The holiday season is just upon us! Between the holiday shopping, decorating, eating, and more eating, there awaits a splendid assortment of magical things to do this Christmas season in Houston. Read on to discover these enchanting things to do in Houston this December!
1. Experience Magical Candlelight Concerts
Whether you’re looking for a beautifully unique classical music performance or a romantic candlelit experience, this performance is for you. You don’t need to know all things Tchaikovsky to enjoy the evening, simply sit back and savor the stunning atmosphere and pieces you’ll hear.
Walk into one of Houston’s most exquisite buildings where the walls will be flickering by candlelight to create a magical atmosphere. Prepare to be taken into the clouds with some of the most treasured wintertime classics from Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi and other master composers!
2. Coca Cola Classic Christmas
An all new holiday experience is coming to Houston this year! In a partnership between Enchant Christmas – the team behind the world’s largest light maze – and Coca Cola, Classic Christmas is a full-scale winter wonderland poised to take over Memorial City Mall with 55,000 square feet of festivities. Featured attractions include ice skating, a Christmas market, a snow slide, and more!
3. Fly Over to Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience in Austin
Prepare your wand for spellcasting, encounter Hippogriffs and Nifflers, and immerse yourself in breathtaking moments inspired by scenes from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films. Following all the excitement, a charming village awaits, offering warm food and a blazing fire. Don’t pass up the chance to step into our Wizarding World-inspired experience.
4. Dine Out at Houston’s Michelin Restaurants
Michelin has officially landed in Houston. This November, the esteemed culinary guide awarded six restaurants in Houston with Michelin Stars in French, Spanish, Mediterranean, Indian, and American cuisine. See the full list here!
5. Glide Under the Stars
Discovery Green in Downtown, Houston will reprise its glittering ice rink from November 15 to February 2 this holiday season. Here, Discovery Green will host public skates at the foot of Houston’s skyline. As per tradition, Discovery Green will be hosting a series of themed nights for skaters to enjoy on their renewable energy-run rink.
6. Get into the holiday spirit at Marriott Marquis Houston!
Through December 31st, Texas Winter Lights will feature thousands of dazzling lights across the Altitude Rooftop & Pool, located on the 6th floor of the hotel. Themed cocktails, delicious bites, jolly (virtual) rides on Santa’s iconic sleigh… the event’s got plenty in store with nightly family-friendly activities. Plus, you can reserve a cozy igloo with your loved ones — or treat yourselves to one of Marriott Marquis’ exclusive room packages. More info and tickets here!
7. Check Out Houston Zoo Lights
Every year the Houston Zoo hosts a dazzling light spectacle for the City of Houston. This year, the zoo will continue its tradition until January 5 with wild and wonderful entertainment for the whole family.
8. Enjoy Frank Sinatra’s favorite holiday tunes
A Very Sinatra Christmas Special is sure to spread some holiday cheer this year. With a setlist filled with seasonal classics like “Let It Snow” and “What A Wonderful World,” the open-air tribute concerts offer the perfect evening out this December.
Held atop the pool deck at Marriott Marquis Houston, the Sinatra tribute concerts will take place on Wednesday, December 4 and Wednesday, December 18. Get tickets here while they last!
9. Revel in the Holidays at Houston’s most Festive Bars
Need a little boost of Christmas spirit? Enjoy seasonal cocktails, decor galore, festive activities, and more at the most cheerful bars in town: from ski lodge-like hideaways to bars made of ice!
10. Venture Into A Galaxy Of Lights At Space Center Houston
When it comes to the most Houston-centric lighting display, nothing says “Space City” more than the Galaxy Lights spectacle that orbits Space Center Houston. Recently, Space Center Houston announced the opening of their annual Galaxy Lights holiday display, from November 16 – January 5, billing it as “the most technologically advanced light display in Texas” – and that’s no hyperbole.
11. Take Santa’s Sleigh Out to His Texas-Sized Wonderland
Say “howdy” to the holidays this season in College Station for the annual Santa’s Wonderland, a massive, festive, and bright holiday tradition that features a Texas-sized spectacle of lights, gingerbread village, snow playground, live music, and boundless merriment for the whole family.
For a little more holiday excitement, visitors are invited to mosey down to Frostbite Mountain in the West Pole, where they can glide down a snow-covered luge in snow tubes – just take it easy on the non-chloric, silicon-based kitchen lubricant, eh, Clark Griswold?
12. Tomball German Fest Christmas Market
Delight in Deutschland cuisine, polka bands, and carnival rides at the return of the fabulously festive Tomball German Fest Christmas Market this December. Taking place from December 13 to December 15, the Tomball German Fest Christmas Market provides a beautiful market atmosphere much like that you’d find in Cologne, Leipzig, or Dresden complete with performances, handmade crafts, and spiced Gulwehm.
13. Do a Bit of Holiday Shopping at The Galleria
With only a few weeks left before Santa comes, you could do him a solid by getting a jump start on things. While online shopping has its perks, if you want the experience to be extra festive, cruise down to Galleria Houston where the lights are twinkling, the ice rink is glimmering, and the holiday tree is standing tall!
14. Radiant Nature
The Houston Botanic Garden has once again converted into a natural-themed light wonderland for the return of Radiant Nature. Back for its second year, Radiant Nature features over 50 large-scale lantern installations including a full-size replica of a Chinese palace, 200-foot-long dragon, walk-in kaleidoscope, and more!
15. Frolic Festively at POST HTX’s “Winter Wonderlawn”
Downtown, Houston has already established itself as the holiday epicenter of the city, but come the holiday season, the area will become an absolute beacon of holiday entertainment with the opening of “Winter Wonderlawn” at POST Houston on November 4 ongoing until January 14..
16. Grab a Drink at the Ice Bar
While other cities might have the advantage of snow and cozy traditional weather, here in south we make do with what we have. If you haven’t already hit the ice this season, can really do so at Moody Garden’s Ice Land – a holiday experience complete with ice sculptures, characters, decor and more, not excluding a crystal ice bar.
17. Celebrate New Year’s Eve
Ring in the New Year at these exciting NYE events in Houston – from fireworks to bar crawls, soirées, masquerades, and more: there are plenty of ways to end/start the year with a bang!
18. Elevate Your Lifestyle at these Houston Rooftop Bars
Nothing quite says “living the highlife” like clinking glasses on a city rooftop. Touch the sky this season with a brunch, evening, or nightcap on the most jaw-dropping rooftops in Houston.
19. Wander through a Life-Sized Gingerbread Village
Creating gingerbread houses is a holiday tradition that seems appealing in theory, but in practice, it often turns into a tedious task that can drain any semblance of holiday cheer.
In other words, the process of making a gingerbread house can be a bit of a nightmare, but the end result, the actual house, is truly delightful. That’s why Gingerbread Village, a life-sized holiday attraction designed for the entire family, is a genuine delight. This December the Gingerbread Village at City Place Plaza will provide a truly sweet experiences for elves young and old.
20. Christmas Village at Bayou Bend
MFAH’s dazzling Christmas Village is coming back to Bayou Bend this December! Explore the iconic Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens strewn in twinkling Christmas lights, go sledding on a “snow” slide, engage in friendly (cotton) snow ball fights, and stock up on concessions at the bar. Christmas Village at Bayou Bend takes place from December 6 to December 30.
21. Go on a Christmas Cruise
Experience the magic of the holidays from the bayou on the Buffalo Bayou Christmas Cruises. Launching December 2, the Christmas Cruises on Buffalo Bayou are 45-minute pontoon boat tours along the Bayou that whisk visitors through stunning vistas of the Houston skyline complete with treats and visits from the Clauses.
22-30. Eat Your Heart Out
Houston’s culinary scene is a vast, rich landscape populated with delicious eateries, scrumptious bakeries, and Tex-Mex as far as the eye can see.
- Whether it’s a classic Neapolitan-style Margherita, a traffic cone-sized slice, or some warped creation piled high with everything and the kitchen sink – we don’t discriminate when it comes to pizza. Any way you slice it, here’s 10 of the best pizza parlors in the Houston area!
- Not all buffets are created equal. When seeking out a local in which to stock up on calories to last you the winter hibernation, we recommend heading to one of our 10 favorite all-you-can-eat buffets in Houston.
- Whataburger, Taco Bell, McDonald’s – the usual suspects when it comes to late-night munchies. Sometimes, though, you got to broaden your horizons, especially when a glorious late-night food scene of delis, pizzerias, taquerias await in the city of Houston.
- Hot, cold, rain, or shine, ice cream is a good call on any day. Here’s the scoop on where to find the best ice cream in Houston
- Like breakfast tacos, kolaches are synonymous with breakfast in Texas. Savory, comfortable, portable – perfect for an on-the-go breakfast, or bought-by-the-dozen hangover cure. Unlike similar handheld breakfast staples such as donuts, bagels, and croissants, it’s not so easy finding kolaches outside of Texas. We’d probably travel more if you could, but for now, we’ll stay here in Houston with our favorite comfort breakfast food on the go.
- Grab a cup of coffee and a slice of pie at our favorite diners in Houston
31. Drive through Houston’s Brightest Neighborhoods
It’s not officially the holiday season until the city’s many neighborhoods are completely suffused in holiday lights and decorations. This season, be sure to drive through Houston’s brightest and most festive neighborhoods and streets.
32. Enter the World of Charles Dickens in Galveston
Whether you identify with Tiny Tim, Oliver Twist, or see yourself as a modern-day Scrooge, you have the opportunity to dress up as your favorite Charles Dickens character at the upcoming Dickens on the Strand event in Galveston. This event is set to recreate the streets of 19th-century London in Galveston from December 6 to 8.
33. Watch the Houston Texans and Beyoncé
Between unwrapping presents, feasting on holiday hams, and imbibing eggnog this Christmas Day in Houston, be sure to tune in to the Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens NFL game. Streaming on Netflix, the event will also feature Beyoncé performing the game’s halftime show.
34. See What’s Spinning at Houston’s New Vinyl Speakeasy
Let the sound take you away… Off The Record is a speakeasy behind a vinyl shop now open at 416 Main Street. Inside this jazzy little haunt, visitors can lounge on crushed velvet couches, drink music-themed cocktails, and enjoy the sounds of resident DJs.
35. Enter Houston’s Craziest Christmas Store
‘Tis the season in Houston! It’s time to illuminate your home, set up the Christmas tree, and adorn the mantle with stockings. If you’re looking to enhance your inner Clark Griswold, be sure to visit Craftex, the holiday supply store that’s the closest thing to Santa’s Workshop in Houston!
36. Take a Ride on the Polar Express
While the North Pole may seem distant from the southern regions, Houston-area residents can experience a touch of it this holiday season at the Galveston Railroad Museum.
At the museum, visitors can explore the legendary Polar Express, not only witnessing the enchanting Christmas steam engine but also enjoying a ride to the North Pole.
37. Dewberry Farm
It’s a berry Merry Christmas at Dewberry Farm! The local Christmas tree farm in Brookshire is presently hosting a special holiday destination filled with Christmas light trails, wagon rides, snowmen, hot cocoa, and more!
38. Go Ice Skating
Don’t let the holiday season pass you by without hitting the ice! Throughout the city, there are an assortment of indoor and outdoor ice rinks where Houston can get a taste of the winter season and shot of holiday cheer!
39. Hit the Art Club
Whether you’re visiting its wonderfully festive Winter Wonderlawn, patronizing one of its amazing eateries, or just need another excuse to visit POST, the new venue has debuted its new Art Club. Described as part museum, part nightclub, the new space features 13 separate areas showcasing multi-media art pieces from international artists.
See also: 21 fantastic things to do at Christmas in Houston