Plenty of holiday family fun awaits this weekend, with a visit beloved from Mary Poppins headlining Hobby Center. A holiday market in Midtown offers arts, music, and more, and a gingerbread house build-off is sure to be a tasty contest.

Not one, but two ugly sweater parties invite you to don your worst, and the Holocaust Museum welcomes all for a free day — plus a chance to view the Astros World Series trophy.

Enjoy; here are your best bets for the weekend.

Thursday, December 8

Bayou Preservation Association First Artist Mixer & Auction

This cross-collaboration exhibition will feature selected, nature-based works by Jonathan Paul Jackson. Jackson is an African-American visual artist from Houston who works in all mediums of art, including painting, sculpture, and illustration. The art auction (plus a percentage of proceeds raised) will support Bayou Preservation Association CPR's mission to celebrate, protect and restore the natural richness of all our bayous and streams through bayou citizen science, bayou appreciation, stream corridor restoration, and trash-free bayous. 6 pm.

Houston Grand Opera presents El Milagro del Recuerdo (The Miracle of Remembering)

Back by popular demand, the HGO-commissioned mariachi opera again transports audiences to Michoacán, Mexico. A celebration of family and tradition, this timely story follows the lives of Laurentino, a bracero who returns from the United States to spend Christmastime with his family, and his wife Renata, who worries that his time away from home is changing him. The two face a life-changing decision: whether to stay with family in Mexico, or leave for the promise of a better life. Through Sunday, December 18. 7 pm (2:30 pm Sunday).

Theatre Under The Stars presents Mary Poppins

Based on the Disney film and book by P.L. Travers, this brand-new production of the hit musical is certain to delight the child in all of us. Armed with song, dance and a trusty umbrella, Mary Poppins and Bert, her sooty sidekick, transform the unhappy world of a banker’s two children into a magical new fantasyland. Full of chimney sweeps, statues that come to life, and toys that think for themselves, this wondrous, Tony-winning musical soars to the highest height. Through Saturday, December 24. 7:30 pm (8 pm Friday; 2 and 8 pm Saturday; 2 and 7:30 pm Sunday).

Friday, December 9

Visit Galveston presents Washed Ashore Sculpture Exhibit

Oregon-based non-profit Washed Ashore and the Park Board have partnered to bring more than 20 sculptures crafted from debris collected from beaches to Galveston. The sculptures, most more than six feet tall, include depictions of coral reefs, jellyfish, penguins, sharks and more.

They will be placed in areas for public viewing throughout the island -- at museums, parks, attractions and in outdoor spaces. There is no charge to view the sculptures. The first installation – Octavia the Octopus – will be at Saengerfest Park. Through Sunday March 5. 9 am.

Mistletoe Market

Mistletoe Market is returning to Bagby Park and it’s better than ever! Don’t miss out on this two-day, outdoor NYC-style holiday market extravaganza, complete with colorful decor, handmade holiday gifts, and treats for the whole family to enjoy. Residents and visitors alike can experience a curated selection of holiday-themed vendors, artisans, and performers. Food, craft activities, music will be on full display, while more than 20 local vendors showcase their unique creations. 5 pm (10 am Saturday).

Jatziri presents "Womxn of Tomorrow" opening reception

"Womxn of Tomorrow,” an all-female exhibition presented by Jatziri Barron, will offer a dance performance by Aztec group Calpulli Tzcoatl, live music by Azules, and the artwork of 11 women with a strong presence in Houston's art scene. Artists will include Anat Ronen, Jatziri Barron, Carolina Borja, Elizabeth Umanzor, Tami Moschioni, Vanessa Sanez, Ruby Fear, Drea the Artist, Monica Melgar, Valentina Atkinson, and Lynda Chadbourne. Through Saturday, December 10. 5:30 pm.

Ugly Sweater Holiday Party at Taft McWhorter Art

Taft McWhorter Art Gallery is celebrating the season with an invitation-only holiday party where the attire is basically ugly sweaters. (RSVP at the emails here.) There will be new artwork from The Seekers, and there is also a $100 sale on all 12”x12” pieces. Also, they will be collecting diapers for the BEAR Organization. So, if you got a spare package of Huggies lying around at the crib, bring ‘em to this yuletide kickback. 6 pm.

Saturday, December 10

AIA Houston presents Gingerbread Build-off

Architecture Center Houston will host this 13th annual, gingerbread house-building extravaganza. Competing teams will create 100 percent edible, architectural masterpieces using gingerbread, candy, and all sorts of other sweet treats (of which leftovers will be composted). More than 4,000 spectators are expected to attend and cheer on the teams, play in the kids' construction zone, Scavenger Hunt, and see Santa. 10 am.

Holocaust Museum Houston presents Human Rights Day

Human Rights Day is observed every year on the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This event will feature bilingual storytime, guest speakers, and dance performances. The museum’s Albert and Ethel Herzstein Theater will host a talk with Holocaust survivor Dr. Anna Steinberger, a children’s magic show with Holocaust survivor Hy Penn, and a performance by Segundo Barrio Children’s Chorus, the first and only bilingual children’s choir in Houston. And the Houston Astros’ World Series championship trophy will be there! 10 am.

Heidi Vaughan Fine Art Presents A Jewelry Trunk Show

Heidi Vaughan Fine Art will present a trunk show of original jewelry by three of its gallery artists, Linda Hickerson Hofheinz, Susan Budge, and Tiffany Heng-Hui Lee, just in time for the holidays. Each of the Houston-based artists has created original, wearable objects that directly relate to their artistic styles and are perfect for holiday gift giving. The trunk show is set within the current exhibition, Once Upon A Time, an HVFA group exhibition that includes paintings, sculptures, photography, jewelry, and books by all the gallery artists. 11 am.

Urban South HTX presents Ugly Sweater Party

Yes, Urban South HTX will also have an ugly-sweater Xmas shindig in its taproom. They will have three special release beers, holiday ornament decorating, cookie decorating class, a sip & shop vendor market, a bounce house and a DJ to dance the day away. They are also putting together some fun prize packages for the winners of their ugliest sweater competition. Categories include ugliest sweater, most creative DIY, best Urban South theme, best kid sweater, and best-dressed pup. 1 pm.

Sunday, December 11

The Divine Darlings presents The Burly Soirée: Ho Ho Holidays

The Divine Darlings, Houston’s premiere burlesque troupe, is thrilled to present this holiday sextacular. The show will feature performances by Divine Darlings Mary Jane Midnight and Foxy Tocin; special guest Kinky Pinky; headliners Rosie the Riveting and Vixen Magnifique; and the soirée’s host and producer, Lady Annabelle, who formerly performed with renowned troupe The Moonlight Dolls and teaches dance classes for adults — including burlesque, floorwork, hair and chair, ballet, lyrical and tap — at Houston Divine Studio. 2 pm.

Houston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. presents Jazz Soiree

For the first time since 2019, the Houston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will host this certain-to-be-jumping soiree. The highlight of the event will be a ceremony honoring the first recipients of HAC’s distinguished Thelma Patten Law Pillar of Fortitude Awards for outstanding and impactful community service. The honorees include Bayway Lincoln, D-MARS, H-E-B, Houston Food Bank, Houston Public Library, R.A.R.E. Pearls, Inc., and Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. 2 pm.

Ugly Sweater Christmas Party with Shane Smith & The Saints

If you got enough time for one more, ugly-sweater Christmas party this weekend, may we direct you to The Rustic’s annual, bad-fashion holiday party. Shane Smith & The Saints will once again provide the music, along with special guest Goodbye June. As always, there will be an ugly-sweater contest with prizes. There will also be VIP tickets sold, offering up a separate VIP entrance, access to a private VIP area with optimal view of the stage, and a private cash bar. (VIP check-in starts at 4 pm.) 7 pm.

Tokyo Night Festival's Maid Café Pop-Up at Shun Japanese Kitchen
Tokyo Night Festival is bringing a piece of Japan to Houston with an entire Maid Café pop-up event serving hot food, cocktails, and parfaits while providing Japan’s iconic “kawaii” service and holiday spirits to all Shun’s guests. Guests will be greeted with warm welcomes, tableside ketchup drawings on Japanese curry and rice dishes, short interval dance performances, and a personal “cheki” or polaroid souvenir of the maids and guests together.