Step into a season of sparkle, creativity, and play! From sock skating across our indoor rink at Sockefeller Center to meeting Santa and his merry crew, Imagine transforms into a wonderland of family fun all winter long. Enjoy festive events, hands-on art projects, live entertainment, and joyful moments around every corner. Whether you’re joining us for the Santa’s Sock-Hop Tree Lighting, sipping tea at the Nutcracker Tea, or crafting frosty masterpieces, there’s always something merry to explore at Imagine this season.
Santa’s Sock-Hop Tree Lighting
Santa’s Sock Hop & Tree Lighting
Saturday, November 29 | 6 – 8 p.m.
(Or extend your fun and join us early for the VIP Experience at 5pm!)
Kick off the winter season in true Imagine style with Santa’s Sock Hop Tree Lighting! Families are invited to celebrate the start of the holidays with a night full of winter wonder, hands-on fun, and festive cheer throughout the Museum.
VIP Experience | 5 – 6 pm at Sockefeller Center 3rd Floor
$15 Members / $42 Non-members (per person – all attendees must have VIP access)
VIP tickets include full event access: 5 – 8 p.m.!
Arrive early and enjoy an exclusive hour of holiday magic before doors open to the public!
- Cocoa & Cookie Bar – Sip, snack, and get cozy while enjoying sweet seasonal treats.
- Ornament Craft Station – Create a keepsake ornament to hang on your tree at home.
- First Skate of the Season – Be the first to glide across the Sockefeller Sock Skating Rink during the Grand Opening Ceremony.
- Call Santa from the North Pole – At 5:30, join us as we ring the bells to call Santa, who will arrive to light the Museum’s spectacular 20-foot Christmas tree!
- Live Entertainment
General Admission | 6 – 8 pm
Members are Free / $22 per person (General Admission) non-members
When the doors open, the celebration continues throughout the Museum!
- Sock Hop Dance Party – Head to the first floor to dance with Santa himself!
- Santa Photos – Snap a merry memory with the big man in red.
- Winter Crafts & Activities – Explore hands-on stations across all floors, including:
- Caroling Class – Learn a classic carol and perform it with new friends.
- Snow in the Woodlands – Experience a magical snowfall during the final half hour!
- Snow Science Experiments – Discover the science behind snow with fun, frosty experiments.
- Join the Elf Squad! – Take the Elf Pledge and become one of the first Imagine Elves of 2025!
- Messy Snow Play – Dive into sensory snow fun that’s cold, creative, and wonderfully messy!
Celebrate the season with laughter, lights, and lots of sock-skating fun as Imagine Children’s Museum transforms into A Winter to Imagine!
Nutcracker Tea
Step into a world of sugarplum dreams at our Nutcracker Tea! Enjoy a magical blend of crafts, dancing, tea, and treats in a festive winter setting. Families will sip, create, and celebrate together during this charming holiday tradition.
Saturday, December 6 | Two sittings available: 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. or 1 – 2:30 p.m.
$12.50 for Members | $17.50 for Non-members
Kids Night Out
Join us for Kids Night Out: Gingerbread Games! It’s a festive evening filled with holiday fun, including games, creative challenges, crafts, dancing, carols, and more sweet surprises.
Saturday, December 13 | 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
$35 members | $55 non-members
More Wintery-Fun Around the Museum!
Frosty Parade
Join Frosty and friends for a daily dose of winter magic! Each afternoon from 3:30 to 4 p.m., Frosty parades through the Museum, starting on the Third Floor and ending in the Woodlands—where he brings a flurry of snow and cheer!
Indoor Sock Skating Rink
Slip on your coziest socks and get ready to glide at Sockefeller Center! Our indoor sock skating rink is back for the season with pure winter fun. Spin, slide, and toss fluffy snowballs in a playful flurry of laughter and imagination.
Elf Training Challenge
Elf Training is back and merrier than ever! Whether your little one is a returning recruit or joining the ranks for the first time, they’ll love completing festive challenges throughout the Museum. Finish the adventure to earn a special elf-exclusive prize and official bragging rights from Santa’s workshop!
Visits with Santa
Santa is back at Imagine for the holiday season! Visit with the jolly man himself Tuesday mornings from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., or on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Share your wish list, snap a photo, and enjoy some festive fun during your Museum visit.
Art Hangout
Explore the beauty of winter with snowflake printmaking, “stained glass” tissue paper creations, and shimmering foil-and-metallic winter scenes.
Projects vary by day.
Tinker Shop
Bring ideas to life with shadow puppets, create light-reflecting sculptures using foil and cellophane, and design a whimsical winter village.
Projects vary by day.
SPLAT!
Come get messy in the Art Hangout during SPLAT! Designed especially for little artists, this hands-on program invites kids to explore sensory play through creative projects that change daily. Activities may include indoor snow play with shaving cream “snow,” colorful ice painting, bubble wrap printing, and more playful surprises.
Wednesdays & Fridays
9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Adventures in Art History
Step into the colorful world of Henri Matisse! Each week, young artists will explore Matisse’s famous cut-out technique, creating their own bright and bold winter-inspired masterpieces. Perfect for curious minds who love to learn, imagine, and create.
Fridays & Saturdays
1 p.m.
Plan Your Family’s Wintery Getaway Today!
Stay for the Weekend!
Why stop at just one day of fun? Make it a full weekend in Everett! Explore the bustling waterfront with the Port of Everett, dine at one of the many incredible local restaurants, and unwind in a cozy hotel just steps away from all the excitement.
Click here to explore hotels in the area and plan your stay!