All aboard a ride on the Polar Express. Take the birthday child and his or her friends on a magical journey on a cold winter day or night.
Invitations
Make boarding pass invitations that read:
This is your boarding pass to join
[child's name]
aboard the Polar Express
Destination: North Pole!
at 6 p.m. Saturday, December 16
Costumes
Have the children come dressed in their pajamas.
Decorations
Decorate the walls to look like a winter wonderland with a scene setter. Play music from the Polar Express soundtrack. Decorate one room or area to look like the North Pole. Since you probably already have a Christmas tree and Christmas decorations, this will probably be the easiest part. Place railroad crossing balloons around the room.)
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Crafts and Activities
As children arrive, have a designated “conductor” take their tickets and escort them to the craft table where they can make pictures with rubber train stamps. Once all the children have arrived and had a chance to make a craft, have the children line up to pull the train pinata strings. Children can then munch on their goodies while watching the Polar Express movie. Later, after the cupcakes are eaten, have the children form a “train” by standing in a line and placing their hands on the hips of the child in front of them, with the birthday child in front. Lead the train to the North Pole room or area and have the birthday child sit in a special birthday seat to open presents. Have the first present be a small bell, like in the movie.
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Treats
I am in love with this railway cake pan from Williams Sonoma. Use your imagination to decorate it beforehand, or let each kid decorate a car or two at the birthday party and then they can eat their creations!
Favors
Either at the beginning or end of the birthday party, give each child a engineer cap-filled goody bag.
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 "candy cane cutouts")
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 "fuzzy tiara")
