Santa doesn’t ride a sleigh in Chicago. Here, he takes public transit.

On Tuesday, honking motorists and marveling passersby lined Fullerton Avenue and watched a spruced-up articulated bus decorated to look fresh from the North Pole.

Santa stuck his head out the emergency hatch, waving to anyone seeking seasonal cheer.

The Chicago Transit Authority’s Holiday Bus is the younger cousin of the CTA Holiday Train, the well-photographed train that crisscrosses the eight “L” lines. The bus, launched in 2014, illuminates the city streets with its colorful exterior lights. Inside, the customary CTA elves hand out candy canes and snap pictures with the often overjoyed riders.

The bus entered Evanston briefly on Nov. 29 on Route 97, though you can still catch the bus in Chicago through Dec. 20; for schedules, visit transitchicago.com or call 888-968-7282.

Bus decorated with Christmas lights turns onto a street.The Route 74 bus carrying Santa and his North Pole crew turns onto Fullerton Avenue. (Shun Graves/The Daily Northwestern)
Santa sits in a chair in the back of a bus.Santa had his own throne in the back of the 60-foot bus … (Shun Graves/The Daily Northwestern) 
Santa stands atop a chair and sticks his unseen head through a hatch.… but he often stood on it to poke his head out of the emergency roof hatch (Shun Graves/The Daily Northwestern)
A woman dressed in an elf costume poses on a bus.The CTA elves handed out candy canes, badges and plenty of cheer to the passengers who hopped aboard. (Shun Graves/The Daily Northwestern)
A miniature town sits atop a platform inside a bus.The CTA decorated every inch of the bus, including the upholstery, lights and more. (Shun Graves/The Daily Northwestern)
A woman in an elf costume holds a bus passenger’s hand.Elves call each other by their North Pole names. “Peppermint” bonded with the passengers who boarded Tuesday afternoon. (Shun Graves/The Daily Northwestern)
A garland made of ribbons, and the middle reads “Oh Snap!”The decorations extended to the articulated part of the bus. (Shun Graves/The Daily Northwestern)
A bus decked out in festive lights.The CTA will operate the Holiday Bus through Dec. 20. (Shun Graves/The Daily Northwestern)
Santa waves from atop a city bus.Santa waves at people near the Fullerton “L” station. (Shun Graves/The Daily Northwestern)

 

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