Houston Christmas Festivals, Shows, Lights & Family Fun

Happy Holidays, Houston! Here are all the Houston holiday festivals, shows and Christmas lights for November 1, 2021 through January 5, 2022.

As events change and pop up, we’ll update the list… and since this year is weird and things can change quickly, be sure to click the links and check before you head out to each venue.

If you want this list emailed to you each week, sign up for the free newsletter HERE. And if you know of more events, let us know!

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Christmas Lights Near You

• Texas Winter Lights - November 11, 2021 - January 3, 2022 - Marriott Marquis (Open to the public on weekdays. Open to hotel guests only on the weekends.)
• Christmas Nights of Hope and Joy - Open starting November 11, 2021- University of St. Thomas (Yoakum Blvd)
• Santa’s Wonderland – November 12, 2021-December 30, 2021 – College Station
• Dasher's Lightshow - November 12 - January 2 - 22731 FM 2920, Hockley (See our 2020 post HERE)
• The Light Park - November 12, 2021-January 2, 2022 - Splashtown Parking Lot
• Galaxy Lights – November 13, 2021 – January 2, 2022 – Space Center Houston
• Zoo Lights – November 15, 2021 - January 9, 2022 – Houston Zoo
• Sugar Land Holiday Lights – November 19, 2021-January 9, 2022 – Constellation Field (See our 2020 review HERE!)
• Magical Winter Lights – November 19, 2021 - January 2, 2022 - Houston Raceway Park Baytown
• Winter Wanderland - November 19, 2021, through January 2, 2022 - Downtown Houston, between Lamar and Franklin Street
• Lightscape - November 18, 2022-January 2, 2023 - Houston Botanic Garden
• Friendswood Christmas Trail & Fairy Trail - Now through 2021 - Stevenson Park (See our 2020 post HERE)
• Festival of Lights – November 20, 2021  – January 2, 2022 – Moody Gardens
• Christmas Over Texas - November 25-December 25, 2021 - Cleveland, Texas

Houston Holiday Shows & Concerts

• A Little House Christmas - November 7 - December 18, 2021 - Main Street Theater are MATCH
• A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas – November 19 – December 29, 2021 – Alley Theatre (See our 2019 review HERE!)
• Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley - November 20 - December 19, 2021 - Main Street Theater Main Stage
• Houston Ballet Nutcracker - November 26 - December 24, 2021 - Wortham Theater
• Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker - December 3, 4, 5, 2021 - Houston Symphony at Jones Hall
• Musical Treats from The Nutcracker—for Kids! - December 4, 2021 - Houston Symphony at Jones Hall
• A Drummer Boy Christmas with King and Country - December 4, 2021 - Toyota Center
• Gingerbread House for Birds - December 10, 2022 - Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
• Handel’s Messiah - December 10, 11, 12, 2021 - Houston Symphony at Jones Hall
• Very Merry Pops - December 18, 19, 2021 - Houston Symphony at Jones Hall
• The Light Has Come - December 18 & 19, 2021 - Second Baptist Church Woodway
• Christmas Cantina - December 23, 2021 - Toyota Center (Free show)

Houston Holiday Festivals & Family Fun

• Texas Renaissance Festival – Weekends, October 9-November 28, 2021 – Todd Mission, Texas 
  • Ticket deals can usually be found on coupon websites. Kids are free on Sundays.
  • The world’s largest Renaissance Festival has themes that change each weekend.
• Texas Winter Lights - November 11, 2021 - January 3, 2022 - Marriott Marquis
  • Open to the public on weekdays, with ticket. Float for walk through the lights!
• Frostival – November 12, 2021 – Discovery Green
  • Last year this was virtual. Details still coming for 2021.
• Santa’s Wonderland – November 12, 2021-December 30, 2021
  • Biggest Christmas attraction in the state of Texas! Several ticket options are available.
• ICE at Discovery Green – Opens November 12, 2021 – Discovery Green 
  • All ages are invited to skate at Discovery Green. There is usually a small toddler rink for the littlest ones to practice.
• Home for the Holidays - Opens November 19, 2021 - Old Town Spring
  • Every weekend from mid November to Christmas. (But you could see the decorations/lights any day.)
  • The hometown holiday festival features a spectacular display of twinkling holiday lights, entertainment, family-friendly activities and photos with Santa every weekend!
  • A "Texas-style winter wonderland" featuring hassle-free holiday shopping along with unique gift ideas, hand-made and locally sourced products and more.
• Zoo Lights - November 15, 2021 - January 9, 2022 – Houston Zoo  
  • Tour the Zoo after dark! The Zoo closes at 5:00pm and reopens at 5:30pm for this event.
  • Check their website for “light” nights because the tickets are cheaper and the zoo is less busy.
• Polar Express Train Ride – November 19, 2021 - December 26, 2021 – 789 Park Road 70, Palestine, Texas 75801Ride on the Polar Express! Find the best pricing in November and early December… and book all tickets before they sell out!
• Holiday in the Gardens – November 20, 2021  – January 2, 2022 – Moody Gardens
  • Festival of Lights · Holiday 3D Films · Rudolph 4D · Arctic Slide · Train Rides · Star: the Dancing Tree of Light
• HEB Thanksgiving Day Parade – November 25, 2021 - Downtown Houston
• Christmas Train – November 26, 2021 - December 23, 2021 – 1407 Victory Lane, Alvin, Texas 775711
  • Old-fashioned train ride through our winter wonderland of lights and religious scenery. Over 300,000 lights sparkle along the ¾ mile track.
• Trains Over Texas – December 1, 2021 – January 2, 2022 – Houston Museum of Natural Science
  • Create holiday memories by travelling across Texas by model railroad in this scratch built “O” scale model. (See our 2020 post HERE.)
• Friendswood Christmas Trail & Fairy Trail - Open now- Stevenson Park
  • Stevenson Park has transformed for the holidays… and families can enjoy the FREE Lighted Christmas Trail and the FREE Christmas Fairy Trail!
  • The Friendswood Christmas Trail includes different themes of lights every evening, 5:30pm-11:00pm, through New Year’s Day. On Saturday nights, the park also features holiday music and food vendors.
  • The Fairy Trail has been dressed up the holidays. The Christmas Fairy Trail is a daytime hunt for Christmas related fairies. Find the new Christmas fairies hidden along the new lighted Christmas trail.
• Christian Christmas - December 3, 2021 - December 19, 2021 - Splashway Campground Sheridan
  • Celebrate the true meaning of Christmas this season at Splashway Campground!
  • Join them for a Christmas manger walk to celebrate the birth of Jesus, grab a song book for some merry caroling, spread cheer to the community with a Christmas card, decorate an ornament for your Christmas tree, and more!
  • They will also have Christmas activities that are just for fun, like our magical Christmas tree farm, Elves vs Grinch laser tag, a petting zoo, and photos with Santa.
  • Book your Cabin, Cottage, RV Site, or family Bunkhouse... OR come for the day and join the Christmas fun with no reservation required.
• Dickens on the Strand – December 3-5, 2021 – Galveston – Strand National Historic Landmark District
  • Victorian holiday festival!
  • Six stages, strolling carolers, musicians, bagpipers, jugglers and  even more entertainers. Costumed vendors peddle their wares from street stalls and rolling carts laden with holiday food and drink, Victorian-inspired gifts.
• Santa in the Park and Lighted Christmas Trail - December 4, 2021 - Stevenson Park Friendswood
• Mayor's Holiday Spectacular - December 4, 2021 - City Hall
  • The Reliant Lights Mayor’s Holiday Spectacular will ring in the Holiday season with live music and the lighting of the official holiday tree.
  • Santa Claus will be available for free photos with children in The Gingerbread Village, along with seasonal food and beverages for purchase.
• Breakfast with Santa - December 4, 11, 18, 2021 - Margaritaville Lake Conroe
  • Santa and Elsa of Disney’s “Frozen,” are traveling from the North Pole to Lake Conroe to have breakfast Margaritaville-style.
• Christmas Trains - December 4, 2021-January 2, 2022 - Second Baptist Woodway
  • All aboard! Experience childhood nostalgia with delightful train displays that will capture the imagination of all ages. Miniature trains will wind their way through enchanting town centers and villages all month long. The trains will run from 10AM-2PM Monday-Saturday and 30 minutes before and after each Worship service.
  • On December 6, 13, 20, your nursery or preschool aged-kids will love this time of sing-along, Christmas stories and scavenger hunt at the train displays. They will have Christmas cookies, a photo opportunity & a keepsake mug with a purchase of a kid’s meal at Jane’s Grill after the story. No registration required.
  • Other Second Baptist Church locations also have free holiday events that are open to all. See the full list HERE.
• Stearman Santa Fly-In – December 10, 17, 2022 – Lone Star Flight Museum 
  • Santa flies in to the Lone Star Flight Museum! After you watch him land, you can meet him, do some activities and explore the museum!
• Tomball German Christmas Market & Festival – December 10-12, 2021 - Tomball
• Christmas Boat Parade – December 11, 2021 – Kemah Boardwalk
  • Boats cruise along Galveston Bay.
• Architecture Center Houston Gingerbread Build-Off - December 11, 2021 - Levy Park
  • Competing teams will create 100% edible, architectural masterpieces using gingerbread, candy, and all sorts of other sweet treats! More than 4,000 spectators are expected to attend and cheer on the teams, play in the kids' construction zone, and see Santa! All of that entertainment is free and open to the public!
• Family Celebration - December 31, 2021 – Kemah Boardwalk
  • Fireworks at 10:00pm.
• New Year's Noon Celebration - December 31, 2021 - Children's Museum of Houston
  • Details still coming.
• High Noon Countdown - December 31, 2021 - The Woodlands Children's Museum
  • Details still coming.