Christmas

Here are just a few things to do around town this holiday season! We are sure these will get you into the Christmas spirit!

Zoo Lights at the Houston Zoo

TXU Energy Presents Zoo Lights is back and more spectacular than ever this year – now with more than 2 million lights! There are new and exciting additions around every corner at this year’s most anticipated holiday tradition. From a completely lit-up African Forest with larger-than-life, glowing, rotating ornaments to a walk-in snow globe, TXU Energy Presents Zoo Lights will be sure to delight the entire family. Bring your camera to capture all the special moments!

When: Friday, November 21, 2014 to Sunday, January 4, 2015. Closed December 24 and 25.
Time: 6pm to 10pm daily; last entry at 9pm
Where: Houston Zoo, 6200 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX ‎77003
Admission: Prices range from $10.95 to $14.95
Parking: Parking is very limited at the Houston Zoo.
Website: www.houstonzoo.org/zoolights/

Houston Ballet Presents: The Nutcracker

Journey with Clara as she dances on the arm of the Nutcracker Prince to the stunning Land of Snow and the delectable Kingdom of Sweets. There are so many reasons to delight in The Nutcracker: the giant Christmas tree, the dancing dolls, Mother Ginger and her adorable clowns, the lavish sets and the iconic Tchaikovsky score. Ben Stevenson’s production of The Nutcracker has entertained children and their grown-ups for more than 25 years.

When: Friday, November 28 through Sunday, December 28, 2014
Times: 2pm and 7:30pm performances on various nights. Click here to check exact times by date.
Where: Wortham Theater Center, 500 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77002
Parking: Paid garage and surface lots are available to the East and South of the theater
Admission: Tickets start at $55, but you may find cheaper or better tickets on TicketNetwork’s resale site.
Click here for full price tickets.

 

A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas

Houston’s seasonal favorite is described by the Houston Press as having “Spectacular London sets … the inimitable Dickens’ tale – spiced with the usual fog and an unusual twist on the ghosts past, present and future.” A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmasreturns this year with a re-telling of Charles Dickens’ classic story, which follows Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey with the three ghostly spirits that visit him on Christmas Eve. A Christmas Carol instills a powerful message about redemption and the spirit of the holiday season.

When: Friday, November 21 to Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Times: Tuesdays through Fridays 7:30pm; Saturdays and Sundays 2:30pm, 7:30pm
Where: Alley Theatre @UH, Wortham Theatre, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts at the University of Houston, 4116 Elgin Street, Houston, TX 77004
Parking: Click here for parking details at University of Houston.
Admission: Tickets range from $25 to $55.

Field of Lights at Discovery Green

Discovery Green is proud to host Field of Light, a dazzling art installation by internationally-acclaimed artist Bruce Munro. The vivid, temporary, site specific installation is now on display along the Brown Promenade through Feb. 8, 2015 and it is illuminated from 3 to 11 p.m. daily. The prime viewing hours of the exhibit are after dusk.

When: Saturday, November 22, 2014 through Sunday, February 8, 2015
Times: Dusk to 11pm
Where: Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney, Houston, TX 77010
Parking: Street, surface lot and garage parking are available.
Admission: Free

Frozen Bikini Bottom in Galveston

A skilled team of 31 internationally-acclaimed professional ice carvers from Harbin, China will dive into 900 tons of ice and transform them into majestic marvels featuring holiday scenes with the beloved Bikini Bottom inhabitants from Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants. Chilled and held at a temperature of 9 degrees, you can witness these works of art as Galveston makes its holiday transformation into a Winter Wonder Island.

When: Saturday, November 15, 2014 through Sunday, January 4, 2015
Times: Noon to 10pm
Where: Moody Gardens, 1 Hope Blvd, Galveston, TX 77554
Parking:  Free in designated lots
Admission: $26.95; $21.95 seniors; $15.95 children
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Other Events

• Sand Mandala at the Menil | FREE | Thursday through Saturday – Observe Tibetan monks from the Drepung Gomang monastery in South India create an intricate sand mandala in the Menil foyer.
• Alley Theatre presents A Christmas Carol at UH | Daily – Follow the classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge as he is visited by ghosts of the past, present and future in the Alley Theatre presentation of A Christmas Carol. Tickets range from $25 to $55. 7:30pm Thursday and Friday; 2:30pm and 7:30pm Saturday and Sunday.
• The Radio City Christmas Spectacular at the Hobby Center | Daily – Experience the Rockettes high kicks as New York City’s holiday special comes at the Hobby Center this holiday season. Tickets start at $40, but you may find cheaper or better tickets on TicketNetwork’s resale site. 7:30pm Thursday; 8pm Friday; 11am, 2pm, 5pm and 8pm Saturday; noon, 3:30pm and 7:30pm Sunday.
• Campfire Christmas at George Ranch | Friday and Saturday – Escape the hustle and bustle of a modern Christmas and go on a festive journey into Christmases past at the George Ranch Historical Park’s annual Campfire Christmas. $50; $45 for ages 15 and under, seniors and groups of ten or more. 6pm to 10pm both nights.
• Tomball German Christmas Market | Friday to Sunday | FREE – Celebrate the holidays the way the Germans do – with beer! Enjoy street vendors, biergartens, Gluhwein and Dutch Santa during this family friendly market. 6pm to 10pm Friday; 10am to 10pm Saturday; 10am to 6pm Sunday.
• Houston Symphony presents A Very Merry Pops at Jones Hall | Friday to Sunday – Enjoy a yuletide evening of traditional standards like “We Need a Little Christmas,” “Angels We Have Heard On High” and “O Holy Night. $25 to $135. 8pm Friday and Saturday; 2:30pm and 7:30pm Sunday.
• Houston Ballet presents The Nutcracker at Wortham Theater Center | Friday to Sunday – For more than 25 years, the Houston Ballet has been telling the story of Clara and the Nutcracker Prince as they fight the Mouse King, travel to the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets. Tickets start at $55, but you may find cheaper or better tickets on TicketNetwork’s resale site. 7:30pm Friday; 2pm and 7:30pm Saturday and Sunday.
• A Charlie Brown Christmas at the Kaleidoscope Theater | Friday to Sunday – Relive the classic Charlie Brown Christmas special with Snoopy, Schroeder, Linus, Sally, Lucy and, of course, Charlie Brown himself. $30; $20 ages 10 and under. 8pm Friday; 2pm and 8pm Saturday; 2pm Sunday.
• Holiday Market at San Jacinto Mall | Saturday and Sunday | FREE to attend – Pick up some stocking stuffers at the Holiday Market booths near Santa’s Workshop at San Jacinto Mall. 10am to 9pm Saturday; 10am to 8pm Sunday.
• Rice Village Flea | FREE – Find a unique treasure at the Rice Village Flea Holiday Market. 11am to 6pm.
• Family Activities inside the Loop from BigKidSmallCity | Daily – Find events, recommendations and family-friendly activities from our favorite Houston mom-in-the-know Jill Jarvis of BigKidSmallCity.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

• The Grinch’s Holiday Workshop at The Children’s Museum Houston – Take the kids to the Grinch’s interactive holiday workshop complete with an oversized sleigh that kids can sit in. $9; $8 seniors and military personnel plus their family. 10am to 8pm.
• Unsilent Night at Sabine Promenade | FREE – Participate in a unique parade where composer Phil Kline’s piece Unsilent Night, which is intended to be heard outdoors, will be played on participants’ smart phones. 6pm to 9pm.
• Tracy Lawrence at Stampede Houston – See Country music legend Tracy Lawrence perform live at Stampede Houston. $15; $20 for guests 18 to 20 years old. 7pm.
• Sister’s Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold at Stages Repertory Theatre – Denise Fennell returns as Sister in this production where CSI meets Bethlehem in a hilarious musical history lesson. $19 to $40. 7:30pm.
• Home Alone Movie Screening at CityCentre | FREE – See Kevin fend off burglars on Christmas Eve in this 80s John Hughes holiday classic. 8pm.
• Reverse Happy Hour at Nara – Grab a late night snack and cocktail at Nara Sushi and Korean Kitchen’s newly remodeled bar & lounge during Reverse Happy Hour. Items range from $3 to $10. 9pm to 11pm.

Friday, December 12, 2014

• Student Performance at Hermann Park | FREE – Hear the Rich Schneider Middle School choir sing as part of the 5th Annual Student Performances in the Park Series at Hermann Park. Noon.
• Miracle on 34th Street Screening at Discovery Green | FREE – Cuddle up on the lawn or ice rink to watch Miracle on 34th Street as part of the Discovery Green Friday Night Flicks series. If skating, fees apply. 7:30pm.
• Rusty Riders Christmas Lights Bike Ride 2014 | FREE – Ride through the streets of River Oaks to see homes all lit up and decorated for the holidays at the Rusty Riders Christmas Lights Bike Ride. 7pm