CP Holiday Train rolls into Hamilton Wednesday

A thousand feet of holiday magic will roll into Hamilton Wednesday as part of the 2023 CP (now CPKC) Holiday Train tour.

Two Christmas-themed trains – one in Canada and one south of the border – are winding their way across North American from November 20 (today) to December 19, with Hamilton one of the first stops on the tour.

The goal, besides showing off the brightly decorated rail cars – 14 in all – is to raise money, food and awareness for local food banks and the work they do in the community, which is especially important this time of year. Musical acts offer performances along the route, with Seaforth & Kiesza providing the entertainment at the Hamilton stop, which will be at the rail tracks to the south of Gage Park.

CPKC – the result of a merger between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern in April of this year – funds the tour and also donates to the local food bank at each stop.

Hamilton Food Share will be collecting food and cash donations at the stop, which will get underway about 7:30 p.m., and event goers are encouraged to bring along non-perishable food contributions such as tuna, beans, rice, pasta, cereal and baby food.

Since the Holiday Train program launched in 1999 it has raised more than $22.5 million and collected five million pounds of food for community food banks across North America.

The free, family-friendly performances by Seaforth & Kiesza will happen from 8 p.m. to 8:40 p.m.

Lawrence Road between Cumberland Ave. and Rosslyn Ave S. will be closed from 4:30 p.m. to approximately 10 p.m. for the event, with emergency vehicles and a limited number of cars with accessible permits allowed entry.

An accessible viewing area in front of the train boxcar stage is available for people who use wheelchairs and for those with significant mobility challenges.