The Polar Express surprise is a holiday tradition we started with our family a few years ago. Every year, my husband and I surprise the kids with a “ticket” to the Polar Express after dinner on a random night in December. The Polar Express is actually just my car, decorated with a reindeer nose and antlers and with twinkly lights inside. When we surprise the kids with the tickets they scream and jump up and down with excitement. Then we change into pajamas, pick up hot chocolate and drive around looking at the Christmas light displays in various neighborhoods. This year I made a printable ticket flag (you can download for free at the bottom) to make it a little more official. It is 2020 after all and we need all the magic we can get!
This is such a simple tradition that does not need to cost anything and the kids talk about all year. You may already do something similar. The first year, I packed a treat bag with chocolates and cookies and learned my lesson quickly that this wasn’t the wisest decision to fill them up with sugar and then stay in the car for a few hours (oops!). Now we fill the bag with popcorn! This could even be a fun Christmas eve tradition!
Here is what I included in my surprise this year:
- New pajamas
- Mug to fill up with hot chocolate
- Bag of popcorn
- Candy cane
- A new holiday book
- Blanket (not new)
- A pennant flag that I embellished with ribbons and yarn
Other ideas to swap out or add to the above:
- Cozy socks
- Journal and crayons to draw their favorite light displays
- Festive holiday sweater
- Light up necklace
Here is a link to download your own Polar Express flag (for personal use only):Polar Express Pennant
Please share and tag me when you print these! I love to see!
With love,
Shahla
[…] are also flags you can print (similar to the Polar Express / Boo Basket ones I made) and embellish for your party. My kids love making these themselves so it […]