Take a tour of H-Town’s weekend highlights with the 365 Houston guide to the best things to do in Houston this weekend, from Friday, December 17 to Sunday, December 19, 2021.
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.
Looking for more things to do? Dig deeper for all of our weekend picks with the 365 Houston Weekend Guide, or comb through our Calendar for even more events, activities, and things to do this weekend.
The 15 Best Things to Do in Houston This Weekend: December 17 to 19, 2021
- Kapwani Kiwanga: The Sand Recalls the Moon Shadow at Moody Center for the Arts | Ongoing; Ends Saturday, December 18 | FREE – The Paris-based artist transforms parts of the Moody Center with her site-specific works that utilize natural materials to address linkages between trade and labor, as well as society and the environment, on multiple scales. Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm.
- Comedian Raanan Hershberg at Rudyard’s British Pub | Friday, December 17 & Saturday, December 18 – The touring comedian known for his chart-topping comedy album, Self-Helpless, arrives at Rudyard’s in Montrose for two nights of side-splitting laughter. $15, with reserved and VIP tables available. Friday 7:30pm; Saturday 7:30pm and 10pm.
- The Temptations in Concert at the Grand 1894 Opera House in Galveston | Friday, December 17 & Saturday, December 18 – The historic opera house in Galveston hosts the legendary soul quintet, who celebrates their 60th anniversary by performing iconic Motown hits like “My Girl,” “I Can’t Get Next to You,” and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone.” Tickets are sold out at the venue, but you may find hard-to-get seats using the TicketNetwork online marketplace. 8pm.
- Serve! at Warehouse Live | Friday, December 17 – Watch as your drag favorites like Adore Delano, Jujubee, Honey Davenport and more light up the stage at EaDo’s Warehouse Live. $65 in advance; $75 day of show. 8pm.
- Santa’s Big Feast at 8th Wonder Brewery | Saturday, December 18 & Sunday, December 19 | No Cover – EaDo’s 8th Wonder brings in the holidays with a 2-day food festival featuring over 20 vendors from around the world and some local favorites. Wear your stretchy pants to taste all the global flavors at one place. Saturday noon to 10pm; Sunday noon to 8pm.
- Houston Symphony presents Very Merry POPS at Jones Hall | Saturday, December 18 & Sunday, December 19 | Virtual Option – Rodney Ingram makes a move from Broadway to the stage at Jones Hall to accompany the Houston Symphony in holiday selections and seasonal favorites, plus an appearance by Santa Claus himself. The second performance on Saturday will also be livestreamed. $29 to $154. Saturday at 2:30pm and 8pm; Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm.
- DIY Candles at Houston Arboretum & Nature Center | Saturday, December 18 – Learn the ins and outs of crafting your own scented soy wax candles with different oils and colors at the outdoor nature haven. $35. 3pm to 5pm.
- Holiday Jazz Picnic featuring Tianna Hall at a Secret Downtown Houston Park | Saturday, December 18 – Don’t miss out on Bayou City Picnic’s final event of the year. Guests will enjoy the gourmet picnic baskets with charcuterie or sandwiches as well as a warm blanket for snuggles. Jazz artist Tianna Hall accompanies the night with Christmas and swing hits. Event location will be emailed after tickets are purchased. $90, with add-on options for three or four people, wine, flowers, extra snacks, and more. 4:30pm to 6pm.
- Sip ‘N’ Shop at All the Feels in Midtown | Saturday, December 18 | No Cover – Pour a glass of wine, beer or mezcal and shop unique, artisan jewelry, ceramics, candles, vintage items, stocking stuffers and much more. Vintage clothing vendors will set up on the patio outside of the Midtown shop for a pop-up opportunity to finish your holiday lists. 6pm to 9pm.
- A Christmas Symphony with Sarah Brightman at Smart Financial Centre | Saturday, December 18 – The multi-talented, Grammy-nominated English soprano is joined by an orchestra and choir for an evening of show-stopping renditions of holiday classics and fan favorites. $69.50 to $125. 7:30pm.
- Larry June in Concert at House of Blues | Saturday, December 18 – The Bay Area rapper with a prolific output of studio albums, mixtapes, and underground projects comes to Downtown’s House of Blues to support his latest studio release, Orange Print. $30 to $40. 8pm.
- Santa Hustle 5K & Half Marathon at San Luis Resort in Galveston | Sunday, December 19 – Get decked out in your jolly best, don a Santa cap and beard, and get ready to join in with hundreds of other Saint Nicks for the annual holiday tradition in Galveston. All entrants for the 5K and half marathon will receive a zip hoodie, Santa hat, beard, and a finisher’s medal once you cross the line. Registration ranges from $49.99 for the 5K to $69.99 for the half marathon, with prices raising for race-day registration; $10 for the kids dash. 8am.
- The Holiday Brunch! Mixer & Market at Pitch 25 Beer Park | Sunday, December 19 | No Cover – In EaDo, this annual market returns to Pitch 25, offering a yoga session and fitness bootcamp to go with a selection of vendors and makers with festive goods. Plus, try your worst at the ugly sweater contest, snag a photo with Santa, and enjoy live music, food, drink and more. Yoga and fitness bootcamps are $5 each; entry to the market is free. 11am to 4:30pm.
- Family Day at Bayou Bend Collections & Gardens | Sunday, December 19 | FREE – Bring the family to the American decorative arts museum along Memorial Drive for a day filled with puppet shows, storytelling, arts and crafts, and more. 1pm to 5pm.
- H-Town Sneaker Summit at NRG Center | Sunday, December 19 – The ultimate shoe collectors event is back for another summit. Buy, sell, trade and browse some of the most rare and collectible footwear and accessories. $35. 3pm to 8pm.
Find More Things to Do in Houston All Year Long
You can find more fun in our interactive event calendar and 365 Weekend Guides.
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