Ho, Ho, Ho, Everyone Smiled as Elves Rappelled from the Roof Top to Guide Santa to the World’s Biggest Children's Museum in a Real Race Car
Indianapolis, IN (PRWEB) November 25, 2018 -- There were no reindeer paws to signal the arrival of Santa Claus. Instead, it was the tap, tap, tap of Elf boots against the windows and the roar of an IndyCar engine. Three lookout elves stood watch atop the six-story Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. As soon as they spotted the bright red, IndyRacing Experience two-seater, 60-feet down the ropes they came to let everyone know that St. Nick was on his way.
Children and families filled the grounds in front of the world’s largest children’s museum to greet the Jolly Old Elf and his trusty rein-driver! Indy 500 pole sitter Ed Carpenter took the wheel to lead the way in his trusty Indy Racing Experience two-seat racing sleigh. He also signed autographs for the crowd.
Creamy hot cocoa was free to all visitors outside to keep them toasty warm as they waited. Inside, the crisp smell of ginger and spice filled the air at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis as the doors to the greatly anticipated Jolly Days Winter Wonderland opened. The Chorduroys singing group and the museum’s own president and CEO, Dr. Jeff Patchen, and the Ken Fary Trio delighted the crowd with sing-alongs and holiday tunes. Children and their grown-ups took turns zipping down the 47-foot-long Yule Slide while capturing the memories with their smart phones and cameras to share with family and friends on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Santa’s smart shoppers cashed in on the Black Friday discounts in The Museum Store, which gave 30% off to early birds. Everyone knows what it’s like to spend hours on end, in crowded stores with hundreds of options, and still not know what to purchase. The Children’s Museum has a solution with Kid-Tested, Kid-Approved. 30 of this year’s top-rated toys flooded testing tables for children to cuddle, bounce, build, and enjoy. Then the experts (kids) voted on their favorites. A list is available at The Children’s Museum Store for those who want to pick the perfect gift.
There was even a visit from the Snow Queen as part of a professional theatrical performance in the museum’s own Lilly Theater. Free with admission, visitors were treated to the performance that is a fun, loose adaptation of the fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson. When her best friend is kidnapped by the evil, Snow Queen, 12-year-old Gerda sets off on a quest to rescue him. With the help of a troll and an elf, Gerda is on a quest to find him before his heart freezes forever. The play continues through the holidays.
Jolly Days Winter Wonderland will be open through January 6, 2019. Families can visit Santa through Dec. 24, 2018. While in the exhibit, experience faux fishing, sock skating and pretend baking. There’s also a castle to climb and a magical snow globe that helps visitors let it snow with the push of a button. Jolly Days is presented by Riley Children’s Health and supported by Subway.
The Children’s Museum will offer free admission to good little girls and boys and their grownups on December 24, 2018. Please note the museum is open that day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be plenty of programming during this festive time so that families can always experience something new. Earn elf ears, participate in “snow ball” fights, sing along with The Mistletoes, and talk to animated winter characters. The free admission day is presented by Target and supported by Geico.
Don’t forget to mark calendars for December 31, 2018 for a family-friendly countdown to 2019. Countdown to Noon is a fun way for the entire family to celebrate with confetti, live music, costumed characters and New Year’s glasses.
Kim Harms, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, http://www.childrensmuseum.org, 317-809-5203, [email protected]
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