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Polar Play Days
Polar Play Days at The Tech Interactive is finally here!
Nov. 23 - Jan. 5
See what happens when science meets winter wonder
Welcome to Polar Play Days at The Tech Interactive! Explore the magic (and science!) of winter and the joy of the holiday season. This family-friendly event offers a blend of creative activities, hands-on experiments, and fun-filled adventures that capture the spirit of the season.
See below for all that Polar Play Days has to off(brrr!)
Note: $ = paid add-on experience. Attendees are encouraged to reserve paid experiences ahead of time to secure spots.
Winter WonderLabs
Dec. 7-8 & 14-15
Various locations
Explore the scientific wonders behind #cuddleszn. Build sweet candy structures to withstand a blizzard (but not cavities). Ask a paleontologist slash movie star your FREEZING questions. Craft your light-up snowflake that'll make even the North Pole jealous!
Featured Activities
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Molecular Meals: Holiday Dinner
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Snowstorm in a Jar |
Candy House Engineering |
Sock Skating Rink
Dec. 21 - Jan. 5
Lower Level
Slide into some serious fun at our new Sock Skating Rink! It’s a safe first skating experience for kids. Ditch the heavy skates and just rock your favorite socks!
All ages. Under 12 must be accompanied by a parent. All parties must purchase a ticket upon entry. Space limited, first come-first served.
Planned Activities
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Dec. 21 - Jan. 5 |
Time to STEAM up that festive spirit! Join us for some holiday-making fun to create custom crafts and take them home. Make your own gift wrap, create unique light-up cards, learn how to cut snowflake patterns, and more! Be sure to check out the daily schedule to see activity lists and times.
Planned DIY Activities
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Eco-Friendly Festive Garland
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Holiday Cabbage Paint
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Holiday Cookie Cutters
Design and make a custom cookie cutter so you can make your favorite cookies all winter long. |
Wrapping Paper & Stamp
Add a personal touch to your holiday gift-giving with DIY wrapping paper and stamps! |
Arctic Explorer Gear
Upper Level
Going on an Arctic expedition? You've gotta get the gear! Try on authentic cold-weather explorer gear and put it to the test under our thermal camera. Feel the warmth while learning how explorers stay cozy in extreme conditions.
All ages. Under 12 must be accompanied by a parent.
Winteractive Experiences
Various Locations
Spend time with your loved ones throughout The Tech Interactive. We've got opportunities for you and your family to relax, unwind, and enjoy the museum at your own pace.
Experiences
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Family Chill Zone
Relax from the festivities and recharge in this inviting space for a family-friendly pause during your winter adventure! |
Holiday Photo-Ops
Because who doesn’t love a good photo op for Instagram? Be sure to tag @TheTechInteractive in your posts to be featured on our channels. |
More Seasonal Hands-On Activities
NASA ICESAT-2 Pop-up
Lower Level - Space Exploration
Take a spin at ICESat-2, one of NASA's Earth Observing System, to see how scientists measure ice sheet elevation, sea ice thickness, vegetation characteristics, and more!
Festive Garland Making
Upper Level - Bio Tinkering Lab
Design and create biodegradable holiday garlands using samples of seaweed!
Science of Auroras
Upper Level - South Lab Classroom
Dive into the wild world of aurora lights, and watch in awe to see the colors and the science of the aurora come to life! It's part science, part magic, and 100% awesome.
Dry-Ice Magic
Upper Level - South Lab Classroom
Learn about the wacky science of this super cold, unique ice! Watch how dry ice freezes, bubbles, and even blow-outs candles in this chilly demonstration of winter science!
Spacesuit Explorer Gear
Lower Level, Space Exploration
In honor of the upcoming 2026 Artemis mission to the South Pole of the moon, dive into the ultimate breakdown of extreme environmental attire. Whether you're battling blizzards or braving the vacuum of space, it's all about layers, layers, and more layers!
Beat the Cold
Upper Level - Body Worlds Decoded
Do arctic animals ever get cold? Learn about the science of blubber and other animal adaptations to the harsh environment they live in. Discover how these arctic all-stars stay toasty!
Ice Castle Arctic-tecture
Lower Level - Atrium
Think you can out-design Elsa? Prove it! Step into our imagination playground and build the ice castle of your dreams! Let's see what sub-zero structures you can create.
Cozy Curiosity Corner
Lower Level - Atrium
Cozy up with a fun winter book, master Arctic-tecture and build an ice castle, or color some cute Arctic friends in this space geared towards our younger visitors and their families.
Come Chill in IMAX!
Admission to Polar Play Days includes a ticket to any of our daily documentary films in the IMAX Dome Theater. Claim your ticket at the admissions desk!
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Antarctica
Discover the mysteries of Earth's coldest, driest, and windiest continent. With never-before-seen footage, explore the farthest reaches of this majestic land where weird and wonderful creatures thrive in astounding abundance.
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Dinosaurs of Antarctica
Journey to the south polar landscapes of Antarctica hundreds of millions of years ago. Join Antarctic scientists on a quest to understand the ice continent's profound transformation and predict the future as humans drive dramatic change.
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Arctic: Our Frozen Planet
Our planet is warming, and the Arctic is changing faster than anywhere else on Earth. Narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, witness how climate change is rapidly altering this delicate ecosystem and learn how it affects us all. Explore how scientists and communities are working together to preserve this fragile wilderness for future generations.
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Blue Whales
Narrated by award-winning actor Andy Serkis, Blue Whales provides an unforgettable window into the lives these animals live – and the extremes scientists must endure to study them. Dive beneath the waves of the exotic Seychelles Islands on a high-risk mission to find a missing population of blue whales not seen in 50 years, and visit the stunning Gulf of California to explore the important role these remarkable animals play in the health of our oceans.
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Sea Lions: Life by a Whisker
Between a jagged cliff face and a roaring ocean, lives a colony of Australian Sea Lions. In an environment equally as harsh as it is beautiful, be immersed in a classic coming-of-age tale guided by one of Australia's most unique, intelligent, and playful animals. Take an intimate journey inside the colony where a life of great intimacy, tenderness, and clumsiness, must often give way to a life of great sacrifice and bravery. Dive into the world of a rare Australian Sea Lion pup – and meet the people trying to save her species. Narrated by Sam Neill