After taking last year off, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will be arriving again in the valley before Christmas.

At the train tracks that run across Forsters Road in Radium Hot Springs near the Canfor mill, a special freight delivery will be made, as everybody in attendance will be treated to a railcar loaded with entertainment.

Featured in Radium will be pop artist Melanie Doane from Nova Scotia and jazz musician Matt Dusk from Calgary. The two are making dozens of stops around the country via railroad, as the holiday train supports each community on the tour.

“Melanie was on the train since the beginning from Beaconsville, Quebec,” said CP Holiday Train spokesperson Salem Woodrow.

Ms. Woodrow explained that the holiday train can only make a limited number of stops each year, and has to rotate communities across Canada to be available as the train becomes more popular.

“Every year we switch up our locations – we’re going through Radium this year, so we may do that every other year. We’re always trying to add and include communities along the way.”

She said that the focus of the event is to raise money, food and awareness for local food banks and hunger issues.

“We will be coming to Radium to support the local food bank,” she said. “We encourage people at all times of year to support their food bank, but it’s especially important at this time of year.” She also said that every dollar donated to the food bank is matched twice to provide the organization with $4 of purchasing power.

The show will last for about a half an hour she said, and that it will be a fun evening for all ages, especially families.

“By coming out and supporting the Holiday Train, people are directly helping their neighbours,” she said.

The train is scheduled to arrive at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, December 12th.