ENRide Fare-Free on the 2026 SacRT Holiday Bus
SacRT Presents: BOOKED FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Give a book. Take a ride. Share a story.
December 1, 2026 – January 2, 2027
This holiday season, the SacRT Holiday Bus is giving the gift of reading.
The SacRT Holiday Bus is rolling through Sacramento with holiday cheer, free rides and a special mission – help put more books into the hands of local children.
SacRT is partnering with the Friends of the Sacramento Public Library for Booked for the Holidays, a community-wide campaign to collect new and gently used children’s books for children throughout our region.
Our goal is simple: Help us fill the Holiday Bus with stories.
Bring a children’s book to a designated donation event or collection location, spot the Holiday Bus on your route and hop aboard for a fare-free ride when the Holiday Bus is operating on your bus route.
Because a bus can take you somewhere.
A book can take you anywhere.
Ride the Holiday Bus FARE-FREE
The Holiday Bus is more than a festive sight, it’s your fare-free ride to holiday cheer!
Starting Tuesday, December 1, the decorated SacRT Holiday Bus will travel throughout the Sacramento region on different routes during the holiday season.
When you see the SacRT Holiday Bus operating on your bus route, hop aboard and enjoy a fare-free ride.
Riders have the opportunity to donate their fare directly to the Friends of the Sacramento Library by donating cash in the fare box or scanning the QR code onboard.
See the Holiday Bus & Join a Book Donation Drive!
Join SacRT throughout December for special Booked for the Holidays events!
Bring a new or gently used children’s book to a donation drive and help us fill the Holiday Bus with stories for local children.
Tuesday, December 1 | 10 a.m. – noon
Holiday Bus Launch & Book Donation Drive
📍 Book Den
8250 Belvedere Avenue, Suite E, Sacramento
Celebrate the launch of the SacRT Holiday Bus and kick off our monthlong book donation campaign! Bring a children’s book to donate, learn about Booked for the Holidays and see the festive Holiday Bus.
Saturday, December 5 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Rancho Cordova Certified Farmers’ Market
📍 Sunrise Station
Folson Blvd & Sunrise Blvd, Rancho Cordova
Stop by the Rancho Cordova Certified Farmers’ Market at Sunrise Station to see the SacRT Holiday Bus and support our mission to put more books into the hands of local children.
Plus, enjoy special book readings by SacRT Board members and a local Girl Scout troop as we celebrate the joy of reading and the spirit of giving.
Donate Children's Books
Can’t make it to an event? You can still help us reach our goal of collecting 1,000 children’s books for Sacramento-area kids!
Drop off new or gently used children’s books at either of these designated collection locations during their operating hours:
Book Den
8250 Belvedere Avenue, Suite E, Sacramento
Book Donations on Wednesday and Saturdays 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
*Closed on Dec. 26
SacRT Customer Service and Sales Center
1225 R Street, Sacramento
Adjacent to the 13th Street Station
Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
*Closed on Dec. 25 and Jan 1
BOOKED FOR THE HOLIDAYS
This year, the SacRT Holiday Bus has a story to tell.
The bus has been transformed into a giant storybook on wheels complete with holiday magic.
Give a book. Take a ride. Share a story.
Follow the Holiday Bus throughout December and join us as we collect books for local children.
Ride → Read → Donate → Share
Our Community Partner
Friends of the Sacramento Public Library
SacRT is proud to partner with the Friends of the Sacramento Public Library for Booked for the Holidays.
Friends of the Sacramento Public Library are the volunteers and supporters in our community who advocate on behalf of, and provide funding for, Library programs and services at all Sacramento Library branches.
The Book Den is the Friends’ all-volunteer used bookstore and warehouse, full of thousands of stories at greatly discounted prices for you and your family to discover! All purchases support Friends’ mission to enhance services at our local libraries. The Book Den also provides donated books to hospitals, children’s health facilities, classroom and school libraries.
Beyond the Book Den, Friends’ programs put books into the hands of early readers! In partnership with the Sacramento Public Library, Friends raise funds for the Book First and Summer Reading programs, providing free books to 1st graders, and encouraging reading for all.
Help Us Fill the Holiday Bus
We’re setting a goal of 1,000 children’s books for Sacramento-area kids.
Every book makes a difference.
We’ll share our progress throughout the campaign so you can see how the Sacramento community is coming together.
A Special Story for Sacramento
The Holiday Bus has inspired a story of its own!
This holiday season, SacRT created an original children’s picture book, All Aboard the SacRT Bus, a fun children’s book celebrating the people, places and adventures that make our community special.
Follow the SacRT bus as it travels around the Sacramento area, visiting the California State Capitol, the beautiful McKinley Park Rose Garden, a local library and the Sacramento Zoo. Along the way, young readers can discover new places, spark their imaginations and see how public transportation connects people to the places they love.
Designed for young readers and families, this colorful storybook includes a special sticker page so children can bring the adventure to life!
The All Abord SacRT Bus book will be available at the Holiday Bus Book Donation Drive events.
All Aboard for Story Time!
This holiday season, SacRT’s frontline team is sharing stories!
As part of our Booked for the Holidays campaign, we’re featuring a special video series starring the people who keep our region moving. Watch SacRT bus operators, train operators and Transit Ambassadors read their favorite transit-themed children’s books and bring stories about buses, trains and adventures to life.
These story times celebrate the joy of reading, the people behind your ride and the important role public transportation plays in connecting our communities.
Check back for more videos throughout the holiday season.
