The CPKC Holiday Train returned to Ponoka Dec. 7, kicking off the holiday season with festive music by the Anyway Gang that got the crowd boogying and “chugging” along to the beat.
Ponoka residents and families packed the area in front of the tracks in the Battle River Valley in downtown Ponoka, with over 2,000 people estimated to be in attendance — one of the largest crowds the performers said they’d seen that day.
The event, free to attend, encouraged people to bring a cash or food donation to the Ponoka Food Bank. Donations were collected by the Ponoka Lions Club and the Bantam Broncs football team.
Concert goers could warm up by the bonfire while enjoying a hot chocolate from the Kin Cantina.
During the concert, Ponoka Mayor Kevin Ferguson came on stage as a cheque for $4,000 was presented to the food bank.
This is the CPKC Holiday Train’s 25th year of supporting food banks across North America.
“A few summers ago, four friends from four of Canada’s most notable bands – Dave Monks from Tokyo Police Club, Sam Roberts from Sam Roberts Band, Menno Versteeg from Hollerado, and Chris Murphy from Sloan – got together to write some songs,” stated the band’s bio on cpkcr.com.
“Fast forward to 2023 [and] the band is back with a full-length record called ‘Still Anyways.’”