CP’s Holiday Train on track again

For more than 100 communities in Canada and the United States, the spirit of giving to local food banks will again be front and center with the ninth annual Canadian Pacific Holiday Train Program, North America's largest rolling fundraiser. Two brightly decorated holiday trains will collect food and money for area food shelves.

In the United States, the Midwest train begins Dec. 9, in Illinois and crosses Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota before re-entering Canada at Portal, N.D., on Dec. 17. The stops near Hutchinson on Thursday, Dec. 13 include:

Loretto: 4:15 to 5:15 p.m., at the Hennepin County Road 19 railroad crossing/Chippewa Trail. The food shelf benefitting is the Hanover Area Food Shelf.

Buffalo: 5:45 to 6:45 p.m., 612 NE Third Ave., behind McDonald's on Highway 55. Benefits Buffalo Food Shelf.

Annandale: 7:15 to 8:15 p.m., west side of downtown park over the Oak Avenue railroad crossing. Benefits Annandale Community Food Shelf.

Eden Valley: 9 to 10 p.m., Main Street railroad crossing (state Highway 22). Benefits Food Shelf.

In addition to the official stops, the Holiday Train holds mini-performances in many other communities along its route. Joining the train in the United States is Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame member Tracey Brown. She’ll will be joined by Juno award-winner Colin Linden and the critically acclaimed family duo: Ennis.

For photos of past CP Holiday Trains, visit: www8.cpr.ca/cms/English/Media/Photo+Gallery/Holiday+Train/default.htm

(Terry Davis is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at davis@hutchinsonleader.com.)