Don your favorite holiday duds for 50 holiday shows and performances that are sure to get you in the spirit throughout the 2024 holiday season.
If these shows don’t get you into the spirit of the season, I fear nothing will. Because over the next six weeks, Houston’s performing arts organizations are pulling out the stops, celebrating a whole host of traditions with a range of shows.
Expect the classics. A Christmas Carol, The Nutcracker, The Messiah and A Very Merry Pops are all back on our big stages. You can also catch the Dickens classic in Galveston and the team behind Drunk Shakespeare have their own twist on the beloved ghost story.
Stages pulls out all the stops with three Christmas shows, stories of finding love, working together to save a friend and presenting a beloved holiday tale in a new way. The Ensemble puts soul into the season. Main Street Theater brings back a popular Christmas offering. And another back-by-popular-demand show returns to Jones Hall.
Musical performances abound. Paul Hope Cabaret presents songs about the season’s flora and fauna. The Houston Chamber Choir’s annual Christmas concert celebrates with songs from the countries of origin of the Sisters of Charity. International Voices Houston offers songs as diverse as Houston itself, as does the Houston Pride Band.
Garden Theatre’s fifth season is highlighted by an adults-only show imagining what became of Cindy Lou Who after she met the Grinch. The Latin American Philharmonic has a concert of holiday favorites. TUTS brings a beloved movie to life on stage.
And that just about scratches the surface. Whether you seek the sacred or the secular this season, you’re sure to find something close to sublime on Houston stages.
Go see performing arts this season, Houston!
And Seasons Greetings!
Top 50+ Christmas Shows & Holiday Performances: November & December 2025
Island Etc: Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big Galveston Christmas Show | Through Saturday, December 6 – This fast, funny, and highly theatrical reimagining of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol—and timed to wrap up with this year’s Dickens on the Strand— is performed with five actors playing multiple roles and showcasing local people, places, and things. $40. Times vary. Get tickets.
Main Street Theater for Youth: The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza at MATCH | Through Sunday, December 21 – Based on Mo Willems’ beloved characters, with a script and lyrics by the author and Adam Tobin and music by Deborah Wicks La Puma, this family musical also includes Elephant and Piggie and the Unlimited Squirrels. But will the Pigeon make it? The only way to find out is to be part of these holiday shenanigans. Recommended for pre-K and older. $34+. Times vary. Get tickets.
Georgiana & Kitty – Christmas at Pemberley at Main Street Theater | Through Sunday, December 21 – Back by popular demand, this final installment of the wildly popular Christmas at Pemberley series follows Mr. Darcy’s younger sister, Georgiana, and the youngest Bennet sister, Kitty. During Christmas, the pair impatiently await the arrival of Henry Grey, Georgiana’s shy, secret correspondent and love interest. But can love find a way around the cold welcome he gets from Mr. Darcy? $45+. Times vary. Get tickets.
Take the Soul Train to Christmas at The Ensemble Theatre | Through Tuesday, December 23 – This holiday spectacle traces the story of African roots in American music, told through the eyes of students Nate, Ida and Rosa, who are assigned to write a research paper about how African-Americans celebrated Christmas through the ages. Expect everything from African drumming to jazz and disco beats. $30+. Times vary. Get tickets.
A.D. Players: Narnia The Musical at The George Theater | Through Tuesday, December 23 – Based on C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, this musical is a story of bravery, friendship and believing in something greater than yourself that is sure to captivate audiences young and old. Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy step through a wardrobe into a magical, wintry world. But all is not well. Can they band together with Narnia’s animals to save the realm from the evil White Witch? $25+. Times vary. Get tickets.
A Christmas Carol at Alley Theatre | Through Sunday, December 28 – The holiday favorite based on the novel by Charles Dickens returns, telling the story of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge and his fateful visit by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Can the encounter leave him a changed man? $67+. Times vary. Get tickets.
Drunk Christmas Carol at The Emerald Theatre | Through Sunday, December 28 – The holiday classic gets a spirited twist as one of five actors takes five shots and attempts to take part in a retelling of the Charles Dickens favorite. $49+. Times vary. Get tickets.
Houston Boychoir: Progressive Caroling Concert at MFAH | Friday, November 28 – The choir sings seasonal favorites like “Deck the Halls” and “Silent Night” as they carol throughout the museum’s galleries. Included with $24 admission. 6:30pm to 8pm. Get tickets.
Music Box Theatre: A Beatles Holiday Cabaret at Queensbury Theatre | Friday, November 28 to Tuesday, December 23 – Get into the festive spirit with songs from the Fab Four blended with your favorite seasonal melodies, including “Here, There and Everywhere/Merry Christmas, Darling,” “Dear Prudence/Have Yourself a Merry Christmas,” “Revolution/O Come All Ye Faithful,” “Day Tripper/Run, Run Rudolph” and more. $42+. Times vary. Get tickets.
Stages: It’s A Wonderful Life: A Radio Play at The Gordy | Friday, November 28 to Sunday, December 28 – Set in a 1940s radio station, with live sound effects and commercial breaks, this is the beloved Christmas story in a way audiences may not have heard. You’ll be in a “radio” audience as the cast enacts the story of George Bailey and his encounter with an angel, and get a sense of what entertainment was like before TV and streaming. $35+. Times vary. Get tickets.
The Night Shift Before Christmas at Alley Theatre | Friday, November 28 to Sunday, December 28 – The popular, one-woman show is back, telling the story of Margot, working at a burger joint on Christmas Eve, who has to confront grouchy drive-through customers, the ghost of her dead best friend and her own inner Scrooge. $45+. Times vary. Get tickets.
Houston Ballet: The Nutcracker at Wortham Center | Friday, November 28 to Sunday December 28 – The beloved holiday classic is back, telling the story of Clara, who receives a magical nutcracker as a Christmas gift. It transports her to an enchanted world that will delight audiences of all ages. $49+. Times vary. Get tickets.
DaCamera: A Little Day Music – Holiday Jazz Favorites at Wortham Center | Wednesday, December 3 | FREE – Bring your lunch or hot cocoa, wear your most festive attire and enjoy a concert of holiday music by DaCamera’s Young Artists. Noon. Get tickets.
Vienna Light Orchestra: Christmas Tour 2025 at Smart Financial Centre | Thursday, December 4 – This gorgeous performance by candlelight promises to immerse audiences in seasonal songs, stunning arrangements and a heartfelt community feeling. $39+. 7pm. Get tickets.
Jenny Oaks Baker & Family Four: Joy to the World – A Sacred Christmas Celebration at Stafford Centre | Thursday, December 4 – The Grammy-winning violinist hosts a Christ-centered concert of carols that also includes Irish step dance, spoken word, and more to help lift your heart and capture the spirit of the season. $35+. 7pm. Get tickets.
Latin American Philharmonic: A Latin Christmas at The Hobby Center | Friday, December 5 – This traditional Latin concert celebrates the music of the season with a program including “Año Viejo”, “Cantares de Navidad”, “Ven a mi Casa esta Navidad”, “El Burrito Sabanero”, “De Color de Rosa”, “Volvere”, “El Negrito Fullero”, and more. $30+. 8pm. Get tickets.
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at The Grand 1894 Opera House | Friday, December 5 & Saturday, December 6 – A perfect partner to Galveston’s beloved Dickens on the Strand weekend celebration, the annual performance on the 130+ year old stage tells the familiar tale of the most unrepentant and miserly of fellows and the spirits that avail him on Christmas Eve. $31+. Times vary. Get tickets.
Houston Symphony: Handel’s Messiah at Jones Hall | Friday, December 5 to Sunday, December 7 – Hear the incredible masterpiece with the full power of the orchestra and chorus as the Symphony’s holiday tradition returns to the Downtown stage. $61+. Times vary. Get tickets.
Holiday Follies at Stageworks | Friday, December 5 to Sunday, December 21 – Celebrating its fifth anniversary, the delightful, family-friendly show in northwest Houston is packed with festive cheer, heartwarming performances and holiday spirit to enchant audiences of all ages. $28+. Times vary. Get tickets.
Spirit of the Season at Rice University Morrison Theater | Saturday, December 6 – After cookies and hot chocolate in the foyer, students in the university’s voice and instrumental programs perform festive favorites and selections from opera and musical theater. $45+. 6:30pm. Get tickets.
Houston Pride Band: December Evergreens & Icicles at MATCH | Saturday, December 6 – The cozy concert features holiday big band music celebrating the sounds and traditions that unite us, while reflecting the diversity of our city and holiday experiences. $25. 8pm. Get tickets.
Houston Chamber Choir: Tapestry – Christmas at the Villa at Villa de Matel | Saturday, December 6 & Sunday, December 7 – The Treble Choir of Houston and the Houston Bronze Ensemble join the choir for this concert of Christmas carols that celebrate the Sisters of Charity’s countries of origin. $50. Times vary. Get tickets.
Houston Symphony: Joyful Fanfares Holiday Brass Spectacular at Jones Hall | Saturday, December 6 & Sunday, December 7 – Mark the holidays with a concert of exquisite classical works, treasured carols and festive favorites. $57+. Times vary. Get tickets.
Voctave: It Feels Like Christmas at Jones Hall | Monday, December 8 – The 11-member a cappella sensation sings all holiday favorite carols in a fun-filled, family-friendly holiday extravaganza sure to put the audience in the festive spirit. $50+. 7:30pm. Get tickets.
Paul Hope Cabaret: Christmas Flora & Fauna at Ovations | Monday, December 8 to Monday, December 22 | Weekly – The cabaret troupe brings back its popular holiday music concert with selections celebrating the natural world and its ties to the season. “The Holly and the Ivy” and other less-well-known songs are on the bill. $26.50+. 7:30pm. Get tickets.
A Prairie Home Companion Christmas at The Grand 1894 Opera House | Tuesday, December 9 – The much-loved radio program returns to the island with a Christmas edition featuring all your favorites: GK, Heather Masse, Maria Jette, the Radio Acting Company, Fred Newman, Richard Dworsky and the Guy’s Shoe Band, who will dazzle with the Adventures of Guy Noir, Duane & His Mom, the News from Lake Wobegon, A Christmas Carolette and an audience singalong. $55+. 7pm. Get tickets.
TUTS: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at The Hobby Center | Tuesday, December 9 to Wednesday, December 24 – Celebrate the season with an enchanting musical inspired by the 1954 film that Follows two WWII buddies turned entertainers as they team up with a pair of sisters to save a snow-covered Vermont inn—and discover the true meaning of the holidays along the way. $46+. Times vary. Get tickets.
Houston Symphony: A Very Merry Pops at Jones Hall | Thursday, December 11 to Sunday, December 14 – Celebrate the lively sounds of the season as the Symphony and choir perform a variety of sacred and popular holiday favorites in a concert for all ages. $63+. Times vary. Get tickets.
A Charlie Brown Christmas at Queensbury Theatre | Thursday, December 11 to Sunday, December 21 – The iconic holiday story comes to life on stage by CityCentre, as Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang look to discover the spirit of the season. $18+. Times vary. Get tickets.
Performing Arts Houston: A Time for Three Holiday at Wortham Center | Friday, December 12 – The Grammy-winning group performs a holiday concert radiating their signature blend of soul, warmth, and playful virtuosity. $44.85+. 7:30pm. Get tickets.
Raquel Cepeda Christmas Concert 2025 at MATCH | Friday, December 12 – The local jazz singer-songwriter performs a captivating selection of Christmas tunes from the traditional and jazz repertoires. $25+. 8pm. Get tickets.
Juxtapose Arts Collective: Believe at MATCH | Friday, December 12 to Sunday, December 14 – A young girl named Lynn learns the true meaning of the Christmas spirit as she and other Chosen Children are guided on a mysterious ride by a Conductor in a show that features music, magic and the power of finding the extraordinary in the everyday. $30. Times vary. Get tickets.
Stages: The Twelve Dates of Christmas at The Gordy | Friday, December 12 to Sunday, December 28 – This one-woman play is the story of Mary, whose fiancé is caught on camera kissing someone else at the annual Thanksgiving parade. Over the next 12 months, Mary embarks on a quest for romance…with all its ups and downs. Then, she meets someone who might just change her mind about love and life. $29+. Times vary. Get tickets.
Houston Symphony: Oh, What Fun! A Holiday Concert for Kids at Jones Hall | Saturday, December 13 – Gather for a kids concert of sing-along holiday favorites, hot chocolate, arts and crafts, an instrument petting zoo…and a visit from a certain North Pole resident. $50+. 10am and 11:30am. Get tickets.
Bach Society Houston: Bach’s Christmas Oratorio & the Magnificat at Brockman Hall | Saturday, December 13 – The Bach Choir, Bach Orchestra, and soloists present Houston’s newest holiday concert tradition, performing Bach’s joyful Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 parts 1 and 5, plus the radiant Magnificat, BWV 243 live on the Rice campus. $35+; $10 students with ID. 3pm. Get tickets.
Houston Grand Opera: Carols on the Green at Discovery Green | Saturday, December 13 | FREE – The annual holiday concert and sing-along combines beloved carols with festive Spanish-language favorites and includes performances by Butler Studio artist Demetrious Sampson, Jr., Mexican baritone baritone Esau Alvarez, the University of Houston’s Mariachi Pumas and the Segundo Barrio Children’s Chorus, members of HGO’s Bauer Family High School Voice Studio and HGO Chorus. 8:30pm. Learn more.
International Voices Houston: Snow Angel at MATCH | Saturday, December 13 & Sunday, December 14 – The multicultural choir presents this seasonal concert of music that explores four integral traits of childhood; vulnerability, resilience, playfulness, and hope for the future. $30. Times vary. Get tickets.
Mezclada Dance Company: A Mezclada Christmas Special at MATCH | Saturday, December 13 & Sunday, December 14 – The dance company presents a lively, family-friendly production inspired by the movie Elf—following Buddy the Elf as he discovers the diverse city of Houston and learns what it truly means to bring holiday cheer to his community. $20. Times vary. Get tickets.
Stages & Brave Little Theatre Company: Winter of the Snow Queen: An Interactive Musical Adventure at The Gordy | Saturday, December 13 to Wednesday, December 24 – The musical family adventure is the story of a boy who vanishes from his village…and only his best friend can save him. But she needs your help to stop the Snow Queen. $30+. Times vary. Get tickets.
Mariachi Sol De Mexico de José Hernández presents: José Hernández’ Merry-Achi Christmas at Jones Hall | Monday, December 15 – Back by popular demand, the world-renowned Mariachi Sol De Mexico returns to play holiday classics like El Niño del tambor (Little drummer boy), Himno de la alegría (A song of Joy), the Nutcracker Medley and more. $68+. 7:30pm. Get tickets.
Chamber Music Houston: The Canadian Brass at Stude Concert Hall | Tuesday, December 16 – The beloved ensemble, known for its incredible playing and fun sense of humor, comes to Houston for a show of seasonal faves and instrumental classics. Pay-What-You-Will. 7:30pm. Get tickets.
Tammy McCann: Merry Christmas Baby at Jones Hall | Wednesday, December 17 – The acclaimed jazz singer performs a concert of hard-swinging takes on classics like “Let It Snow,” “Do You Hear What I Hear” and “The Christmas Song.” $29+. 7:30pm. Get tickets.
The Garden Theatre: Who’s Holiday at MATCH | Thursday, December 18 to Sunday, December 21 – Celebrating the company’s fifth season, this adults-only holiday comedy finds Cindy Lou Who all grown up and living in a trailer park, recalling her first meeting with The Grinch and the bizarre turns her life has taken. $30. Times vary. Get tickets.
Houston Symphony: Elf in Concert at Jones Hall | Friday, December 19 to Sunday, December 21 – Relive the hilariously heartwarming holiday flick starring WIll Ferrell on a giant screen as every note of John Debney’s score is played live by the Symphony. In it, Buddy the Elf—accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised among Santa’s elves—embarks on a quest to NYC to find his real father. $71+. Times vary. Get tickets.
Revels Houston: The Christmas Revels at MATCH | Friday, December 19 to Sunday, December 21 – Join a Scottish celebration of the Winter Solstice, a Hogmanay tradition of stories, poems and music that came about after it became illegal in Scotland to celebrate the yuletide season. $36. Times vary. Get tickets.
Performing Arts Houston: Kids & Christmas Pops Concert at Wortham Center | Saturday, December 20 – The Houston Children’s Chorus sings a range of holiday favorites including “Pat-A-Pan,” “Somewhere In My Memory,” “Prayer” from Hansel & Gretel, and other secular and sacred holiday favorites. $28+. 5pm. Get tickets.
Rocky Mountain High Experience: A John Denver Christmas at The Hobby Center | Saturday, December 20 – The John Denver tribute band starring Rick Schuler brings the singer-songwriter’s music to life in a concert featuring Denver’s hits, original Christmas songs, and traditional holiday fare. $94+. 1:30pm and 7pm. Get tickets.
Space City Sound: Snowfall Serenade at MATCH | Saturday, December 20 – The award-winning a cappella ensemble offers an evening of sparkling harmony, festive favorites, and heartwarming cheer. $27. 2pm and 7pm. Get tickets.
Houston’s Urban Nutcracker at Stafford Centre | Saturday, December 20 & Sunday, December 21 – This feel good take on the old holiday classic explores Houston’s proud cultural heritage fusing classical ballet with hip-hop, jazz, tap, and more, as Clare travels through Houston communities. $45+. Times vary. Get tickets.
new and exciting twist on an old holiday classic while exploring the proud cultural heritage of the city of Houston through dance, music, and narration. This “feel good” Nutcracker is sure to leave you and your family feeling in the holiday spirit unlike any other holiday production has ever done before!
Performing Arts Houston: The Black Angels Collective’s 3rd Annual Heaven & Earth at Wortham Center | Sunday, December 21 –The much-loved favorite returns, with The Black Angels’ stunning ballet choreography woven with spiritual themes, promising audiences an otherworldly experience. $36+. 7pm. Get tickets.
Cor Mundi: This Wondrous Child at South Main Baptist Church & St. Basil Chapel | Sunday, December 21 & Monday, December 22 – Embrace the quiet awe and festive warmth of the season, with a concert of carols and compositions performed by the Cor Mundi Chamber Choir, soloists and organist Dr. Yuri McCoy. The Sunday performance is at South Main Baptist and the Monday show is at St. Basil. $45. Get tickets.
Performing Arts Houston: Cirque Dreams’ Holidaze at Jones Hall | Tuesday, December 23 & Wednesday, December 24 – Experience the wonder and acrobatics of Cirque’s longest-running show, featuring brilliant theatrical design, contemporary circus acts, and fresh takes on holiday music favorites. $46+. Times vary. Get tickets.
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