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    Gulf Coast Holidays

    Escape to League City for a hometown holiday season full of magic

    CultureMap Create
    Nov 15, 2023 | 12:00 pm

    The holiday season is the perfect time to plan a little getaway, and it's even better when that vacay includes enchanting events for everyone in the family.

    League City offers up a season of magic and memories with events kicking off in November and running through the end of the year. From the sweetest sleepover weekend with The Nutcracker ballet’s Sugar Plum Fairy to scrumptious breakfasts with Santa, merry markets, big parades, and the Hallmark-worthy event of the year, Holiday In the Park, there are countless ways to celebrate.

    Check out all the delightful ways to fill your calendar this season in League City:

    The North Pole comes to South Shore Harbour Resort
    The wonderment starts with the six-foot-tall gingerbread house in the lobby (through December 24) and continues with breakfast with Santa on Saturdays for the first three weekends in December. Join jolly Old St. Nick for a themed breakfast buffet and snap a photo with the Big Guy himself.

    For the adults, South Shore is hosting holiday themed Sunday brunches featuring live music and $3 mimosas (sorry, no Santa at this one). For reservations to either brunch, call 281-334-3078.

    Another sweet meal is the popular Breakfast and Tea with the Sugar Plum Fairy, from Bay Area Houston Ballet and Theatre's production of The Nutcracker. It's the most magical day for ages 2 to 92, happening November 18 from 2-4 pm (the breakfast is already sold out, with limited seats remaining for the tea).

    Shop at the Nutcracker Boutique, see a preview of The Nutcracker ballet, and have your photo taken with the Sugar Plum Fairy.

    The night before, November 17, don your prettiest nightgown and have dinner with Clara and her friends from the ballet. To make your hotel and dinner reservations, call 281-334-1000, and mention "Sugar Plum" to get a special rate on your stay.

    The Nutcracker ballet itself runs December 1-3, 8-10, and 15-17 at Bayou Theatre at University of Houston-Clear Lake. Head here for tickets.

    Fresh air festivities

    Attend the ultimate Shop Small Saturday experience at Nutcracker in the Park, held at League Park on November 25 from 8 am-7 pm.

    Enjoy a full day of shopping from local vendors, family-friendly activities, ballet lessons with real Nutcracker ballerinas, and more, all in the heart of League City's gorgeous Historic District.

    After a day of shopping at Nutcracker in the Park, enjoy hot chocolate, live music, and get a free League City commemorative ornament to usher in the start of the holiday season at the city's official Christmas tree lighting from 5-7 pm.

    From December 1-3, celebrate the 26th year of Holiday in the Park with Magic on Main Street, a weekend of festive family fun in beautiful League Park.

    Enjoy a children’s parade, the Grand Night Parade (the largest holiday parade in Galveston County), live music, shopping, food vendors, entertainment, and more during this annual League City tradition.

    The next weekend, December 9-10, immerse yourself in the historic charm of the Old League City Christmas and celebrate the holidays with traditional activities like WALKabouts, Porch Parties, Airing of the Quilts, District Strolls with Vintage Vehicles, and historic demonstrations at the League City Historical Society Museum. It happens 10 am-3 pm both days.

    A beloved tradition for more than 60 years, the lighted Christmas Boat Parade travels from Clear Lake to Galveston Bay. Boaters go all out to compete for prizes, so you can expect an extravagant show on December 9 beginning at 6 pm. Read more about how this tradition came to be here.

    Enjoy a yummy breakfast with Santa, fun activities, crafts, and picture opps at Hometown Heroes Park on December 10 from 8:30-10:30 am. Register everyone attending here, with kids 2 and under free.

    Fa la la in the library

    Celebrate the season with stories and photos with Santa, festive children’s crafts, cookies and wassail, and more at the Helen Hall Library's open house on November 30 from 5-7:30 pm.

    On December 16 from 2-4 pm, enter the world of Harry Potter at the library's Yule Ball, where you can dance among a winter wonderland, join a Potterworld costume contest, and enjoy candy, snacks, drinks, and butterbeer from the famous Honeydukes. Of course, there will also be crafts, trivia, house-sorting, and wands.This event is held at the Johnnie Arolfo Civic Center.

    Ring in 2024

    Welcome the New Year at South Shore Harbour Resort's NYE celebration, A Night in Paris. It all comes with live music and entertainment, a delicious four-course dinner, door prizes, dancing, a balloon drop, Champagne toast, and more. Discounted room rates are available fro December 31. To reserve a table, call 281-532-7120 or email nmatthews@sshr.com.

    South Shore Harbour Resort gingerbread house

    Photo courtesy of South Shore Harbour Resort

    Visit the six-foot-tall gingerbread house at South Shore Harbour Resort.

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    State Fair Fare

    State Fair of Texas reveals 4 winners of 2026 Big Tex Choice Awards

    Alex Bentley
    Aug 24, 2026 | 2:30 pm
    Berry Me in Matcha cheesecake, winner for Most Creative at the 2026 Big Tex Choice Awards
    Photo courtesy of State Fair of Texas
    Berry Me in Matcha cheesecake, winner for Most Creative at the 2026 Big Tex Choice Awards.

    After a lengthy session on August 18 involving about 30 celebrity judges, the State Fair of Texas has officially unveiled the winners of its 22nd annual Big Tex Choice Awards.

    The judges (including CultureMap's Alex Bentley) tasted and evaluated sample sizes of 15 finalists, five each from the categories of "Savory," "Sweet," and "Sipper." Each of the winners were evaluated on four criteria: Taste, Value for the Price, Presentation, and Creativity.

    Without further delay, here are the big winners, with photos, descriptions, and prices of each creation to help you make your Fair food plan:

    Best Taste - Savory: Burger Chop Tater Tacos by Tom Grace

    Burger Chop Tater Tacos, winner of the Savory category at the 2026 Big Tex Choice AwardsBurger Chop Tater Tacos, winner of the Savory category at the 2026 Big Tex Choice Awards.Photo courtesy of State Fair of Texas

    The tacos feature a shell of cheddar cheese and tater tots that are mashed together and fried. It is then filled with a fresh burger patty chopped and combined with sautéed onions and jalapeños, and topped by buffalo buttermilk ranch coleslaw and garlic parmesan buffalo sauce.

    The Burger Chop Tater Tacos will be available for $16 for fairgoers.

    Best Taste - Sweet: Fletcher's Chocolate Corny Dog by Beck Fletcher

    Fletcher's Chocolate Corny Dog, winner of the Sweet category at the 2026 Big Tex Choice Awards Fletcher's Chocolate Corny Dog, winner of the Sweet category at the 2026 Big Tex Choice AwardsPhoto courtesy of State Fair of Texas

    The Fletcher’s Chocolate Corny Dog consists of milk chocolate fudge hand dipped in Fletcher’s famous Original Corny Dog batter and deep fried until golden perfection. It is topped with a drizzle of yellow vanilla icing (meant to mimic mustard) and served with raspberry compote (meant to mimic ketchup).

    The Fletcher's Chocolate Corny Dog will be the deal among the winners, priced at only $7.

    Best Taste - Sipper: Tropical Coco Fresca by Fruteria Cano

    Tropical Coca Fresca, winner of the Sippers category at the 2026 Big Tex Choice Awards Tropical Coca Fresca, winner of the Sippers category at the 2026 Big Tex Choice AwardsPhoto courtesy of State Fair of Texas

    The Tropical Coco Fresca is a layered pineapple-watermelon agua fresca with chamoy lava Tajin rim, paired with a scoop of icy coconut snow that melts into a creamy tropical explosion of flavors. The drink will go for $12.

    Most Creative: Berry Me in Matcha by Stephen El Gidi (pictured, above).

    The sweet treat features a New York-style cheesecake hand-dipped in Belgian white chocolate, rolled in crushed matcha cookies, drizzled with white chocolate and sweet strawberry jam, and finished with a fresh strawberry slice on top.

    Priced at a relatively expensive $15, it may be the sweet indulgence that fairgoers choose to share.

    The State Fair of Texas will run September 25-October 18, giving people plenty of time to try out these winners and the multitude of other food options the event has to offer.

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