101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in Houston - 2024
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!
If you don't already receive our free weekly e-newsletter for Houston, sign up today to make sure you're in the know about free stuff, festivals, classes, camps, vacation ideas, and all the best events near you! In the meantime, enjoy the ideas below for holiday family fun in 2024!
Santa Sightings
| Nov 4- Dec 24, 2023 | Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops |
| Nov 8- Dec 23, 2024 | THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride- Galveston Railroad Museum |
| Nov 10- Dec 24, 2023 | Photos with Santa- The Woodlands Mall |
| Nov 15- Dec 30, 2024 | Santa's Wonderland- College Station |
| Nov 15-Dec 28, 2024 | THE POLAR EXPRESS™- Texas State Railroad |
| Nov 16- Dec 24, 2023 | Pictures with Santa- First Colony Mall |
| Nov 22, 2024 | Tree Lighting- LaCenterra |
| Nov 23, 2024 | Lighting of the Doves Festival- Town Green Park- The Woodlands |
| Nov 25, 2023 | Holiday in the Plaza- CityCentre |
| Nov 30, 2024 | Tree Lighting Ceremony - Pearland Town Center |
| Dec 1 and 8, 2024 | Cookies & Cocoa with Santa & Friends- The Woodlands |
| Dec 5, 2024 | Holiday in the Park- Bellaire |
| Dec 5, 2024 | Main Street Tree Lighting- Seabrook |
| Dec 6, 2024 | Christmas Tree Lighting- Sugar Land |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Annual Home for the Holidays- 1st National Oak Park- Alvin |
| Dec 1-17, 2023 | Jingle on the Boardwalk |
| Dec 1-3, 2023 | Holiday in The Park- League City |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Deck the Depot Tree Lighting- Tomball Depot |
| Dec 7-22, 2024 | Breakfast in Whoville with Santa and the Grinch- Harrisons |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Snowfest- Missouri City |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Christmas in the Park- Kingwood |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Christmas on Main- Palestine |
| Dec 2, 2023 | Reliant Lights Mayor’s Holiday Spectacular |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Reindeer Park- Deer Park |
| Dec 3, 9 and 16, 2023 | Breakfast with Santa- Lone Star Flight Museum |
| Dec 7-24, 2024 | Breakfast with Santa- Downtown Aquarium |
| Dec 7-24, 2024 | Breakfast with Santa- Kemah Aquarium |
| Dec 14, 2024 | Breakfast with Santa- League City |
| Dec 14, 18 and 21, 2024 | Jingle Boats- The Woodlands |
| Dec 9, 2023 | The Toby Powell Conroe Christmas Celebration |
| Dec 14, 2024 | Breakfast with Santa- Seabrook |
| Dec 9, 2023 | Donuts with Santa- Conroe |
| Dec 14, 2024 | Christmas with the Fishes- Sea Center Texas |
| Dec 16, 2023 | Holly Jolly - Cookies with Santa- Houston Museum of Natural Science |
| Dec 16, 2023 | Breakfast with Santa- Rosenberg Railroad Museum |
Old-Time Christmas
| Nov 21, 2024 | Tree Lighting Spectacular at Patrick's Cabin Christmas Town |
| Dec 6-8, 2024 | Dickens on The Strand - Galveston |
| Dec 7, 2024 | S’mores with Santa- George Ranch Historical Park |
| Dec 1-2 and 8-9, 2023 | Candlelight Tours- Fort Bend Museum |
| Dec 9, 2023 | The Lone Ranger’s Christmas Caper |
| Dec 16, 2023 | Candlelight Christmas at Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site |
| Dec 21, 2024 | Yuletide Cheer: The History of Wassail |
Light Displays
| Nov 25, 2023- Jan 7, 2024 | Cistern Illuminated |
| Nov 1, 2024- Jan 5, 2025 | The Light Park- locations in Katy and Spring |
| Nov 8, 2024- Feb 23, 2025 | Radiant Nature- Houston Botanic Garden |
| Nov 10, 2023- Jan 31, 2024 | Bioluminaire- Discovery Green |
| Nov 10- Dec 31, 2023 | Texas Winter Lights- Marriott Marquis Houston |
| Nov 11, 2023 | Memorial City Lights |
| Nov 15, 2024- Jan 5, 2025 | Magical Winter Lights- Fort Bend County Fairgrounds |
| Nov 16, 2024- Jan 5, 2025 | Galaxy Lights- Space Center Houston |
| Nov 17, 2023- Jan 7, 2024 | TXU Energy Presents Zoo Lights- Houston Zoo |
| Nov 17, 2023- Jan 1, 2024 | Sugar Land Holiday Lights |
| Nov 17- Dec 31, 2023 | Dasher's Light Show |
| Nov 22, 2024- Jan 1, 2025 | Christmas Illuminated- Family Life Church |
| Nov 23, 2024- Jan 1, 2025 | Holidays at Moody Gardens |
| Nov 23- Dec 25, 2023 | Duke Family Christmas Light Show |
| Nov 29- Dec 23, 2024 | The Christmas Train- Victory Camp in Alvin |
| Nov 24- Dec 29, 2023 | The Festival of Lights at Woodlands Church |
| Nov 28, 2023 | Tree Lighting Ceremony- Conroe |
| Dec 1-16, 2023 | Trail of Lights- Tomball United Methodist |
| Dec 6-30, 2024 | Christmas Village at Bayou Bend |
| Dec 13-24, 2024 | Pearland Festival of Lights |
Living Nativities
| Nov 21, 2024 | Tree Lighting Spectacular at Patrick's Cabin Christmas Town |
| Dec 9, 2023 | Conroe Christmas Celebration |
| Dec 16, 2023 | Live Nativity at St. Ignatius- Spring |
Holiday Theatre
| Nov 3-5, 2023 | The Nutcracker- Ice at the Galleria |
| Nov 15- Dec 22, 2024 | Twelve Ways of Christmas- The Ensemble Theatre |
| Nov 15- Dec 29, 2024 | A Christmas Carol- Alley Theatre |
| Nov 23-24, 2024 | Boni's Dance Presents The Woodlands Dance Company In 'The Nutcracker' |
| Nov 24, 2024 | A Magical Cirque Christmas -Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land |
| Nov 27- Dec 22, 2024 | A Texas Carol Part Deux- A.D. Players Theater |
| Nov 29- Dec 29, 2024 | The Nutcracker- Houston Ballet |
| Nov 30, 2024 | Hip Hop Nutcracker -Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land |
| Dec 5-22, 2024 | Fruitcakes- Unity Theatre |
| Dec 5-15, 2024 | A Christmas Story, the Musical- Class Act Theater |
| Dec 6, 2024 | Productions in the Park- National Oak Park |
| Dec 6-7, 2024 | A Christmas Carol- The Grand 1894 Opera House |
| Dec 6-22, 2024 | The Nutcracker- Bay Area Houston Ballet and Theatre |
| Dec 7-8, 2024 | The Nutcracker- Houston Repertoire Ballet |
| Dec 7-17, 2023 | Holiday Follies- Stageworks |
| Dec 9, 2023 | Christmas Movie at The Texas Theatre |
| Dec 9-10, 2023 | The Nutcracker- Texas Academy of Dance Arts |
| Dec 13, 2024 | DEREK HOUGH- Dance For The Holidays |
| Dec 16-17, 2023 | Houston Urban Nutcracker |
| Dec 20, 2024 | THE ILLUSIONISTS -Magic of the Holidays |
| Dec 29, 2024 | NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet!- Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land |
Holiday Concerts
| Nov 30, 2023 | Holly Jolly Jingle- The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion |
| Nov 16-17, 2024 | Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert |
| Nov 19, 2024 | Mariah Carey's Christmas Time |
| Dec 3, 2024 | Swingin’ Christmas with Houston Jazz Orchestra |
| Dec 7-8, 2024 | Celebrating Christmas Joy- The Bay Area Chorus of Greater Houston |
| Dec 7-8, 2024 | A Viennese Waltz Christmas |
| Dec 2, 2023 | Houston Bronze Ensemble- Houston Bronze Ensemble |
| Dec 12-15, 2024 | Very Merry Pops - Houston Symphony |
| Dec 12, 2024 | KENNY G- The Miracles and Holiday Hits Tour |
| Dec 14, 2024 | Holly Jolly Holiday - Houston Symphony |
| Dec 20-22, 2024 | Handel’s Messiah- Houston Symphony |
| Dec 21, 2024 | Keillor & Company A Prairie Home Holiday |
| Dec 23, 2024 | Mariachi Sol De Mexico de Jose Hernandez presents: Jose Hernandez’ Merry-Achi Christmas |
| Dec 26, 2024 | Trans-Siberian Orchestra- Toyota Center |
Christmas Tree Experience
| Opening Nov 18, 2023 | Old Time Christmas Tree Farm- Spring |
| Opening Nov 18, 2023 | Spring Creek Growers- Magnolia |
| Opening Nov 23, 2023 | Bozeman's Christmas Tree Farm- Lumberton |
| Nov 24- Dec 23, 2023 | Christmas at Dewberry Farm- Brookshire |
| Opening Nov 22, 2023 | Beavers Christmas Tree Farm- Nome |
| Opening Nov 24, 2023 | A-C Tree Farm- Huntsville |
| Opening Nov 29, 2024 | Double Creek Farm- Livingston |
| Opening Nov 24, 2023 | High Star Christmas Trees- Hockley |
| Opening Nov 24, 2023 | Holiday Acres- Manvel |
Ice Skating
| Nov 15- Dec 30, 2024 | Santa's Wonderland- College Station |
| Nov 10, 2023- Jan 28, 2024 | Green Mountain Energy Ice at Discovery Green- Discovery Green |
| Nov 16, 2024- Jan 20, 2025 | The Ice Rink at The Woodlands Town Center |
| Nov 23, 2024- Jan 1, 2025 | 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 7, 2023 | Shadow Puppet Theatre-Hanukkah Bear |
| Dec 8, 2023 | Storybook Theatre-How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah |
| Dec 10, 2023 | Grandparent & Grandchild Hanukkah Class- Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center |
| Dec 10, 2023 | Bellaire Chanukah Festival |
| Dec 10, 2023 | Chanukah Menorah Parade- Chabad Outreach |
Shopping & Craft Fairs
| Nov 14-17, 2024 | The Nutcracker Market |
| Nov 22-24, 2024 | Home for the Holidays Gift Market- Katy Merrell Center |
| Nov 22-24, 2024 | Home for the Holidays Gift Market- Humble Civic Center |
| Dec 5, 2024 | Sealy Holiday Vendor Blender |
| Dec 14, 2024 | Mikuláš Market- Czech Center Museum Houston |
| Dec 8-10, 2023 | Tomball Christmas Market |
| Dec 9, 2023 | Heights Mercantile Holiday Market |
New Year's Eve
| Dec 30- Jan 1, 2024 | New Year's Events- Moody Gardens |
| Dec 30, 2023 | High Noon Countdown- Woodland Children's Museum |
| Dec 31, 2024 | New Year's Eve Family Celebration- Downtown Aquarium |
| Dec 31, 2023 | New Year's Eve Family Celebration- Kemah Boardwalk |
| Dec 31, 2023 | New Year's Eve Family Fun- Galveston Island Brewing |
Miscellaneous
| Nov 22- Dec 22, 2024 | Grinch's Lair- Texas Jail House |
| Nov 18, 2023 | Breakfast & Tea with the Sugar Plum Fairy |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Sealy Jingle Bell Fun Run and Kids Fantasy/Fantasy of Lights Parade |
| Dec 8, 15 and 21, 2023 | Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt- Terramont Park |
| Dec 9, 2023 | 13th 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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