North Houston’s holiday lights are coming on in Spring. City Place, at 1250 Lake Plaza Drive, will run its seasonal installations through December and into early January and almost everything on the calendar is free unless noted.
The displays: a floating tree and a gingerbread village
The centerpiece is a 35-foot floating Christmas tree that rises from the main pond in City Place Park, lit with nearly 200,000 lights. On The Meadow, the refreshed Giant Gingerbread Village returning November 29 is built for strolling and photos. Smaller pop-up displays will appear around the 60-acre mixed-use core, so it’s worth wandering past the plaza.
December events at City Place
For families and kids
Younger visitors get most of the calendar. Story Time with Buddy the Elf opens it on Friday, Dec. 4, from 3 to 5 p.m. Young Audiences of Houston leads A Gingerbread’s Holiday Adventure on Sunday, Dec. 6 (1 to 2 p.m.), then a nutcracker workshop on Friday, Dec. 11 (2 to 3 p.m.), where guests of all ages decorate miniature wooden nutcrackers. Holiday Toddler Time follows on Sunday, Dec. 13 (12 to 1 p.m.).
The Master Bubbler Wrangler Christmas Party is Friday, Dec. 18 (12 to 2 p.m.), and the Ice Queen reads winter stories on Saturday, Dec. 19 (12 to 2 p.m.). On Monday, Dec. 21, from 12 to 3 p.m., kids can follow an interactive gingerbread story around the world, then build a keepsake reindeer from popsicle sticks and googly eyes.
Movies, books, toys and cars
Pix on The Plaza screens The Muppet Christmas Carol (G, 1992) on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 8 p.m. On Saturday, Dec. 12, the Good Books In The Woods Holiday Pop-Up runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by the Toy Collectible Market & Toy Drive from 1 to 6 p.m. Bring a donation for local families.
Car fans have the Supercar Showcase on Sunday, Dec. 13, from 9 a.m. to noon, with Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Porsche and Aston Martin expected. Owners of any marque can show a car, but registration is required at supercar-showcase.com. Approved vehicles only, and arriving before 8:30 a.m. gives you the best shot at prime placement.
Weekly fitness classes
Recurring classes continue through the month:
- Hip-Hop HIIT with ISI Fitness coaches: Fridays, Dec. 4, 11 and 18, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
- Strength & Sculpt: Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays, Dec. 5, 12 and 19, at 9 a.m. Bring your own mat.
- Zumba: Mondays and Thursdays, 6 to 7 p.m.
- Soccer Shots for ages 2 to 5: Wednesdays, Dec. 2, 9 and 16, from 5 p.m.
- Ōra Pilates: Saturday, Dec. 12, 9 to 10 a.m. Email info@joinorapilates.com to book a spot.
Where visiting family can stay
City Place has three on-site Marriott hotels within walking distance of the plaza: the Houston City Place Marriott, the recently updated Courtyard Houston City Place and the Residence Inn Houston City Place. The property also connects to 290 acres of nature trails and greenspace.
For schedule updates, visit the official website or follow @CityPlaceNow on Instagram.
