What to Do in Houston Today, December 8-31, 2023

Find the full list of things to do in Houston with kids, brought to us by Magical Winter Lights, below.

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Things to Do Any Day

Friday, December 8, 2023:

Galaxy Lights – 6:00pm-10:00pm – Space Center Houston
Magical Winter Lights – 5:00pm-11:00pm - Katy Mills
ICE at Discovery Green– 5:00pm-11:00pm – Discovery Green
Christmas Village - 5:30pm-10:00pm- Bayou Bend
Zoo Lights – 5:30pm-10:30pm – Houston Zoo
The Aerial Nutcracker - 6:00pm - The Artz, Spring Street Studios
Radiant Nature - 6:00pm-10:00pm - Houston Botanic Garden
Tomball German Christmas Market & Festival – 6:00pm-10:00pm - Tomball
Beauty and the Beast - 7:00pm - Main Street Theater at MATCH
A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas – 7:00pm – Alley Theatre
Houston Ballet Nutcracker - 7:30pm - Wortham Theater
Hansel and Gretel - 7:00pm - Opera in the Heights

Saturday, December 9, 2023:

Gingerbread Build-Off - 10:00am-5:00pm - Levy Park
Tomball German Christmas Market & Festival – 10:00am-10:00pm - Tomball
Beauty and the Beast - 10:30am & 1:30pm - Main Street Theater at MATCH
Stearman Santa - 11:00am-1:00pm - Lone Star Flight Museum
ICE at Discovery Green– 11:00am-11:00pm – Discovery Green
A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas – 1:30pm & 7:00pm – Alley Theatre
Hansel and Gretel - 2:00pm - Opera in the Heights
Houston Ballet Nutcracker - 2:00pm & 7:30pm - Wortham Theater
Family Winter Fest - 2:00pm-4:00pm - Houston Central Public Library
Skate with Santa - 4:00pm - ICE at Discovery Green
Magical Winter Lights – 5:00pm-11:00pm - Katy Mills
Christmas Village - 5:30pm-10:00pm- Bayou Bend
Zoo Lights – 5:30pm-10:30pm – Houston Zoo
The Aerial Nutcracker - 6:00pm - The Artz, Spring Street Studios
Galaxy Lights – 6:00pm-10:00pm – Space Center Houston
Radiant Nature - 6:00pm-10:00pm - Houston Botanic Garden
Carols on the Green with the Houston Grand Opera - 7:00pm - Discovery Green
Nightmare Before Christmas - Film with Live Orchestra - 7:30pm - Jones Hall
Christmas Boat Parade – Kemah Boardwalk

Sunday, December 10, 2023:

Tomball German Christmas Market & Festival – 10:00am-6:00pm - Tomball
ICE at Discovery Green– 11:00am-4:00pm – Discovery Green
Houston Ballet Nutcracker - 1:00pm & 6:30pm - Wortham Theater
A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas – 1:30pm – Alley Theatre
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas - 2:30pm - Jones Hall
Christmas Village - 5:30pm-9:00pm- Bayou Bend
Magical Winter Lights – 5:00pm-10:00pm - Katy Mills
Zoo Lights – 5:30pm-10:30pm – Houston Zoo
The Aerial Nutcracker - 6:00pm - The Artz, Spring Street Studios
Galaxy Lights – 6:00pm-10:00pm – Space Center Houston
Radiant Nature - 6:00pm-10:00pm - Houston Botanic Garden

Monday, December 11, 2023:

Story Time at the Trains - 10:00am-12:00pm - Second Baptist Woodway
Magical Winter Lights – 5:00pm-10:00pm - Katy Mills
ICE at Discovery Green– 5:00pm-10:00pm – Discovery Green
Zoo Lights – 5:30pm-10:30pm – Houston Zoo
Galaxy Lights – 6:00pm-10:00pm – Space Center Houston

Tuesday, December 12, 2023:

Family Storytime and Craft - 10:00am - Levy Park
Art in the Park - 10:00am - Evelyn's Park
Curious Kids - 10:00am - Nature Discovery Center
Christmas Village - 5:30pm-9:00pm- Bayou Bend
Magical Winter Lights – 5:00pm-10:00pm - Katy Mills
Zoo Lights – 5:30pm-10:30pm – Houston Zoo
Galaxy Lights – 6:00pm-10:00pm – Space Center Houston

Wednesday, December 13, 2023:

Winter Story Time - 4:00pm - Nature Discovery Center
ICE at Discovery Green– 5:00pm-10:00pm – Discovery Green
Christmas Village - 5:30pm-9:00pm- Bayou Bend
Magical Winter Lights – 5:00pm-10:00pm - Katy Mills
Zoo Lights – 5:30pm-10:30pm – Houston Zoo
Galaxy Lights – 6:00pm-10:00pm – Space Center Houston

Thursday, December 14, 2023:

Children's BINGO - 4:30pm - Levy Park
ICE at Discovery Green– 5:00pm-10:00pm – Discovery Green
Christmas Village - 5:30pm-9:00pm- Bayou Bend
Magical Winter Lights – 5:00pm-10:00pm - Katy Mills
Zoo Lights – 5:30pm-10:30pm – Houston Zoo
Galaxy Lights – 6:00pm-10:00pm – Space Center Houston
A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas – 7:00pm – Alley Theatre
A Charlie Brown Christmas - 7:00pm - Queensbury Theatre
Houston Ballet Nutcracker - 7:30pm - Wortham Theater

Friday, December 15, 2023:

Homeschool Day - 9:00am - Space Center Houston
ICE at Discovery Green– 5:00pm-11:00pm – Discovery Green
Christmas Village - 5:30pm-10:00pm- Bayou Bend
Magical Winter Lights – 5:00pm-11:00pm - Katy Mills
Zoo Lights – 5:30pm-10:30pm – Houston Zoo
Galaxy Lights – 6:00pm-10:00pm – Space Center Houston
Radiant Nature - 6:00pm-10:00pm - Houston Botanic Garden
Family Movie Night: The Polar Express - 7:00pm - Levy Park
A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas – 7:00pm – Alley Theatre
A Charlie Brown Christmas - 7:00pm - Queensbury Theatre
Handel’s Messiah - 7:30pm - Jones Hall
Houston Ballet Nutcracker - 7:30pm - Wortham Theater

Saturday, December 16, 2023:

Breakfast with Santa - 8:30am-12:30pm - Margaritaville Lake Conroe
Gingerbread Lane Workshop - 10:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm & 4:00pm - Houston Farmers Market
Stearman Santa - 11:00am-1:00pm - Lone Star Flight Museum
ICE at Discovery Green– 11:00am-11:00pm – Discovery Green
Tiny Tim's Christmas Carol - 1:30pm & 6:30pm - Rise at The Warehouse
Beauty and the Beast - 1:30pm & 7:00pm - Main Street Theater at MATCH
A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas – 1:30pm & 7:00pm – Alley Theatre
Walk on the Wild Side - 2:00pm - Nature Discovery Center
Doc Dissections - 2:00pm - Health Museum
A Charlie Brown Christmas - 2:00pm & 7:00pm - Queensbury Theatre
Houston Ballet Nutcracker - 2:00pm & 7:30pm - Wortham Theater
Visions of Christmas - 3:00pm & 6:00pm - Second Baptist Church Woodway
Skate with Santa - 4:00pm - ICE at Discovery Green
Let it Glow (by Heights Kids Day of Music) - 4:00pm-6:00pm - MKT
Christmas Village - 5:30pm-10:00pm- Bayou Bend
Magical Winter Lights – 5:00pm-11:00pm - Katy Mills
Zoo Lights – 5:30pm-10:30pm – Houston Zoo
Galaxy Lights – 6:00pm-10:00pm – Space Center Houston
Radiant Nature - 6:00pm-10:00pm - Houston Botanic Garden
Handel’s Messiah - 7:30pm - Jones Hall

Sunday, December 17, 2023:

Visions of Christmas - 9:30am, 11:11am, 3:00pm & 6:00pm - Second Baptist Church Woodway
Breakfast with Santa - 10:00am-2:00pm - Margaritaville Lake Conroe
ICE at Discovery Green– 11:00am-5:00pm – Discovery Green
Houston Ballet Nutcracker - 1:00pm & 6:30pm - Wortham Theater
A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas – 1:30pm & 7:00pm – Alley Theatre
Tiny Tim's Christmas Carol - 3:30pm - Rise at The Warehouse
A Charlie Brown Christmas - 2:00pm - Queensbury Theatre
Christmas Village - 5:30pm-9:00pm- Bayou Bend
Magical Winter Lights – 5:00pm-10:00pm - Katy Mills
Zoo Lights – 5:30pm-10:30pm – Houston Zoo
Galaxy Lights – 6:00pm-10:00pm – Space Center Houston
Radiant Nature - 6:00pm-10:00pm - Houston Botanic Garden
Handel’s Messiah - 7:30pm - Jones Hall

Monday, December 18, 2023:

Story Time at the Trains - 10:00am-12:00pm - Second Baptist Woodway
Sensory Friendly Day - 10:00am-2:00pm - Children's Museum of Houston
Magical Winter Lights – 5:00pm-10:00pm - Katy Mills
ICE at Discovery Green– 5:00pm-10:00pm – Discovery Green
Zoo Lights – 5:30pm-10:30pm – Houston Zoo
Tiny Tim's Christmas Carol - 6:00pm - Rise at The Warehouse
Galaxy Lights – 6:00pm-10:00pm – Space Center Houston
Radiant Nature - 6:00pm-10:00pm - Houston Botanic Garden

Tuesday, December 19, 2023:

Family Storytime and Craft - 10:00am - Levy Park
Art in the Park - 10:00am - Evelyn's Park
Curious Kids - 10:00am - Nature Discovery Center
Magical Winter Lights – 5:00pm-10:00pm - Katy Mills
ICE at Discovery Green– 5:00pm-10:00pm – Discovery Green
Christmas Village - 5:30pm-9:00pm- Bayou Bend
Zoo Lights – 5:30pm-10:30pm – Houston Zoo
Tiny Tim's Christmas Carol - 6:00pm - Rise at The Warehouse
Galaxy Lights – 6:00pm-10:00pm – Space Center Houston
Radiant Nature - 6:00pm-10:00pm - Houston Botanic Garden
Houston Ballet Nutcracker - 7:30pm - Wortham Theater

Wednesday, December 20, 2023:

Beauty and the Beast - 1:30pm - Main Street Theater at MATCH
Houston Ballet Nutcracker - 2:00pm & 7:30pm - Wortham Theater
Gingerbread Lane Workshop - 3:30pm, 5:30pm, 7:30pm - Houston Farmers Market
Nature Story Time - 4:00pm - Nature Discovery Center
Magical Winter Lights – 5:00pm-10:00pm - Katy Mills
ICE at Discovery Green– 5:00pm-10:00pm – Discovery Green
Christmas Village - 5:30pm-10:00pm- Bayou Bend
Zoo Lights – 5:30pm-10:30pm – Houston Zoo
Galaxy Lights – 6:00pm-10:00pm – Space Center Houston
Radiant Nature - 6:00pm-10:00pm - Houston Botanic Garden
A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas – 7:00pm – Alley Theatre
Very Merry Pops - 7:30pm - Jones Hall

Thursday, December 21, 2023:

Beauty and the Beast - 1:30pm & 7:00pm - Main Street Theater at MATCH
Houston Ballet Nutcracker - 2:00pm & 7:30pm - Wortham Theater
Children's BINGO - 4:30pm - Levy Park
Magical Winter Lights – 5:00pm-10:00pm - Katy Mills
ICE at Discovery Green– 5:00pm-10:00pm – Discovery Green
Christmas Village - 5:30pm-10:00pm- Bayou Bend
Zoo Lights – 5:30pm-10:30pm – Houston Zoo
Galaxy Lights – 6:00pm-10:00pm – Space Center Houston
Radiant Nature - 6:00pm-10:00pm - Houston Botanic Garden
Screen on the Green: The Muppets - 7:00pm - Discovery Green
A Charlie Brown Christmas - 7:00pm - Queensbury Theatre
A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas – 7:00pm – Alley Theatre
Very Merry Pops - 7:30pm - Jones Hall

Friday, December 22, 2023:

Story Time at the Trains - 10:00am-12:00pm - Second Baptist Woodway
A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas – 1:30pm & 7:00pm – Alley Theatre
Houston Ballet Nutcracker - 2:00pm & 7:30pm - Wortham Theater
Magical Winter Lights – 5:00pm-11:00pm - Katy Mills
ICE at Discovery Green– 5:00pm-11:00pm – Discovery Green
Christmas Village - 5:30pm-10:00pm- Bayou Bend
Zoo Lights – 5:30pm-10:30pm – Houston Zoo
Galaxy Lights – 6:00pm-10:00pm – Space Center Houston
Radiant Nature - 6:00pm-10:00pm - Houston Botanic Garden
A Charlie Brown Christmas - 7:00pm - Queensbury Theatre
Very Merry Pops - 7:30pm - Jones Hall

Saturday, December 23, 2023:

Holly Jolly Holiday - 10:00am & 11:30am - Jones Hall
ICE at Discovery Green– 11:00am-11:00pm – Discovery Green
Beauty and the Beast - 1:30pm & 7:00pm - Main Street Theater at MATCH
A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas – 1:30pm & 7:00pm – Alley Theatre
A Charlie Brown Christmas - 2:00pm & 7:00pm - Queensbury Theatre
Houston Ballet Nutcracker - 2:00pm & 7:30pm - Wortham Theater
Skate with Santa - 4:00pm - ICE at Discovery Green
Magical Winter Lights – 5:00pm-11:00pm - Katy Mills
Christmas Village - 5:30pm-10:00pm- Bayou Bend
Zoo Lights – 5:30pm-10:30pm – Houston Zoo
Galaxy Lights – 6:00pm-10:00pm – Space Center Houston
Radiant Nature - 6:00pm-10:00pm - Houston Botanic Garden
Very Merry Pops - 7:30pm - Jones Hall

Sunday, December 24, 2023:

ICE at Discovery Green– 11:00am-7:00pm – Discovery Green
Houston Ballet Nutcracker - 1:00pm - Wortham Theater
A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas – 1:30pm – Alley Theatre
Magical Winter Lights – 5:00pm-11:00pm - Katy Mills
Radiant Nature - 6:00pm-10:00pm - Houston Botanic Garden

Monday, December 25, 2023:

ICE at Discovery Green– 1:00pm-7:00pm – Discovery Green
Magical Winter Lights – 5:00pm-11:00pm - Katy Mills

Tuesday, December 26, 2023:

Family Storytime and Craft - 10:00am - Levy Park
Art in the Park - 10:00am - Evelyn's Park
ICE at Discovery Green– 11:00am-11:00pm – Discovery Green
A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas – 1:30pm & 7:00pm – Alley Theatre
Houston Ballet Nutcracker - 2:00pm & 7:30pm - Wortham Theater
Magical Winter Lights – 5:00pm-11:00pm - Katy Mills
Christmas Village - 5:30pm-10:00pm- Bayou Bend
Zoo Lights – 5:30pm-10:30pm – Houston Zoo
Galaxy Lights – 6:00pm-10:00pm – Space Center Houston
Radiant Nature - 6:00pm-10:00pm - Houston Botanic Garden

Wednesday, December 27, 2023:

ICE at Discovery Green– 11:00am-11:00pm – Discovery Green
A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas – 1:30pm & 7:00pm – Alley Theatre
Houston Ballet Nutcracker - 2:00pm - Wortham Theater
Nature Story Time - 4:00pm - Nature Discovery Center
Magical Winter Lights – 5:00pm-11:00pm - Katy Mills
Christmas Village - 5:30pm-9:00pm- Bayou Bend
Zoo Lights – 5:30pm-10:30pm – Houston Zoo
Galaxy Lights – 6:00pm-10:00pm – Space Center Houston
Radiant Nature - 6:00pm-10:00pm - Houston Botanic Garden

Thursday, December 28, 2023:

ICE at Discovery Green– 11:00am-11:00pm – Discovery Green
Children's BINGO - 4:30pm - Levy Park
Magical Winter Lights – 5:00pm-11:00pm - Katy Mills
Christmas Village - 5:30pm-9:00pm- Bayou Bend
Zoo Lights – 5:30pm-10:30pm – Houston Zoo
Galaxy Lights – 6:00pm-10:00pm – Space Center Houston
Radiant Nature - 6:00pm-10:00pm - Houston Botanic Garden
Screen on the Green: The Nightmare Before Christmas - 7:00pm - Discovery Green
A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas – 7:00pm – Alley Theatre

Friday, December 29, 2023:

ICE at Discovery Green– 11:00am-11:00pm – Discovery Green
Magical Winter Lights – 5:00pm-11:00pm - Katy Mills
Christmas Village - 5:30pm-10:00pm- Bayou Bend
Zoo Lights – 5:30pm-10:30pm – Houston Zoo
Galaxy Lights – 6:00pm-10:00pm – Space Center Houston
Radiant Nature - 6:00pm-10:00pm - Houston Botanic Garden
A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas – 7:00pm – Alley Theatre

Saturday, December 30, 2023:

ICE at Discovery Green– 11:00am-11:00pm – Discovery Green
A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas – 1:30pm & 7:00pm – Alley Theatre
Magical Winter Lights – 5:00pm-11:00pm - Katy Mills
Christmas Village - 5:30pm-10:00pm- Bayou Bend
Zoo Lights – 5:30pm-10:30pm – Houston Zoo
Galaxy Lights – 6:00pm-10:00pm – Space Center Houston
Radiant Nature - 6:00pm-10:00pm - Houston Botanic Garden

Sunday, December 31, 2023:

ICE at Discovery Green– 11:00am-8:00pm – Discovery Green
Magical Winter Lights – 5:00pm-11:00pm - Katy Mills
Zoo Lights – 5:30pm-10:30pm – Houston Zoo
Galaxy Lights – 6:00pm-10:00pm – Space Center Houston
Radiant Nature - 6:00pm-10:00pm - Houston Botanic Garden
Family Celebration – Kemah Boardwalk
New Year Palooza - Moody Gardens
New Year's Noon Celebration - Children's Museum of Houston
High Noon Countdown - The Woodlands Children's Museum

Still looking for what to do in Houston today? Find more ideas HERE!