Are you ready to get into the holiday spirit? Snuggle up in your favorite PJs and head to the Indiana State Museum to watch The Polar Express IMAX 3D. A festive pajama party and special screenings of the cherished holiday classic will run from December 6-19, 2024. This season, affordable combo tickets will be available allowing one adult and one child to participate for $20. Once you’ve experienced the amazing Polar Express in IMAX and 3D, ride the amazing train at the Indiana State Museum’s Celebration Crossing and take part in the fun holiday activities throughout the museum.
Watch The Polar Express IMAX 3D
The Polar Express is one of those movies that has it all. Action, adventure, suspense, hot cocoa on a train chugging along through the snow and over bridges, a visit to the North Pole and into Santa’s toy-making factory, elves, reindeer, and a little bit of magic. It’s the perfect movie to get into the holiday spirit.
Have you ever watched The Polar Express IMAX 3D? It’s a whole experience and one you’ll never forget! On select mornings in December, the Indiana State Museum’s IMAX Theater will host their annual Polar Pajama Parties where young moviegoers are invited to come dressed in their favorite pajamas with their families to watch the show.
The Polar Express IMAX 3D Tickets & Showtimes
Affordable combo tickets admit one adult and one child for $20. The Polar Express IMAX 3D is rated G and has a run time of 102 minutes. Showtimes are at 11:15 am on select dates in December:
December 6-12, 14-17, and 19
“Seasonal movies are at the center of a lot of family traditions,” said Neale Johantgen, IMAX theater manager. “We are a destination for good films and family experiences, and we’re happy to continue the Polar Pajama Party tradition.”
Indiana State Museum
The IMAX Theater is located on the first floor of the Indiana State Museum at 650 W. Washington Street in Indianapolis. Admission to the museum is not required to attend a movie at the IMAX Theater. The Polar Express IMAX 3D theatergoers can enjoy validated parking in the White River State Park parking garage. To view the ever-updating list of films and to purchase tickets visit http://www.imaxindy.com.
Ride the Snowfall Express at Celebration Crossing
Families can enjoy train ride-fun with the Polar Express IMAX 3D and stay for a day of festive holiday activities at the Indiana State Museum’s Celebration Crossing featuring a 4½-minute train ride called the Snowfall Express. The ADA-accessible 18-passenger train will transport visitors through a forest where Indiana’s animals past and present are preparing for winter’s first snowfall. You’ll encounter critters putting on their warm winter clothes, baking cozy meals, and enjoying winter sports. You might even get snowed on!
Celebration Crossing continues throughout the museum with entertainment, games, and activities. Families can visit and take photos with Santa inside Santa’s House. This is the best place to take photos with Santa, in my opinion. It is inside a beautifully decorated house and they only let one family in at a time. A professional photographer takes photos that you can purchase, but will also take photos for you with your phone if you do not want to purchase a package. The Indiana State Museum is also where you will have the opportunity to visit with a Black Santa or a sensory-friendly Santa on certain days.
Kids love exploring the Reindeer Barn and Santa’s Front Yard where they’ll learn all about Rudolph and his famous friends and be able to groom a stuffed reindeer. Children can join in for story time with North Pole elves and enjoy the sounds of the season as community choirs, bands, ensembles, and soloists perform holiday music. There are several other events and experiences, including a sensory-friendly afternoon. Visit the Indiana State Museum website to learn more.
Admission to the Indiana State Museum must be purchased to visit Celebration Crossing and the rest of the museum. Additional White River State Park area activities include a stroll along the canal and a light display on the Central Canal walk from Old Washington Street Bridge to Celebration Plaza.
The Polar Express Book
Before you head in for the special screening of The Polar Express IMAX 3D, read the famous book together at home. The beloved children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg tells the story of a doubting young boy who takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole. He embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.
If you want to gift the movie tickets to your children, you could couple it with the silver bell from the book or a cookie and mug from the famous hot chocolate scene. You might even prepare by finding some matching pajamas.
The movie is rated G, but The Polar Express IMAX 3D may not be for every child. The movie can be very loud, some scenes may be frightening, and your child may not like wearing 3D glasses. Also, there is no closed captioning available for the screening. If you haven’t watched the movie yet and aren’t sure if this experience is for you, rent the movie to watch at home first. The movie, directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks, is wonderful but can feel dark and scary to very young children.
Train Fun in Indy
Do you have a child who loves everything trains? After watching the Polar Express IMAX 3D and riding on the Snowfall Express, look into more train-themed fun in Indianapolis. There are tons of great places to ride on a real train in Central Indiana. You can even ride a Polar Express-themed train for an evening of fun this winter. For the ultimate train experience, sleep in a real train car at the Union Station Train Hotel in Indianapolis! The hotel features a swimming pool and hotel rooms in converted train cars and is in the heart of downtown Indianapolis.
The holidays are fast approaching! Get into the holiday spirit with a hot cup of cocoa, like in The Polar Express, and serve with popcorn if you’re watching the movie at home. Check out these unique popcorn recipes to try!
If you’re looking for other winter activity ideas, check out nearby skiing and snowboarding slopes. For an epic adventure closer to home, visit the Ice at Carter Green for outdoor ice skating in Carmel, check out a local sledding hill, pick one of our 100 winter break activity recommendations, or think about all of the other ways to play in the snow and places to play in the snow in Indianapolis. Need ideas of things to do when snowed in? Take your pick from these 100+ indoor fun ideas to do with kids.
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Do you love The Polar Express book and movie? Have you experienced The Polar Express IMAX 3D at the Indiana State Museum before? Share your comments and pictures with us below or tag us on social media using #PLAYindy. Follow Indy with Kids on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest for all of the best ideas and things to do with kids in Indy!
