Find the perfect things to do in Houston this Thanksgiving weekend with our Houston Weekend Guide for Wednesday, November 25 to Sunday, November 29, 2015.
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Run in the annual Turkey Trot, see a concert, attend the Thanksgiving Day Parade, raise money for The Orange Show, go to the Texans game and more this Thanksgiving weekend.
Check below to find great things happening around Houston this Thanksgiving weekend, from Wednesday, November 25 through Sunday, November 29, 2015.
Things to Do All Weekend
- Field of Light at Discovery Green | Daily | FREE – Bruce Munro’s Field of Light installation will return to Discovery Green to illuminate the park with bulbs and stems connected by fiber optic cables. 3pm to 11pm daily
- Phantom of the Opera at the Hobby Center | Daily – Experience the beloved story and thrilling score of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera at Hobby Center. Tickets start at $50, but you may find cheaper or better seats on TicketNetwork’s resale market. Thursday 2pm and 7:30pm; Friday 8pm; Saturday 2pm and 8pm; Sunday 2pm and 7:30pm.
- Famous Clydesdales at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery | Wednesday; Friday to Sunday | FREE to Attend – Bring the whole family to the Anheuser-Busch Brewery to see the world famous Budweiser Clydesdales in their stables and then watch them pull the hitch. $10 brewery tours available for 21 and over guests. Times very by date.
- A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas at Alley Theatre | Wednesday; Friday to Sunday – A haunting and heartwarming original adaptation of Dickens’ classic, the Alley’s popular holiday tradition returns this weekend. Tickets range from $26 to $85 before ticketing fees, but limited $16 to $21 discounted tickets are still available for November shows. Showtimes vary
- Home for the Holidays Gift Market in Galveston | Friday and Saturday – Do some holiday shopping during this annual gift market at Moody Gardens. $6. Friday noon to 8pm; Saturday 10am to 8pm.
- Grandpa’s Holly Jolly Christmas at Theatre Suburbia | Friday and Saturday – Usher in the holiday season with this heartwarming grown-up story about a grandfather who rediscovers the meaning of Christmas. $16; limited discounted $8 tickets available.
- Pop Shop Houston Festival at Silver Street Studios | Friday to Sunday | FREE – Skip the lines this black Friday and enjoy shopping with a side of live music sets, DIY workshops, food trucks, live painting and more during Pop Shop Houston’s shopable art and music festival. Friday and Saturday noon to 8pm; Sunday noon to 6pm.
- Houston Texans Tickets on Sale | Sponsored – Save on Texans games with cheaper or better seats on TicketNetwork’s resale market.
- Houston Rockets Tickets on Sale | Sponsored – Save on Rockets games with cheaper or better seats on TicketNetwork’s resale market.
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
- 51st Anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s Assassination at NMFH – Spend the day at the National Museum of Funeral History in honor of the anniversary of JFK’s assassination. $10; $9 for seniors and veterans; $7 for children 6 to 11; free for children 5 and under. 10am to 4pm.
- Wortham Theater Center Tree Lighting Ceremony | FREE – Gather in the grand foyer of the Wortham Center to watch the sugar plum fairy light the 25-foot tree, snack on holiday refreshments and enjoy an appearance from costumed Houston Ballet dancers, along with performances from Houston Grand Opera, Houston Masterworks Chorus and The Invincible Czars. 11am to 1pm.
- Thanksgiving with Santa at the Children’s Museum of Houston – Hang out with Santa, the elves and a giant turkey during this event at the Children’s Museum. Make a paper turkey fan, turkey leg hat or a turkey out of leaves, write a thank you leaf, make a colorful vest to wear for the parade and more. Included with museum admission. 1pm to 4pm.
- Thanksgiving Eve at Howl at the Moon – Party all night at Howl at the Moon’s Thanksgiving Eve party, with drink specials and table reservations before you $7. 5pm to 2am.
- The World is a Beautiful Place and Foxing in Concert at Walter’s Downtown – See a concert from The World is a Beautiful Place, Foxing, TTNG and Brightside during a show at Walter’s. $12 in advance; $14 at the door. 7pm.
- Houston Rockets vs. Memphis Grizzlies at Toyota Center – Cheer for the Rockets as they take on the Grizzlies at home. Tickets start at $20, but you may find cheaper or better seats on TicketNetwork’s resale site. 7pm.
- Band of Heathens in Concert at McGonigel’s Mucky Duck – See the 10th anniversary show from Band of Heathens with special guest Colin Brooks at McGonigel’s Mucky Duck. $25 in advance; $27 at the door. 7pm.
- Jazz Nights on Ice at Discovery Green – Jam to music from Jazzman Jawad as you skate on the Ice at Discovery Green. Skate rentals available for a fee. 7pm to 9pm.
- The Drug Store Gypsies in Concert at Firehouse Saloon – Hear music from red dirt group The Drug Store Gypsies during a live show at Firehouse Saloon. $10. 9pm.
- More Great Things to Do All Weekend Long – Some of the biggest things to do in Houston this weekend are happening all weekend long. Click here to scroll up and see our list.
Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 2015
- Turkey Trot near the Galleria – Start Thanksgiving Day off on the right foot by running in the annual Turkey Trot 10k or 5k. $40 10k, 10k wheelchair, 5k and 5k wheelchair timed; $35 10k and 5k untimed and sleep-in registration; $20 seniors 70 and older; $20 kids 1k for 12 and under. 7:20am.
- Thanksgiving Day Parade in Downtown | FREE – Head Downtown for the 66th Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade celebrating Houston families, food, sports, arts and entertainment for 20 blocks. See Mayor Parker, marching bands, Santa Claus, balloons, sports figures, celebrities and more during this annual Thanksgiving Day tradition. 9am to 11am.
- Uptown Houston Holiday Lighting | FREE – After you’ve had your fill of Thanksgiving turkey, load up the family and head to Post Oak Boulevard for holiday music, kettle corn, hot chocolate, live musical and dance performances. Watch as Santa and his reindeer light the 80 trees lining the boulevard and take in a fireworks display set to holiday tunes. 4pm to 7pm.
- Jive Turkey Comedy Explosion at Arena Theatre – Roll on the floor laughing during this Thanksgiving Day comedy show featuring comedians Ali Siddiq, Marcus D. Wiley and Juan Villareal at Arena Theatre. Tickets start at $29. 8pm.
- Poison Pen Reading Series at Poison Girl | FREE to Attend – Hear a reading from three locally and nationally recognized writers during this series at Poison Girl. 8:30pm.
- More Great Things to Do All Weekend Long – Some of the biggest things to do in Houston this weekend are happening all weekend long. Click here to scroll up and see our list.
Friday, November 27, 2015
- Burn the Bird at Evelyn’s Park – Work off your Thanksgiving feast with a free class from Avenu Fitness & Lifestyle and juice from Snap Kitchen in Evelyn’s Park. 8am to 9:30am.
- UH Cougars vs. United States Navy at TDECU Stadium – Scream for the University of Houston Cougars when they play Memphis at home. Tickets start at $24, but you may find cheaper or better seats on TicketNetwork’s resale site. 11am.
- Black Friday at Boyert Shooting Centers on Westheimer and in Katy | FREE to Attend – Find steep discounts on firearms, knives, memberships and more at this weekend-long Black Friday event. The first 50 people in the door on Friday morning get special swag bags. 11am to 6pm.
- Galveston Holiday Lighting Celebration at Hotel Galvez | FREE – The celebration begins with the arrival of Santa by horse-drawn carriage and the lighting of the hotel’s tree. Enjoy performances from carolers, a hand bell choir and the Galveston Ballet as the holiday season in Galveston officially kicks off. 6pm.
- Houston Rockets vs. Philadelphia 76ers at Toyota Center – Cheer for the Rockets as they take on the 76ers at home. Tickets start at $20, but you may find cheaper or better seats on TicketNetwork’s resale site. 7pm.
- Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet at Jones Hall – The Houston Symphony will host Chinese conductor Long Yu for a performance on Prokofiev’s classic ballet score Romeo and Juliet. Tickets start at $25. 8pm.
- A Soulful Christmas 2015 at The Ensemble Theatre – Go on a musical journey with two children as they learn the history behind soulful songs like “Go Tell it on the Mountain” and “This Christmas” during this show at Ensemble Theatre. Tickets start at $50. 8pm.
- Mac Miller in Concert – Have the best day ever with Nikes on your feet at hip hop star Mac Miller’s Good A.M Tour. First run tickets are all sold out, but if you or someone you care about can’t miss the show, you can still find premium priced tickets on TicketNetwork’s resale market.
- Sam Riggs in Concert at Firehouse Saloon – Hear a live concert from country artist Sam Riggs during a show at Firehouse Saloon. $12 in advance; $15 at the door. 9pm
- A Charlie Brown Christmas: Unscripted at ComedySportz Houston – The Improv troupe at ComedySportz retells the Charlie Brown holiday classic based on suggestions from the audience at an anything goes, 18-and-older late night comedy show. $14; limited comped and $7 tickets available. 10:30pm.
- More Great Things to Do All Weekend Long – Some of the biggest things to do in Houston this weekend are happening all weekend long. Click here to scroll up and see our list.
Things to do on Saturday, November 28 and Sunday, November 29, 2015.
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Is your favorite event missing from our list? Add it in the comments below.