winter wonders

Houston's coolest winter break activities, from real snow days to 3D dinosaurs

Houston families looking for things to do over the school break have no shortage of holiday fun this month. From movies, museums, to immersive experiences, there's plenty to delight the young and the young at heart.

Museums

Children's Museum Houston
Polar Palooza continues through January 7, 2024, bringing with it a winter wonderland kinds will love. They can frolic in real snow in the museum's courtyard, making snow angels and taking part in other activities. Admission is included with a museum entry ticket.

Houston Museum of Natural Science
The museum is open Monday through Sunday from 9am to 6pm through January 1, 2024, with free admission on Thursdays from 5 pm to 8 pm. Dinosaur Discoveries is the marquee attraction in the Wortham Giant Screen Theatre. The immersive experience takes audiences into the world of dinosaurs using 3D holographic technology. Admission to the film is $18.

Dinosaur Discoveries Houston Museum of Natural Science HMNS Have a dino-mite holiday with Dinosaur Discoveries at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.Rendering courtesy of Dinosaur Discoveries/Houston Museum of Natural Science

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
The art museum hosts its annual Winter Break at the Museum programming from December 26 through 29, 2023 and January 2 through 5, 2024. Designed for children ages five to 12, the sessions are free with museum admission and include activities such as checking out the "Kehinde Wiley: An Archaeology of Silence" exhibit and creating original artworks inspired by it.

Immersive experiences

Houston Botanic Garden
Radiant Nature is a dazzling array of more than 50 larger-than-life Chinese lantern installations that come to life in stunning displays showcasing the beauty of nature and celebrating the promise of the Lunar New Year. Check out the 200-foot-long dragon and the 12-foot-tall peacock, and an interactive zone buzzing with illuminated swings, whimsical seesaws, and more. Tickets start at $28.50.

Radiant Nature presented by Reliant A 200-foot dragon is one of 50 jaw-dropping installations at the Houston Botanic Garden's Radiant Nature holiday lantern festival. Photo courtesy of Tianyu Arts & Culture

Houston Zoo
The zoo lights up the night with its popular Zoo Lights exhibit, where families can wander the zoo's trails, which are decked out in colored lights. It all makes for plenty of Insta-worthy moments, from posing in front of a giant Christmas tree to wandering through an enchanted forest. Tickets during winter break start at $31.50.

Ice skating

The Ice at Discovery Green
Presented by Green Mountain Energy, this popular attraction lets guests glide around the ice under the Houston skyline in Discovery Green Park. Skating sessions are 75 minutes and skate rentals are included. Admission is $17 and reservations can be made online. From December 26 to 29 and January 2 to 5, operating hours are 11 am to 11 pm.

The Ice Rink at Woodlands Town Center
North of Houston is this family-friendly spot where skating and fun go hand in hand. Each skate session is two hours, and the cost is $15 including skate rentals. Those who bring their own skates get a discount. After showing off skating skills, pick up a hot chocolate and seasonal treats at the concession stand.

Ice skating at Memorial City Mall
With its location near the food court, this ice rink is a great place to chill out and enjoy time with family and friends. The cost is $10, and those who need skates can rent them for $5 more. Check the calendar for times during winter break.

Performances, plays, and stage shows

Alley Theatre
Catch the last performances of A Christmas Carol, the enduring story of the miserly Scrooge, who learns the meaning of Christmas after visits by three ghosts. The show runs through December 30 and tickets start at $29.

Houston Ballet
The Ballet's production of The Nutcracker runs through December 27. The beloved story has some of the most-recognizable music anywhere, and will delight audiences of all ages. Tickets start at $30.

The Nutcracker Houston Ballet The Nutcracker is a holiday classic. Photo courtesy of Houston Ballet

Mannheim Steamroller
The iconic 1980s rock sensation brings its unique interpretation to Christmas and holiday classics in a concert to delight all ages. Showtime is at 8pm and tickets start at $45.

J Vince Photography

Ice skating at Discovery Green is Winter Break fun for the whole family.

Camps

Armand Bayou Nature Center
The center's Eco Explorers camp for children ages 4 to 11 runs December 27 through 29 and January 3to 5, 2024. Kids will take part in hands-on activities that help them learn more about mammals, reptiles, fantasy animals, and the world around them. $75 per day.

The Artz
Aerial camps for children ages 3 to 15 are offered at the organization's Spring Street location. They'll learn fabric, trapeze, lyra, wall running, harness and other aerial arts. Half-day and full-day options are available. $210 for three sessions January 3 to 5, 2024.

Bailey Oaks Farm
The Alvin equestrian center offers a three-day horseback riding camp from December 27 through 29. Children will learn the basics of riding, along with how to to groom, tack, and care for their animals. No riding experience is necessary. Riding camp is recommended for children 5 to 12 and the cost is $375.

Main Street Theater
In the theater's Winter Break turbo camps, offered through January 5, kids ages 6 to 12 will create an original play, help produce their own costumes and props, and play theater games to sharpen their skills in voice, body, imagination. The cost is $75 per day.

Main Street Theater winter camp Act out at Main Street Theater's winter camp.Photo via Main Street Theater

Movie review

Nick Jonas and Paul Rudd chase their dreams in music-heavy Power Ballad

Photo by David Cleary for Lionsgate

Nick Jonas and Paul Rudd in Power Ballad.

Writer/director John Carney is one of the great purveyors of movies featuring music (as opposed to musicals) in the 21st century. Starting with Once in 2007 (which was turned into a Broadway musical several years later), he has made music-themed stories like Begin Again, Sing Street, Flora and Son, and now Power Ballad.

Rick Power (Paul Rudd) is a former wannabe rock star who is now the lead singer of “Ireland’s #1 Wedding Band,” The Bride & Grooves. While they mostly play smaller weddings, a gig at a country estate leads to an encounter with Danny Wilson (Nick Jonas), a former boy band member struggling to make it as a solo artist. Rick and Danny wind up bonding in a booze- and pot-filled jam session, sharing various song ideas.

After returning to Los Angeles and desperate for a hit, Danny steals one of Rick’s songs, which miraculously turns into the No. 1 “How to Write a Song (Without You).” Rick, initially overjoyed that something he wrote has become big, is crushed when he finds out Danny didn’t give him credit. His quest to find a way to prove his worth sends him into a spiral, upending the ordinary life he had built.

Co-written by Peter McDonald, the film is a nice exploration of two men trying to hold on to their music dreams. Their individual circumstances could not be more different, but each of them knows the ups and downs of the business as well as the other, as well as the ineffable magic of creating that one great song. While the music scenes are hit-and-miss because of a reliance on lip synching, the scene featuring Rick and Danny trading ideas is electric with creativity.

Oddly, though, the film could have used a bit less music and more of a focus on the two men’s personal lives. Rick wound up living in Ireland after falling in love with his future wife, Rachel (Marcella Plunkett), while on tour with his former American band. He spends a decent amount of time with her and his daughter, Aja (Beth Fallon), but his story needed a few more family scenes to drive the point home. Danny’s personal life is all but nonexistent, giving his arc less impact than it could have had.

Instead of loved ones, Carney and McDonald try to give Rick and Danny more depth through friends and business associates. Rick’s bandmate Sandy (McDonald) is a ride-or-die kind of guy for him, but his presence is only good for a few humorous distractions. Danny’s manager Mac (Jack Reynor) is difficult to parse, as he goes to bat for Danny on multiple occasions, but also seems to keep him at arm’s length.

It’s long been joked that Rudd never ages, and that youthfulness serves him well in this role, in which his character is supposed to be much younger than his actual age of 57. His energy and enthusiasm make his character appealing throughout, even when Rick starts to go off the deep end. Jonas is decent in his role, selling the music side well, but there might be a reason his character doesn’t have many scenes requiring him to show emotions.

While Power Ballad has all the hallmarks of another great Carney music movie, it’s missing a few pieces that could have put it over the top. It’s still a fun film with an insanely catchy song at its center, but it’s not quite as memorable as most of the filmmaker’s previous efforts.

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Power Ballad is now playing in theaters.

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winter wonders

Houston's coolest winter break activities, from real snow days to 3D dinosaurs

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