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Media Contacts:
Stephen Crano | scrano@choosechicago.com | (312) 567-8505
Meryl Vissel | mvissel@choosechicago.com

Extension announced during Choose Chicago’s All for the Love of Chicago Roundtable: South Side Field Trip, as more than 200 tourism leaders experience South Side destinations

Chicago, IL (September 2, 2026) — Choose Chicago, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), and Big Bus Tours Chicago today reaffirmed their shared commitment to helping visitors and residents discover Chicago’s South Side, announcing that the Chicago South Side & Presidential Center Shuttle will continue operating through December 31, 2026.

The announcement was made in conjunction with Choose Chicago’s All for the Love of Chicago Roundtable: South Side Field Trip, where tourism and hospitality leaders experienced firsthand the kind of exploration the shuttle is designed to support. Launched in June ahead of the Obama Presidential Center’s opening, the shuttle offers a convenient, low-cost way to move between downtown Chicago and the South Side’s cultural destinations, with Choose Chicago and DCASE’s continued investment helping to remove barriers to that discovery by keeping the $10 one-way fare within reach.

“The response to our Big Bus partnership has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re thrilled to extend it as Chicago welcomes visitors from around the world for the festive holiday season,” said Kristen Reynolds, President & CEO of Choose Chicago. “The bus provides an important connection between downtown and the incredible attractions on Chicago’s South Side, while also bringing our ‘Never Done, Never Outdone’ and ‘All for the Love of Chicago’ brands to life across the city. It’s a highly visible way to showcase the energy, diversity, and experiences that make Chicago such a special destination for visitors and residents alike.”

Retracing the Shuttle’s Route

More than 200 tourism and hospitality industry stakeholders spent the day experiencing some of the same cultural attractions, venues, and local businesses that the shuttle is built to support. Traveling by Big Bus Double Decker buses, the group visited the Ramova Theatre in Bridgeport, The Silver Room in Hyde Park, Bronzeville Winery in Bronzeville, and Red Clay Dance Company in Woodlawn, before reconvening at the Obama Presidential Center for a tour and reception.

The Field Trip is part of Choose Chicago’s quarterly All for the Love of Chicago Roundtable series, which unites tourism and hospitality partners around shared messaging, opportunities, and strategies for growing Chicago’s visitor economy.

Seasonal Upgrade: Protective Canopies

Beginning in mid-October, Big Bus Tours will install clear protective canopies on the upper decks of buses operating along the route. The canopies will let passengers continue enjoying panoramic views from the top deck through the cooler months while shielding them from wind and seasonal elements.

“We are thrilled to continue offering this service to bring more passengers to South Side destinations,” said John Curran, Senior Vice President of Big Bus Tours Chicago. “Maintaining the same daily schedule provides consistency for visitors, locals, and our travel partners, while the addition of protective canopies will allow passengers to comfortably take in the city from our signature upper decks throughout the fall and early winter.”

Pricing and Access

Tickets will continue to be available for $10 one way and $17 for an all-day pass. Choose Chicago and DCASE’s investment in the partnership helps keep the service affordable and accessible to visitors and residents. Tickets and additional information are available at BigBusTours.com.

“Chicago’s South Side is home to some of our city’s most prominent cultural institutions, creative communities and neighborhoods, each contributing to the story of who we are and what makes Chicago unlike any other city,” said DCASE Commissioner Kenya K. Merritt. “Extending this collaboration demonstrates the power of cultural investment as an economic driver, community activation and connection that establishes Chicago as a world-class destination.”

The extension supports Choose Chicago’s broader efforts to ensure that the benefits of Chicago’s visitor economy reach communities throughout the city.

The Chicago South Side & Presidential Center Shuttle operates daily, with stops at:

  • Chicago Riverwalk: 98 E. Wacker Drive
  • Obama Presidential Center and Jackson Park: 6001 S. Stony Island Avenue
  • Griffin Museum of Science and Industry: 5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive

Downtown departures occur approximately every 30 to 45 minutes between 9:30am. and 2:30pm. Trips take approximately 25 – 30 minutes each way. Museum admissions are not included with a shuttle ticket and must be purchased separately. Advance shuttle ticket purchases are recommended.

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ABOUT CHOOSE CHICAGO

Choose Chicago is the official destination marketing organization responsible for promoting Chicago as a global tourism and meetings destination—the city that’s Never Done, Never Outdone. Choose Chicago leverages the city’s unmatched assets to enrich the community by attracting meetings, events, and more than 55 million annual visitors, generating over $20 billion in economic impact. Follow @ChooseChicago and tag #NeverOutdoneChi on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X/Twitter. For more information, visit choosechicago.com.

ABOUT CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND SPECIAL EVENTS

The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) supports artists and cultural organizations, invests in Chicago’s creative economy, and expands access to and participation in the arts throughout the city’s 77 neighborhoods. As a collaborative cultural presenter, arts funder, and advocate for creative workers, DCASE engages Chicagoans and visitors of all ages and backgrounds, from downtown to neighborhoods across the city, to strengthen and celebrate Chicago. DCASE produces some of the city’s most iconic festivals, markets, events and exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park and in communities throughout Chicago, serving a local and global audience of 25 million people. The Department offers cultural grants and resources, manages public art, supports film, television and other creative industries, and permits special events throughout Chicago. For details, visit Chicago.gov/DCASE and stay connected via our newsletters and social media.

ABOUT BIG BUS TOURS CHICAGO

Operating in Chicago since 2015, Big Bus Chicago has carried millions of travelers. Big Bus Tours is the world’s largest operator of open-top sightseeing experiences, inspiring the spirit of adventure in 29 world-famous cities across four continents. Tickets can be purchased online at www.bigbustours.com. Individual tickets (3 yrs and up) for Chicago South Side & Presidential Shuttle begin at $10.00. Advance ticket purchases are recommended.