Find the perfect things to do in Houston this weekend with our Houston Weekend Guide for Thursday, December 14 to Sunday, December 17, 2017.
Weekend Shortcuts
Celebrate the start of Chanukah, watch your favorite holiday film, stock up on wine, sample some of the best chili in town, attend a public menorah lighting, stuff your face with tamales, shop till you drop, see a holiday performance and more.
Check below to find great things happening around Houston this weekend, from Thursday, December 14 to Sunday, December 17, 2017.
Things to Do All Weekend
- A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas at the Alley Theatre | Daily – See the Alley Theatre’s rendition of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, playing through Saturday, December 30 at Hubbard Theatre. Tickets start at $26. Thursday and Friday 7:30pm; Saturday and Sunday 2:30pm and 7:30pm.
- Houston Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Smart Financial Center | Daily – Don’t miss the holiday tradition of the Houston Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker. This classic will have a new home this year, thanks to Harvey, but you can catch it at Smart Financial Center before Christmas Day and at the Hobby Center after that. Tickets start at $35, but you may find cheaper or better seats on TicketNetwork’s resale marketplace. Thursday and Friday 7:30pm; Saturday and Sunday 2pm and 7:30pm.
- Festival of Lights at Moody Gardens | Daily – See the impressive one million light display at Moody Gardens complete with animation and sound during the annual Festival of Lights. Tickets start at $10.95. Thursday 6pm to 9pm; Friday to Sunday 6pm to 11pm.
- Sugar Land Holiday Lights at Constellation Field | Daily – The home field of the Sugar Land Skeeters is decked out in 2.5 million lights. Thursday 6pm to 9pm; Friday and Saturday 6pm to 10pm; Sunday 6pm to 9pm. $14.
- Magical Winter Lights at Gulf Greyhound Park | Daily – Explore larger than life landmarks from around the globe, made from lanterns and covered in holiday lights, at Magical Winter Lights. Tickets start at $13. Thursday 5pm to 10pm; Friday and Saturday 5pm to 11pm; Sunday 5pm to 10pm.
- Hansel & Gretel at the Rec Room | Thursday to Saturday – Housed in a 600 square foot wooded installation, Rec Room Arts creates an intimate, up-close-and-personal take on the opera Hansel and Gretel. Performances are limited to 40 audience members. Tickets start at $15. 7:30pm daily.
- Rock Nativity at A.D. Players Theater | Thursday to Saturday – See a contemporary take on the story of baby Jesus at a performance of the holiday musical Rock Nativity at A.D. Players Theater. $20; limited discounted $10 tickets available. 10:30am daily.
- The French Farm’s Holiday Open Warehouse Sale | Friday and Saturday – Bring the taste and feel of Europe home for the holidays when The French Farm opens their warehouse for a major sale. 10am to 3pm both days.
- Cirque Joyeux Noel Dinner & Show at Moody Gardens Theatre | Friday to Sunday – Moody Gardens rings in the holidays with Lone Star Circus’ all-new, one-of-a-kind, joyous circus spectacular Cirque Joyeux Noel Dinner & Show featuring award-winning performers from America’s Got Talent and Cirque du Soliel. Tickets start at $39. 7pm nightly.
- Handel’s Messiah at Jones Hall | Friday to Sunday – Conductor Paul Agnew will lead the Houston Symphony Chorus, orchestra, and soloists through the Baroque concert of Handel’s Messiah. Tickets start at $29. Friday and Saturday 8pm; Sunday 2:30pm.
- Day for Night Festival at Barbara Jordan Post Office | Friday to Sunday – Experience performances from more than 90 musical and visual artists including Solange, Nine Inch Nails, Pretty Lights, The Mill, and Ryoji Ikeda at this festival celebrating light and sound in Downtown Houston. Tickets start at $95. Times vary.
- Houston Texans Tickets on Sale | Sponsored – Save on Texans home games with cheaper, better, or hard-to-get 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.
Thursday, December 14, 2017
- Grand Chanukah Celebration at Market Street – Head to The Woodlands for the lighting of the nine-foot menorah, live music, and traditional food at this Grand Chanukah Celebration. 4pm to 6pm.
- Happy Hour Thursday at MFAH – Browse the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and enjoy a cash bar, local DJ, and grub from a local food truck. 5pm to 9pm.
- It’s A Wonderful Life Movie Screening at Discovery Green – See the uplifting Christmas Classic It’s A Wonderful Life on the big screen at Discovery Green. Bring a chair or blanket, or watch from The Ice rink. Skating fees apply. 7pm.
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Movie Screening at City Acre Brewing Co. – Watch a screening of the hilarious movie, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation starring Chevy Chase at City Acre Brewing Co. 7pm to 9pm.
- Sleeping Beauty & Her Winter Knight at The Hobby Center – Theatre Under the Stars presents this updated, filled-with-pop-songs, non-Disney version of Sleeping Beauty at The Hobby Center. Tickets start at $30; limited discounted tickets available. 7:30pm.
- Reckless at Studio 101 – Follow Rachel’s journey from a peaceful Christmas Eve to a fearful escape, in this dark holiday comedy by Craig Lucas at Studio 101. Tickets start at $17, but limited comped and discounted $16 tickets are available. 7:30pm.
- Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley at Main Street Theater – Start your holiday festivities off early with this production from Main Street Theater. Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley is the sequel to Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice and follows the family’s gathering for Christmas. Tickets start at $42. 7:30pm.
- Draughts & Laughs: Beer and Comedy Show at The Secret Group – Try not to spit out your beer as you listen to comedian Stephen Brandau at The Secret Group. $12. 8pm.
- Handel’s Messiah at Sugar Land Baptist Church – Conductor Paul Agnew will lead the Houston Symphony Chorus, orchestra, and soloists through the Baroque concert of Handel’s Messiah. Tickets start at $29. 8pm.
- 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, December 15, 2017
- The Texas Tenors in Concert at The Grand – The Texas Tenors, you may know them from America’s Got Talent, are heading to Houston for a stop on their holiday tour Deep in the Heart of Christmas. Tickets start at $30. 3pm and 8pm.
- Christopher Knowles: In a Word Opening Reception at CAMH | FREE – Celebrate the opening of the exhibition Christopher Knowles: In a Word, which features text, sound, painting, drawing, sculpture, and recorded performance, at CAMH. 6:30pm.
- Ugly Sweater Party at Howl at the Moon – Dust off your ugly Christmas sweater and head to Howl at the Moon for drink specials and your chance to win a happy hour party. 7pm.
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at A.D. Players Theater – Based on the children’s book, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a hilarious tale of when the rowdy Herdman children get cast in the annual Christmas pageant at their church and wreak havoc on the show. Tickets start at $20, but limited discounted $16 tickets are available. 7:30pm.
- A Midnight Clear: A Musical Tale of Christmas at Stages Repertory Theatre – A Midnight Clear sheds light on all the ways Christmas touches each of us, performed by Stages Repertory Theatre. Tickets start at $25, but you may find limited discounted tickets for $18.50. 8pm.
- Dead Kennedys in Concert at White Oak Music Hall – Punk legends Dead Kennedys will hit the stage with Avenue Rockers, The Secret Prostitutes, and The Cops at White Oak Music Hall. Tickets start $25, but better, cheaper tickets might be available on the TicketNetwork online marketplace. 8pm.
- Greetings! at Salem Lutheran – See what happens when Andy brings his Jewish atheist fiance Randi home to meet his very Catholic parents on Christmas Eve in this touching play at Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church. $18; limited discounted $9 tickets available. 8pm.
- Houston Rockets vs. San Antonio Spurs at Toyota Center – The Spurs and Rockets will battle it out on the court in this Texas matchup at Toyota Center. Tickets start at $42, but you may find better tickets using the TicketNetwork resale market. 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.
Things to Do on Saturday, December 16 and Sunday, December 17, 2017.
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