Picture the whole family in pajamas, trains rolling through a museum glowing with Christmas lights, and Santa calling your child’s name to hand them a keepsake bell they’ll pull out every Christmas. That’s the Polar Experience at TrainTastic in Gulfport, Mississippi. It runs on five December evenings, Sunday, December 6, Thursday, December 10, Sunday, December 13, Thursday, December 17, and Sunday, December 20, from 5:30 to 8:00 PM. Kids ages 1 to 12 are $30, guests 13 and up are $20, and it’s a fan favorite that sells out fast, with the weekend nights going first.
Reserve your Polar Experience night
What Will Your Night Look Like?
Here’s the idea. You show up in your coziest pajamas. Somebody gets a hot cocoa. The kids spot the trains and take off.
Over the evening, your family can ride the train, including the outdoor one, slide around the floor in socks, make a holiday craft, toast a s’more, and visit Santa. The museum is decked out with Christmas lights, and the whole night has an easy, unhurried feel. Nobody’s rushing you from one thing to the next.
Then comes the part kids talk about for days. At 6:00 PM, Santa starts the bell ceremony and calls each child by name to receive a keepsake bell. After that, you’re free to pick up wherever you left off, with more train rides, another craft, or a family photo.
You’ll even leave with a free 6×8 photo of your family, plus all of the digital photos, so the night comes home with you.
When Is the Polar Experience in 2026?
There are five nights this year:
- Sunday, December 6
- Thursday, December 10
- Sunday, December 13
- Thursday, December 17
- Sunday, December 20
Every night runs from 5:30 to 8:00 PM at TrainTastic, 615 Pass Road, Gulfport, MS 39501.
The dates land on Sundays and Thursdays, so they don’t compete with Holiday Lights, which runs on Fridays and Saturdays. If your weekends are packed with parties and school programs, a Thursday might be the easiest fit. If Sunday is your best day, don’t wait. Weekend dates go first.
What’s Included With the Polar Experience?
Your ticket turns TrainTastic into a full holiday night:
- Christmas light displays
- Train rides, including the outdoor train
- Sock skating
- Hot cocoa and s’mores
- Holiday crafts
- A visit with Santa
- Santa’s bell ceremony, with a keepsake bell for each child who takes part
- A free 6×8 photo for your family, plus all of the digital photos
Pick your night and book tickets
Who Needs Which Ticket?
Tickets are based on age, so it’s easy to figure out before you book:
- Ages 1 to 12: $30. Their ticket covers the keepsake bell, the crafts, and their spot in Santa’s bell ceremony.
- Ages 13 and up: $20.
- Infants who take part: $10. This covers the keepsake, the crafts, and the bell ceremony, so your baby gets the same moment as everyone else.
- Infants who aren’t taking part: Free. They’re welcome to come along, but they won’t receive a keepsake, do the crafts, or join the bell ceremony.
If you want the photo, the bell, and the memory for your baby, the $10 ticket is worth it. If your little one will be napping in the stroller all night, the free option works just fine. Members receive a discount, so check your member rate when you book.
Have a question about a ticket, or a guest who needs a little extra help taking part? Call TrainTastic at 228-284-5731 and the team will be glad to help.
What Should You Wear?
Pajamas. This is the one night out where pajamas are the dress code, and it’s a big part of why the evening feels so relaxed for everyone, parents included. Matching family sets, onesies, robes, and fuzzy slippers all fit right in.
A few practical things to remember:
- Bring socks you can slide in. Sock skating is part of the night, and grippy socks are a good idea for little ones.
- Layer up a little. The museum is comfortable, but the outdoor train can feel chilly on a December evening.
- Pick shoes that slip off easily. You’ll be taking them off and putting them back on a few times.
- Keep your phone charged. The free photo is great, but you’ll want your own candid shots too.
Why Do Families Make the Polar Experience a Yearly Tradition?
Because it gives you something December rarely does, which is a night with nowhere else to be. There’s no shopping list, no gift to wrap, and no rushing. Just your family, a few trains, and a Santa who knows your kid’s name.
It’s also easy to plan. You pick a night, put on your pajamas, and show up. For many families, the keepsake bell becomes part of the holiday routine, something kids look forward to getting each year. And for families with out-of-town relatives visiting, it’s an easy way to share a Gulf Coast tradition without coordinating a complicated itinerary.
How Is the Polar Experience Different From Holiday Lights?
Both events are evening holiday celebrations at TrainTastic, and both have lights, trains, Santa, and crafts. They just feel different.
Holiday Lights is about the display. More than 2 million twinkling lights fill the museum, and you can wander through at your own pace. It’s $25 per person and runs on Fridays and Saturdays in December, plus December 26.
The Polar Experience is about the tradition. It has the bell ceremony, a keepsake for each child, s’mores, and a free family photo, and everyone’s in their pajamas. Kids are the stars of the evening here, and the ticket structure reflects that.
If you want a flexible night out with a big wow factor, go with Holiday Lights. If you want something your kids will look forward to every year, pick the Polar Experience. Lots of families do both.
Which Night Should You Pick?
Here’s a quick way to decide:
- Sunday, December 6: A great kickoff to the season, and an easy way to start your holiday traditions early.
- Thursday, December 10: A weeknight option if weekends are packed.
- Sunday, December 13: A weekend date, so plan to book early.
- Thursday, December 17: A weeknight just over a week before Christmas, handy if your weekends are already full.
- Sunday, December 20: The Sunday right before Christmas, so book early if you want this one.
If you aren’t sure, think about your family’s rhythm. A Thursday works well if you’d rather avoid weekend crowds. A Sunday works well if you like to end the weekend with something special.
Is the Polar Experience Good for Toddlers and Little Kids?
Yes, and it’s one of the best holiday events for them. The pace is relaxed, and nobody is rushing you from one thing to the next.
A couple of tips for families with toddlers:
- Plan the nap. The event runs from 5:30 to 8:00 PM, so an earlier nap can make a big difference.
- Arrive early. It gives little ones time to settle in before the bell ceremony at 6:00 PM.
- Take breaks. There’s a lot going on. A quiet moment by the trains can help everyone reset.
Can Grandparents and Extended Family Come?
Absolutely, and they’ll probably love it. Anyone ages 13 and up pays the adult rate of $20, so grandparents, aunts, uncles, and family friends are all welcome. Just remember that everyone attending needs a ticket, so count your whole group before you book.
How Do You Book?
Use the Register Now button on the Polar Experience event page to pick your date and buy tickets. This is a separate event ticket, and regular museum admission doesn’t cover it.
These nights fill up, and weekend dates go first, so book as early as you can. If you have questions about tickets before you buy, call TrainTastic at 228-284-5731 or email marketing@traintastic.com.
What Else Is Happening at TrainTastic This December?
The Polar Experience is part of a busy holiday calendar:
- Holiday Lights: December 4, 5, 11, 18, 19, and 26 ($25 per person)
- Gingerbread Express with Santa: December 19, 10 AM to 12 PM ($40 add-on for up to four)
- The Conductor’s Ball Presented by The Mueller Family: December 12, for ages 21 and over
- Tykes & Trains: December 8, for ages 4 and under
TrainTastic is closed on December 24 and 25.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Polar Experience at TrainTastic?
It’s a pajama-friendly holiday evening at TrainTastic in Gulfport, MS, with Christmas lights, train rides, sock skating, crafts, hot cocoa, s’mores, a visit with Santa, and a bell ceremony where each participating child receives a keepsake bell.
When is the Polar Experience in 2026?
December 6, 10, 13, 17, and 20, from 5:30 to 8:00 PM. The dates are Sundays and Thursdays.
How much does the Polar Experience cost?
Ages 1 to 12 are $30 and ages 13 and up are $20. Infants are free if they aren’t taking part, or $10 if they are. Members receive a discount.
What’s the difference between participating and non-participating guests?
Participating children and infants receive a keepsake bell, do the crafts, and join the Santa bell ceremony. Guests who aren’t participating, such as an infant who doesn’t have the $10 ticket, can still come along, but they don’t get a keepsake, crafts, or a place in the ceremony.
What age is a child ticket?
Child tickets are for ages 1 to 12 at $30. Anyone 13 and older pays the $20 rate.
Do infants need a ticket?
Infants can come in free. If you’d like your baby to receive a keepsake and take part in the bell ceremony, the cost is $10.
What time is the bell ceremony?
It starts at 6:00 PM, so plan to arrive a little early.
Should we wear pajamas?
Yes, pajamas are encouraged. Bring socks you can slide in for sock skating.
Does the Polar Experience sell out?
Yes. It’s a fan favorite that sells out fast, and weekend dates go first.
What’s the difference between the Polar Experience and Holiday Lights?
Holiday Lights is a $25-per-person evening built around more than 2 million lights, and it runs on Fridays and Saturdays. The Polar Experience is a pajama night with a bell ceremony, a keepsake for each participating child, s’mores, and a free family photo, and it runs on Sundays and Thursdays.
Ready to Make It Your Family’s Tradition?
Pajamas, trains, Santa, and a bell your kids will keep for years. Pick your night and book early, because these evenings fill fast.
