Plan Your 5-Day Holiday Weekend: December 22 to 26, 2022

Things to Do
All Weekend Long

• Magical Winter Lights at Houston Raceway Park | Daily –Get into the holiday spirit with these seven illuminated displays featuring more than six million lights in Baytown. Walk through a winter circus, grub on festival foods and more. $25; $17 for ages 3 to 12 and 65+. Times vary.
• 4th Annual Hometown Holidays & Trail of Lights at Silver Sycamore | Thursday & Friday – The fourth edition of this holiday celebration on the beautiful, old west grounds of Silver Sycamore in Pasadena keeps lighting up the night with its signature trail of holiday displays, appearances by Santa Claus, live performances, market shopping and more. $23; $15 for ages 3 to 12; free for ages 2 and under. Times vary.
• Ali Siddiq: The Gift of Laughter at Houston Improv | Thursday & Friday – Ali Siddiq, the familiar face from Houston’s comic scene offers a pre-Christmas comedy set designed to put you in the holiday spirit. $70 for 2, and up. Times vary.
• The Riot Comedy Club presents Ralph Barbosa at Rudyard’s British Pub | Thursday & Friday – The Dallas-based comedian had debuts on HBO and Comedy Central this year, and now he’s in Houston to share his brand of comedy. $20 and up. Times vary.
• Santa at St. Arnold Brewing Company | Thursday & Friday | No Cover – Head to the Beer Hall and take a free family photo with Santa, share your Christmas list and browse the Shop Local market for last-minute finds. 1pm to 4pm.
• Eat, Drink & Be Merry at Southern Yankee Crafthouse | Thursday to Saturday & Monday – On West Alabama, Southern Yankee Crafthouse offers a seasonal menu of signature cocktails and winter food favorites, like chicken pot pie and skillet cookies, with a dollar from each item purchased helping to support the Kids’ Meals mission.
• Performing Arts Houston presents Cirque Dream Holidaze at Jones Hall | Friday & Saturday – This whimsical Broadway-style musical is infused with contemporary circus artistry, offering a dazzling display for the whole family. $39 and up. Times vary.

More Holiday Attractions & Things to Do

Local Shops, Last-Call Holiday Happenings & More Destinations

• Local Shops in Houston for Last-Minute Gifts – Shop local this holiday season at a dozen of Houston’s most beloved shops doling out unique, uncommon gifts.
• Ongoing Holiday Attractions in Houston – Take a stroll through some of Greater Houston’s most bedazzling Christmas and holiday lighting displays at ticketed seasonal attractions across the city.
• Best Places to See Christmas Lights in Houston Neighborhoods & Attractions – Pile in the car for a leisurely holiday drive or take a hot cocoa-fueled stroll while you ooh and ah at Houston’s most popular Christmas light displays—in residential neighborhoods and at city landmarks alike.
• More Holiday Things to Do in Greater Houston – Dig into holiday shows and performing arts experiences, concerts and much more to do for the holiday season across Greater Houston.
• Holiday Markets in Greater Houston – Get in the spirit of the season with our guide to 35+ holiday markets offering Christmas decorations and seasonal shopping opportunities across Greater Houston.
• Limited Time Museum Exhibits & Art Installations Around Greater Houston | Daily | Many FREE – Explore the many striking, stunning, and diverse exhibits exploring history, science, art, culture, and creativity around the Greater Houston metro area.

Ongoing Theater Shows & Arts Performances

Many plays, musicals, and other stage shows span multiple weeks. Scroll down to find new shows opening this week, then ongoing performances, followed by shows that are wrapping up this weekend.

Keep track of more openings with our weekly roundup of Performing Arts events.

• A Beatles Holiday Cabaret at Music Box Theater | Thursday & Friday | Ongoing – Singers take to the stage for this Beatles/Christmas mash-up show that features holiday traditional carols alongside Fab Four faves. Look for renditions of the iconic music group’s “In My Life/Christmas Canon,” “O Come All Ye Faithful/Revolution” and more. $35 and up. Showtimes vary.
• What-A-Christmas at Alley Theatre | Thursday to Saturday & Monday | Ongoing – In this brand-new, adult holiday comedy written by H-Town’s own Isaac Gómez, Margot is a Tejana Scrooge, on the Christmas Eve overnight shift. When her dead best friend Jackie Marley turns up and warns her about some spirits coming to visit, Margot is in for a wild night. $55 and up. Showtimes vary.
• A Christmas Carol at Alley Theatre | Thursday to Saturday & Monday | Ongoing – The beloved Charles Dickens Christmas story returns, telling the tale of the miserly Scrooge visited by three spirits who compel him to change his ways, in a new production adapted and directed by Alley artistic director Rob Melrose. $41 and up. Showtimes vary.
• A.D. Players presents A Texas Carol at the George Theater | Thursday & Friday | Final Weekend – This Lone Star take on the holiday classic finds the whole family heading to Mee-Maw Jane’s ranch in East Texas for what might be her last Christmas. When they arrive, she’s already gone. How will they save Christmas? Recommended for ages 10 and up. $30 and up. Showtimes vary.
• Main Street Theater for Youth presents Cinderella at MATCH | Thursday & Friday | Final Weekend – The beloved story comes to life as a musical, backed by music and lyrics by Rodgers and Hammerstein. This stage adaption is based on the popular teleplay, and captures the romance of Cinderella and her prince, the capers of her stepsisters and the magic of her fairy godmother, who shows that impossible things happen every day. $30 and up. Showtimes vary.
• A Motown Christmas at Ensemble Theatre | Thursday to Saturday | Final Weekend – Get into the groove that only the signature sound from Detroit can deliver. This Motown revue in Midtown blends traditional holiday carols with soulful sounds from Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and more. $44 and up. Showtimes vary.
• Stages presents Houston for the Holidays With DeQuina Moore at the Gordy | Thursday to Saturday | Final Weekend – The Houston native, who starred in Stages’ Plumshuga, hits the stage for a holiday-themed cabaret-style evening of song and story. $30 and up. Showtimes vary.
• Stages presents Panto Snow White & the Seven Dorks at the Gordy | Thursday to Saturday | Final Weekend – The Panto tradition returns with an all-new holiday show, this one delightfully skewering the Snow White tale. The Evil Queen has a high-tech virtual mirror and she’s banished Snow White to the wilds of Silicon Valley, where she encounters seven dorky hackers. Expect hilarity to ensue. $30 and up. Showtimes vary.
• TUTS presents Mary Poppins at Hobby Center | Thursday to Saturday | Final Weekend – The practically perfect nanny comes to town in a new production featuring songs from the beloved 1964 movie and new works written especially for the stage version. $40 and up. Times vary.
• Houston Ballet presents The Nutcracker at Wortham Center | Thursday to Saturday & Monday | Final Weekend – The Tchaikovsky classic returns to the stage, as only the Houston Ballet can deliver it. Stanton Welch’s take on this beloved story of young Clara and the nutcracker she receives as a gift on one magical Christmas Eve offers grand sets, gorgeous costumes and stunning dance. $35 and up. Showtimes vary.

• Art in the Park at Evelyn’s Park | FREE – Bring the kids out to the Bellaire park for a morning art class. 10am to Noon.
• 6th Position Dance Company at Children’s Museum Houston | FREE – The young students dance troupe offers a family-friendly holiday performance during the free admission hours at CMH. 6:30pm to 7pm.
• Make & Take: Buche de Noel at Central Market – The Central Market Cooking School offers this hands-on lesson in decorating the classic holiday treat. You’ll create your own design and take home this tasty dessert. $65 per person. 6:30pm to 8:30pm.
• Black Panther Movie Screening at Discovery Green | FREE – Grab a lawn chair or blanket and head Downtown to see the Marvel movie that made “Wakanda forever!” a catchphrase. 7pm.
• Honeycutt Southern in Concert at Last Concert Café – The Southern rock trio performs live at the near Downtown Tex-Mex haunt and concert venue. $10 in advance. 7pm.
• Trivia Night at Southern Star Brewery | No Cover – The Craft Quiz Co. hosts this night of knowledge and fun at the Conroe brewery. Gather a bunch of friends and head out to show off your smarts. 7pm.
• Annual Christmas Party at Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe in Galveston | FREE – The legendary singer-songwriter venue hosts their yearly holiday event, filled with music and good cheer. 8pm.
• Let It Show! A Frosty Burlesque at Taiga – This dazzling burlesque performance by Poppy Tart at the Midtown lounge will put you in the holiday mood. $30. 8pm.
• Kate Watson in Concert at Dosey Doe: the Big Barn – The Houston native and pop singer, known for appearances on American Idol, performs live in the Woodlands. $15 and up. 8:30pm.
• Tone Stith in Concert at Warehouse Live – The R&B singer-songwriter takes to the stage for a live performance. $30. 9pm.

• More Great Things to Do All Weekend Long – Some of the biggest things to do are happening all weekend long. Scroll up and see our list, or browse Houston Experiences to save on museum passes, tours, and more.