The popular Canadian Pacific Holiday Train is in Winnipeg this Saturday. Here's what you need to know.

The festively decorated train took off from Montreal, Quebec on November 26, 2017, and is heading across the country before finally stopping on December 17 in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia.

There are two trains this year and one will be heading to the northern United States. The Canadian train will be making over 170 stops this year.

"We have a really great line up of all Canadian artists," said Mallory McCredie, Media Relations Advisor for CP. "[We're also] wrapping up Canada's 150 celebration."

The train also supports local food banks in each town that it stops at.

"In Winnipeg, we're supporting the [Winnipeg] Harvest Foodbank," McCredie said. "We've raised more than $13 million and four million pounds of food for food banks across North America."

Every dollar and food item raised stays in that community.

Manitoba locations

The CP Holiday Train will stop in the following Manitoba locations:

  • Whitemouth @ Railway Avenue across from Whitemouth Hotel | December 2 @ 6:45 p.m.
  • Winnipeg @ Molson Street between Panet Road and Munroe Avenue | December 2 @ 9:00 p.m.
  • Portage la Prairie @ Opposite Centennial Arena | December 3 @ 12:15 p.m.
  • Neepawa @ Railway Street between Mountain Avenue and Currie Avenue | December 3 @ 3:30 p.m.
  • Minnedosa @ West of Station, North Side of Yard | December 3 @ 4:30 p.m.
  • Shoal Lake @ Gravel lot beside Grain Elevator | December 3 @ 7:45 p.m.

Winnipeg parking

The CP Holiday Train will arrive at it's Winnipeg location at 9:00 p.m. The train stops right beside The King's School on Panet Road. Parking will be very limited in the area and it's a good idea to arrive early and assume that you will be walking a while.

The RONA parking lot can be used for parking and it's only about a ten-minute walk to the tracks. RONA requests that you stick to the south side of the parking lot.

There is a lot of residential parking available, just be on the lookout for parking bans and fire hydrants.

The Shoppers Drug Mart north of Concordia on Panet has requested that people do NOT park in their parking lot. The store is still open and needs space for its customers. You could get towed, so find another location if possible.

Avoid parking at Concordia Hospital. They have paid parking lots but they are designated for patients and visitors to the hospital.

Please be careful around the tracks. Do not walk along the tracks to get to your destination, as the CP Holiday Train is still a real train.

Winnipeg donations

All donations made in Winnipeg will go directly to Winnipeg Harvest. Food Banks Canada recommends bringing:

  • Grain products - brown rice, hot and cold cereals, granola bars, etc.
  • Vegetables and fruit - canned fruit and vegetables, 100% fruit juice, tomato sauce, canned soup, etc.
  • Milk products - dry milk powder, etc.
  • Meat and alternatives - canned meat and fish, dried or canned beans and lentils, baked beans
  • Reduced sodium canned goods are preferred
  • Monetary donations