# PJs, Popcorn and The Polar Express — Crystal Lake > Event for families in the Chicago–Naperville–Elgin area (IL / IN). Times are Central Time. - When: Fri, Dec 18 · 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM - Where: Main Beach, 300 Lakeshore Drive, Crystal Lake, IL 60014 - Ages: Ages 5 & Up - Price: Fee: R $15/ NR $20 per child; an adult must attend for each registered participant - Organizer: Crystal Lake Park District - Official page: https://www.crystallakeparks.org/ - Last checked: Sat, Oct 24 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 32 metro areas as of Oct 24, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-10-24), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/pjs-popcorn-and-the-polar-express-crystal-lake--listing-c7c1978654101f9269e9fd94 ## About A family holiday movie night at Crystal Lake's Main Beach building: children wear their favorite Christmas pajamas, bring a cozy blanket, make Christmas crafts, visit a hot cocoa bar and watch The Polar Express with free popcorn. For ages 5 and up; registration is per child and an adult must attend with each registered child. The evening runs from 5 to 9 p.m., so younger children may want to arrive early; resident and non-resident rates differ. ## Similar picks in Chicago - [The Polar Express Storytime Train — Frankfort Park District](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/the-polar-express-storytime-train-frankfort-park-district--listing-cab0a47bbbc3b67b83a48d78) — Sun, Dec 6 · 9:30 AM · Hickory Creek Metra Station, Mokena · All ages · From $25 · checked Oct 20. Children and their parents board a train at the Hickory Creek Metra Station in Mokena on Sunday, December 6 for a ride to the 'North Pole.' On the way, Santa's elves make balloon… - [Polar Express Santa Train from Roselle — Carol Stream Park District](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/polar-express-santa-train-from-roselle-carol-stream-park-district--listing-d4ebe949d8c8147d7a5df1c5) — Sun, Dec 6 · 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM · Roselle Train Station · Paid · checked Oct 20. Carol Stream Park District's Polar Express trip leaves from the Roselle train station on Sunday, December 6. Families ride a train to the "North Pole" in Elgin to pick up Santa… - [Arctic Express Holiday Train — Gurnee Park District](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/arctic-express-holiday-train-gurnee-park-district--listing-c8cce257c2ea5f0bed915df6) — Sat, Dec 12 · 11:52 AM · Grayslake Train Station · Paid · checked Oct 16. Gurnee Park District's Arctic Express is a holiday train ride from Grayslake inspired by a beloved children's book, with interactive live storytelling, music, singing and dancing… - [Once Upon a Time: The Polar Express at Lyman Woods](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/once-upon-a-time-the-polar-express-at-lyman-woods--listing-e6f74b8280932fc960320ec5) — Sat, Dec 12 · 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM · Lyman Woods Nature Center, Downers Grove · From $18 · checked Oct 24. A Polar Express story program at Lyman Woods Nature Center built around Chris Van Allsburg's picture book. Children sip hot chocolate, make ornaments and take a pretend train… - [Streamwood Express Holiday Train Ride](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/streamwood-express-holiday-train-ride--listing-178a913f909c051769e79b0d) — Sun, Dec 13 · 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM · Bartlett Train Station (Metra) · All ages · checked Oct 21. The Streamwood Park District charters a holiday train on Sunday, December 13, 2026, with two departures from the Bartlett Train Station: 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. and 1:30–3:30 p.m… - [Santa Express Train Ride — Wheaton](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/santa-express-train-ride-wheaton--listing-17c9a29ae2ee94af5c60fd87) — Thu, Dec 10 (+3 more dates) · 9:45 AM · Wheaton Train Station (departure) and DuPage County Historical Museum · From $35 · checked Oct 16. The DuPage County Historical Museum's Santa Express is a special Metra train ride from the Wheaton Train Station. Santa travels through the car posing for photos and asking each… ## More for families - [Christmas and holiday events for kids in Chicago](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/christmas) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/chicago/christmas.md) - [This weekend in Chicago](https://grassyknees.com/chicago/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/chicago/this-weekend.md) - [Things to do with kids in Chicago](https://grassyknees.com/chicago) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/chicago.md)