Currently, Chicago is home to one of its most beloved Christmas customs.

One of the most anticipated events of the year is Santa’s train tour around Chicago, which offers reasonably priced entertainment to residents of the entire city. The train and bus of the Chicago Transit Authority are decked out with holiday décor both inside and out, as well as thousands of lights, which give them a glowing appearance as they travel through Chicago.

The Allstate CTA Holiday Train and the Allstate CTA Holiday Bus, which are currently in their 32nd year of operation, lit up Chicago for a new holiday season at the end of November and are currently in the final week of their 2023 schedule.

In 2020, the CTA Holiday Train was “out of service” to maintain social distance from the event, and in 2021 it operated with a passenger limit and a mandatory face mask policy for all. In previous years, passengers were serenaded by the jolly elves and invited to board.

Santa and his elves continued to appear throughout Chicago during those dark days, greeting bystanders from a distance and bringing holiday cheer despite the difficulties of the moment.

When things got back to normal last year, families were able to enjoy the holiday train just like they had in the past, and this year is expected to be no different.

Until Tuesday, December 21, hop on board or wave to Santa and his reindeer as they fly through all eight lines in his open-air sleigh.

The holiday fleet was first established in 1992 with the intention of delivering food to different charities. An out-of-service train carrying food to different charitable organizations on the Blue Line had a “Season’s Greetings from the CTA” sign on its front. This began a holiday custom that would continue to grow over the next thirty or more years.

Naturally, the train will carry on its long-standing custom of donating food baskets to neighborhood organizations across the city this year as it speeds through Chicagoland, bringing “joy and the holiday spirit to thousands of riders.”

An overview of the data from the Chicago Transit Authority website is provided below:

CTA Holiday Train Schedule for 2023

There is no holiday train on Monday, December 11.
December 12, Tuesday: Pink Line
Going Away:
At 2:43 PM, take 54th/Cermak to Loop.

• At 3:10 PM, make a loop from Clark/Lake to 54th/Cermak.
  4:16 p.m. on 54th/Cermak to Loop
  At 4:43 PM, make the loop (from Clark/Lake) to 54th/Cermak.

On December 13, a Wednesday: Leaving:
At 3:06 PM, take 54th/Cermak to Loop.

• At 3:33 pm, make a loop from Clark/Lake to 54th/Cermak.
  Loop to 54th/Cermak at 4:44 p.m.
• Loop at 5:11 a.m. (from Clark/Lake) to 54th/Cermak

December 14, Thursday: Blue Line
At 3:13 p.m., depart from O’Hare to Forest Park.

• At 4:57 p.m., Forest Park to O’Hare

December 15, Friday: Blue Line
At 4:13 p.m., depart from O’Hare to Forest Park.

• At 6:02 p.m., Forest Park to O’Hare

Saturday, December 16: Santa photos and the Blue Line
– Illinois Medical District at 3:52 p.m. to Forest Park

• At 3:53 p.m., Forest Park to O’Hare

On Thursday, December 21, the following trains will run on the Yellow Line: the 2-car Holiday Trains from Howard to 7:07 and the Skokie Swift Bird from 3:08 to 6:53.

CTA Holiday Bus Schedule for 2023

December 12th: Archer #62
December 13–14: #X49 Western Express / #49 Western

3 King Drive, December 15–16

December 19: Stony Island #79 79th; December 20: #28
December 21: State #29
December 22: Jeffrey Jump, #J14