Get into the holiday spirit with these 25 Christmas events happening around Houston in 2015.
Also in December 2015
Top 10 Games & Sports Events
If you’re counting down the days until Christmas and have already started jamming to Holiday tunes, you’ll probably want to mark your calendar for a few of these events. From Christmas light displays to shopping markets, theatrical performances, skating rinks and home tours, there’s something for “kids from 1 to 92”.
- Home for the Holidays in Old Town Spring | Daily through Sunday, December 20 | FREE – Stroll around Old Town Spring visiting area businesses and restaurants to get into the holiday spirit. Visit during the weekend for special activities, visits from Santa, strolling performers, live entertainment and more.
- Festival of Lights at Moody Gardens | Through Sunday, January 10 – See the impressive 1 million light display at Moody Gardens complete with animation and sound-enhancement during the annual Festival of Lights. While you’re there, take a spin on the ice at the outdoor skating rink.
- A Christmas Carol at Alley Theatre | Through Monday, December 28 – Watch as Ebenezer Scrooge pays a visit to the ghosts of Christmases past, present and future during the Alley Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol.
- Holiday Train at Hermann Park | Through Sunday, January 3 – Hop on the Hermann Park train – decorated in garland and lights – for a ride around the park.
- Zoo Lights at the Houston Zoo | Through Saturday, January 9 – Sip on hot chocolate as you stroll around the Houston Zoo taking in the displays made up of more than 2,000,000 lights. Step inside of a life-sized snow globe, check out the train display and enjoy music from local carolers at the Reflection Pool stage at 7pm and 8pm each evening.
- Magical Winter Lights at Sam Houston Race Park | Daily through Wednesday, January 20, 2016 – Explore the seven themed areas of Sam Houston Race Park’s Magical Winter Lights, featuring larger-than-life Chinese lanterns that resemble landmarks in America, Europe, Asia, Australia and more.
- The Ice at Discovery Green | Daily – Lace up you skates and hit the ice at Discovery Green’s outdoor skating rink.
- Galveston Holiday Lighting Celebration at Hotel Galvez | Friday, November 27 | 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.
- The Nutcracker at the Wortham Center | Friday, November 27 to Sunday, December 27 – Watch Clara and the Nutcracker Prince as they travel to the Land of Snow and meet the Sugar Plum Fairy during the Houston Ballet’s production of a holiday classic The Nutcracker.
- Holiday Jam at Warehouse Live | Wednesday, December 2 – Get into the holiday spirit when Bun B, The Tontons, Fat Tony, DJ Baby Roo and more take the stage at Warehouse Live to perform in the Holiday Jam. Bring a toy or book and canned goods to get into the show.
- Christmas Tree Lighting in Sugar Land | Thursday, December 3 | FREE – See the lighting of the towering 40-foot tree in Sugar Land’s Town Square during a ceremony with an appearance from Santa Clause, holiday refreshments and live performances.
- Christmas On Main Street in La Porte | Thursday, December 3 | FREE – Head to Five Points Plaza for a holiday celebration complete with appearances by Mr. and Mrs. Claus and costumed characters from the movie Frozen, a mega slide, face painting, the lighting of the tree, a parade and more.
- 96th Annual Mayor’s Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting at City Hall | Friday, December 4 | FREE – Join Mayor Annise Parker for this annual holiday extravaganza including music, fireworks, the lighting of the tree and more family fun. Bring a new toy to donate and you’ll receive a light up Santa hat.
- Heights Holiday Home Tour | Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5 – Visit four homes that are ready for the holidays during the Heights Holiday Home Tour. You can leisurely tour each one with songs from carolers and musicians filling the air, and hop on the shuttle between homes.
- Dickens on the Strand in Galveston | Friday, December 4 to Sunday, December 6 – Travel through history as the historic Strand is transformed into Charles Dickens’ Victorian London for this annual event. Enjoy live entertainment, food and shopping from local vendors and a visit from characters of Dickens’ books.
- Christmas in the Park at George Ranch Historical Park | Saturday, December 5 – Take a festive hayride to explore what Christmas looked like in the 1830s to 1930s, listen in on story time with Santa and enjoy holiday refreshments during Christmas in the Park.
- Katy Old-Fashioned Christmas | Saturday, December 5 – The Old-Fashioned Christmas festivities kick off at Harvest Plaza in Katy with carolers and kids crafts that include writing a letter to the North Pole, making ornaments and reindeer food and photos with Santa. The official tree lighting will take place at 6pm. $5 for photos with Santa.
- A Christmas Story: The Musical at The Hobby Center | Tuesday, December 8 through Sunday, December 20 – Revisit the classic 1983 perennial with this musical adaptation of Ralphie’s quest for an “an official Red Rider carbine-action 200-shot range model BB rifle with a compass in the stock,” complete with the lamp, bully Scut Farkus, and Schwartz’s tongue stuck to a pole. Discounted tickets available.
- 365 Houston’s The Office Holiday Party and Water Cooler Crawl in Downtown Houston | Wednesday, December 9 – Join 365 Things to Do in Houston for a holiday party and water cooler crawl that begins with a reception at House of Blues Foundation Room and continues to bars like Reserve 101 and Lucky Strike for cocktails, prizes and more. $35. 6pm to 10pm.
- Very Merry Pops at Jones Hall | Friday, December 11 to Sunday, December 13 – Sing along to holiday favorites like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, “Joy to the World” and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” during the Houston Symphony’s annual Very Merry Pops show.
- Tomball German Christmas Market | Friday, December 11 to Sunday, December 13 | FREE – Shop unique gifts from more than 170 vendors, enjoy live music on 4 different stages, chow down on German fare, step into the petting zoo and more during the Tomball German Christmas Market.
- The Heritage Society’s Candlelight Tour | Saturday, December 12 and Sunday, December 13 – Tour historic homes decorated for the holidays, let the kids participate in activities at Santa’s Workshop, enjoy musical entertainment, do a little shopping at the Holiday Art Market and grab a cup of hot chocolate during the 2015 Candlelight Tour.
- Holiday Lights Tour on The Wave | Tuesday, December 15 to Thursday, December 17 and Tuesday, December 22 to Thursday, December 24 – Hop on The Wave and gaze at holiday lights as the bus takes you to see the tree at City Hall, Field of Light at Discovery Green and decorated homes in River Oaks and Woodland Heights. $30.
- Houston Symphony presents Handel’s Messiah at Jones Hall | Friday, December 18 to Sunday, December 20 – Enjoy works from Handel like “Ev’ry Valley Shall Be Exalted” and the “Hallelujah” chorus as performed by the Houston Symphony during this timeless production at Jones Hall.
- Santa Hustle 5k and Half Marathon in Galveston | Sunday, December 20 – Dress like old St. Nick (beard and hat included with registration) and run a 5k or half marathon through Galveston – enjoying cookies, candy cane and holiday tunes all the way. Stick around for the after party.
Find more great stuff to do this holiday season with our interactive event calendar and 365 Weekend Guides.
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