Sheryl Crow to headline special CP Holiday Train concert in Cottage Grove

Cottage Grove show part of Holiday Train's 15th year of rolling fundraiser for food shelves

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Joined by award winning a capella group, Take 6, Sheryl Crow will headline a free concert when the Canadian Pacific (CP) Holiday Train makes its annual stop at Cottage Grove, MN on December 14, 2013.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131112/TO597) 

"We are thrilled to be performing with Sheryl Crow, whom we've all admired and followed for years. It is particularly special because of the worthy cause this event is serving," said Claude McKnight, founding member of Take 6.

This Holiday Train signature event, in support of the Friends in Need Food Shelf, is taking place at the CP Yard (9250 Ideal Avenue) and kicks-off with the opening of the North Pole Station at 4:00 p.m. followed by the concert, which begins at 5:00 p.m.

The North Pole Station, a magical village, will feature family-oriented interactive activities, including ice carving, hot chocolate and a chance for the kids to visit Santa before making their way to the concert stage.

While the event is free, those attending are asked to make a donation. Everything collected at each show stays in the community for local distribution.

"The Friends in Need Food Shelf has been helping the residents in South Washington County for the past 21 years.  We will serve around 38,000 people this year and we are so excited for this special Holiday Train and Concert to come to Cottage Grove," said Friends in Need Food Shelf Director Michelle Rageth. "The cash that is raised from this event constitutes almost half of our Food Shelf budget and we are able to get the best food deals possible with the money collected."

Rageth added, "Because we know that some people will want to donate items, we'd like to suggest toiletries such as shampoo, toilet paper, paper towels, deodorant, bar soap, toothbrushes, diapers and feminine products.  These products are in short supply at the food shelf and will be a great gift to our clients!  We want to stress how grateful we are for this amazing community that supports us so generously—we couldn't do it without you!"

"This is one Holiday Train stop you do not want to miss!  I am very excited to welcome everyone—from our community to the upper Midwest and beyond—to this once-in-a-lifetime event.  When I learned Sheryl Crow would headline the free concert I knew this was going to be the biggest event we've ever had in Cottage Grove," said Cottage Grove Mayor Myron Bailey. "I was honored to learn we were the only city in the United States chosen to host this special anniversary show. I invite everyone to make plans to join me at the Cottage Grove Holiday Train stop to enjoy the winter wonderland, the concert and help out our local food shelf."

The Cottage Grove stop is part of CP's 2013 Holiday Train program, which runs from November 25 until December 19, and features two brightly decorated trains traveling across the United States and Canada. Since 1999, the Holiday Train has raised about $7.4 million and about 3 million pounds of food for North American food shelves.

This extra-special Holiday Train event is one of only three stops across North America where Canadian Pacific has added additional star-power to help shine a spotlight on the railway's mission of raising food, money and awareness in the fight against hunger. Similar events will be held in two Canadian cities - Hamilton, Ontario on November 30 and in Calgary, Alberta on December 7.

For further information on Sheryl Crow, visit: http: www.sherylcrow.com  and to find out more about Take 6 go to: www.take6.com.

To get to the site for this year's special concert, people will need to take a shuttle service from several Cottage Grove locations as there is no parking at the Holiday Train site (with the exception of limited handicap parking). Parking and shuttle service will be free and carpooling is encouraged. Information on shuttle service is available on the City of Cottage Grove's website at: www.cottage-grove.org.  Also, stay tuned for further updates.

For additional information on the CP Holiday Train, photos, a route map and downloadable pictures of the two trains visit: www.cpr.ca.

The 2013 Holiday Train schedule is available on cpr.ca and Facebook. Supporters can also join the Holiday Train on Facebook and on Twitter @CPHolidaytrain

Broadcast quality b-roll available at: http://www.cpr.ca/en/in-your-community/holiday-train/Pages/media.aspx

SOURCE Canadian Pacific