Holiday Train Brings Christmas Spirit to Driftless Communities

LA CRESCENT – For over 25 years, the CPKC Holiday Train has been spreading Christmas joy throughout the upper United States and Canada.

Featuring free pop-up concerts from popular artists and a dazzling display of Christmas lights, the train is a big hit at every stop it makes. But the impact is more than sound and lights.

Festive lights adorn the length of the CPKC Holiday Train that stopped in La Crescent in mid-December. (Photo by Greg Lovell)

Featuring a variety of entertainers, the CPKC Holiday Train visits communities across the CPKC rail network in Canada and the U.S., raising money, collecting food and rallying support for food banks and food pantry organizations.

The “train” (there are actually two), traveling hundreds of miles to visit thousands of train and Christmas enthusiasts, is run by the CPKC railroad, a combination of two historic railways – Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS). Its touring wrapped up December 21, having been on the road since mid-November.

“Every year, our railroaders take great pride in bringing the Holiday Train across our network,” says Keith Creel, CPKC President and CEO.

“We are thrilled to send this beautiful train filled with lights and music to spread the joy of the season,” Creel says, “and proud to support the giving spirit of the holidays.”

In addition to its creative Christmas light displays, the 2025 Holiday Train stop in La Crescent featured a performance by the New York-based pop-rock band American Authors who traveled with the train crew. (Photo by Greg Lovell)

Currently, the CPKC Holiday Train is on track to raise more than $26 million and collect roughly 5.4 million pounds of food since its inception in 1999. Funds raised locally support local community needs.

Some 200 communities are visited annually

The west-bound train through Wisconsin arrived in La Crosse on December 11, crossing into Minnesota on Friday, December 12 with stops in La Crescent, Winona, Wabasha and Red Wing, en route to the Twin Cities and beyond.

La Crescent mayor Mike Poellinger says the La Crescent food bank will receive a five- to seven-thousand-dollar donation raised by the railroad and its employees, in addition to the monetary and food donations collected from community members during the stop in La Crescent.

The CPKC Holiday Train attracts a crowd of La Crescent-area revelers during its travels to communities throughout the northern United States and Canada. (Photo by Greg Lovell)

“This is the biggest fundraiser our community has,” said Poellinger. “It’s pretty significant for our community, and the Holiday Train makes it happen.”

The La Crescent stop draws a big crowd every year, even in frigid temperatures, and helps bring attention to food insecurity. The event also unofficially kicks off the downtown La Crescent Christmas season.

“We get a tremendous amount of people showing up,” Poellinger continued. “This event really builds awareness. I think that is truly the success of the Holiday Train.”

Following subsequent stops in Mississippi River communities on its way north, the Holiday Train made its way through St. Paul and Minneapolis before heading north to Alexandria, Detroit Lakes and eventually Thief River Falls and Elbow Lake to round out its 2025 Minnesota itinerary.

Learn more about the train, its entertainment and history on the CPKC Holiday Train website – and watch for its return visit to Minnesota in 2026!