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    houston's happy holidays

    Houston's best family-friendly holiday events spread cheer and wonder through winter break

    Holly Beretto
    Dec 14, 2022 | 5:00 pm

    When schools across the city close at the end of the month for winter break, the much-anticipated holiday break begins, with most students on vacay until the first week of January 2023.

    With that in mind, Houston boasts a wealth of holiday activities and offerings, designed to make the break a fun-filled one for kids of all ages. (More fun can be found here.) Here are some of our picks for a happy holiday season in Houston and beyond.

    Immersive fun and holiday activities
    At Bayou Bend, the Christmas Village blends music, faux snow sledding, and more fun in a charming setting. Photos with Santa are available through December 23. The Village is open through December 30.

    On Christmas Eve, head to the Children's Museum Houston for a visit with Santa beginning at 10 a.m. as part of Sleigh All Day. There's real snow to play in from December 17 through 28, along with toy making, crafts and more. The museum's Rockin' New Year's Noon Bash on December 31 offers plenty of fun to ring in 2023. The Woodlands Children's Museum has a High Noon Countdown with family-friendly activities on New Year's Eve as well.

    Celebrate the Winter Solstice at Discovery Green Park with an immersive sound bath and labyrinth walk on December 21.

    In a first and only in North America,Harry Potter Yule Ballat Paraiso Maravilla presents an immersive tribute to the memorable ball in the books and movie. Costumed hosts coach guess though dances, fashion shows, romps, and more. Sip on butterbeer, nosh on Potter-themed bites, and rest in a courtyard with a Potter-themed ice sculpture. The ball is located at Galleria-area venue Paraiso Maravilla (5714 Fairdale Ln.), which is now open through January 20, 2023. Tickets are available here, with parking outside around $5. Check out our sneak peek here.

    The Lone Star Flight Museumis taking bookings for flights in classic aircraft through December 22. Schedule a flight in a North American B-25 Mitchell, Boeing PT-17 Stearman, Fairchild PT-19 Cornell North American T-6 Texan, or the Cessna T-41 Mescalero for an epic, 35 to 45 minute experience. Pricing starts at $300.

    Color Factory (3303 Kirby Dr.) presents Winter Colorland, a snowy, seasonal treat full of and Insta-worthy photo opportunities, including the favorite ski lift in a confetti snowstorm. From the entrance to each room and display, visitors can take in a pom pom wreath craft, adorable gifts, and fun around every corner. The dazzling, indoor Instagram paradise runs now through January 31, 2023.

    The Santa Experience at Memorial City Mall allows families to bring the kiddos for photos with Santa through December 24. Families will find Santa at St. Nick's Park in Dillard's Court. Children with special needs can meet Santa before the mall opens, when lights and music will be turned down low to offer a sensory-friendly environment. And on Mondays through December 19, pets are welcome to join the photo fun.

    Sugar Land Town Square plays host to the Department of Wonder, an immersive, mixed-reality quest, where guests receive a lantern, and must solve clues and puzzles to brig light to darkness. The 10,000-square-foot space blends theater and technology for a unique journey that rewards curiosity. The experience runs through January 14.

    All aglow

    Wander the winding paths of the Houston Botanic Garden throughLightscape, a dazzling display of illuminations set to holiday tunes. Timed entry begins daily at 5:30 pm, through January 1, 2023.

    The family favorite Zoo Lights lets guests take in the Houston Zoo in a whole new way. The display runs through January 8, 2023. The saying that everything's bigger in Texas certainly applies to Magical Winter Lightsat Houston Raceway in Baytown, which offers a castle-themed entrance, lights, lantern display, and a circus for an extra fee. The magic sticks around through January 7, 2023.

    Downtown transforms into Holiday Central with City Lights Downtown Holiday Magic, where visitors can find eight winter wonderlands ranging from light shows, the largest mistletoe mass in Texas, and more. Most activities are free. Check out our full roundup here.

    Can't get enough holiday lights? Check out our full list.

    Getting theatrical

    The Alley Theatre's What-A-Christmasfinds a drive-through worker on Christmas Eve learning a bit more about the spirit of the holiday. A Christmas Carol, a holiday favorite, shows how a cantankerous miser can change his ways. Both run through December 30.

    Discovery Green has a free screening ofBlack Panther, the Marvel movie about the technologically advanced African kingdom of Wakanda, on December 22.

    The Ensemble Theatre's A Motown Christmasrunning through December 24, brings soulful hits to the holiday season.

    Houston Ballet offers The Nutcracker, that beloved story of a little girl and a toy that comes to life, through December 27 at the Wortham Theater Center.

    The Houston Museum of Natural Science presents Let it Snow in the Burke Baker Planetarium. The immersive experience blends a selection of holiday songs with animation. $9 adults; $8 children. Through January 3.

    Music fans can take in the Trans-Siberian Orchestrawhen it brings their special blend of holiday magic to the Toyota Center on December 29.

    There's still time to catch TUTS' family-friendly Mary Poppins, the Disney-Cameron Mackintosh musical about that practically perfect nanny and how she transforms the Banks household. Performances run through December 24.

    Winter/holiday camps

    The Best of Houston camp at the Evelyn R. Rubenstein Jewish Community Center is for sixth to eighth graders, and offers
    daily field trips to locations all over the city. Teens can enjoy special teen-only afternoon events at the J.

    At Main Street Theater, children ages six to 12 can attend a winter break camp where they'll create an original play, along with producing costumes and props.

    Space Center Houston offers a variety of camps for children starting at four. The week-long sessions offer several experiences for kids of different ages, all focusing on the adventure and science of space travel.

    Harry Potter: A Yule Ball Celebration Houston
      
    Photo by Emily Jaschke
    Houston hosts the only Harry Potter Yule Ball in North America.
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    These are the 14 best things to do in Houston this weekend

    Craig D. Lindsey
    Apr 30, 2025 | 7:00 pm
    Billy Idol
    Photo courtesy of Billy Idol
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    This weekend offers plenty of events that promise a good friggin’ time. Several festivals – African, Polish, dance – will be going down. At the Houston Zoo, Houstonians can eat and drink alongside the zoo’s wildest animals. Billy Idol will rock audiences with his whiplash smile and throwback hits. And don’t be surprised if Steve-O inflicts some bodily harm to himself during his stand-up set.

    Thursday, May 1

    Mid Main Houston presents First Thursday Block Party
    Let’s see what’s popping off at Mid Main’s First Thursday Block Party this month. There will be performances from Sam Houston Mariachi Band, Little Outfit, and Greg Koch. Carlos Mendoza will show off some new work at Mid Main Gallery, while Mark “$RapDaddy” Bradford will have sculptures on Winbern St. Visitors can check in at 3550 Main St. to make a $10 donation to the monthly nonprofit partner (this month, it’s Plant It Forward) for an all-access wristband to the festivities. 6 pm.

    Billy Idol
      
    Photo courtesy of Billy Idol

    Billy Idol returns to Houston this weekend.

    Dance Source Houston presents Barnstorm Dance Fest
    Barnstorm Dance Fest will feature 15 live performance works, six dance films, three artist panels, and a class series that offers Houstonians a deep dive into the rich world of dance from the city, region, and beyond. Performance works and dance films are split across three unique programs, allowing audiences to experience a range of dance forms within each program. The lineup includes Bharatanatyam, contemporary, dance on film, flamenco, modern, and more. 7:30 pm (5:30 and 7:30 pm Saturday)

    Memorial Hermann Broadway at the Hobby Center presents The Wiz
    This all-new production of the groundbreaking, Tony Award-winning musical returns “home” to stages in an all-new pre-Broadway tour, the first one in 40 years. The groundbreaking twist on The Wizard of Oz changed the face of Broadway - from its iconic score packed with soul, gospel, rock, and finger-snapping '70s funk to its stirring tale of Dorothy’s journey to find her place in a contemporary world. 7:30 pm (2 and 7:30 pm Saturday; 1:30 and 7 pm Sunday).

    Friday, May 2

    Houston African Art Festival
    Houston African Art Festival will be a tribute to the artistry and vibrancy of African culture that has long enriched the neighborhood in which it takes place. There will be a live performance by DJ Towii, art exhibitions, culinary delights, and more, celebrating the richness of African culture. Featured artists will include Landess Walker and Makala McCoy. The three-day event will take place at a newly renovated venue at 2509 Alabama, nestled in the historic Third Ward. 10 am.

    Houston Polish Festival
    The Houston Polish Festival brings Polish culture, cuisine, and family fun to the heart of Texas. Highlights include authentic Polish food like pierogi, kielbasa, and potato pancakes; locally brewed Polish-style beer, wine, and other drinks; traditional Polish folk dancing and live music; family-friendly activities; a silent auction with hand-painted Bolesławiec pottery and more; and unique local vendors and handmade goods. 4 pm (10 am Saturday and Sunday).

    Houston Zoo presents Feast with the Beasts
    Get ready for Houston’s wildest foodie night out! Feast with the Beasts is back at the Houston Zoo, serving up a one-of-a-kind evening filled with delicious food, refreshing drinks, live music, and unforgettable animal encounters —all after hours, and without the kids. Your ticket Includes Houston Zoo admission, food from more than 40 of Houston’s top restaurants, two complimentary drinks, unique animal experiences, live music, and more. 6:30 pm.

    Improv Houston presents Jonathan Van Ness: Hot & Healed
    Get ready for some fabulous, fierce stuff as the flamboyant-as-hell Jonathan Van Ness will be in town this weekend, as part of his Hot and Healed tour. Van Ness is an Emmy-nominated television personality, two-time New York Times best-selling author, podcaster, and comedian best known for his role on Netflix’s Emmy-winning reboot series Queer Eye, where he shines as the hair guru and self-care advocate. 7:30 and 9:45 pm (7 pm Saturday).

    Saturday, May 3

    East End Cultural District presents East End Street Fest
    The 2025 East End Street Fest will feature headlining performances by Del Castillo and Sunny Sauceda. The celebration continues with Cumbia Nights by Wonky Power, circus arts by Cirque La Vie, and high-flying lucha libre matches presented by Coliseo Houston. Festivalgoers can explore more than 30 local food and art vendors, witness traditional dance performances, and experience family-friendly fun at multiple themed plazas. 3 pm.

    Christopher Seymore in concert
    Christopher Seymore is a hillbilly poet from upstate South Carolina making down-home honky-tonk music in Houston, TX. Steeped in outlaw tradition and rooted in Appalachian old time, Seymore brings a genuine authenticity that’s undeniable. On his anticipated debut album King of Nothing, produced by Kevin Skrla, Seymore offers a snapshot of the community he’s built, night after night. He also proves that razor-sharp lyricism and heartbreaking storytelling still have a home in honky tonk. 7 pm

    Billy Idol in concert
    At 69, Billy Idol is still out there hitting audiences with his “Rebel Yell.” Back in the ‘80s, he was the resident pinup bad boy, churning out post-punk, new-wave ditties as “White Wedding,” “Flesh for Fantasy” and “Eyes Without a Face.” Idol comes to The Woodlands, in support of his new 2025 album Dream Into It, as part of his It’s a Nice Day To…Tour Again!. He'll be joined by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. 7:30 pm.

    Stageworks Theatre presents The Odd Couple, Female Version
    The Odd Couple, Female Version is a new and refreshing take on Neil Simon's much-loved hilarious play. It follows unlikely roommates, neurotic neat freak Florence Unger, and unkept, messy Olive Madison, as they attempt to inhabit the same apartment without killing each other. Tensions escalate when Olive arranges a double date, leading to hilarious misunderstandings and uproarious moments. 7:30 pm (3 pm Sunday).

    Sunday, May 4

    Marriott City Place presents Seasons of Love – A South Asian Wedding Showcase
    Marriott City Place invites future brides and their entourages to the Seasons of Love wedding showcase—a complimentary afternoon event spotlighting the beauty and richness of South Asian wedding traditions. The immersive experience will spotlight moments of a South Asian wedding—from the ceremony to the reception—while featuring some of the region’s top wedding professionals. Attendees can explore the hotel and grounds while visiting with designers, caterers, bakers, photographers, DJs, florists, musicians, and more. 1 pm.

    The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents "Floating World: A.A.Murakami" opening day
    The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents its annual Summer Immersive, a project by Tokyo- and London-based artist duo A.A.Murakami. Melding science, art and nature to create unique environments, a series of four sensory landscapes will unfold across the galleries of the MFAH, immersing visitors in environments of light, fog, plasma and sound. In their presentation for Houston, the duo brings together four distinct immersive spaces. Custom-designed for the MFAH, the exhibition is their largest to date. Through Sunday, September 21. 12:30 pm.

    Bad Astronaut Brewing presents Steve-O
    Steve-O was willing to do whatever it took to become famous, even if it meant stapling his ball sack to his leg. But it was his relentless attention whoring that ultimately led to working with Johnny Knoxville on the stunt-based reality show Jackass. The rest, as they say, is history. Since then, he's had continued success as both a New York Times best-selling author and a stand-up comic. Steve-O regularly produces content for his YouTube channel and he also hosts the Wild Ride with Steve-O podcast. 7 pm.

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