We explored Houston’s 10 holiday events during December and we fell in love with the holidays all over again!
- Join the Holiday Tradition at The Alley Theater
- Get on the Polar Express at Galveston Railroad Museum
- Catch Holiday Movies at Rooftop Cinema Club Uptown
- Watch The Nutcracker at The Houston Ballet
- Teddy Bear Tea Time at the St. Regis Hotel Houston
- Skate with Santa Claus at Discovery Green
- Attend Houston Symphony’s Very Merry POPS Concert at Jones Hall
- Witness Magical LIghts at Houston Zoo
- Drive Through for Light Shows at Light Park
- Enjoy New Year’s Eve Fireworks at Kemah Boardwalk
Every year, my December calendar fills up with so many events—effortlessly. While this is indeed a festive event, thinking of exciting plans can be a little daunting.
Good thing that Houston has several activities meant for the holidays, allowing us to feel the holiday magic without the need to stress out.
So if you’re ready to deck the halls, join me as I go over these holiday events that will let us feel more festive apart from usual holiday dinner parties.
1. Join the Holiday Tradition at The Alley Theater
Media credit: @alleytheatre
Website: http://www.alleytheatre.org/
Address: 615 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77002
Contact Details: +1 713-220-5700
Every year, The Alley Theater lets you discover the timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge’s Christmas journey from the past, present, and future through A Christmas Carol.
Watching A Christmas Carol at The Alley Theater has been one of the favorite activities for families with younger kids. Even better, parents feel nostalgic as the play showcases stories of past Christmases.
For adults, you can also catch another holiday show called The Night Before Christmas. It’s an adults-only holiday comedy show, allowing you to laugh out loud with your friends.
Meanwhile, for those looking for a romantic story, you can watch December: A Love Years in the Making. It’s a great play to catch, especially if you’re poetic.
Pro tip: If you want to eat a good meal before or after a show, there are multiple food establishments around The Alley Theatre. One food market you can try is Lyric Market, a food hall with 9 various dining concepts, including a full service bar.
2. Get on the Polar Express at Galveston Railroad Museum
Media credit: @galvrrmuseum
Website: http://www.galvestonrrmuseum.org/
Address: 2602 Santa Fe Pl, Galveston, TX 77550
Contact Details: +1 409-765-5700
Operating Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
From November to December 23, Houstonians can get on a magical train ride at Galveston Railroad Museum. This train ride is based on the book and movie called The Polar Express.
Each year, families love dropping by the Galveston Railroad Museum to board this train car, so the kids can see the elves and dance, drink hot chocolate, and meet Santa Claus!
For those of you who want to catch the performance before the train steams into the station, you should head to the Galveston Railroad Museum Train depot an hour before departure time. You should allot at least two hours to hop on the roundtrip Polar Express train ride!
Pro tips:
- To secure tickets early, you can book the Polar Express train ride as early as August.
- Wear your pajamas to fully immerse yourself in the Polar Express train ride!
3. Catch Holiday Movies at Rooftop Cinema Club Uptown
Media credit: @rooftopcinemaclub
Website: https://rooftopcinemaclub.com/blog/christmas-films-will-get-feeling-festive/
Address: 1700 Post Oak Blvd 5th Level, Houston, TX 77056
December in Houston is another great time to enjoy re-watching your favorite movies yet again. And one great place to do that is under the starry skies at the Rooftop Cinema Club Uptown for the entire month!
If you want to catch one of the family-favorite Christmas movies, the Rooftop Cinema Club Uptown offers Elf. For adults who want to veer away from the usual good Santa that we know, you can catch Bad Santa at the Rooftop Cinema Club Uptown too.
Another Christmas classic that we usually catch on cable TV is Home Alone. But this time, we can all experience it in an outdoor cinema together with other Houstonians so we don’t have to be alone at home (pun intended!).
Lovers can also enjoy watching romantic comedy holiday flicks such as Love Actually and The Holiday.
Meanwhile, the Rooftop Cinema Club Uptown also showcases traditional movies, allowing the more mature viewers to enjoy their time here.
Pro tip: You can head to the 4th and 5th floors of the Blvd Place to avail the Rooftop Cinema Club Uptown’s free parking. Meanwhile, if you’re getting there via taxi or a ride-sharing service, you can pin Post Oak Blvd as your drop-off point.
4. Watch The Nutcracker at The Houston Ballet
Media credit: @houstonballet
Website: https://www.houstonballet.org/
Address: 601 Preston St, Houston, TX 77002
Contact Details: +1 713-523-6300
Operating Hours: Monday – Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Every December, Houstonians also love watching The Nutcracker at The Houston Ballet. Here, you can watch ballerinas sport their costumes as they dance wonderfully rehearsed choreography with a timeless Tchaikovsky score–great for all ages!
What’s great about The Nutcracker at The Houston Ballet is that they make sure to add new perspectives every year, allowing you to see something new out of this classic Christmas ballet performance in Houston.
If you want to encourage your little kids to practice ballet, The Nutcracker can be one of the best performances to make them watch as the storyline is easy to follow. Additionally, the characters are fun and festive for the kids to watch too!
Pro tip: Consider purchasing the VIP Experience so you can grab complimentary alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages, treats. There’s also a photo booth experience and a gift towards the end of the show.
5. Teddy Bear Tea Time at the St. Regis Hotel Houston
Media credit: @stregishouston
Website: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/houxr-the-st-regis-houston/overview/
Address: 1919 Briar Oaks Ln, Houston, TX 77027
Contact Details: +1 713-840-7600
St. Regis Hotel Houston allows Houstonians and other visitors to experience tea time with a twist called Teddy Bear Tea—and it only happens every December!
During this fun event, you’ll appreciate your usual tea time while witnessing Christmas activities for all. Here, you can join a marionette show, face painting, and cookie decorating.
If you’re going there alone, you can request balloon artists to craft your favorite animals, which you can bring home to your kids! There’s also a magic show that can be enjoyed by both children and adults.
A big part of this celebration is that guests are encouraged to bring their kid’s pre-loved teddy bear, allowing them to take part in this tradition and donate to the Houston Area Women’s Center.
Pro tip: December is a great month to secure discounts at St. Regis Hotel, especially during the Teddy Bear Tea event.
6. Skate with Santa Claus at Discovery Green
Media credit: @discoverygreen
Website: http://www.discoverygreen.com/
Address: 1500 McKinney St, Houston, TX 77010
Contact Details: +1 713-400-7336
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM
If you want to experience a different kind of skating session at Discovery Green’s Green Mountain Energy ice rink, then you should visit this place every weekend in December. Here, you’ll get a chance to see Santa Claus and ice skate with him!
While skating with Santa, you can also appreciate the view of downtown Houston, and be filled with Christmas decorations and lights. This is also your chance to feel what it’s like to have a snowy Christmas in Houston.
Of course, skating will use up your energy so it’s great to have food vendors around Discovery Green. Even their snacks are holiday-themed so you can grab some such as gingerbread cookies, cranberry scones, and hot chocolate.
Pro tip: If your kids are new to ice skating, you can rent penguin skate aids from Discovery Green’s Green Mountain Energy ice rink. This allows them to practice their balance and prevent them from a great fall during their ice skating adventure with Santa Claus.
7. Attend Houston Symphony’s Very Merry POPS Concert at Jones Hall
Media credit: @housymphony
Website: https://houstonsymphony.org/
Address: 615 Louisiana St, Houston
Contact Details: +1 832-487-7050
For music lovers out there, you’ll enjoy attending Houston Symphony’s Very Merry POPS Concert. Here, you can hear your favorite classic Christmas carols, as well as modern tunes being performed by the Houston Symphony.
Upon entering, you’ll love being surrounded by Christmas lights, and holiday decorations, setting a more festive vibe at Jones Hall.
If you’re a lover of classical music, this concert by Houston Symphony is a must-see. Additionally, this is also a great date night idea for couples who want to be serenaded with some soothing music during the holiday season.
Moreover, the Houston Symphony also invites various choirs and guest artists to make the evening more interesting.
Pro tip: Consider staying a bit longer after the concert concludes so you can get a chance to take photos with Santa Claus.
8. Witness Magical LIghts at Houston Zoo
Media credit: @houstonzoo
Website: https://www.houstonzoo.org/
Address: 6200 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030
Contact Details: +1 713-533-6500
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Every year, Houston Zoo offers a different take on exploring the zoo at night through its magical lights. Aside from the bright lights, you can also enjoy the holiday tunes while you go around the area.
You and your kids can also take photos with Houston Zoo’s 33-foot-tall tree which continuously changes in color. There is also an area where your kids can see sparkling flowers and butterflies.
A holiday adventure won’t be complete without s’mores and hot chocolate, so it’s great that Houston Zoo offers these holiday treats during the Christmas season.
Aside from the lights that surround Houston Zoo, you can also attend their special events during December. Some of the events you can attend are Sensory Friendly NIght and VIP Experience Nights.
Pro tip: If you don’t wish to bring your kids to Houston Zoo, you can take advantage of a Sip and Sparkle event at Houston Zoo. This is an adult-only experience at Houston Zoo, allowing you to have a romantic date night during the holiday season.
9. Drive Through for Light Shows at Light Park
Media credit: @thelightpark
Website: https://www.thelightpark.com/
Address: 555 Katy Fort Bend Rd Parking Lot, Katy, TX 77494
If you want a road trip type of holiday escape during December, a drive-through at Light Park is a great idea. Here, you don’t need to leave your cars to appreciate light shows offered by the Light Park.
You can also enjoy the lights while being in sync with the holiday rhythm and tunes. Meanwhile, if you want to upgrade your drive-through light experience, you can get a bundle so you can go around while indulging in some drinks and popcorn.
Staying inside your car has another advantage and that’s enjoying the light show with your furry friends!
Pro tip: There are limitations for vehicles allowed inside the Light Park. While full-sized vans can be accommodated, trailer trucks, limousines, or busses of any length are prohibited from entering the drive-through light show.
10. Enjoy New Year’s Eve Fireworks at Kemah Boardwalk
Media credit: @kemahboardwalk
Website: http://www.kemahboardwalk.com/
Address: 215 Kipp Ave, Kemah, TX 77565
Contact Details: +1 281-535-8100
Operating Hours:
- Monday – Thursday: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Friday, Sunday: 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Saturday: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
The best way to end the December events in Houston is to welcome the new year and watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks at Kemah Boardwalk.
Here, you can watch different bands and performers as they grace the event with lively songs to celebrate the new year. Meanwhile, don’t worry about getting hungry as Kemah Boardwalk has multiple food vendors that remain open throughout the event.
Additionally, your kids can enjoy playing around 13 amusement rides and arcade games throughout the boardwalk. For the adults, the Boardwalk Inn Hotel has multiple shops, allowing you to shop before you welcome the New Year.
You’ll also enjoy watching fireworks starting at 9 in the evening and will run every hour until the main New Year’s Eve firework event once the clock strikes midnight.
Pro tip: If you want the best view of the sky, consider standing near the waterfront or by the pier in front of the waterfront restaurants.
