The 17 Best Things to Do in Houston This Weekend: December 15 to 17, 2023

Take a tour of H-Town’s weekend highlights with our 365 Houston guide to the best things to do in Houston this weekend, from Friday, December 15 to Sunday, December 17, 2023.

Every weekend, Houston has plenty of happenings to be found around town—but which ones are the highlights that can help you plan an enjoyable weekend of outings?

We’ve whittled down our extensive Weekend Guide to offer you some of our favorite things to look forward to from Friday to Sunday.

The 17 Best Things to Do in Houston This Weekend: December 15-17, 2023

All Weekend

• The Riot Comedy Club’s YouTube Special Taping | Friday & Saturday – Across back-to-back nights, the Riot sends up four different comics each evening for 90-minute shows that will make for the Montrose comedy club’s first YouTube special. $20 and up. 7pm and 9pm.
• Houston’s Urban Nutcracker at the Stafford Centre | Friday to Sunday – This new and exciting twist on an the holiday classic explores the story through the proud cultural heritage of the city of Houston through dance, music and narration. $43.50 and up. Times vary. 
• Houston Symphony presents Handel’s Messiah at Jones Hall | Friday to Sunday – The holiday tradition is back with Handel’s enduring oratorio chronicling the greatest story ever told. The Houston Symphony Chorus sings alongside the orchestra, and the score features the iconic “Hallelujah” chorus. $42 and up. Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm; Sunday at 2:30pm.
• Otaku Winter Arc Food & Anime Festival at Karbach Brewing Co. | Saturday & Sunday | FREE – For two days before the holidays, you can take in more than 100 food, anime and retail vendors staking out the Spring Branch brewery for the winter edition of this family-friendly fest. Check out a sumo tournament, compete in cosplay contests, and enjoy all-day entertainment while munching on street foods of Japan, Thailand, Vietnam and beyond. Saturday noon to 10pm; Sunday noon to 8pm.

Friday, December 15, 2023

• A Merry Creepmas Market at the National Museum of Funeral History – Houston’s museum for all things funerary hosts a special small business market just before the holidays. Shop more than 20 local vendors with unique finds, sip on complimentary drinks and enjoy lite bites, and take to the many exhibitions on offer at NMFH. $40 and up. 7pm to 10pm.

Saturday, December 16, 2023

• College Basketball Showcase: UT vs. LSU, UH vs. TAMU at Toyota Center – Downtown hosts a doubleheader of college basketball greatness when the nationally-ranked Texas Longhorns take on LSU, followed by another ranked showdown between Texas A&M and the Houston Cougars. Tickets are good for both games. $45 and up, but you may find better or hard-to-get seats on the online resale market. 11am and 1:30pm.
• Pens & Pints at Hardy & Nance Studios – All artist skill levels are invited to come hang out at the Downtown studios to draw or paint. More than 50 feet of gallery wall will be covered in black craft paper and everyone is welcome to take up white charcoal pencils to cover every inch. Those that are 21+ will also receive a drink ticket for 2 complimentary beers. Open to ages 16 and up. $10. 5pm to 11pm.
• Houston Hip Hop 50 with Z-Ro, Lil Flip, Lil Keke & Special Guests at White Oak Music Hall – Celebrate a night of third-coast rap when H-Town legends of the game and hip-hop heavy hitters like Z-Ro, Lil flip, Lil Keke and more gather together for a night to remember at White Oak Music Hall. $32 and up. 6pm. 
• Monarch Chamber Players presents The Nutcracker Movie Screening at Sugar Land Town Square | FREE – Monarch performs the iconic Nutcracker suite by Tchaikovsky, arranged for wind quintet with percussion and horn, accompanied by a live video projection of the ballet at Sugar Land’s destination for dining, shopping and family fun. 6pm to 7:30pm.
• Thorn & Moon Yule Solstice Festival at Saint Arnold’s Brewery | FREE – Celebrate the beginning of winter at this potions and brews market held at the spacious Saint Arnold brewery. Shop dozens of local artists and grab one-of-a-kind items from unique vendors selling jewelry, magickal goods, oddities and more. 6pm to 10pm.
• A Hogwarts Christmas Feast at Westminster UMC – Pull up a seat at the great feast when Gastrochurch hosts an evening of Harry Potter fandom, where you’ll get sorted and earn points for your house through trivia, solving riddles, winning the costume contest, and more. Tickets include dinner, two drinks and all the festivities. $55 and up; $45 and up for ages under 21. 7pm to 11pm.
• An Evening With The Duke Ellington Orchestra at the Grand 1894 Opera House – The official modern incarnation of the legendary big band orchestra bring traditional jazz classics like “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)”, “Mood Indigo” and more to the historic stage. $25.20 and up. 8pm.

Sunday, December 17, 2023

• Santa Hustle Half Marathon, 5K & Kids Dash at Beach Central – Jingle all the way as you don your best Santa gear and sleigh the race along the Seawall. Kids Dash participants will receive a long-sleeve shirt, plus a Santa hat and beard. Save $5 on registration by using promo code 365HOUSTON at checkout. Registration is $79.99 for the 5K; $99.99 for the Half Marathon; $34.99 for the Kids Dash. 7:30am.
• PlantMas Market at M-K-T | No Cover – The Heights destination for dining and shopping hosts a plant market with more than 30 local and small business vendors, plus a holiday scavenger hunt with fun and unique prizes, and a White Elephant plant swap. Noon to 6pm.
• Peace by Piece Vintage Market at Post Houston | FREE – Local vintage and streetwear retailer Bounce Back hosts a winter market on the second floor of Post’s X Atrium. Come by to shop, sell and trade vintage gear and other hype apparel in a family-friendly environment, just before the holidays. Noon to 6pm.
• A Magical Cirque Christmas at Cullen Performance Hall – This holiday variety show is full of nostalgia, charm, and awe-inspiring performances for all ages. The clever, comedic, acrobatic and stunt spectacular features the talents of world-class entertainers performing to beloved holiday music. $39.50 and up. 4pm.
• Harvey Bott Robott Opera Revisited at The Orange Show World HQ | FREE – Inspired by H.J. “Harvey” Bott’s groundbreaking experiments with remote-controlled art robots in the late 1970s and early ‘80s, the performance will include a series of hand-made robots, projected video and live musical accompaniment. 4pm to 5:30pm.

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