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Holiday Events

Thursday – Holiday Night Market @ Central Market @ 5PM Be transported to a traditional village night market and taste holiday bites, desserts, and wines.

Thursday – ‘Frozen’ Screening @ Trebly Park @ 6PM

Thursday – Holly Jolly Jingle Concert @ Woodlands Pavilion @ 7PM This annual free concert features CISD students performing beloved holiday tunes.

Friday – Rock ‘N’ Roll Holiday Market @ Saint Arnold @ 5PM Do713 is bringing holiday cheer to Houston with the coolest rock and alt music in the city, paired with a DIY handmade and vintage vendor market, food, drinks, DJs, live music, and more.

Saturday – Mayor’s Holiday Spectacular @ City Hall @ 6PM Mayor John Whitmire and Reliant celebrate 105 year annual tradition with live music and the lighting of the holiday tree.

Saturday – Katy Old Fashioned Christmas Market @ 10AM Enjoy this large market with over 200 vendors, children’s activities & Santa photos, arts and crafts, and more holiday fun!

Saturday – Holiday Vibe Market @ POST @ 11AM This holiday market features over 140 local vendors, an art gallery, live music, Santa photo ops, and Houston’s best food and drinks.

Saturday – HTX Holiday Market @ Big Brothers Big Sisters @ 11AM Meet some of Houston's dedicated community leaders, pick your gifts from small business owners, enjoy prizes and giveaways, & more.

Friday & Saturday – Holiday Market @ Blue Prolific Studios Network, shop, and enjoy the evening with some of Houston's small business professionals and fine artists.

Saturday & Sunday – Holiday Festival @ Levy Park The free two-day festival features a holiday market, a craft station, live performances, a free photo booth with Santa Claus, food & drink vendors, and more.

Saturday & Sunday – A Viennese Waltz Christmas @ Jones Hall Waltz your way into the holidays with glittering musical delights by Johann and Josef Strauss performed by your Houston Symphony.

All weekend – ‘The Nutcracker’ Ballet @ Brown Theater A holiday favorite, ‘The Nutcracker’ returns to the stage with beloved characters, glittering sets, and dancing that will lift your spirits during this holiday season. Ends 12/29.

All weekend – ‘Holiday Follies’ Show @ Stageworks Theatre This delightful, family-friendly show is packed with festive cheer, heartwarming music and dance performances, and holiday spirit that will enchant audiences of all ages. Ends 12/21.

All weekend – ‘A Texas Carol: Part Deux’ Play @ George Theatre This hysterical and heart-warming story about all things Christmas and all things Texas is back with new stories from beloved characters. Ends 12/22.

All weekend – ‘Sister’s Christmas Catechism’ Comedy Show @ Stages Repertory Theatre In this holiday mystery extravaganza, Sister takes on the mystery that has intrigued historians throughout the ages: whatever happened to the Magi’s gold? Ends 12/22.

All weekend – ‘Panto Pinocchio’ Musical @ Stages Repertory Theatre A classic tale with a modern twist, this electrifying panto is packed with high-tech hijinks, side-splitting jokes, and plenty of singing and dancing for the entire family to enjoy. Ends 1/5/2025.

All weekend – The Ugly Xmas Sweater Musical @ The Hobby Center ‘The Office’ meets ‘Project Runway’ in this laugh-out loud, interactive, hysterically funny TUTS musical production. Ends 12/22.

All weekend – ‘A Christmas Carol’ Musical @ Alley Theatre Celebrate the holidays with the Alley’s hit adaptation of the Christmas classic featuring colorful Victorian costumes, special effects, dancing, and Christmas carols. Ends 12/29.

All weekend – ‘The Night Shift Before Christmas’ Comedy Play @ Alley Theatre Join Margot on her Christmas Eve shift, braving grumpy drive-thru customers until her late best friend’s ghost warns her of imminent spirits. Ends 12/29.

All weekend – ‘Twelve Ways of Christmas’ Musical @ Ensemble Theatre With an eclectic blend of colorful jazz, R&B, and gospel, ‘Twelve Ways’ reminds audiences that despite different life circumstances, the true message of the holiday season remains the same. Ends 12/29.

Ongoing – Coca Cola Classic Christmas Experience @ Memorial City Mall This immersive holiday celebration features an ice skating rink, a holiday market, a larger-than-life light display, snow slides, photos ops, Santa, & more for the perfect Christmas experience. Ends 12/29.

Ongoing – Galaxy Lights Experience @ Space Center Houston @ 6PM This space-themed holiday light show defies gravity, transcends Earth’s boundaries, and transports you to the edge of the universe. Ends 1/5/2025.

Ongoing – Winter Wonderlawn @ POST Experience 100,000’s of lights, a 25ft Christmas Tree, and multiple holiday themed activations on Skylawn. Ends 1/11/2025.

Ongoing – Radiant Nature @ Houston Botanic Gardens More than 50 larger-than-life Chinese lantern installations come to life in stunning displays that showcase the beauty of nature and celebrate the promise of the Lunar New Year. Ends 1/25/2025.

Ongoing – Holiday in the Gardens @ Moody Gardens Moody Gardens’ unparalleled holiday experience includes the Festival of Lights, ice skating rink, artic slides, train rides, pictures with Santa, and more. Ends 1/1/2025.

Ongoing – Holiday Lights @ Sugar Land Experience 3.5 million lights, 10 themed areas, holiday shopping, great food, movie nights, Santa Claus, and much more! Ends 1/5/2025

Ongoing – Christmas Village @ MFAH Bayou Bend Discover an immersive holiday experience complete with sledding, snow fights, live music, Santa photo ops, and dazzling lights decorations. Ends 12/30.

Ongoing – Santa’s Wonderland @ College Station Experience Santa's magical world at the biggest Christmas attraction in the state of Texas. Ends 12/30.

Ongoing – Christmas Lights Drive-Thru @ Sam Houston Race Park It's the most wonderful time of the year to enjoy the annual Dasher’s Christmas Lights Show drive-thru experience. Ends 12/24.

Ongoing – City Lights Downtown Holiday Magic @ Avenida Houston Check all 12 locations of holiday magic and find an ice skating rink, sparkling lights, mesmerizing Christmas trees, totally post-able selfie stations, and many other activities to brighten the season.

Ongoing – Christmas Lights @ Big Rivers Waterpark Experience a winter wonderland featuring thousands of synchronized lights, drive-through lights, a bounce house and maze for kids, hayride, Santa photo ops, and more. Ends 12/31.

Ongoing – Green Mountain Energy Ice Rink @ Discovery Green Ends 2/5/2025.

Festivals & Markets

Saturday – Flea By Night @ Discovery Green @ 6PM This open-air market features local artisans and small business owners selling vintage, handmade, recycled, repurposed and local goods.

Saturday & Sunday – Galaxy Station Music Festival @ Bayou Music Center Featuring Markus Schulz, Nifra, Sarah De Warren, Gabriel & Dresden, & more.

All weekend – LDXP Laughing Dragon Experience @ NRG Arena Visit one of the largest gaming events in the country and take part in competitions, shop from vendors, and connect with fellow enthusiasts.

All weekend – Nostalgia Con @ George R. Brown Convention Center Immerse yourself in a captivating 90s to early 2000s themed event, adorned with top-notch artists, celebrity guests, vendors, and music from that bygone era. All weekend – Houston Greek Film Festival @ MATCH In its 7th year, the festival showcases new films from Greek and Cypriot filmmakers, producers and actors from Greece, Cyprus and the diaspora.

Standup

Sunday – Ian Edwards Stand Up @ Houston Improv @ 7:30PM

Sunday – Gus Constantellis Stand Up @ Punchline Houston @ 7PM

Friday & Saturday – Zainab Johnson Stand Up @ The Riot Comedy Club

All weekend – T.J. Miller Stand Up @ Houston Improv

All weekend – Jamie Lissow Stand Up @ Punchline Houston

All ages events

Saturday – Saturday Stargazing @ George Observatory in Needville

Saturday – ‘Home’ Screening @ Moody Center for the Arts @ 6PM

Ongoing – Pixar Putt @ Discovery Green Pixar Putt is the ultimate pop-up, open-air mini-golf experience inspired by the stories, characters and icons from some of Disney and Pixar's most beloved films. Ends 1/20/2025.

Ongoing – ‘Space Explorers: The Infinite’ Immersive Experience @ Silver Street Studios Embark on an immersive excursion through new breathtaking videos that reveal the many wonders of space exploration. Ends 1/4/2025.

Ongoing – Sloomoo Exhibition @ Marq E Entertainment Center Immerse yourself in the joy of sensory play with Sloomoo Institute’s colorful world of never-ending, hand-crafted slime, yummy scents, and soothing ASMR delights. Ends 12/31.

Arts & Culture

Friday – Jazz: Terri Lyne Carrington @ Wortham Center @ 8PM

Ongoing – ‘Time and Space’ Exhibition @ ARTECHOUSE Visit three distinctive exhibitions showcasing over 18 unique installation pieces, ranging from cinematic experiences and laser performances to robotic installations and interactive artworks.

Ongoing – ‘Mindworks’ Exhibition @ The Health Museum Be the first in the United States to see this interactive, hands-on exhibit that explores why you think, feel, and react the way you do!

Ongoing – ‘Gauguin in the World’ Exhibition @ MFAH The first Gauguin presentation of this scope in 35 years, ‘Gauguin in the World’ offers new perspectives on his life, work, influences; and his contemporary legacies, both artistic and historical. Ends 2/16/2025.

Ongoing – ‘Living with the Gods: Art, Beliefs, and Peoples’ Exhibition @ MFAH The exhibition explores how humanity has given form to spiritual beliefs across time and cultures through mor ethan 200 objects from the past 3,000 years. Ends 1/20/2025.

Ongoing – ‘Tacita Dean: Blind Folly’ Exhibition @ Menil The exhibition spotlights the British visual artist’s career-defining approach to creating art through unmediated and chance-based drawing processes across a variety of mediums. Ends 4/15/2025.

Ongoing – ‘Fragments of Memory’ Exhibition @ Menil The exhibition presents drawings from the museum collection which explore the ways in which the past imbues present experiences. Ends 1/26/2025.

Ongoing – ‘Vincent Valdez: Just a Dream’ Exhibition @ CAMH Considered to be one of the most important American painters working today, multidisciplinary artist Valdez’s works address the failings and triumphs of contemporary American society. Ends 3/23/2025.

Live theater

Friday – Annual Jubilee of Dance @ Brown Theater @ 7:30PM This annual Houston Ballet showcase features highlights from past productions and a sneak peek into what's to come.

All weekend – ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ Musical @ Crighton Theatre The world famous Willy Wonka is opening the gates to his mysterious factory…but only to a lucky few. Ends 12/15.

All weekend – ‘Sleeping Beauty’ Musical @ MATCH This captivating kid-friendly musical adaptation of the beloved fairytale follows the story of courageous Aurora and her Handsome Prince. Ends 12/22.

All weekend – ‘Love Bomb’ Musical @ MATCH LAST CHANCE – Catastrophic Theatre’s experimental new musical invites you to join the actors at the dance hall where there’s nothing people won’t do to find love. Ends 12/7.

All weekend – ‘The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals’ Musical @ MATCH A horror-comedy like no other, this musical has it all: a meteor crash, an infectious musical curse, and a group of friends desperately trying to escape the town.

All weekend – ‘Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike’ Play @ 4th Wall Theater Inspired by Chekhov characters, this hilarious play takes audiences on a journey through the messy relationships and family drama perfectly illustrating 21st century life. Ends 12/21.

Live Music

Thursday – ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ in Concert @ Smart Financial Centre @ 7PM Experience this truly immersive and grandiose concert that breathes new life into the beloved animated series.

Thursday – Shane Smith & The Saints @ 713 Music Hall @ 8PM With Southall

Thursday – American Aquarium @ Warehouse Live @ 8PM With Lou Hazel

Thursday – Marc Broussard @ The Heights Theater @ 8PM With Joe Stark

Thursday – Sasser @ Scout Bar @ 8PM With Deep in the Heart, Elevator Days, 3 ATM

Thursday – Keeton Coffman @ The Continental Club @ 9PM

Friday – Candlelight: ‘Bridgerton’ in Concert @ Resurrection MCC @ 6:30PM / 8:45PM Experience the beloved Netflix show’s melodies, reimagined by a talented string ensemble.

Friday – Sexyy Red @ Toyota Center @ 7PM With NLE Choppa, Skilla Baby, Erika Banks, Hunxho, & more.

Friday – The Story So Far @ Bayou Music Center @ 7:30PM With Superheaven & Koyo

Friday – Aaron Watson Holiday Concert @ The Heights Theater @ 8PM

Friday – Emorfik @ Stereo Live @ 10PM

Friday – Rick Trevino @ Warehouse Live @ 9PM With David Lee Garza Y Los Musicales

Friday – Upon a Burning Body @ Scout Bar @ 6PM With Lions at the Gate & VCTMS

Friday – Jimmy Brown @ The Secret Group @ 8PM With Ethan Low

Friday – Girl in a Coma @ Last Concert Cafe @ 8PM

Friday – Crank Up The Silence @ The Continental Club @ 9PM

Saturday – Nick Cannon’s ‘Wild ‘N Out’ Live Show @ Toyota Center @ 8PM With Rick Ross, Rob 49, & more special guests.

Saturday – The Ghost Inside @ House of Blues @ 6PM With Gideon, Of Virtue, Orthodox, & Void of Vision

Saturday – Hayes Carll & The Band of Heathens @ The Heights Theater @ 8PM

Saturday – Cera Khin @ Stereo Live @ 10PM

Saturday – Drake Bell @ Warehouse Live @ 7:30PM

Saturday – Metal Shop @ Scout Bar @ 10PM

Saturday – Jed Harrelson, Micah Edwards, & Marley Moon @ The Continental Club @ 8PM

Sunday – Fantasia @ Smart Financial Centre @ 7PM With K Michelle

Sunday – Why Bonnie @ White Oak Music Hall @ 7PM With Skirts

Sunday – Hayes Carll & The Band of Heathens @ The Heights Theater @ 8PM

Sunday – Minutes To Midnight: A Linkin Park Experience @ Warehouse Live @ 2PM

Other events:

Friday – Happy Hour Friday @ MFAH @ 5PM Explore the campus, visit the galleries after-hours, and get a drink at the bar at MFAH’s Happy Hour! Ends 12/27.

Friday – Silent Night Disco @ Market Square Park @ 7PM Dance under the stars at the holiday-themed silent disco.