🎄Holiday Events 🎄
Thursday – Ugly Sweater Holiday Jam @ Trebly Park @ 7PM Don your most ugly holiday sweater and enjoy a night of festive fun at the park!
Friday – Derek Hough Dance Show @ Smart Financial Centre @ 8PM With jingle bells and sleigh bells, holiday carols and cheer, DWTS Derek Hough’s latest dance spectacular is a show stopping event for the whole family.
Friday – Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings @ First UMC of Houston @ 6:30PM / 8:30PM
Saturday – Christmas Boat Lane Parade @ Clear Lake @ 6PM
Ring in the holidays with the 63rd Anniversary Christmas Boat Lane Parade featuring more than 60 brightly decorated power and sailboats.
Saturday – Family Winter Fest @ Houston Public Library @ 2PM
Join Houston Public Library for winter-themed crafts, playing in foam snow, and a special performance by the Houston Brass Band!
Saturday – Christmas Parade @ Galveston @ 6:30PM
Saturday – Holly Jolly Holiday @ Jones Hall @ 10AM / 11:30AM Make special memories with the Symphony’s annual holiday concert for kids.
Saturday & Sunday – Houston Holiday Market @ Saint Arnold Meet and shop from small businesses and favorite outdoor brands, find cool new gear, sip on craft beers, and find the perfect gift for the adventure seeker in your life.
Saturday & Sunday – ‘The Nutcracker’ Ballet @ The Grand An annual holiday favorite that delights audiences of all ages – City Ballet of Houston’s presentation of ‘The Nutcracker Ballet’ returns to The Grand 1894 Opera House.
All weekend – German Christmas Market & Festival @ Old Town Tomball Enjoy the best of German Christmas traditions at this free holiday festival!
Ongoing – Coca Cola Classic Christmas Experience @ Memorial City Mall This immersive holiday celebration features an ice skating rink, a holiday market, a larger-than-life light display, snow slides, photos ops, Santa, & more for the perfect Christmas experience. Ends 12/29.
Ongoing – Galaxy Lights Experience @ Space Center Houston @ 6PM This space-themed holiday light show defies gravity, transcends Earth’s boundaries, and transports you to the edge of the universe. Ends 1/5/2025.
Ongoing – Winter Wonderlawn @ POST Experience 100,000’s of lights, a 25ft Christmas Tree, and multiple holiday themed activations on Skylawn. Ends 1/11/2025.
Ongoing – Radiant Nature @ Houston Botanic Gardens More than 50 larger-than-life Chinese lantern installations come to life in stunning displays that showcase the beauty of nature and celebrate the promise of the Lunar New Year. Ends 1/25/2025.
Ongoing – Holiday in the Gardens @ Moody Gardens Moody Gardens’ unparalleled holiday experience includes the Festival of Lights, ice skating rink, artic slides, train rides, pictures with Santa, and more. Ends 1/1/2025.
Ongoing – Holiday Lights @ Sugar Land Experience 3.5 million lights, 10 themed areas, holiday shopping, great food, movie nights, Santa Claus, and much more! Ends 1/5/2025
Ongoing – Christmas Village @ MFAH Bayou Bend Discover an immersive holiday experience complete with sledding, snow fights, live music, Santa photo ops, and dazzling lights decorations. Ends 12/30.
Ongoing – Santa’s Wonderland @ College Station Experience Santa’s magical world at the biggest Christmas attraction in the state of Texas. Ends 12/30.
Ongoing – Christmas Lights Drive-Thru @ Sam Houston Race Park It’s the most wonderful time of the year to enjoy the annual Dasher’s Christmas Lights Show drive-thru experience. Ends 12/24.
Ongoing – City Lights Downtown Holiday Magic @ Avenida Houston Check all 12 locations of holiday magic and find an ice skating rink, sparkling lights, mesmerizing Christmas trees, totally post-able selfie stations, and many other activities to brighten the season.
Ongoing – Christmas Lights @ Big Rivers Waterpark Experience a winter wonderland featuring thousands of synchronized lights, drive-through lights, a bounce house and maze for kids, hayride, Santa photo ops, and more. Ends 12/31.
Ongoing – Green Mountain Energy Ice Rink @ Discovery Green Ends 2/5/2025.
All weekend – Very Merry Pops in Concert @ Jones Hall Tony-nominated Broadway star Betsy Wolfe joins the Houston Symphony and Chorus for a concert of favorite carols and holiday songs.
All weekend – ‘The Nutcracker’ Ballet @ Brown Theater A holiday favorite, ‘The Nutcracker’ returns to the stage with beloved characters, glittering sets, and dancing that will lift your spirits during this holiday season. Ends 12/29.
All weekend – ‘Holiday Follies’ Show @ Stageworks Theatre This delightful, family-friendly show is packed with festive cheer, heartwarming music and dance performances, and holiday spirit that will enchant audiences of all ages. Ends 12/21.
All weekend – ‘A Texas Carol: Part Deux’ Play @ George Theatre This hysterical and heart-warming story about all things Christmas and all things Texas is back with new stories from beloved characters. Ends 12/22.
All weekend – ‘Sister’s Christmas Catechism’ Comedy Show @ Stages Repertory Theatre In this holiday mystery extravaganza, Sister takes on the mystery that has intrigued historians throughout the ages: whatever happened to the Magi’s gold? Ends 12/22.
All weekend – ‘Panto Pinocchio’ Musical @ Stages Repertory Theatre A classic tale with a modern twist, this electrifying panto is packed with high-tech hijinks, side-splitting jokes, and plenty of singing and dancing for the entire family to enjoy. Ends 1/5/2025.
All weekend – The Ugly Xmas Sweater Musical @ The Hobby Center ‘The Office’ meets ‘Project Runway’ in this laugh-out loud, interactive, hysterically funny TUTS musical production. Ends 12/22.
All weekend – ‘A Christmas Carol’ Musical @ Alley Theatre Celebrate the holidays with the Alley’s hit adaptation of the Christmas classic featuring colorful Victorian costumes, special effects, dancing, and Christmas carols. Ends 12/29.
All weekend – ‘The Night Shift Before Christmas’ Comedy Play @ Alley Theatre Join Margot on her Christmas Eve shift, braving grumpy drive-thru customers until her late best friend’s ghost warns her of imminent spirits. Ends 12/29.
All weekend – ‘Twelve Ways of Christmas’ Musical @ Ensemble Theatre With an eclectic blend of colorful jazz, R&B, and gospel, ‘Twelve Ways’ reminds audiences that despite different life circumstances, the true message of the holiday season remains the same. Ends 12/29.
All weekend – ‘Who’s Holiday’ Play @ MATCH Telling one woman’s twisted and hilarious life story, this play is a wildly funny and heartfelt comedy perfect for the holiday season. Ends 12/22.
Festivals & Markets
Saturday – Flea By Night @ Discovery Green @ 6PM This open-air market features local artisans and small business owners selling vintage, handmade, recycled, repurposed and local goods.
Saturday – Coffee and Cars @ POST @ 8AM Come out and enjoy an amazing display of machines at POST!
Sunday – Blackwood Farmers Market @ POST @ 2PM Shop, taste, and support fellow Texan makers and organizations working towards the city’s green future.
Saturday & Sunday – Market for Makers @ POST This special market brings together independent artists + makers specializing in home decor, fashion, art, design, food, and more in a fun + inspiring environment
Standup
Thursday – Kristin Key Stand Up @ Houston Improv @ 7:30PM
Saturday – Stone Cold and The Jackal Comedy Show @ Houston Improv @ 2PM
Sunday – Mojo Brookzz Stand Up @ Houston Improv
Sunday – Michael Lenoci Stand Up @ The Riot Comedy Club @ 7PM
Sunday – Jenn Sterger & Kristin Chirico Stand Up @ Punchline Houston @ 7PM
Friday & Saturday – Brian Simpson Stand Up @ Houston Improv
Friday & Saturday – Fumi Abe Stand Up @ The Riot Comedy Club
All weekend – Zoltan Kaszas Stand Up @ Punchline Houston
Sports
Sunday – Texans vs Dolphins @ NRG Stadium @ 12PM
All ages events
Saturday – Saturday Stargazing @ George Observatory in Needville
Sunday – Blippi Kids Show @ Bayou Music Center @ 2PM
Ongoing – Sloomoo Exhibition @ Marq E Entertainment Center Immerse yourself in the joy of sensory play with Sloomoo Institute’s colorful world of never-ending, hand-crafted slime, yummy scents, and soothing ASMR delights. Ends 12/31
Ongoing – Pixar Putt @ Discovery Green Pixar Putt is the ultimate pop-up, open-air mini-golf experience inspired by the stories, characters and icons from some of Disney and Pixar’s most beloved films. Ends 1/20/2025.
Ongoing – ‘Space Explorers: The Infinite’ Immersive Experience @ Silver Street Studios Embark on an immersive excursion through new breathtaking videos that reveal the many wonders of space exploration. Ends 1/4/2025. .
Ongoing – ‘Time and Space’ Exhibition @ ARTECHOUSE Visit three distinctive exhibitions showcasing over 18 unique installation pieces, ranging from cinematic experiences and laser performances to robotic installations and interactive artworks.
Ongoing – ‘Mindworks’ Exhibition @ The Health Museum Be the first in the United States to see this interactive, hands-on exhibit that explores why you think, feel, and react the way you do!
Arts & Culture
All weekend – ‘All We Imagine as Light’ Screening @ MFAH
Ongoing – ‘Gauguin in the World’ Exhibition @ MFAH The first Gauguin presentation of this scope in 35 years, ‘Gauguin in the World’ offers new perspectives on his life, work, influences; and his contemporary legacies, both artistic and historical. Ends 2/16/2025.
Ongoing – ‘Living with the Gods: Art, Beliefs, and Peoples’ Exhibition @ MFAH The exhibition explores how humanity has given form to spiritual beliefs across time and cultures through mor ethan 200 objects from the past 3,000 years. Ends 1/20/2025.
Ongoing – ‘Tacita Dean: Blind Folly’ Exhibition @ Menil The exhibition spotlights the British visual artist’s career-defining approach to creating art through unmediated and chance-based drawing processes across a variety of mediums. Ends 4/15/2025.
Ongoing – ‘Fragments of Memory’ Exhibition @ Menil The exhibition presents drawings from the museum collection which explore the ways in which the past imbues present experiences. Ends 1/26/2025.
Ongoing – ‘Vincent Valdez: Just a Dream’ Exhibition @ CAMH Considered to be one of the most important American painters working today, multidisciplinary artist Valdez’s works address the failings and triumphs of contemporary American society. Ends 3/23/2025.
Live Theater
All weekend – ‘Frozen’ Musical @ The Hobby Center Filled with enough magic, joy and laughter to thaw even the coldest heart, Disney’s ‘Frozen’ is the holiday treat you won’t want to miss! Ends 12/29.
All weekend – ‘Cinderella’ Musical @ Art Factory The classic tale of Cinderella is reborn in an innovative, immersive production featuring new staging and beloved songs. Ends 12/22.
All weekend – ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ Musical @ Crighton Theatre LAST CHANCE – The world famous Willy Wonka is opening the gates to his mysterious factory…but only to a lucky few. Ends 12/15.
All weekend – ‘Sleeping Beauty’ Musical @ MATCH This captivating kid-friendly musical adaptation of the beloved fairytale follows the story of courageous Aurora and her Handsome Prince. Ends 12/22.
All weekend – ‘Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike’ Play @ 4th Wall Theater Inspired by Chekhov characters, this hilarious play takes audiences on a journey through the messy relationships and family drama perfectly illustrating 21st century life. Ends 12/21.
Live Music
Thursday – Candlelight: A Tribute to Adele @ Lone Star Flight Museum @ 7PM
Thursday – Kenny G @ Smart Financial Centre @ 8PM
Thursday – Phora @ House of Blues @ 7PM
With Tyla Yaweh
Thursday – Ride @ White Oak Music Hall @ 7PM With Rocket
Thursday – The Droptines @ White Oak Music Hall @ 7PM
Thursday – Marc Broussard @ The Heights Theater @ 8PM With Nik Parr & The Selfless Lovers
Thursday – DJ Qbert @ Warehouse Live @ 8PM
Thursday – Mike Skream + Trippy Goblin @ Scout Bar @ 8:30PM
Thursday – The Turnaways + Hate Mail @ Continental Club @ 9PM
Friday – Destroy Lonely @ 713 Music Hall @ 8PM
Friday – The Wood Brothers @ The Heights Theater @ 8PM With Jobi Riccio
Friday – Sidepiece @ Stereo Live @ 10PM
Friday – The Spazmatics @ Scout Bar @ 9:30PM
Friday – The Iguanas @ Continental Club @ 9PM
Saturday – Palomazo Norteño @ Smart Financial Centre @ 8PM Featuring Lalo Mora, Eliseo Robles, Rosendo Cantu, & Raul Hernandez.
Saturday – Dawes @ The Heights Theater @ 7PM With Winnetka Bowling League
Saturday – Midnight Tyrannosaurus @ Stereo Live @ 10PM With Chibs, Mother Lotus, & Subfiltronik
Saturday – Jossman, Sharmoofers, & Disco Misr @ Warehouse Live @ 9PM
Saturday – Teenage Bottlerocket @ The Secret Group @ 7PM
Saturday – Los Skarnales + The Allen Oldies Band @ Continental Club @ 9PM
Sunday – Whiskey Hangover + Hardwired To Kill Em All @ Warehouse Live @ 3PM
Other events:
Friday – Happy Hour Friday @ MFAH @ 5PM Explore the campus, visit the galleries after-hours, and get a drink at the bar at MFAH’s Happy Hour! Ends 12/27.
