Climb aboard a 1931 front-engine double-decker, explore the heroic 9/11 commuter cruiser ‘Pamela,’ and enter to win a $100 museum membership during this transit celebration.
Source / New York Transit Museum
The New York Transit Museum and MTA New York City Transit are bringing the 2026 Bus Festival to Brooklyn Bridge Park.
You can climb aboard and explore the amazing evolution of NYC’s transit history. Expect fun activities for all ages and a chance to meet the transit heroes who keep our city moving.
Plus, you can snap a picture-perfect photo of these vintage vehicles with the Manhattan skyline as your backdrop.
The festival is completely free. It runs rain or shine, so you can easily plan your weekend around it.
Meet the vintage fleet
Source / New York Transit Museum
You will get to see some of the most iconic vehicles in NYC transit history up close. Highlights of the festival include:
“Betsy” (1931): This is one of the oldest vehicles in the vintage fleet. Bus 1263 is a front-engine double-deck bus that remained in Manhattan passenger service until 1947.
Bus #3100 (1956): Manufactured by General Motors, this was the first air-conditioned bus in the United States! It features 1950s innovations like soft cushioned seats, fluorescent lighting, and a push-type rear exit.
Bus #9098 (1958): This was the first model to sport a two-tone green exterior. Likened to a loaf of sandwich bread, it was the first bus in NYC equipped with sliding windows and fiberglass seats.
Bus #4727 (1969): Purchased for their ability to handle the Bronx’s steep hills, these buses were dependable workhorses. Today, it is beautifully restored to its iconic 1970s blue livery.
Bus #5227 (1971): Part of the General Motors “New Look” fleet. After a complete rebuild in Chicago during the 1980s, these updated models became known as “Blitz Buses.”
“Pamela” (2001): To commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11, this MCI Commuter Cruiser will be on display. Badly damaged at the World Trade Center, it was rebuilt and now bears a special memorial livery featuring American flags.
What to know before you go
📅 September 19, 2026, from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm.
📍 Emily Warren Roebling Plaza in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
🎟️ Free! Advance registration is encouraged but not required. If you register early, you will be entered into a raffle to win a Dual/Household Membership to the Museum—a $100 value!