CP Holiday Train in Port Moody

Port Moody celebrates the Christmas season with a visit by the CP Holiday Train, a free concert and family-friendly activities in December each year.

The train was in Port Moody on Monday, December 18th last year. Performers at the showpiece were Tyler Shaw and Kiesza. Details about other activities were to be confirmed.

For information about the train in general and its stops in other Lower Mainland locations, see our article about the CP Holiday Train in the Vancouver Region.

Port Moody’s Holiday Train Christmas Event

The CP Holiday Train has been visiting the community of Port Moody just before Christmas for a number of years now. When the train visits, the town holds a variety of activities. Celebrations continues even after the train leaves.

In 2023 the train stopped behind the Port Moody Recreation Complex, located at 300 loco Road, on Monday, December 18th. It arrived at 5:20 pm and the live entertainment was from 5:45 pm to 6:15 pm.

The year before, additional activities also happened next door at the Galleria & Inlet Theatre at 100 Newport Drive. At the time of writing this article, it was to be confirmed whether 2023’s activities would continue until later at night as well.

CP Train Christmas Lights — The CP Holiday Train

About the CP Holiday Train

The CP Holiday Train is a Canadian Pacific Railway train that gets decorated in Christmas lights and travels across Canada. In normal years, it visits towns across the country. The doors to one of the train cars open at each stop and a band comes out to play so the locals get treated to a free Christmas concert.

The train makes a few stops in the Lower Mainland each year including in Agassiz, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody. At each venue, there is a 30-minute concert and donations of food and cash are collected for the town’s local food bank.

Most CP Holiday Train events last for less than an hour and feature just the free concert and a few short speeches. Occasionally there is a little bit more, although usually not much. They are fun events, yet typically brief and simple. In Port Moody, however, it’s usually a full evening affair!

Rotarians Serving Hot Chocolate — Rotary Club Hot Chocolate Station

About the Port Moody Event

Unlike most other CP Holiday Train events across Canada, the festivities in Port Moody normally last for about three hours. The official “CP Train” part runs for the usual 30 to 45 minutes or so, but there are usually other performers and craft activities for kids afterwards. Hopefully this was the case again in 2023. Exact details were to be confirmed.

In previous years, after the CP Holiday Train concert and after the train departed, there was more live music as well as craft-making, cookie-decorating and face painting opportunities at the Rec Centre. There was also popcorn and other refreshments available, and drop-in gym activities for little kids. Santa Claus was also on-site and there was an outdoor bonfire to keep warm at.

In previous years, there was an outdoor bonfire, food and hot chocolate for sale (by donation) and a performance by the Port Moody Community Band behind the Recreation Complex.

There were activities in the Gymnasium and the Wellness Room indoors at the Recreation Centre. The Gymnasium was open from 6:00 pm until 7:30 pm and had plenty of toys, balls and gym equipment for the little ones to play with. There was also a button-making station and performances from students of the Vela Academy of Movement. Carol singers, popcorn, and craft-making opportunities were set up in the Wellness Room from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm. There were also photo opportunities with Frosty the Snowman!

Close by, at the Galleria & Inlet Theatre, there were also refreshments (by donation), crafts to make, Celebrate the Season performances and visits with Santa Claus.

Details of these activities and offerings in 2023 were to be confirmed.

Tips & Advice

Below are some tips and suggestions to help you make the most of your CP Holiday Train experience.

TIP #1: It’s a fundraising event, so don’t forget to take some non-perishable food items or cash for the food bank. Also, give generously when “buying” your hot chocolate or popcorn. Funds raised at the Port Moody event benefit Share Family & Community Services.

TIP #2: There are a number of CP Holiday Train events each year. If you live close to one, check it out! And if you go to one in your own community, chances are you’ll see people you know. For the list of other locations in the Vancouver region, click CP Holiday Train in the Lower Mainland.

TIP #3: Advantages of going to the Port Moody event are that it lasts longer than other CP Holiday Train events, there is more to do and there are indoor activities as well as ones outside. The Port Moody event also features activities for young children.

TIP #4: A disadvantage of the Port Moody event is that it usually takes place early in the evening, which can mean fighting rush hour traffic to get there. Either plan to arrive early and do something beforehand, like grab a snack at a nearby restaurant or check out the rec centre facilities in case you arrive with time to spare, or take public transit. The Inlet Centre SkyTrain Station is just a 10-minute walk away.

TIP #5: It always seems to rain when the train is in town. If this is the case, don’t forget to take an umbrella and a raincoat. And if it has rained at all in the previous couple of days, wear boots as the ground is muddy and puddled.

CP Holiday Train Video

Wondering what the train and one of the concerts look like? Then check out this video of the train cars, lights and music at the event in Port Moody.

The concert and music featured in the video are with the Sam Roberts Band along with Kelly Prescott, Tracey Brown and Tyson Venegas, all of whom performed at the Port Moody event in 2018.