The Canadian Pacific-Kansas City (CPKC) Holiday Train will be coming to Muscatine for the 2024 holiday season, making a stop in Riverside Park on Wednesday, November 27. The train is scheduled to arrive in Muscatine at 7:30 p.m. with performances by New York based pop-rock outfit American Authors and Scottish musician KT Tunstall from 7:45-8:15 p.m.

This is the 26th year the CPKC Holiday Train has supported food banks and food shelves across the CPKC network by raising money, food donations, and awareness for local food insecurity issues in communities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tour will begin on November 21 and continue through December 17.

The arrival of the Holiday Train draws thousands to Downtown Muscatine to watch as 14 railroad cars all decked out in a festive glow travel downriver and stop inside Riverside Park. Many food pantries in the Muscatine area have benefited from the donations of money and food items dropped off as the train arrives. And then there is the festive music that accompanies an all too brief stage show.

“The Holiday Train unites people in the spirit of the season as it travels across Canada and the United States, while generating critical support for our neighbors in need through the program’s support of local food banks,” said Keith Creel, CPKC President and CEO. “We are pleased to again send this magical train on a four-week trip across our network spreading holiday joy as we collect food and raise money to fight food insecurity. We look forward to again seeing all the smiles and cheers from people young and old coming together in the spirit of giving.”

A second train, the Holiday Express, will make 13 public stops across CPKC’s network in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The festive six-car Holiday Express train with intricate displays inside and out will bring Santa Claus and his elves to visit children and families as it supports local food banks.

A full schedule and details of this year’s Holiday Train and Holiday Express train is available at cpkcr.com/holidaytrain.

Each event is free, with CPKC encouraging every attendee to make a monetary or heart-healthy food donation to ease hunger needs in their community. Local food banks will be accepting donations at each stop to help ensure those in need can access adequate food this holiday season and year-round.

The Salvation Army is the designated organization to receive the donations during the Muscatine stop.

Holiday Train Highlights

• Since 1999, more than $24.3 million and over 5.3 million pounds of food for community food banks have been collected in Canada and the U.S.
• Visiting Saint John, N.B. for the first time.
• 167 live music shows in 7 provinces and 13 states.
• Performers include James Barker Band, Clerel, Tyler Shaw, Shawnee Kish, Magic!, Sofia Camara, American Authors, KT Tunstall, Tiera Kennedy, Seaforth, Alana Springsteen, The Lone Bellow.

American Authors

Since releasing their debut album Oh, What a Life in 2014, New York-based pop-rock outfit American Authors have experienced milestones most bands only dream about. They’ve watched their music climb to the top of the charts and seen singles go multi-platinum. They’ve played awards shows, hit the stages of legendary venues all over the world and toured the world with bands such as Andy Grammar, OAR, OneRepublic, The Revivalists and The Fray. Their anthemic hit single “Best Day of My Life” has been featured in over 600 movie trailers, TV shows, commercials and as a theme song for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Despite these accolades, lead singer Zac Barnett vows that the best day of their lives is still yet to come. “We just want to keep going,” he says. “We can’t wait to continue this adventure.”

KT Tunstall

KT Tunstall has never been one for creative stasis. The Grammy-nominated and Brit Award winning Scottish musician burst onto the music scene with her 2004 multi-platinum debut Eye To The Telescope, immediately establishing herself as a dynamic musical force to be reckoned with. Nearly two decades later, her career has traversed a wide sonic terrain – encompassing introspective folk, ferocious rock and experimental electro-pop. Tunstall has remained one of the most iconic live performers of her generation, known for her remarkable vocals that can veer from soulful to rasping blues to folk pop balladry. KT’s music balances raw emotion with visceral energy and her shows are interspersed with an endearing and often very funny line in between song chat.

About CPKC

With its global headquarters in Calgary, Alta., Canada, CPKC is the first and only single-line transnational railway linking Canada, the United States and México, with unrivaled access to major ports from Vancouver to Atlantic Canada to the Gulf of México to Lázaro Cárdenas, México. Stretching approximately 20,000 route miles and employing 20,000 railroaders, CPKC provides North American customers unparalleled rail service and network reach to key markets across the continent. CPKC is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit cpkcr.com to learn more about the rail advantages of CPKC.