Plan Your Weekend: December 8 to 11, 2022

• 3rd Annual Winter Festival at Urban Harvest Farmers Market | Saturday, December 10 | FREE – Houston’s popular Saturday morning farmers market offers a series of holiday-themed goods, music and more. Come out and support local growers and producers and get into the holiday mood. 8am to noon; Santa Claus and complimentary cookie-decorating from 9am to 11am.
• Hogwarts Christmas Village & Market in Kempner Park | FREE – Head to Galveston for this family-friendly event where you’ll visit a village straight out of Harry Potter, drink butterbeer, encounter characters and more. 10am to 2pm.
• Houston Plant Market at Houston Botanic Garden – Shop for local plants, crafts and art, and grab a bite from food vendors. There are also workshops, yoga and more at the South Houston gardens. $15. 10am to 3pm.
• Human Rights Day at Holocaust Museum Houston | FREE – The museum celebrates the global Human Rights Day with free admission, bilingual story times, guest speakers and special performances throughout the day. 10am to 5pm.
• Holiday Market at Heights Mercantile | No Cover – The dense district of shopping and dining on 7th Street in the Heights hosts its annual holiday market with pop-ups on the promenade, featuring local vendors doling out one-of-a-kind gifts for your holiday wishlist. 10am to 5pm.
• Contemporary Wreath-Making Workshop at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft – Learn how to craft your wreath using a variety of materials in this hands-on workshop at HCCC. $55. 11am to 1pm.
• Toby Powell Conroe Christmas Celebration at Heritage Park | No Cover – In Conroe, this family-friendly event features a petting zoo, photos with Santa, food, craft vendors, a living nativity, the Kiwanis Club Christmas Parade and more. 11am to 4pm.
• The Market & Second Saturday at Sawyer Yards | No Cover – The monthly coinciding events returns to Arts District with a curated outdoor market of local artisans and food vendors, while nearby the various artist studios open up for art browsing and interacting with the artists. 11am to 5pm.
• Holiday Open Studios at Sabine Street Studios | FREE – Join the resident artists at Sabine Street Studios in Arts District Houston at a day filled with performances, demonstrations, activities and special pricing on original works of art. Noon to 9pm.
• Tissue Paper Stained Glass Workshop at Discovery Green | FREE – The whole family will love this hands-on event, where you can create your own “stained-glass” piece, inspired by the Solstice installation at the park. 1pm to 2:30pm.

Houston Plant Market
at Houston Botanic Garden
^{Saturday, December 10}

Shop for local plants, crafts and art, and grab a bite from food vendors. There are also workshops, yoga and more at the South Houston gardens.

$15 | 10am to 3pm

• Winter Wonderland at Creekside Park Village Green | FREE – There’s a petting zoo, inflatables, a visit from Santa and other family-friendly activities at this holiday event in the Woodlands. 1pm to 5pm.
• College Basketball: Houston Cougars vs. Alabama Crimson Tide at the Fertitta Center – Ranked nationally at No. 1, the Coogs will face their stiffest test of the season thus far when the Top 15 Alabama rolls through campus. Tickets are sold out at the venue, but you may find hard-to-get seats using the TicketNetwork online marketplace. 2pm.
• Persuasive Public Speaking Workshop for Teens at the Blossom Hotel | FREE – Rice University lecturer Chris Lipp leads this session, designed to help college-bound teens improve their speaking and communications skills at the Blossom Hotel in the Medical Center. Registration required. 2pm.
• Holiday Open House at Murder By the Book | No Cover – Author Freddy Cruz discusses and signs his book, Allow Me to Ruin Your Christmas. Also expect holiday music, refreshments and staff recommendations for everyone on your list. 2pm to 6pm.
• Texas Bonita Holiday Market at the Esplanade on Navigation | No Cover – Look for holiday shopping, live music, photo backdrop opportunities, and other festivities at this market celebrating la cultura. 3pm to 8pm. 
• A Bayou City Picnic’s Holiday Jazz Picnic in the Park – Take in a picnic under the stars in a Downtown Houston park—to be revealed upon purchase—while being serenaded by Houston singer Ermelinda Cuellar performing live holiday tunes and jazz classics. $90 includes a full picnic basket for 2 with your choice of tasty sandwiches or charcuterie, blanket, untensils, and more. Optional wine and flower add-ons available. 5:30pm to 7pm.
• Starry Night at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center – Hit the trails for an evening of constellation lore, star-themed crafts and, weather permitting, stargazing. $50. 6pm to 8pm.
• 2022 Lights in the Heights in Woodland Heights | FREE – Stroll around Woodland Heights and look at the beautifully lit homes, then after admiring the festive scenery, make your way to area bars and restaurants for tons of after-party fun. 6pm to 9pm. 
• Vodi in Concert at Discovery Green | FREE – Shop at the Flea by Night in Discovery Green and listen to tunes from Houston’s own Vodi. 6pm to 10pm.
• Home Alone Movie Screening at Market Square Park | FREE – Catch a free outdoor screening of the classic holiday film starring Macauley Culkin, Home Alone, in Downtown. 7pm.

2022 Lights in the Heights
at Woodland Heights
^{Saturday, December 10}

Stroll through the beautifully decorated streets of Woodlands Heights during one of Houston’s biggest holiday events, Lights in the Heights. After admiring the festive scenery, make your way to area bars and restaurants for tons of after-party fun.

FREE | 6pm to 9pm

• Ian Moore in Concert at McGonigel’s Mucky Duck – Enjoy a night of Texas singer-songwriter tunes at the fabled Mucky Duck in Upper Kirby. $50 and up. 7pm.
• 61st Annual Boat Parade at Kemah Boardwalk | FREE – More than 60 brightly decorated watercraft and sailboats glide on the water from the South Shore Harbour Marina down to Galveston Bay. 7:30pm.
• Béla Fleck in Concert at University of Houston Cullen Performance Hall – The 15-time Grammy Award–winning banjo virtuoso performs live on the University of Houston campus. $37.50 and up. 7:30pm.
• Raquel Cepeda’s Christmas Concert at the Heights Theater – The Houstonian jazz vocalist offers a selection of jazz classics in the spirit of the season, along with original arrangements in her annual Christmas concert. $25 and up. 8pm.
• Sugar Land R&B Music Experience at Smart Financial Centre – Catch a slate of ’90s R&B when Monica, Xscape, Tamar Braxton, 112 and NEXT hit the stage in Sugar Land. $71.50 and up. 8pm.
• Houston Pride Chorus presents Don We Now at Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church – The choir presents its annual holiday concert, filled with sounds of the season. Those who come a bit early can bid on cheerful wreaths decorated by Pride Chorus members. $20. 8pm.
• Annual Tacky Christmas Sweater Party at True Anomaly Brewing | No Cover – The EaDo brewery hosts this annual event, which includes prizes for best sweater, couples costume and more. 8pm to midnight. 
• Trey Songz, Ginuwine, and Jacquees in Concert at Arena Theatre – Enjoy an intimate evening of sultry R&B sounds when the trio of singers perform live. $77 and up. 8:30pm.
• 6400 Party at Numbers Nightclub – Club 6400 returns for a takeover at the iconic Montrose nightclub, offering a night of ’80s dance, goth and more on the floor. $10 at the door. 9pm to 2am.
• Ugly Christmas Sweater Party with Steve Curd at The Rustic | FREE with RSVP – The Rustic’s Uptown Park outpost throws an all-ages holiday bash, complete with live music and seasonal sounds from singer-guitarist Steve Curd. 9:30pm to 11pm.

• More Great Things to Do All Weekend Long – Some of the biggest things to do in Houston are happening all weekend long. Check out this week’s list, local attractions and destinations, or browse Houston Experiences to save on museum passes, tours, and more.

• Sunday Funday Destinations Around Greater Houston – Not sure where to get your midday Sunday good vibes on? Find the best daytime destinations to wrap up your weekends—or keep them going in this case of this long Labor Day Weekend around the H-Town metro—in EaDo and the East End, Montrose’s Westheimer Curve, Midtown, Garden Oaks/Oak Forest, Arts District Houston, River Oaks District, The Woodlands, Clear Lake, the “Gayborhood” and other LGBTQ+ favorites, and more. Times vary.
• All-Inspired Workout with Nike at CityCentre | FREE – Start your morning with this energetic workout on the plaza in Memorial. 9am to 9:45am. 
• Bazaar on the Bayou at White Oak Music Hall | No Cover – This popular market in Northside sees more than 75 local vendors setting up shop at the Houston music venue, with DJs spinning throughout the day and Raven Tower open for drinks. 10am to 5pm.
• The Holiday Brunch! Mixer and Market at Pitch 25 | No Cover – Head to EaDo for this annual market, featuring a yoga session and fitness bootcamp ($5 each), along with vendors offering unique gifts, an ugly sweater contest and photos with Santa. 11am to 6pm.
• Sunday Funday: Hygge for the Holidays at M-K-T | FREE – M-K-T is bringing together comfy, chill vibes at a free Sunday Funday celebration featuring live local music by The Birthday Club and Sergio Trevino, special goodies at participating M-K-T stores and pop-ups offering unique custom products, stocking stuffers, holiday items, gifts, and more. Noon to 4pm.
• Brazilian Christmas Market at Wildcatter Saloon – The Katy-area drinkery returns with another year of Brazilian Christmas with live Brazilian music, foods from the region, arts and crafts, face painting and Santa Claus. $5. 1pm to 5pm.
• Jazz Soiree at the Marriott Marquis Houston – The Houston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta hosts this fundraiser to provide scholarships for high school, college and trade school students. $100. 2pm.
• Santa Paws at Little Woodrow’s Midtown | No Cover – Bring your furry friend for photo ops with Santa and the Grinch. There’s also a Dog Days of Winter area, food trucks and more. 3pm to 5pm.
• H-Town Sneaker Summit at NRG Center – Buy, sell or trade rare and collectable footwear with thousands of enthusiasts at this sneaker, streetwear and vintage apparel event. $35. 3pm to 8pm.

The Holiday Brunch! Mixer & Market
at Pitch 25
^{Sunday, December 11}

Head to EaDo for this annual market, featuring a yoga session and fitness bootcamp ($5 each), along with vendors offering unique gifts, an ugly sweater contest and photos with Santa.

No Cover | 11am to 6pm

• HymnFest: Christmas in African at Sugar Land Town Square | FREE – Enjoy sounds of the season and live performances with an African beat from Bimbo Shusi and friends. 4pm to 8pm.
• Holiday Family Night at Backstreet Café – Expect Victorian carolers, a visit from Santa and twinkling Christmas lights at Hugo Ortega’s River Oaks restaurant. Menu items available a la carte. Prices vary, $15 per child. 5pm to 9pm.
• Bad Sneakers in Concert at Continental Club – The Steely Dan tribute band performs live on the Mid-Main block at Continental Club. $10 and up. 6pm.
• Houston Rockets vs. Milwaukee Bucks at Toyota Center – Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the Bucks to face a young Rockets squad on the Downtown hardcourt. $20 and up. 6pm.
• An Evening of Burlesque & Comedy with Ku Egenti at the Secret Group – Local comic Ku Egenti hosts a high-quality produced show of burlesque and comedy to the EaDo venue. $15 and up. 7pm. 
• Ugly Christmas Sweater Party with Shane Smith and the Saints at The Rustic – Head Downtown for an all-ages event, complete with live entertainment from Shane Smith and the Saints. Goodbye June also performs. $25. 7pm to 11pm. 
• Comedians Alfred Robles & Martin Moreno at Houston Improv – The comedians join forces for an evening of stand-up comedy in a one night–only performance. $40 and up. 7:30pm.
• Zoé in Concert at House of Blues – The Grammy Award and Latin Grammy Award–winning Mexican rock band, Zoé takes the stage at House of Blues. $49.50 and up. 8pm.
• Shawn Colvin & Shannon McNally in Concert at the Heights Theater – The Americana singer-songwriters take the stage on 19th Street for a night live music. $32. 8pm.

• More Great Things to Do All Weekend Long – Some of the biggest things to do in Houston are happening all weekend long. Check out this week’s list, local attractions and destinations, or browse Houston Experiences to save on museum passes, tours, and more.

Find More Things to Do in Houston All Year Long

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