Grab your ticket and climb aboard! The dulcet tones of Tom Hanks and the heartwarming lesson of believing in magic have brought light and wonder to the Christmas season for almost twenty years now with The Polar Express. This holiday season, throw a soiree everyone will love with these Polar Express party ideas.
If you’ve ever stayed up late on Christmas Eve waiting for that telltale train whistle, dreaming of being whisked away in your pajamas to visit where the magic happens, then a Polar Express theme party may be just the ticket. You’ll be able to add that whimsical touch to you or your child’s birthday party, or an extra-festive Christmas party.
Here are our top ideas for a Polar Express party:
Host In Your Living Room
You can’t go wrong with your own living room. You’ll have the freedom to really go all out with your Polar Express party decorations – some ideas are listed below. The living room is the ideal setting for this cozy party: you and your guests can truly relax and enjoy the festivities, and you can even watch the movie itself with a steaming hot chocolate in hand.
Book a Visit from Santa
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What guest could be more special than Father Christmas himself? He’s beloved by children and adults worldwide and teaches us all about the magic of Christmas. Why not arrange to have Santa drop by your party?
Find a Santa
Polar Express Theme Party Ideas
Train Ticket Invitations
You can’t forget to show the conductor your ticket! You can impress your guests before they even arrive with these charming invitations. The front will show the ticket’s signature gold lettering, while the back will hold all the important details.
Pajamas Only Dress Code
Photo: Evgeny Atamanenko/shutterstock.com
The children aboard the Polar Express wear strictly pajamas, and what could be more cozy? Join in the fun and break out your favorite bathrobe and fluffy slippers to really get in the spirit.
Polar Express Party Decoration Ideas
A Snowy Wonderland
To evoke the true North Pole experience, deck the halls with the appropriate wintry look. It isn’t too time-consuming: with a few staples, white felt, scissors, and glitter spray, your home will be transformed into Santa’s homeland, replete with dangling icicles and snowdrifts.
Train Track Tape
You can turn your floor into a twisting train track with just a roll of painter’s tape and some determination. These can be used for party games, or just as a fun decoration; details can be added as you please, from painted signs to railroad crossings. A stool can become a bridge for the kids to climb over, while a pop-up tunnel makes a handy railway tunnel.
Polar Express Movie Backdrop
Photo: Mabelle Art Studio/shutterstock.com
Print or order a backdrop (like this one from Amazon) and use it as a photo booth area. Whether you make your own photo booth, or hire a photo booth vendor, these pictures can double as a party favor.
Polar Express Theme Games and Activities
Visit a Real-life Train Carriage
For a more authentic experience, you can make a day of it and catch the train. Aspen Crossing offers a Polar Express experience during the festive season, including a golden ticket, hot chocolate, a delicious cookie, and a tinkling silver bell. You can also avail of the Polar Express service by the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad for a very special day out.
Trackless Trains
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A staple of Christmas markets, this will add an extra special touch to your party. If you live on a quiet street or have access to a park, this is sure to be a winner with the train enthusiasts among your guests.
Snow Shoveling
This game needs only enthusiasm and craft supplies to pull off. Each player has a spoon and two bowls, one empty and one filled with white pom poms. The aim of the game is to race against the clock to spoon all the pom poms from one bowl to the other while holding the spoon in your mouth. No hands!
Conductor Says
This game also puts a thematic spin on a party classic. Simply follow the same rules as ‘Simon Says’ and have fun!
Scavenger Hunt
There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned scavenger hunt. Your guests can follow clues and find prizes along the way as they search for the North Pole, where the ultimate prize of your choosing is stashed away.
Polar Express Party Food Ideas
Christmas Tree Brownies
Photo: Nina Firsova/shutterstock.com
Simply follow your favorite brownie recipe and cut them into triangles once cooled. Drizzle with green frosting or dip it entirely, and let your guests decorate them as they choose!
Festive Cookies
From reindeer to elves, you can let your imagination run wild with either a reliable sugar cookie recipe or some spiced Christmas cookies. As bells are an important part of the Polar Express magic, you can jazz up some bell cookies with edible silver paint.
‘Coal’ Truffles
With a simple mixture of Oreo cookies and cream cheese, you can whip these crowd-pleasers up in no time. Dust with crumbled Oreos and cocoa powder for an extra-authentic look. Like the coal fuels the steam train, these tasty truffles will fuel your guests.
Train Sandwiches
For the simplest of train-themed foods, you can prepare a selection of sandwiches with your favorite fillings and, with a train cookie cutter, turn them into a novelty snack!
Polar Express Party Drink Ideas
Hot Chocolate
Photo: Edalin Photography/shutterstock.com
The silky, rich sweetness of hot chocolate continues to be a favorite, and the hot chocolate dance in The Polar Express is my personal favorite scene. Feel free to customize as you wish, adding peppermint or cinnamon for a special twist.
Alternatively, you can make hot chocolate bombs ahead of time, filled with marshmallows, edible glitter, and of course, plenty of chocolate.
Cranberry Apple Cider
There’s nothing like hot cider to warm you up on long winter evenings. This recipe puts a cranberry spin on the classic apple cider that will bring an extra Christmassy feel to your party. You can also make it in a crock pot to keep that festive scent in the air.
Eggnog
What could be more of a classic than eggnog? This sweet, thick drink is Christmas in a cup, lightly spiced and smooth.
Find more holiday party ideas here on The Bash.
