A Tri-City Christmas tradition is changing this year, with the CP Rail Holiday Train being welcomed in a new location and on a new night.
In all previous visits to Port Moody - the last stop on a cross-continent journey - the train arrived on a Friday night at the Queen Street plaza.
This year, the Holiday Train will arrive in PoMo on Tuesday, Dec. 18 on the tracks behind the Port Moody rec complex, with pre-train festivities to take place in the rec centre parking lot.
"This is going to be the permanent home [for Holiday Train festivities]," city spokesperson Leslyn Johnson said yesterday, noting there is ample room for people to watch entertainment on a strip of land between the tracks and Trasolini Field.
Johnson said Evergreen Line construction and its future route alignment prompted the relocation of the annual event, which raises food and cash for local food banks, including those run by Share Family and Community Services.
Beginning at 8 p.m., festivities will get underway in the rec centre parking lot, featuring seasonal treats, such as hot chocolate and chilli, and cookie decorating for children; all proceeds will go to Share thanks to donations from Thrifty Foods, the Rotary Club of Port Moody and Pasta Polo. Pre-train entertainment will include Christmas music by Tom and Emily and the Vancouver Firefighters Band.
Port Moody Fire Department, meanwhile, will tend the traditional bonfire, fuelled with wood donated by Flavelle Sawmill. Share's truck will be on site to collect non-perishable food items and cash donations, and Santa will be on hand to spread Christmas cheer.
At 9:05, the train will arrive with a concert at 9:15 p.m. featuring Doc Walker, Miss Emily and Brothers Dube.
WALK OR TAKE TRANSIT
Parking is limited, and guests are encouraged to walk, if possible.
Since 1999, the CPR Holiday Train program has raised close to $6.4 million and about 2.6 million pounds of food for North American food banks. Again this year, the two trains will visit more than150 communities - beginning their journeys in Beaconsfield, Que., and Scranton, Pa. The train's schedule is available at www.cpr.ca and on Facebook.
