The CPKC Holiday Train returns to the communities of Cottage Grove, Newport and St. Paul Park for the 22nd Anniversary of the Cottage Grove Area Stop, on the evening of Saturday, December 13th, 2025.
Due to extremely cold weather conditions, the event has been scaled back to ensure a safe event for our community, staff and volunteers.
The brightly lit train will still arrive with a trainload of fun and entertainment at 5:15 p.m. Performances by American Authors and Pynk Beard will be featured from the train stage, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Due to the extremely cold weather conditions expected Saturday evening, all other aspects of the event have been cancelled.
If you choose to come out, please bundle up and plan to park where there is limited parking in the Youth Service Bureau lot. West Point Douglas Road, near Youth Service Bureau, will be shut down from 4:45 until the show concludes.
All funds raised online and personal care items collected at the “Cottage Grove Stop” go directly to our local Friends in Need Food Shelf; serving the residents of Cottage Grove, Grey Cloud Island, Newport and St. Paul Park.
Parking information:
- Youth Service Bureau Parking Lot: 7064 West Point Douglas Road, Cottage Grove, MN 55016
The Holiday Train is truly a gift to our communities. This event makes up 25% of our total donations for the year. Last year our communities raised $206,232.76 for our local Friends in Need Food Shelf along with over 12,000 personal care and non-perishable food items; 501(c)3 # 41-1794212.
In the past 21 years, the Holiday Train event in Cottage Grove has raised over $2 million dollars for our local food shelf. This year, a goal of raising $125,000 was set.
The Holiday Train Committee and City of Cottage Grove are hosting this event in conjunction with many local volunteers, local businesses and community leaders. Cash is the preferred donation but the need is also great for personal care items such as bar soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes, dish soap, toilet paper, paper towels or diapers.
If you are unable to attend the event and would still like to donate to the Friends in Need Food Shelf, please send checks payable to the Friends in Need Food Shelf, noting “Holiday Train” in the memo line. Checks can be sent to the Friends in Need Food Shelf, P.O. Box 6, Cottage Grove, MN 55016.