FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2025
UNWRAP THE
HOLIDAY SEASON WITH MARTA: FESTIVE EVENTS & FREE RIDES PLANNED IN NOVEMBER
AND DECEMBER
ATLANTA – The
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is inviting customers to
unwrap the holiday season with festive events across the system, including the
return of holiday-themed buses, free rides, local vendor markets, pop-up shops,
surprise giveaways, and visits from Santa.
This
year’s holiday bus program is sponsored by Tulsa Welding School Atlanta
(Stratatech), which is opening a new Atlanta campus. Their support makes
possible the three custom holiday bus wraps, and the free rides customers will
enjoy throughout the season.
The celebrations begin
at the 3rd annual MARTA Holiday Market + Bus Reveal on Thursday, Nov. 20, from
3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at West End Station. Attendees can shop from local artisans,
enjoy hot cocoa and seasonal treats, join a DIY crafting station with Scraplanta,
spin the prize wheel for custom Breeze Cards, browse the MARTA pop-up shop for
holiday sweaters and Atlanta United co-branded apparel, and take photos with
The Real Black Santa. The event culminates in the reveal of MARTA’s three
“Wrapping Up the Year” holiday buses.
“The
holiday market is one of our favorite ways to celebrate our riders and
highlight our community partners,” said MARTA Interim General Manager and CEO
Jonathan Hunt. “From free holiday rides to local vendor markets and festive
surprises, we’re excited to spread cheer across the system all season long.”
MARTA continues the
festivities with a Holiday Customer Appreciation Event on Thursday, Dec. 11,
from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Kensington Station, presented in partnership with
Decide DeKalb. The event features a curated market of DeKalb-based vendors,
holiday karaoke and music, story time with community leaders, free
refreshments, giveaways, a MARTA pop-up shop, Santa meet-and-greet, a photo
booth, and the holiday buses onsite for customers to explore.
2025 HOLIDAY EVENTS
Nov. 21 – Dec. 31:
Free Rides on Holiday Buses
Three holiday-themed
buses featuring MARTA’s “Wrapping Up the Year” designs will rotate through
routes across Atlanta, DeKalb, and Clayton County. Anyone who boards a wrapped
bus receives a free ride for that trip. This initiative is sponsored by Tulsa Welding
School Atlanta.
Dec. 2 – 4:
Surprise Rides
MARTA teams, alongside
The Real Black Santa and local influencers, will distribute free Breeze Cards
during surprise ride activations across the system.
Holiday Customer
Appreciation Event
Thursday, Dec. 11 –
3 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Kensington Station
Presented in
partnership with Decide DeKalb. Features include a DeKalb vendor market, story
time with community leaders, holiday music, free refreshments, MARTA
merchandise, prize wheel, giveaways, and an appearance from Santa.
For
full event details and holiday updates, visit itsmarta.com/holidayevents.