(The bus operators employed by Big Blue are members of UTU Local 1785 at Santa Monica, Calif.)

The festively wrapped 40-foot-long, clean fuel bus has become a traditional start of the holiday season in Santa Monica and other parts of Los Angeles. The holiday bus will take a different route each day around the Big Blue Bus service area to ensure as many people as possible get a chance to see it -- or ride on it -- during the holidays.

"The design of this year's bus is just spectacular, a real head turner, and we think people are going to love it," said Big Blue Bus Customer Relations Manager Dan Dawson. "We have so many people tell us they take pictures in front of the decorated bus every year with their families and friends, so the holiday bus has really become quite a nice tradition in the area."

This year's new design features a major character of the KOOZA show poised against a backdrop of vivid purple, gently falling snowflakes and brightly wrapped red presents. The tagline exclaims, "There has never been a better time to dream."

Cirque du Soleil plans to charter the holiday bus for a special promotional tour around Los Angeles on Nov. 27, one day before the official rollout. Scheduled stops include ICE at Santa Monica from 11 a.m. to noon, the Santa Monica Pier from noon to 12:45 p.m. as well as a stop at Hollywood and Highland from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. According to tour management, KOOZA-themed representatives will hand out candy canes and holiday cards promoting the holiday production of KOOZA, now playing at the Santa Monica Pier until Dec. 20.

The Big Blue Bus transports more than 80,000 passengers a day around its large service area, which includes Santa Monica, Culver City, downtown Los Angeles, Brentwood, Mar Vista, Marina del Rey, Pacific Palisades, Palms, Playa del Rey Playa Vista, Venice, Cheviot Hills, Rancho Park, Century City, Westchester and Westwood.

For more information about the Big Blue Bus, visit www.bigbluebus.com.