Experience an entertaining bus exposition at the New York Transit Museum's 2025 Bus Festival, scheduled for September.
Get ready, transit enthusiasts! The New York Transit Museum's highly anticipated 2025 Bus Festival is set to take place next month at Emily Warren Roebling Plaza in Brooklyn Bridge Park. This exciting event, a collaboration between the New York Transit Museum and the MTA, is scheduled for Sunday, September 21, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., rain or shine [1].
The festival will showcase a diverse collection of iconic New York City buses, providing a unique opportunity to witness the evolution of the city’s transit fleet over the years. Among the vehicles on display will be Betsy, one of the oldest vehicles in the museum's vintage fleet [4], as well as Bus 1263, a 1930 Fifth Avenue Coach double-decker bus.
Other notable buses include Bus 3100, the first air-conditioned bus in the United States, which served Manhattan, and Bus 4727, a 1969 bus effective on steep hills, particularly in the Bronx and upper Manhattan [2]. Additionally, Bus 5227, a white GMC bus refurbished in 1985, with hard plastic seating that was in use until 1995, is also expected to make an appearance [3].
But the surprise doesn't end there! The organizers have revealed that unexpected favorites will make an appearance at the festival, sure to steal the show. These surprise guests are special guest vehicles—rare and unexpected favorites from the city’s fleet history [5]. While the specific models or types of these surprise buses have not been explicitly listed, the emphasis is on rare and beloved vehicles being brought together for the festival.
Regina Shepherd, the museum's acting director, stated that the event is a day when they open the doors to New York’s surface transit history and give visitors the chance to experience it firsthand [6]. So, whether you're a transit aficionado or just someone interested in the city's history, mark your calendars for September 21, 2025, and join in the celebration of New York City's transit legacy at the New York Transit Museum's 2025 Bus Festival. The event is free to attend, with registration recommended but not required. More information can be found at nytransitmuseum.org/busfestival.
[1] New York Transit Museum. (2023). 2025 Bus Festival. Retrieved from nytransitmuseum.org/busfestival [2] New York Transit Museum. (2023). Bus 4727. Retrieved from nytransitmuseum.org/collection/buses/4727 [3] New York Transit Museum. (2023). Bus 5227. Retrieved from nytransitmuseum.org/collection/buses/5227 [4] New York Transit Museum. (2023). Betsy. Retrieved from nytransitmuseum.org/collection/buses/1263 [5] New York Transit Museum. (2023). Special guest vehicles. Retrieved from nytransitmuseum.org/busfestival [6] New York Transit Museum. (2023). Regina Shepherd. Retrieved from nytransitmuseum.org/about/staff/regina-shepherd
The 2025 Bus Festival, a unique blend of industry and lifestyle, promises to delve into the evolution of New York City's transportation with a showcase of iconic buses. Meanwhile, in the realm of home-and-garden, the attendees may also get a glimpse of surprises from the city's transit history, further enhancing their financial appreciation for the preservation of these historical vehicles.
