Free rides to the Dec. 8 Macy's Holidazzle Parade

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – (Dec. 4) – Need a lift to Macy’s Holidazzle? As the parade’s main sponsor the night of Saturday, Dec. 8, Metro Transit is offering free rides on its buses and trains to Macy’s Holidazzle, where polar explorer and environmentalist Will Steger will serve as grand marshal.

At the parade, Metro Transit will feature one of its new Go Greener hybrid-electric buses, along with the holiday Twinkle Bus, which is decked out for the season in some 20,000 lights and snowflake-covered hubcaps.

Metro Transit's Twinkle bus is featured in the Holidazzle parade.

The holiday tradition begins at 6:30 p.m. Free rides will be offered between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Metro Transit buses and trains, as well as Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA) buses.

“Macy’s Holidazzle parade is one of the area’s most popular events, and taking the bus or train means you don’t have to navigate downtown streets or pay for parking,” said Metro Transit Marketing Director Bruce Howard. “In addition, four hours of free rides will give families free time before and after the parade to dine, shop and enjoy downtown Minneapolis,” he said.

Dozens of Metro Transit bus routes and the Hiawatha light-rail line offer frequent service to downtown Minneapolis.

To find out which route to take, customers can use the interactive trip planner at metrotransit.org. Route and schedule information also is available at 612-373-3333. Customers who know their route and just need departure times can call TransitLine, a 24-hour automated schedule info line, at 612-341-4287.

Macy’s Holidazzle event information is available at macysholidazzle.com.

Metro Transit is a service of the Metropolitan Council. Customers board its trains and buses about 240,000 times each weekday.