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cpkc holiday train arrival

The City of Port Moody is hosting activities for all ages on Friday, December 20, 2024 from 5:20pm to 7:30pm to celebrate the arrival of the CPKC Holiday Train. 

“We’re excited to welcome the CPKC Holiday Train, now in its 26th year, to Port Moody,” says Mayor Meghan Lahti. “This event is a holiday tradition you don’t want to miss! Everyone is welcome to join the celebration – spend some quality time with family, friends, and neighbours as you enjoy the music and the festive atmosphere. The CPKC Holiday Train tours Canada to raise awareness of food insecurity and to support local food banks. Here in Port Moody, SHARE Family and Community Services will be gratefully accepting cash donations or healthy food items. If you’re able to contribute, your generous donation will stay right here in the Tri-Cities.” 

This event kicks off outdoors with live music and a roaring bonfire behind the Port Moody Recreation Complex. Inside the Rec Complex, join us for play time in the gym and spin art in the wellness room. Inside the Civic Centre, get creative with crafts and cookie decorating in the Galleria and enjoy a family-friendly holiday film in the Inlet Theatre. 

Read on for all the details. All activities are free; food and beverages are by donation. 

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES: 

CPKC Holiday Train
5:20-6:15pm behind the Port Moody Recreation Complex (300 Ioco Road)
The CPKC Holiday Train will arrive decked out in thousands of holiday lights at 5:20pm, with live performances starting at 5:45pm from Magic! and Sofia Camara. The CPKC Holiday Train travels across Canada during the holiday season to raise cash donations and heart-healthy food for local food banks. CPKC is the combination of two historic railways – Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS). It’s the first and only transnational rail network in North America, moving essential goods across a 20,000-mile network throughout Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. 

Bonfire and holiday music
5:30-7:30pm, behind the Port Moody Recreation Complex
Cozy up next to a roaring bonfire safely maintained by members of the Port Moody Volunteer Firefighters Association. Listen to live music and grab a cup of hot chocolate, a bowl of chili, or a hot dog (food and beverages are available by donation). Our entertainment line-up is as follows: Abegail Avram from 5:30-5:45pm and 6:15-6:30pm, École Moody Middle School of the Arts Choir from 6:30-7pm, and Newport Brass from 7-7:30pm. Visit with Port Moody Police and SHARE Family and Community Services at the SHARE truck and drop off a donation (cash or heart-healthy, non-perishable food items gratefully accepted) for local families in need. 

INDOOR ACTIVITIES: 

Play time and button making
5:30-7:30pm, Port Moody Recreation Complex (gymnasium)
If you have little ones with energy to burn, bring them to the gym to play with all kinds of toys, balls, and gym equipment. When it’s time for a break, stop at our button-making station to make a holiday button, or take a selfie with a holiday mascot. 

Music, spin art, craft, and festive tattoos
5:30-7:30pm, Port Moody Recreation Complex (wellness room)
Sing along to your holiday favourites – we’ll have live music on the go. There's lots for kids to do, including spin art, festive tattoos, a selfie station, and colouring. Use your creativity and wildlife-friendly materials to create fun and celebratory ornaments to hang in a designated decorating space in Pioneer Memorial Park (275 Knowle Street).   

Cookie decorating and crafts
5:30-7:30pm, Civic Centre Galleria (100 Newport Drive)
Join us for crafts organized by the Port Moody Public Library and PoMoArts. Stop by the Operation Lifesaver table to learn about staying safe around trains, and to decorate a cookie courtesy of TROPICA. We’ll also have a sensory-friendly area with earplugs, colouring sheets, and fidget toys. 

Family-friendly holiday film (Prep & Landing)
6:30pm and 7:15pm, Inlet Theatre (100 Newport Drive)
Join us in the Inlet Theatre for a screening of the family-friendly holiday film Prep & Landing. There will be two screenings, one at 6:30pm and the other at 7:15pm. The film’s running time is 22 minutes. Tickets will be available at the Inlet Theatre Bistro on a first come, first served basis starting at 5pm. 

Please dress for winter weather conditions, including rain, snow, and/or lower than normal temperatures, especially if you plan to participate in outdoor activities. Parking at the Recreation Complex will be extremely limited, with portions of the parking lot fully closed to traffic. Consider leaving your car at home and walking or taking public transit instead. Check TransLink’s Trip Planner for transit routes and schedules. 

If you choose to drive to the celebration:

  • avoid Murray Street between Ioco Road and the Moody Street overpass between 5pm and 5:45pm, as the CPKC Holiday Train will temporarily block traffic upon arrival;
  • consider carpooling with friends or neighbours to reduce the number of cars on the road; and
  • consider parking at Moody Centre (Westcoast Express) Park and Ride (65 Williams Street) – from here, you can ride the SkyTrain from Moody Centre Station to Inlet Centre Station, then walk a few blocks north along Ioco Road and turn left onto Newport Drive.