particular demand for the millions of North Americans who turn to food banks each month.
Each Holiday Train consists of 14 brightly decorated railcars, including a modified boxcar that has been turned into a travelling stage for performers.
For the 15th year, CP’s elves have updated the thousands of LED lights that adorn the sides of both trains with new holiday designs.
For additional information visit www.cpr.ca.