SOUTHEAST SASKATCHEWAN - The southeast region is once again going to have a visit from the CPKC Holiday Train (formerly the CP Rail Holiday Train).
The train that will be stopping in the southeast is the U.S. version of the train. It will head into Canada from the U.S. on Dec. 17 at the North Portal border crossing and then continue into Canada with shows in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
The Holiday Train is scheduled to stop at North Portal on Dec. 17 at 11:45 a.m., with a performance from noon to 12:30 p.m. at the First Street railway crossing.
Then it is slated to pull into Estevan at 3 p.m. that day, with a performance from 3:15-3:45 p.m. That show will be east of the CPKC station off of Seventh Street. Traditionally the train's entertainment stage has faced north.
Finally, it is expected to be in Weyburn at 5:45 p.m. for a 30-minute performance starting at 6 p.m. at 512 Railway Street.
Country music singers Dallas Smith and Mackenzie Porter are scheduled to perform. Smith is no stranger to Estevan; he played before a large crowd at Affinity Place in September 2022 after Estevan won the SiriusXM Music Towns competition.
Smith and Porter will play Christmas carols and other music for the crowd.
CPKC has a similar train that will make its way across Canada.
This is the 25th edition of the Holiday Train. It raises money, food and awareness for the important work that food banks do in their communities. Musicians play free concerts from the brightly-decorated train's stage.
Each stop is free to attend, but CPKC encourages attendees to bring a non-perishable donation for the Salvation Army's food bank. CPKC makes a donation to the local food shelf at each stop.
Since its inception in 1999, the CPKC Holiday Train has raised more than $22.5 million and more than five million pounds of food for community food banks across North America.