Join us for the opening day of Thomas & Friends™: Explore the Rails! at the Kansas Children's Discovery Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, January 17. Hop aboard the art express and contribute to our community train mural from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., then chug along in our train parade at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Thomas & Friends™: Explore the Rails! will delight visitors with the Island of Sodor’s iconic locations: Knapford Station, Sodor Steamworks and much more. In the exhibit, children help Thomas and his friends solve a variety of challenges, from sorting and shape identification activities to more complex engineering obstacles, such as completing a train track using track pieces with different levels of elevation. The exhibit incorporates foundational STEM practices that encourage thinking mathematically, making comparisons, experimenting to solve problems using a variety of methods and tools, and thinking creatively. As children encounter new challenges and test their abilities, the smiling faces of Thomas, Percy, Victor and others are there to offer encouragement. Created by Minnesota Children’s Museum, the exhibit will be open at the Discovery Center from January 17 to May 11, and is included in the cost of regular admission.

Regular admission applies, which is $9 for children and adults, $8 for seniors, and free for infants under 12 months and Discovery Center members. Admission also lets you play all day at the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center with over 15,000 square feet of indoor educational exhibits exploring science, careers, art, building and more, plus a 4.5 acre certified Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom.

Check out https://kansasdiscovery.org/events/ for more serious fun!