CPKC Holiday Train 2026: Ontario Dates and Food Bank Support
Written by Zoe Patterson • Published October 15, 2026 • Last verified October 15, 2026
What you need to know:
The 2026 CPKC Holiday Train visits Southern Ontario on November 20-21 with stops in Milton, Hamilton, Cambridge, Ayr, and Woodstock.
Admission is free; attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food or cash donations for local food banks.
Performers for the Guelph-area tour leg include Canadian pop-reggae band MAGIC! and MARIS.
Each stop features a 30-minute live concert from the illuminated boxcar stage; arrive 30 to 45 minutes early.
All donations collected at each stop stay within the host community to support winter food bank supplies.
The 28th annual CPKC Holiday Train rolls back across Southern Ontario in late November 2026, bringing live holiday concerts, illuminated rail cars, and community food drives to railside communities. Every stop along the tour is completely free to attend, offering families a memorable festive tradition while raising vital funds and nutritious food for local food banks.
**Confirmed 2026 Stops Near Guelph** While the CPKC rail line does not run directly through downtown Guelph, several confirmed Southern Ontario stops are located within a short drive of the Royal City: - **Milton:** Friday, November 20, 2026 | 5:00 p.m. -- 5:30 p.m. (Glen Eden ski and snowboard centre / Kelso Conservation Area rail crossing) - **Hamilton:** Friday, November 20, 2026 | 8:00 p.m. -- 8:40 p.m. (Kinnear Yard, 42 Lawrence Road) - **Cambridge (Galt):** Saturday, November 21, 2026 | 4:15 p.m. -- 4:45 p.m. (Former Galt station area, 10 Malcolm Street) - **Ayr:** Saturday, November 21, 2026 | 5:30 p.m. -- 6:00 p.m. (CPKC railway crossing at Inglis Street) - **Woodstock:** Saturday, November 21, 2026 | 6:50 p.m. -- 7:10 p.m. (CPKC station area, 199 Winniett Street)
**2026 Musical Performers** The 2026 Ontario tour features Canadian and international musical headliners performing directly from the train's fold-out stage boxcar: - **November 19 to 21 (including Milton, Hamilton, Cambridge, Ayr):** Pop-reggae band **MAGIC!** alongside singer-songwriter **MARIS**. - **November 28 to December 3:** Multi-platinum pop rock band **American Authors** alongside Canadian artist **Tyler Shaw**.
**Food Bank Support and Giving Guidelines** Supporting community food security is the founding purpose of the Holiday Train. At every stop, CPKC makes a corporate financial presentation to the local community food bank, while attendees are encouraged to bring donations of non-perishable, nutritious food or cash. All donations collected on site remain directly within that local community to stock emergency pantries through the winter.
Recommended donations include canned proteins (tuna, salmon, peanut butter), hearty canned soups, whole-grain cereals, pasta, and baby formula. Financial contributions made on site or online to community agencies like the Guelph Food Bank stretch significantly further, enabling organizations to leverage wholesale buying power.
**Practical Tips for Attending** Each stop features a brisk 30-minute live musical set. Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before posted arrival times, as nearby neighbourhood street parking fills quickly. Dress warmly for late-autumn outdoor weather. For safety reasons, attendees must stay behind designated safety perimeters and off the railway tracks, as active trains operate continuously.
For the complete nationwide schedule covering 182 stops between November 19 and December 20, 2026, visit cpkcr.com/en/community/HolidayTrain.
Sources
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