The weekend after Thanksgiving is usually packed with food, shopping, football and more food.

But here are some other ideas for getting your kids and Grammy, Papa and all the aunts, uncles and cousins out of your house for a little while.

The Polar Express: An IMAX 3D Experience chugs into the Wachovia IMAX Theatre at Marbles Kids Museum in downtown Raleigh starting Nov. 28. Showtimes for the G-rated, holiday-themed movie about a boy who takes a journey to the North Pole are 10 a.m. and noon through Sunday, Nov. 30. Check Marbles’ Web site for a complete list of showtimes after Nov. 30. Tickets start at $9.50 for kids ages 1 to 11.

Now in its 59th year, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s Star of Bethlehem planetarium show started last weekend and continues through Jan. 1. The show explores the mystery of the celestial event and looks at possible astronomical explanations, but ultimately leaves it up to the viewers to make their own decision.

With school out, showtimes will follow the Saturday schedule on Friday. They are 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Nov. 28 and Nov. 29. It runs 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., Nov. 30. Tickets are $5 for kids and $6 for adults. The show runs about 35 minutes and is probably best for school-aged kids. Younger kids might have trouble sitting through it.

So might as well take the tots to Kidzu Children’s Museum if you don’t think they’ll sit through the Star of Bethlehem. Kidzu is just down the street at 105 E. Franklin St. from Morehead. Kids, from newborn to age 8, can spend a lot of time in the interactive museum. And, best of all, it’s free to everyone on Sundays. Kidzu is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday. Admission is $4 per person for adults and kids over 24 months of age (except on Sundays).

The Dead Sea Scrolls at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences is scheduled to close Dec. 28. The exhibit features the oldest surviving manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible, known to Christians as the Old Testament. The exhibit is probably best for middle schoolers and up, but I’m told that kids as young as 7 or 8 are interested too. There are hands-on displays outside the exhibit and a small learning lab inside where kids can ask questions. The exhibit is open late on Friday and Saturdays - tickets are sold until 7 p.m. and the exhibit is open until 8 p.m. No strollers allowed.

Tickets are $3 for kids under 5, $12 for kids 5 to 11, $16 for students, seniors and military with ID, and $22 for adults.

And the history museum will close up its ArtDuckO: Waterfowl Culture in North Carolina on Jan. 11. The free exhibit features carved decoys and brings together 150 years of waterfowl culture, from decoy carving, art and fashion to market hunting, hunt clubs and conservation efforts.

There’s obviously a lot of focus on hunting and guns, which some parents might not feel comfortable with. But there are several areas for kids, including a quiet reading area with kids books about ducks and little ducks and a boat that children can climb on. A shooting game also is popular with older kids and is screened from general view.

And check out the Web site’s Triangle Holiday Guide for more events this weekend and through early next year.

Every Friday, TriangleMom2Mom highlights weekend activities.

Check out our other daily themes at TriangleMom2Mom:

MONDAY: Meet!
TUESDAY: Ask!
WEDNESDAY: Eat!
THURSDAY: Play!
FRIDAY: Out!

WEEKEND: Relax!