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Polar Play Days | Nov. 22-Jan. 4
Nov. 22 - Jan. 4
Build, play, and celebrate during Polar Play Days at The Tech Interactive! This year, make hands-on science your new holiday tradition with:
- Engaging, hands-on exhibits
- Seasonal STEAM labs
- Make-and-take crafts
- Holiday photo-ops
- and more!
Events & Pop-up Workshops
Discover all the fun during Polar Play Days! Scroll through our menu of events and pop-up workshops. Check Daily Schedule for times and locations.
Note: Workshops marked with an asterisk (*) are NOT included with admission. Visit the event ticketing page below for pricing.
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Molecular Meals Workshop: Holiday Flavor*
Nov. 28-30
Science you can taste! Play with molecular gastronomy to create edible popping spheres, inspired by holiday flavors.
Buy Tickets
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Cozy Crafternoon (18+)*
Dec. 7
Adults need playtime, too! Create your own snow globes, DIY gift boxes, festive bath bombs, and more.
Buy Tickets
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Snowstorm in a Jar Workshop*
Dec. 20-21 & 28
Snow much fun with science! Use chemistry and creativity to create your own wintery scene in a jar to take home.
Buy Tickets
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Holi-Dough Circuit Workshop*
Dec. 27-Jan.4
Light-up your holidays! Learn how conductive dough and circuits work then design your own dough character to take home.
Buy Tickets
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Mushroom Snowballs
Check Daily Schedule
Holiday fun with fungi! Explore the sustainable material of the future by designing an everlasting, unmeltable “snowball” that will grow from mushroom mycelium.
Located in the Biotinkering Lab on the Upper Level.
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Holiday Cabbage Paints
Check Daily Schedule
Put the A in STEAM! Learn how to make a color palette using the magic of red cabbage and create ornaments, gift tags, and other holiday creations.
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Sock Skating Rink
Dec. 20-Jan.4
Slide into some serious fun at our Sock Skating Rink! Ditch the heavy skates and rock your favorite socks.
Ages 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
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Ice Castle Arctic-tecture
Dec. 20-Jan. 4
Think you can out-design Elsa? Step into our Imagination Playground and build the ice castle of your dreams!
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Polar Animal Scavenger Hunt
Nov. 22-Jan.4
Embark on an exciting polar sightseeing adventure! There are eight polar animals hidden around The Tech’s galleries. Can you find them all?
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Arctic Explorer Gear Try-On
Daily
Become an arctic explorer! Learn how explorers stay cozy in extreme conditions, then try on the gear and put it to the test under our geothermal camera.
Merry Makerspace
STEAM up that festive spirit in our Merry Makerspace.
During Polar Play Days, Tech Studio transforms into a Merry Makerspace, featuring rotating holiday-themed pop-up activities you can create and take home.
Rotating DIY Activities
| Holiday Cookie Cutters |
Cardboard Gingerbread House |
|
Winter Thaumatropes |
Polar Pal Button-Making |
|
Pop-up Holiday Cards |
Snowflake Geometry |
|
Gift Linocut Stamps |
...and more! |
Daytime IMAX Films
Chill out in IMAX! Admission includes a ticket to any of our polar-themed daily documentary films in the IMAX Dome Theater.
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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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Everest is the dramatic true story of a team of climbers who found hope, strength and triumph in the wake of tragedy. Their successful ascent of Mount Everest just days after fellow mountaineers and friends died. Formatted for IMAX, Everest is a compelling story about the human spirit and a mountain they love, respect and sometimes, fear.
Watch Trailer
Evening IMAX Films
Cozy up with a Hollywood film or LASER show. Hollywood films and LASERS! are not included in admission.
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Wicked: For Good*
Nov. 20 to Dec. 3
Last year’s global cinematic cultural sensation, which became the most successful Broadway film adaptation of all time, now reaches its epic, electrifying, emotional conclusion in Wicked: For Good.
Get Tickets
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The Shining*
Dec. 12 & 14
We dare you to step into the haunted halls of the Overlook Hotel... in IMAX. Stanley Kubrick’s horror masterpiece returns, and the terror is larger than life.
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Holiday Magic | LASERS!
Dec. 6 to Jan. 3.
Celebrate the season with Laser Holiday Magic. We've gathered a selection of our favorite holiday tunes and brought them to life with gorgeous laser choreography.
Get Tickets
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Taylor Swift | LASERS!
Dec. 13
Laser Taylor Swift takes her biggest hits and brings them to life in dazzling laser light. If you can’t score tickets to her concert, Laser Taylor Swift is the next best thing.
Get Tickets
Directions & Parking
Parking: The Tech validates $5 parking at select parking lots.
2nd and San Carlos Street Garage
Additionally, five ParkSJ garages offer 90 minutes of free parking. Visit ParkSJ.org for more locations and info!
Light Rail Access: Prefer public transit? The Light Rail stops just steps away from our entrance (Convention Center Station).
