101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in Houston - 2023
KidsOutAndAbout is Houston's online guide to everything for kids, teens, and families! The activities we've listed here are confirmed for this year, but many require reserving ahead of time, and please keep in mind that events could be canceled... so click through to make arrangements. Enjoy the holidays!
If we're missing an activity that should be on our list, please email Mindy Mangan at mindy@kidsoutandabout.com. Please make sure to include a link to the event when you email. Thank you!
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Santa Sightings
| Nov 5- Dec 24, 2022 | Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops |
| Nov 10- Dec 24, 2022 | Photos with Santa- The Woodlands Mall |
| Nov 10- Dec 30, 2023 | Santa's Wonderland- College Station |
| Nov 10-Dec 22, 2023 | THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride- Galveston Railroad Museum |
| Nov 17- Dec 27, 2023 | THE POLAR EXPRESS™- Texas State Railroad |
| Nov 18, 2022- Jan 8, 2023 | Holly Jolly- Houston Museum of Natural Science |
| Nov 18, 2023 | Lighting of the Doves Festival- Town Green Park- The Woodlands |
| Nov 26, 2022 | Holiday in the Plaza- CityCentre |
| Nov 25, 2023 | Tree Lighting Ceremony - Pearland Town Center |
| Nov 26- Dec 24, 2022 | Holiday Market with Santa- Traders Village |
| Nov 30, 2023 | Holiday in the Park- Bellaire |
| Nov 30, 2023 | Main Street Tree Lighting- Seabrook |
| Dec 1-2, 2023 | Annual Home for the Holidays- 1st National Oak Park- Alvin |
| Dec 1, 2023 | Christmas Tree Lighting- Sugar Land |
| Dec 1-17, 2023 | Jingle on the Boardwalk |
| Dec 1-3, 2023 | Holiday in The Park- League City |
| Dec 2, 2023 | Deck the Depot Tree Lighting- Tomball Depot |
| Dec 2, 2023 | Snowfest- Missouri City |
| Dec 2, 2023 | Christmas in the Park- Kingwood |
| Dec 3, 2022 | Breakfast with Santa- First Colony Mall |
| Dec 2, 2023 | Christmas Parade of Lights- Palestine |
| Dec 3-17, 20022 | Storytime with Santa |
| Dec 2, 2023 | Reliant Lights Mayor’s Holiday Spectacular |
| Dec 3, 2022 | Christmas with the Fishes- Sea Center Texas |
| Dec 2, 2023 | Reindeer Park- Deer Park |
| Dec 3, 9 and 16, 2023 | Breakfast with Santa- Lone Star Flight Museum |
| Dec 9-10, 16-17, 21-24, 2023 | Breakfast with Santa- Downtown Aquarium |
| Dec 9-10, 16-17, 21-24, 2023 | Breakfast with Santa- Kemah Aquarium |
| Dec 9, 2023 | Breakfast with Santa- League City |
| Dec 9, 2023 | Holiday BINGO Breakfast- The Woodlands |
| Dec 10, 2023 | Milk and Cookies with Santa- The Woodlands |
| Dec 9, 2023 | The Toby Powell Conroe Christmas Celebration |
| Dec 9, 2023 | Breakfast with Santa- Seabrook |
| Dec 9, 2023 | Donuts with Santa- Conroe |
| Dec 16, 2023 | Gingerbread House Making with Santa- The Woodlands |
| Dec 16, 2023 | Donuts with Santa- The Woodlands |
| Dec 17, 2022 | Breakfast with Santa- Rosenberg Railroad Museum |
Old-Time Christmas
| Dec 1-3, 2023 | Dickens on The Strand - Galveston |
| Dec 10, 2022 | The Lone Ranger’s Christmas Caper |
| Dec 17, 2022 | Campfire Christmas- George Ranch Historical Park |
| Dec 16, 2023 | Candlelight Christmas at Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site |
Light Displays
| Now- Jan 8, 2023 | Cistern Illuminated |
| Nov 4, 2022- Jan 1, 2023 | The Light Park- Spring |
| Nov 4, 2022- Jan 1, 2023 | The Light Park- Katy |
| Nov 11, 2022- Feb 14, 2023 | Solstice, by Studio Iregular- Discovery Green |
| Nov 11, 2022- Jan 8, 2023 | Texas Winter Lights- Marriott Marquis Houston |
| Nov 11, 2023- Jan 7, 2024 | Galaxy Lights- Space Center Houston |
| Nov 18, 2022- Jan 7, 2023 | Magical Winter Lights |
| Nov 18, 2022- Jan 8, 2023 | TXU Energy Presents Zoo Lights- Houston Zoo |
| Nov 18, 2022- Jan 1, 2023 | Sugar Land Holiday Lights |
| Nov 18, 2022- Jan 1, 2023 | Lights Alive! |
| Nov 18- Dec 31, 2022 | Dasher's Light Show |
| Nov 18, 2022- Jan 1, 2023 | Lightscape- Houston Botanic Garden |
| Nov 18, 2023- Jan 6, 2024 | Holidays at Moody Gardens |
| Nov 24- Dec 25, 2022 | Duke Family Christmas Light Show |
| Nov 24- Dec 23, 2023 | The Christmas Train- Victory Camp in Alvin |
| Nov 26- Dec 24, 2022 | The Festival of Lights at Woodlands Church |
| Nov 28, 2023 | Tree Lighting Ceremony- Conroe |
| Dec 2-17, 2022 | Trail of Lights- Tomball United Methodist |
| Dec 9-11, 2022 | The Gronch Illuminated- Family Life Church |
| Dec 9-10 and 16-17, 2022 | Lights Over Lago |
| Dec 9-30, 2022 | Christmas Village at Bayou Bend |
Living Nativities
| Dec 9, 2023 | Conroe Christmas Celebration |
| Dec 18, 2022 | Live Nativity at St. Ignatius- Spring |
Holiday Theatre
| Nov 3-5, 2023 | The Nutcracker- Ice at the Galleria |
| Nov 17- Dec 30, 2023 | A Christmas Carol- Alley Theatre |
| Nov 18-19, 2023 | Boni's Dance Presents The Woodlands Dance Company In 'The Nutcracker' |
| Nov 22- Dec 23, 2023 | A Texas Carol- A.D. Players Theater |
| Nov 24- Dec 27, 2023 | The Nutcracker- Houston Ballet |
| Nov 30-Dec 17, 2023 | The Game’s Afoot- Unity Theatre |
| Dec 1-17, 2023 | The Nutcracker- Bay Area Houston Ballet and Theatre |
| Dec 1-2, 2023 | A Christmas Carol- The Grand 1894 Opera House |
| Dec 2, 2023 | Cirque Dreams Holidaze -Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land |
| Dec 3-4, 2022 | The Nutcracker- Texas Academy of Dance Arts |
| Dec 8- 17, 2022 | White Christmas, the Musical- Class Act Theater |
| Dec 7-17, 2023 | Holiday Follies- Stageworks |
| Dec 9, 2023 | Christmas Movie at The Texas Theatre |
| Dec 9-11, 2022 | The Gronch - Family Life Church |
| Dec 16-17, 2023 | Houston Urban Nutcracker |
| Dec 29, 2023 | NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet!- Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land |
Holiday Concerts
| Nov 17- Dec 24, 2023 | Motown Christmas- The Ensemble Theatre |
| Nov 18- Dec 24, 2022 | Houston for The Holidays with Dequina Moore |
| Nov 30, 2023 | Holly Jolly Jingle- The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion |
| Dec 2-3, 2023 | A Christmas Concert |
| Dec 10, 2022 | Songs with Snowmen |
| Dec 9-10, 2023 | Tim Burton’s the Nightmare Before Christmas- Houston Symphony |
| Dec 10, 2023 | Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith Christmas Tour- Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land |
| Dec 12, 2023 | Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker |
| Dec 15-17, 2023 | Handel’s Messiah- Houston Symphony |
| Dec 17, 2023 | For King and Country- Toyota Center |
| Dec 20, 2023 | SARAH BRIGHTMAN A Christmas Symphony |
| Dec 20-23, 2023 | Very Merry POPS- Houston Symphony |
| Dec 23, 2023 | Holly Jolly Holiday- Houston Symphony |
| Dec 28, 2023 | Mannheim Steamroller Christmas By Chip Davis- Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land |
Christmas Tree Experience
| Nov 11-17, 2022 | Jingle Tree- Houston Museum of Natural Science - Sugar Land |
| Nov 24- Dec 23, 2023 | Christmas at Dewberry Farm- Brookshire |
| Opening Nov 19, 2022 | Old Time Christmas Tree Farm- Spring |
| Opening Nov 19, 2022 | Spring Creek Growers- Magnolia |
| Opening Nov 23, 2022 | Beavers Christmas Tree Farm- Nome |
| Opening Nov 24, 2022 | Bozeman's Christmas Tree Farm- Lumberton |
| Opening Nov 25, 2022 | A-C Tree Farm- Huntsville |
| Opening Nov 25, 2022 | Double Creek Farm- Livingston |
| Opening Nov 25, 2022 | High Star Christmas Trees- Hockley |
| Opening Nov 25, 2022 | Holiday Acres- Manvel |
| Opening Nov 25, 2022 | Martin Farms- Nome |
Ice Skating
| Nov 10- Dec 30, 2023 | Santa's Wonderland- College Station |
| Nov 11, 2022- Jan 29, 2023 | The ICE powered by Green Mountain Energy®- Discovery Green |
| Nov 17, 2023- Jan 15, 2024 | The Ice Rink at The Woodlands Town Center |
| Nov 18, 2023- Jan 6, 2024 | Holiday in the Gardens- Moody Gardens |
| Ice at the Galleria | |
| Aerodrome Ice Skating Complex | |
| Sugar Land Ice Center | |
| Ice Skate Memorial City | |
| Bellerive Ice Center |
Hanukkah
| Dec 16, 2022 | Storybook Theatre-I Have a Little Dreidel |
| Dec 17, 2022 | HC68: Hanukkah Happening- Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center |
| Dec 18, 2022 | Bellaire Chanukah Festival- Bellaire Chanukah Festival |
| Dec 18, 2022 | Giant Menorah Lighting Celebration- Sugar Land |
| Dec 18, 2022 | Chanukah Menorah Parade- Chabad Outreach |
| Dec 18, 2022 | Chanukah in the Snow - Hakhel Post Oak Menorah Lighting |
| Dec 20, 2022 | Chanukah Celebration- CityCentre |
Shopping & Craft Fairs
| Nov 9-12, 2023 | The Nutcracker Market |
| Nov 17-19, 2023 | Home for the Holidays Gift Market- Katy Merrell Center |
| Dec 1-2, 2023 | Home for the Holidays Gift Market- Humble Civic Center |
| Dec 8-10, 2023 | Tomball Christmas Market |
| Dec 10, 2022 | Heights Mercantile Holiday Market |
New Year's Eve
| Dec 30- Jan 1, 2024 | New Year's Events- Moody Gardens |
| Dec 31, 2023 | New Year's Eve Family Celebration- Downtown Aquarium |
| Dec 31, 2023 | New Year's Eve Family Celebration- Kemah Boardwalk |
| Dec 31, 2022 | Noon Year's Eve/New Year's Eve- City Centre |
| Dec 31, 2022 | High Noon Countdown- Woodland Children's Museum |
| Dec 31, 2022 | Rockin' New Year's Noon Bash- Children’s Museum Houston |
Miscellaneous
| Nov 18- Dec 23, 2023 | Grinch's Lair- Texas Jail House |
| Nov 18, 2023 | Breakfast & Tea with the Sugar Plum Fairy |
| Dec 2-22, 2023 | Christmas at Tejas |
| Dec 8, 15 and 21, 2023 | Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt- Terramont Park |
| Dec 10, 2022 | 12th Annual Rudolph 5k Fun Run, Dasher 10k, and Cupid 1k |
| Dec 9, 2023 | 62nd Annual Christmas Boat Parade- Kemah Boardwalk |
| Dec 20- 22, 2023 | Sleigh Ride- Deer Park |
If you are affiliated with a business hosting a holiday event that should be on our calendar, we'd love to see it there... it's free to post! Click here for instructions about how to add your organization to our list and easily post your events to our calendar!
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