CP Holiday Train

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

In 2024 the train visits the Lower Mainland on December 19th and 20th. It’s in Agassiz, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows on the Thursday. The next day it has stops with live music in Port Moody and Port Coquitlam. At each place the event is free to attend (although donations the local food bank are 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 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. In 2024 the Maple Ridge CP Holiday Train event is organized by the Friends in Need Food Bank. 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!

The 2024 Maple Ridge CP Holiday Train event is on Thursday, December 19th. The concert happens at Port Haney Station, located at 22302 River Road. This year’s performers are Magic! and Sofia Camara.

What to Expect

While the 2024 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 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 this year starts at 8:00 pm and runs for 30 minutes. You can 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 is one of four stops on that same day! The first concert on December 19th is in Lytton at 11:30 am, then there’s Agassiz at 5:45 pm, Maple Ridge at 8:00 pm and Pitt Meadows at 9:05 pm.

December 20th is the final day of the CP Holiday Train for this season. First there’s the Port Moody Event (which is typically the biggest in Metro Vancouver) with its concert at 5:45 pm. The final show is 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. To learn more about the stops outside of Maple Ridge, see our article about the CP Holiday Train in the Lower Mainland.