Houston Christmas Festivals, Shows, Lights & Family Fun

Happy Holidays, Houston! Here are all the Houston holiday festivals, shows and Christmas lights for November 1, 2022 through January 8, 2023.

As events change and pop up, we’ll update the list… and since 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

• The Light Park - November 4, 2022-January 1, 2023 - Hurricane Harbor & Typhoon Texas Parking Lot
• Texas Winter Lights - November 11, 2022 - January 8, 2023 - Marriott Marquis (Open to the public on weekdays. Open to hotel guests only on the weekends.)
• Christmas Nights of Hope and Joy - TBD - University of St. Thomas (Yoakum Blvd)
• Santa’s Wonderland – November 11, 2022-December 30, 2022 – College Station
• Galaxy Lights – November 12, 2022 – January 1, 2023 – Space Center Houston
• Dasher's Lightshow - November 18 - December 31, 2022 - Humble Civic Center (New location this year)
• Zoo Lights – November 18, 2022 - January 8, 2023 – Houston Zoo
• Sugar Land Holiday Lights – November 18, 2022-January 1, 2023 – Constellation Field
• Winter Wanderland - TBD - Downtown Houston, between Lamar and Franklin Street
• Lightscape - November 18, 2022-January 2, 2023 - Houston Botanic Garden
• Magical Winter Lights – November 18, 2022-January 7, 2023 - Houston Raceway Park Baytown
• Friendswood Christmas Trail & Fairy Trail - TBD- Stevenson Park
• Festival of Lights – November 19, 2022  – January 7, 2023 – Moody Gardens
• Cistern Illuminated - November 25, 2022-January 8, 2023 - Buffalo Bayou Cistern (Ages 9+)
• Dickinson Festival of Lights - November 26, 2022-December 30, 2022 - John Hopkins Park
• Christmas Over Texas - December 9-23, 2021 - Cleveland, Texas
• Christmas Village - December 9-30, 2022- Bayou Bend

Houston Holiday Shows & Concerts

• A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas – November 18 – December 30, 2022– Alley Theatre
• Houston Ballet Nutcracker - November 25 - December 27, 2022 - Wortham Theater
• Home Alone - Film with Live Orchestra - December 3, 2022 - Jones Hall
• Handel's Messiah - December 9, 10, 11, 2022 - Jones Hall
• Very Merry Pops - December 15, 17, 18, 2022 Jones Hall
• Ho-Ho-Holiday! Polar Express, Frozen & More - December 17, 2022 - Jones Hall
• A Christmas to Remember - December 17 & 18, 2022 - Second Baptist Church Woodway
• Cistern Illuminated Performances - December 18, 2022-January 6, 2023 - Buffalo Bayou Cistern

Houston Holiday Festivals & Family Fun

• Texas Renaissance Festival – Weekends, October 8-November 27, 2022 – 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!
• Trains Over Texas – Houston Museum of Natural Science
• Create holiday memories by travelling across Texas by model railroad in this scratch built “O” scale model. (See our past post HERE.)
• Frostival – November 11, 2022 – Discovery Green
  • Ice skating, live ice carving and live mural painting.
• ICE at Discovery Green – Opens November 11, 2022 – Discovery Green 
  • All ages are invited to skate at Discovery Green. There is usually a small toddler rink for the littlest ones to practice.
• Santa’s Wonderland – November 11, 2022-December 30, 2022 – College Station
  • Biggest Christmas attraction in the state of Texas! Several ticket options are available.
• Polar Express Train Rides - November 11-December 23, 2022 - Galveston Train Museum
  • The adventure comes to life when the train departs for a round-trip journey to the North Pole led by a cast of talented actors.
  • Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, passengers will relive the magic of the classic story as they are whisked away on THE POLAR EXPRESS™ for a one-hour trip to meet Santa.
• Home for the Holidays - Opens November 12, 2022 - Old Town Spring
  • Every weekend from mid November to Christmas. (But you could see the decorations/lights any day.)
• Color Factory WINTER COLORLAND - November 17, 2022-January 31, 2023 - Color Factory - 3303 Kirby Dr, Houston, TX 77098
  • This holiday season, lift your spirits at Color Factory’s WINTER COLORLAND.
  • Grab your sleds, goggles and parkas and slide into some winter whimsy!
  • Enjoy seasonal treats, brand-new photo opportunities, installations and even a ski lift through the confetti snow storm!
• Zoo Lights – November 18, 2022 - January 8, 2023 – 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 18, 2022 - December 27, 2022 – 789 Park Road 70, Palestine, Texas 75801
  • Ride 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 Opening Day - November 19, 2022 - Moody Gardens
  • Live music, dance performances and a Santa Claus appearance as he parachutes in to illuminate the mile-long light trail!
• Magical Winter Lights – November 18, 2022-January 7, 2023 - Houston Raceway Park Baytown
  • This lantern festival is one of my favorite light shows around Houston!
  • There are seven themed displays, with more than six million lights.
• Holiday in the Gardens – November 19, 2022 - January 7, 2023 – Moody Gardens
  • Ice Land, Festival of Lights, Ice Skating Rink, Holiday 3D Films, Rudolph 4D, Arctic Slide, Train Rides, Cirque Joyeux Holiday Show, New Year's Palooza
• HEB Thanksgiving Day Parade – November 24, 2022 - Downtown Houston
• Lone Star Lights - November 25-December 22, 2022 - Caroline Creek
  • Lone Star Lights offers a-17 acre park with 8 immersive thematic zones complete with incredible photo opportunities, engaging interactions, and over a million lights.
• Christmas Train – November 25, 2022 - December 23, 2022 – 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.
• Cistern Illuminated - November 25, 2022-January 8, 2023 - Buffalo Bayou Cistern (Ages 9+)
  • Tours are offered Wednesday-Sunday at 11am, 1pm, 3pm, and 5pm, with an additional tour on Fridays at 7pm.
  • Must be 9+ years old.
  • On certain days, Cistern Illuminated will also be the venue for special performances by the Schola Cantorum of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.
• Dickinson Festival of Lights - November 26, 2022-December 30, 2022 - John Hopkins Park
  • A walk through event with free admission and parking.
• Christian Christmas - December 2, 2022 - December 18, 2022 - 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 2-4, 2022 – 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.
• Mayor's Holiday Spectacular - December 3, 2022 - 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.
• Stearman Santa Fly-In – December 3, 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!
• Christmas Village - December 9-30, 2022- Bayou Bend
  • Immersive Christmas experience at the beautiful Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens.
• Tomball German Christmas Market & Festival – December 9-11, 2022 - Tomball
• Christmas Boat Parade – December 10, 2022 – Kemah Boardwalk
  • Boats cruise along Galveston Bay.
• Breakfast with Santa – December 10, 2022 – Lone Star Flight Museum
  • This event starts with seeing St. Nick arrive in the vintage PT-17 Stearman plane!
• Breakfast with Santa - December 10, 2022 - Margaritaville
  • Enjoy a magical holiday breakfast with Jolly Old St. Nick and his special guest, Elsa from "Frozen".
• Friendswood Christmas Trail & Fairy Trail - TBD- 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 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.
• Christmas Trains - TBD - 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.
• Architecture Center Houston Gingerbread Build-Off - TBD- 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, 2022 – Kemah Boardwalk
  • Fireworks at 10:00pm.
• New Year Palooza - December 31, 2022 - Moody Gardens
• New Year's Noon Celebration - December 31, 2022 - Children's Museum of Houston
  • Details still coming.
• High Noon Countdown - December 31, 2022 - The Woodlands Children's Museum
  • Details still coming.