One of the stops on the annual Christmas CPKC Holiday Train series is in Maple Ridge where people can enjoy music while also helping local food banks.

The train visited the Lower Mainland on December 19th and 20th last year. It was in Agassiz, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows on the Thursday. The next day it had stops with live music in Port Moody and Port Coquitlam. At each place the event was free to attend (although donations the local food bank were greatly appreciated).

(Note: The train used to be called the CP Holiday Train and in years past it only visited Canadian cities over the Christmas holiday season. In 2021 Canadian Pacific Railway bought the Kansas City Southern Railway. Because of the new Canadian Pacific Kansas City name, and the fact that the holiday train visits a number of American cities, the train is now called the CPKC Holiday Train.)

The Maple Ridge CP Holiday Train Event

The CPKC Holiday Train is a Christmas tradition that features free concerts at over 50 stops across Canada and the United States. Nearly all of the Canadian locations are in either BC or Alberta, and Maple Ridge is one of the final stops of the holiday season.

The event is a charitable one. The Maple Ridge CP Holiday Train event was organized by the Friends in Need Food Bank last year. They collect both food and monetary donations to give to those in need. Since 1999 the holiday train has raised over $24 million and more than 5 million pounds of food across North America!

Last year’s Maple Ridge CP Holiday Train event was on Thursday, December 19th. The concert happened at Port Haney Station, located at 22302 River Road. Performers were Magic! and Sofia Camara.

What to Expect

While the event in Maple Ridge officially begins at 7:00 pm, the train doesn’t arrive until around 7:45 pm. The train itself is about 1,000 feet long and covered in decorative lights. The displays are bright and festive and sometimes change between a couple of different designs as they roll past.

After the train pulls into the station one of its cars opens up and reveals a stage with the event’s musical guests. The concert in Maple Ridge last year started at 8:00 pm and ran for 30 minutes. You could expect a mix of the artists’ original songs as well as some traditional holiday classics.

The event doesn’t last for very long, but it’s free and a fun way to get into the Christmas spirit. It’s also an opportunity to give to a great local cause (which is also in the Christmas spirit).

Other CPKC Holiday Train Stops

The CP Holiday Train hits plenty of destinations on its journey. In fact, the 2024 Maple Ridge event was one of four stops on that same day. The first concert on December 19th was in Lytton at 11:30 am, then there was Agassiz at 5:45 pm, Maple Ridge at 8:00 pm and Pitt Meadows at 9:05 pm.

December 20th was the final day of the CP Holiday Train for the season. First there was the Port Moody Event (which is typically the biggest in Metro Vancouver) with its concert at 5:45 pm. The final show was in Port Coquitlam at 7:15 pm.

All of the events listed above are free and all of them collect money and food for charitable organizations. See our article about the CP Holiday Train in the Lower Mainland to learn more about the stops outside of Maple Ridge.