The CP Holiday Train is back in Edmonton, travelling across the country for the 18th year to raise money, food, and awareness for food banks and hunger issues.

The train, with 14 rail cars decorated in thousands of lights, is already in the capital city, but is expected to officially roll into the Edmonton CP Station off Gateway Boulevard at 7:45 p.m.

A modified box car has been turned into a traveling stage for performers. Dallas Smith and The Odds will play a live concert at 8:15 p.m.

“Its new smiles every time, new excited kids’ faces, so we are not getting sick of it at all,” said singer Dallas Smith.

The Edmonton Food Bank is hoping to load the train with donations of food. “Make a donation securely online and you can do it from the comfort of your own home [if it is too cold outside],” said Tamisan Bencz-Knight.

The Canadian Pacific train arrived in Leduc on Wednesday night to a packed crowd of 2500 people who braved the -26 degree weather, surprising organizers.

“It really is amazing that our entertainers can go out there and do such a great show, playing those guitars in that cold, but it is equally amazing that we have so many people coming out,” said Katie Hill, CP Rail.

Since 1999, the program has raised over $12 million and 3.9 million pounds of food.