Discover the Magic of the Polar Express + Free Printables

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Step aboard the Polar Express Holiday Tradition! Celebrate the season with this frugal, at home version of the iconic train ride! Plus, get your free tickets and Christmas lights scavenger hunt checklist!

Our Frugal Polar Express Holiday Tradition

If you’ve ever seen the movie, The Polar Express, you know that on Christmas Eve, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, while learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas. This movie has become a family favorite in our home. You can also ride a REAL Polar Express train, at most local railways. The problem? They are super expensive! Especially for our large family!

A few years ago, we created our own frugal, at home version of the iconic train ride! We watch the movie, get on our PJs, make hot chocolate, and hop aboard the Mini Van Express! We play the movie soundtrack, punch their tickets, and journey off to look at Christmas lights. This is something my 12-year-old all the way down to my toddlers enjoy. They ask every year when it’s time for the Polar Express!

A Christmas Invitation

While we don’t go on Christmas Eve, we do try to do it as close to Christmas as possible. This ensures that there will be plenty of homes decorated for Christmas.

Sometimes we will watch the movie before hand or the day before. You want them to remember what happens in the movie though, to make it more magical and exciting!

Hot Chocolate and a Golden Ticket

Hot chocolate is essential! After all, it is one of the most popular songs from the movie! I make this at home to save money, but you could also pick some up along the way! Make sure to put it in travel cups for young ones!

If you remember from the movie, there is a scene where the train conductor creates cool punches on the Golden tickets. While I don’t acquire that skill, my kids still think it’s hilarious that I try! We also play the song from the movie as they board the Mini Van Express.

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Free Polar Express Golden Tickets

Click the image below to download your free Polar Express Golden Tickets PDF!

The Journey to the North Pole

While we aren’t meeting Santa or heading to his workshop, it’s still fun to journey to the North Pole and see all the Christmas lights!

My toddlers are perfectly content just seeing the lights and taking in the sounds. However; for my older kids (and myself), we love to have a Christmas lights scavenger hunt! It makes looking at the lights that much more exciting and engaging!

Free Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt

Click the image below to download your free Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt PDF!

A Journey Home and a Lasting Memory

You don’t need to spend a ton of money to create holiday magic for your family. These trips on the Polar Express every year have become the most memorable for our children. Quite frankly, they are probably one of the cheapest things we can do this time of year.

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There you have it! Our very own frugal Polar Express Holiday Tradition! Will you hop aboard and experience the magic? Let me know down in the comments below!