Hundreds of people gathered to see the Canadian Pacific’s annual holiday train make its only stop in Illinois in Gurnee on Tuesday evening, an annual tradition that spreads holiday joy and supports food banks.
The Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) 2025 holiday train arrived in Gurnee along Depot Road just north of Old Grand Avenue at 5:22 p.m. Tuesday.
Hundreds of families lined up along the train tracks starting at 4 p.m. to see its arrival.
The holiday train, which has been in operation for 27 years, raises money and collects food across the U.S. and Canada to support community food banks and make a difference for families in need.
Food and money raised at each holiday train stop stay in their respective communities, CPKC said.
The program has raised more than $26.1 million and 5.4 million pounds of food for local food banks across North America since 1999.
The stop in Gurnee helped support the Northern Illinois Food Bank, which provides food for 13 counties in northern Illinois and around the Chicagoland area.
Many families donated food to the Northern Illinois Food Bank and the Warren Township Food Pantry.
The event was organized by the Village of Gurnee, the Gurnee Chamber of Commerce and the Gurnee Park District.
After coming to a stop in Gurnee, the train’s stage door lowered and the American Authors and Pynk Beard played several original and holiday-themed songs for the crowd.
Light rain passing through the area did not stop the crowd from enjoying the music.
The American Authors played “Go Big or Go Home,” “Favorite Time of the Year,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Bring It On Home,” and “Holiday Hoedown.”
Pynk Beard played “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Give It All For Love,” “Mine, Lord Willing” and “Frosty the Snowman.”
The concert closed with American Authors playing their hit single “Best Day of My Life.”
Families also enjoyed free pictures with Santa Claus, a petting zoo from Patch 22 in Wadsworth, a photo booth from Janelle Rominski Photography, free food and DJ Frank Wright playing holiday music.
Sponsors for the event included Community Trust Credit Union, Burris Equipment, Seven Seas Web Design, Honey Orthodontics, Janelle Rominski Photography, Portillo’s, Six Flags Great America and The Ten Hotel Gurnee.
“Thank you Gurnee for having a great showing. As many might know, the history was this train stop right here. Our town is named after Walter Gurnee, so quite the history for being out,” Gurnee Mayor Thomas Hood said.
Hood said the village appreciated the “generosity” shown by CPKC for supporting local food banks.
The mayor also presented a $500 check from Gurnee’s Chamber of Commerce to the Northern Illinois Food Bank to “Stop Hunger.”
“Thanks to the town of Gurnee and the CPKC line. We really appreciate this donation – it’s going to go really far to help the community,” Christine Fisher, a marketing representative for the Northern Illinois Food Bank, said.
The train’s conductor, Blake Johnson, presented a $7,500 check from CPKC to the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
The train departed Gurnee at around 6:10 p.m. and continued northbound into Wisconsin to continue making stops in the northern states.
In total, the holiday train will feature 196 live music shows in six provinces and 13 states this year.
“Every year, our railroaders take great pride in bringing the Holiday Train across our network, this year reaching even more communities for the first time,” CPKC President and CEO Keith Creel said.
“We are thrilled to send this beautiful train filled with lights and music to spread the joy of the season and proud to support the giving spirit of the holidays assisting people experiencing food insecurity. It’s incredible to see communities come together every year to celebrate the holidays while supporting local food banks,” Creel said.