Try out a Fudge Puppy! Our staff loved them!

Our first event of the exhibit is"A Major Event"!! We'll also be having an Ugly Sweater Contest, so start your shopping!

• Check out the animated window displays.
• Get the kids their own fudge puppy made to their liking.
• Play a game of bingo to win prizes.
• Watch the "A Christmas Story" movie in the theatre at 12:15 and 2:30.
• Search for items in the Scavenger Hunt.
• Write a letter to Santa and put it in the giant Santa mailbox.
• Purchase a $1 craft for the kids to make at the craft table or color the Christmas themed coloring pages.
• Enjoy the live entertainment.
• Train rides through the exhibit.
  
  Click here for full schedule of events!

Essays should be more than 20 words, but not exceed 250.

Entries will be judged in three separate age groups: age 9 and younger, 10-18 and 19 and older. Themes will not be judged against other entries, but stand alone entries.

Entries can be mailed to: Indiana Welcome Center, 7770 Corinne Drive, Hammond, IN 46323.

All entries must be clearly labeled with your name, address, day-time phone number and age category. Entries will be accepted until December 16th.

Mashed Potato Eating Contest

The infamous scene in “A Christmas Story” where Randy Parker eats his mashed potatoes like a “little piggy” will be recreated on Saturday, December 17th.

Join the fun and see if you can eat the most mashed potatoes the fastest or just come by to watch the mess unfold!

This contest will have four age categories (4-7, 8-12, 13-17 and 18 and over) where contestants can compete against their peers to win prizes valued at from $50 - $100.   Registration is at 10am and the contest begins at 10:30am.

Interested participants can sign up online by clicking the link below.

Mommy's Little Piggy Eating Contest Registration Form and Contest Rules

Please bring in canned food/non perishable items as an entry fee. Items go to the Northwest Indiana Food Bank. 

Saturday, December 10 - Registration begins at 10am and the relay race begins at 10:30am.

The relay race depicts the tire changing scene in “A Christmas Story,” where Ralphie spills lug nuts onto the street and says the “F dash-dash-dash” word. The parent/child teams “change a tire” and run through an obstacle course while holding a hubcap filled with lug nuts steady.

There will be two age groups based on the child's age: 4-7 and 8-12. New this year - please bring in canned food/non perishable items as an entry fee. Items go to the Northwest Indiana Food Bank.

In the 1983 holiday film, Mr. Parker wins a leg lamp as a "major award" from a contest in the newspaper. Mr. Parker proudly displays the lamp in the family's living room window until Mrs. Parker accidentally breaks it. Leg lamps have been a popular feature of the movie ever since.

Write a letter to Santa and be entered for a chance to win a prize!

Have your child bring in their letter to Santa or create one at the Write a Letter to Santa Table at the exhibit. Include your name, address, and phone number and drop it in the mailbox. Can’t make the trip? Send your holiday wishes to Santa via email at Santa@aChristmasStoryComesHome.com. Before mailing them all to Santa, one winner will be drawn out of the box and win a prize!