CPKC Holiday Train Returning to Louisiana With 7 Festive Stops

(KMDL-FM) Before you know it, Christmas will be here. (Yeah, we all know Thanksgiving is just a holiday speed bump.) And one of the coolest holiday traditions is coming back to Louisiana — the Holiday Express Train.

For over 25 years, the CPKC Holiday Train has delighted thousands of kids and adults alike in Canada and the United States.

What Is the CPKC Holiday Train?

CPKC is the combination of two historic railways -- Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS). It is the first single-rail network connecting Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

This year, the train will be running from November 22 through December 18, raising money, food, and awareness for the important work that food banks do in their communities.

Professional musicians even play from the train’s brightly decorated stage.

READ MORE: Light Up Acadiana in 2025 -- Show UIs Your Brightest and Most Beautiful Holiday Displays

CPKC makes a donation to the local food shelf at each stop and encourages attendees to also donate.

Since its inception in 1999, the CPKC Holiday Train has raised more than $26 million and more than 5.4 million pounds of food for community food banks across North America.

If you live in the Bayou State, you are in luck, because the train will be making a total of seven stops across the state.

Get our free mobile app

Louisiana Stops and 2025 Schedule

Below is the schedule of Louisiana stops for the CPKC Holiday Train. The event runs different times at each stop.

Sunday, Nov 30 (7:45 pm to 8:15 pm) - Shreveport - 4550 North Lake Shore Drive

Tuesday, Dec 2 (4:30 pm to 5:00 pm) - Baton Rouge - CPKC Yard, 1401 Foss Street

Tuesday, Dec 2 (6:30 pm to 7:00 pm) - Gonzales - CPKC railway tracks between Felix Avenue & East Ascension Street

Tuesday, Dec 2 (8:30 pm to 9:00 pm) - Laplace - CPKC railway tracks at 529 Hemlock Street

Wednesday, Dec 3 (2:30 pm to 3:00 pm) - Simmesport - CPKC railway crossing at N Live Oak Street

Wednesday, Dec 3 (5:00 pm to 5:30 pm) - Pineville - CPKC railway crossing at Melrose Street & Wadley Street

Wednesday, Dec 3 (8:15 pm to 8:45 pm) - Coushatta - CPKC railway tracks at Front Street, between East Carroll Street & Alonzo Street

Who’s Performing at Each Holiday Train Stop?

There will be live music at each stop by national recording artists. For the Shreveport stop, Smash Mouth and JJ Wilde will be performing. All other Louisiana stops will feature Dylan Marlowe and Emily Ann Roberts.

The event at each location is free to attend.

What to Expect at a Holiday Train Event

Here’s what to expect at each Holiday Train stop:

• The train arrives and pulls to a safe stop in front of the crowd.
• The stage door lowers and the band opens with its first song, followed by a brief presentation with the local food bank officials and other dignitaries on stage.
• Once the presentation is done, the band resumes the show, singing a mix of traditional and modern holiday-themed songs and popular original songs.
• After the final song, the boxcar door closes and the train is on its way to the next stop.

To learn more about the CPKC Holiday Train, visit this site.