Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – That’s the sound of the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train pulling into Detroit Lakes just off Soo Avenue on Thursday afternoon.
Hundreds of spectators crowded around the discontinued concrete platform to catch a glimpse of the steam-powered holiday light show.
And just as a few attention spans of some of the younger kids began to wonder, a stage opened from one of the train cars and artists MacKenzie Porter and Dallas Smith sang a medley of originals and Christmas songs.
This year is the 25th anniversary of the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train, which makes a donation to a local food shelf during every stop. During their stop in Detroit Lakes, a member of the Canadian Pacific Railway team presented Steve Schumacher, vice chair of the Becker County Food Pantry, and Detroit Lakes Mayor Matt Brenk with an oversized check of $4,500.
Steve Schumacher, vice chair of the Becker County Food Pantry Board, and Detroit Lakes Mayor Matt Brenk accept a $4,500 check from the Canadian Pacific Railroad for the food pantry during a holiday train stop in Detroit Lakes on Dec. 14, 2023. (Michael Achterling / KDLM)
Attendees were also encouraged to make their own donations to the Becker County Food Pantry, which had their donation truck on-site.
After the train departed Detroit Lakes, Schumacher said he felt overwhelmed with the amount of support that the residents of Detroit Lakes and Greater Becker County has shown to the food pantry.
“The mayor, this was his fifteenth or twentieth time, he said it’s the biggest crowd he’s ever seen,” said Schumacher. “We really appreciate all the support we’ve had in the community. We appreciate all the support getting us into our new building and just the continuing support, keeping us going in our new building.”
He also said the food pantry is always accepting donations and the best days to drop off are Tuesday and Thursday during the morning.
The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train’s 175-mile trip on Dec. 14 included several stops through west-central Minnesota; a day that began in Alexandria and ended in Thief River Falls.
Lakes area residents watch MacKenzie Porter perform on the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train after it pulled into Detroit Lakes for a scheduled stop on Dec. 14, 2023. (Michael Achterling / KDLM)
Lakes area residents show up to watch the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train pull into Detroit Lakes for a scheduled stop on Dec. 14, 2023. (Michael Achterling / KDLM)
Lakes area residents show up to watch the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train pull into Detroit Lakes for a scheduled stop on Dec. 14, 2023. (Michael Achterling / KDLM)
Latest News
