Canadian Pacific Holiday Train 2025 Chicago Schedule

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train returns for the 2025 season with free concerts, support for community food banks and Chicago-area appearances that turn its cross-country run into a local tradition, as reported by NBC Chicago.

Canadian Pacific Holiday Train route and 2025 operations

The 2025 Canadian Pacific Holiday Train schedule runs from November 19 through December 21 and stretches across 13 U.S. states on the CPKC network, according to the railroad’s official Holiday Train page.

The free event still combines 196 live performances with fundraising and food collection for community food banks along the route.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Acts on this year’s bill include Barenaked Ladies, Smash Mouth, American Authors, JJ Wilde, Pynk Beard and more groups spread across different stops, a lineup that mirrors details in the NBC Chicago coverage.

The train starts its 2025 run in Quebec before making its first U.S. stop in Hermon, Maine, on November 22.

From there it moves through Illinois, Iowa, New York, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota — a route broadly consistent with schedule summaries from industry outlet Trains.com.

This season introduces a new light display that honors “Rudy” and the Kansas City Southern Holiday Express train, which operated across the U.S. South for nearly a quarter century before its retirement.

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CPKC president and CEO Keith Creel frames the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train as a point of pride for railroaders across the system.

He notes that crews feel thrilled to send a beautiful train filled with lights and music to spread seasonal joy.

In his words, communities come together each year to celebrate the holidays while supporting local food banks and people experiencing food insecurity.

Canadian Pacific Holiday Train stops in Illinois and Wisconsin

For the Chicago area, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train first appears in Franklin Park, Illinois, on November 23 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The stop sits on the south side of the Ruby Street railway crossing, just north of Franklin Avenue.

Smash Mouth and JJ Wilde provide the live set for that evening’s gathering.

On December 9, the train stops in Gurnee, Illinois, from 5:15 p.m. to 5:40 p.m. at 4460 Old Grand Avenue, with American Authors and Pynk Beard on stage.

Later that evening, the schedule takes it to Sturtevant, Wisconsin, from 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at 9900 East Exploration, again featuring American Authors and Pynk Beard.

The same night, the train also visits Caledonia, Wisconsin, from 8:15 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. at the 5 1/2 Mile Road railway crossing, where American Authors and Pynk Beard close out the run.

On December 10, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, hosts the train from 4:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. at the Harwood Avenue railway crossing, with American Authors and Pynk Beard performing again.

Beyond those stops, the route continues into Wisconsin Dells, La Crosse, Oconomowoc and Winona.

It then carries on to Minneapolis, St. Paul and other communities in Wisconsin and Minnesota listed on the full schedule.

For rail fans and families in the Chicago area, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train does not travel alone in 2025.

Other seasonal services returning this year include the Metra Holiday Train and the Chicago Transit Authority holiday train and bus.

Together they give the region several options for mixing regular trips with a bit of festive rail spectacle, which really helps people fold holiday outings into everyday travel.

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