by This December offers 13 chances once again to enjoy stops on the CP Holiday Train. Basically, following I-41/94 and then Highway 16 will bring you to almost all the stops!
The annual Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will once again rumble through Wisconsin on part of its journey through the northern U.S. and Canada! Check out fun stops with beautiful lights and entertainment – the stops will take place along its CP route in Wisconsin from Tuesday, December 9th through Thursday, December 11th!
Why does Canadian Pacific run the Holiday Train and why does it go through Wisconsin?
The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train tours Canada and the United States during the holiday season each year – and has for over 25 years now – raising money, food and awareness for the food banks that do a lot of good work in their respective communities. The trains are decked out in brilliant lights with colorful designs; musicians play free concerts at each stop. Professional musicians play free concerts from the brightly decorated train’s stage. CPKC – which stands for Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited – makes a donation to the local food shelf at each stop and encourages attendees to donate as well. Since they started running it in 1999, the CPKC Holiday Train has raised more than $22.5 million and contributed over 5 million pounds of food for community food banks across Canada and the U.S. The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train follows the CP tracks through Wisconsin, which come in from Illinois in Pleasant Prairie near Kenosha and runs through Racine, Milwaukee, Waukesha, Dodge, Portage, Juneau, Monroe, and La Crosse Counties on its way to the Twin Cities. This route follows the same as the Amtrak trains.
Here are the train’s scheduled stops and duration through Wisconsin, from Sturtevant through the Milwaukee area and on to La Crosse, with plenty of stops in between! Basically, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train follows the same route as the Amtrak train – but it will really catch your eye and fill you with holiday spirit. Performers at all Wisconsin stops include American Authors and Pynk Beard. Enjoy!
Canadian Pacific Holiday Train Schedule:
| Station | Address | Date | Arrival | Event Times | Departure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sturtevant | 9900 East Exploration Ct., Amtrak Depot | Tues 12-09 | 6:45 pm | 7:00 – 7:30 pm | 7:35 pm |
| Caledonia | 11402 County G (the 5 1/2 Mile Road crossing) | Tues 12-09 | 8:00 pm | 8:15 – 8:45 pm | 8:50 pm |
| Wauwatosa | Harwood Ave Crossing | Wed 12-10 | 4:00 pm | 4:15 – 4:45 pm | 4:50 pm |
| Hartland | Level crossing at Cottonwood Avenue | Wed 12-10 | 5:30 pm | 5:45 – 6:15 pm | 6:20 pm |
| Oconomowoc | Silver Lake Street Railway Crossing, north side | Wed 12-10 | 6:30 pm | 6:45 – 7:15 pm | 7:20 pm |
| Watertown | Brandt Quirt Park parking lot, adjacent to track | Wed 12-10 | 7:45 pm | 8:00 – 8:30 pm | 8:35 pm |
| Columbus | Amtrak Depot | Wed 12-10 | 9:00 pm | 9:15 – 9:45 pm | 9:50 pm |
| Portage | CP Yard adjacent to Averbeck Street | Thurs 12-11 | 1:00 pm | 1:15 – 1:45 pm | 1:50 pm |
| Wisconsin Dells | 100 West La Crosse Street, Amtrak Depot | Thurs 12-11 | 2:30 pm | 2:45 – 3:15 pm | 3:20 pm |
| Mauston | Division Street railway crossing | Thurs 12-11 | 4:00 pm | 4:15 – 4:40 pm | 4:45 pm |
| Tomah | 205 North Superior Avenue, Amtrak Depot | Thurs 12-11 | 5:15 pm | 5:30 – 6:00 pm | 6:05 pm |
| Sparta | Corner of South Water Street and Milwaukee Street | Thurs 12-11 | 6:35 pm | 6:50 – 7:20 pm | 7:25 pm |
| La Crosse | Amtrak Station, 601 Saint Andrew Street | Thurs 12-11 | 8:15 pm | 8:30 – 9:00 pm | 9:05 pm |
Closest State Trunk Tour Highways to each stop (hint: Highway 16 hits basically all of them from Hartland on west!):
Sturtevant: Highway 20, Highway 11, Highway 31
Caledonia: I-41/94, Highway 31, Highway 32, Highway 38
Wauwatosa: Highway 181, US 18, I-41, I-94
Hartland: Highway 16, Highway 83
Oconomowoc: Highway 16, Highway 67
Watertown: Highway 16, Highway 19, Highway 26
Columbus: Highway 16, Highway 60, Highway 73, Highway 89, US 151
Portage: Highway 16, Highway 33, I-39, US 51
Wisconsin Dells: I-90/94, U.S. 12, Highway 13, Highway 16, Highway 23, US 12
Mauston: US 12, Highway 16, Highway 58, Highway 82, I-90/94
Tomah: US 12, Highway 16, Highway 21, Highway 131, I-90/94
Sparta: Highway 16, Highway 21, Highway 27, Highway 71, I-90
La Crosse: I-90, Highway 16, Highway 33, Highway 35, US 14, US 53, US 61, I-90
