Houston Christmas Festivals, Shows, Lights & Family Fun

Happy Holidays, Houston! Here are all the Houston holiday festivals, shows and Christmas lights for November 1, 2025 through January 5, 2026.

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!

Quick Links

• All the events for the current week

Christmas Lights Near You

• The Light Park - November 1, 2025-January 5, 2026 - Katy, Spring, Sam Houston
• Radiant Nature - November 14, 2025-February 22, 2026 - Houston Botanic Garden
• Texas Winter Lights - through December 31, 2025 - Marriott Marquis
• Santa’s Wonderland – November 14, 2025-January 4, 2026 – College Station
• Sugar Land Holiday Lights – November 21, 2025-January 4, 2026 – Constellation Field
• Magical Winter Lights – TBD - Fort Bend County Fairground
• Galaxy Lights – November 15, 2025 – January 4, 2026 – Space Center Houston
• Zoo Lights – TBD (Thanksgiving to New Years) – Houston Zoo
• Classic Christmas - November 21-December 28, 2025 - Katy Mills
• Festival of Lights – November 22, 2025 – January 3, 2026 – Moody Gardens
• Cistern Illuminated - November 28, 2025-December 31, 2026 - Buffalo Bayou Cistern (Ages 9+)
• Christmas Village - TBD - Bayou Bend

Houston Holiday Shows & Concerts

• A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas – November 16 – December 28, 2025 – Alley Theatre
• The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza - November 16-December 21, 2025 - Main Street Theater at MATCH
• Houston Ballet Nutcracker - November 28 - December 28, 2025 - Wortham Theater
• Handel's Messiah - December 5-7, 2025 - Jones Hall
• Very Merry Pops - December 11-14, 2025 - Jones Hall
• Houston Symphony: Oh What Fun! - December 13, 2025 - Jones Hall
• Houston Symphony: Elf in Concert - December 19-21, 2025 - Jones Hall

Houston Holiday Festivals & Family Fun

• Texas Winter Lights - TBD - Marriott Marquis
  • Open to the public on weekdays, with ticket. Float for walk through the lights!
• Polar Express Train Rides - November 14-December 23, 2025 - Galveston Train Museum
• Polar Express Train Ride – November 14 - December 28, 2025 – 789 Park Road 70, Palestine, Texas 75801
• ICE at Discovery Green– TBD – Discovery Green
• Home for the Holidays - Opens November 22, 2025 - Old Town Spring
  • Every weekend from mid November to Christmas. (But you could see the decorations/lights any day.)
• Santa’s Wonderland – November 14, 2025-January 4, 2026 – College Station
  • Biggest Christmas attraction in the state of Texas
  • Several ticket options are available
• Magical Winter Lights – TBD - Fort Bend County Fairground
  • This lantern festival is one of my favorite light shows around Houston!
  • There are seven themed displays, with more than six million lights.
• Splashway Christmas Celebration - November 22-December 23, 2025 - Splashway Campground
  • Celebrations each weekend
  • Lighted Christmas River Float, Ice Skating on the synthetic ice rink, Arts and Crafts, Live Nativity
• Trains Over Texas – TBD - 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.
• Zoo Lights – TBD – Houston Zoo
  • Tour the Zoo after dark! The Zoo closes at 5:00pm and reopens at 5:30pm for this event.
• Holiday in the Gardens – November 22, 2025 - January 3, 2026 – Moody Gardens
  • ICE LAND, Holiday Lights Trail, ice rink and Arctic Slide
• HEB Thanksgiving Day Parade – November 27, 2025 - Downtown Houston
• Christmas Train – November 28-December 23, 2025 – 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 28, 2025-December 31, 2026 - Buffalo Bayou Cistern (Ages 9+)
• Dickens on the Strand – December 5-7, 2025 – Galveston –Strand National Historic Landmark District
  • Victorian holiday festival!
  • Multiple 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.
• Christmas Village - TBD- Bayou Bend
  • Immersive Christmas experience at the beautiful Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens.
• Mayor's Holiday Spectacular- December 6, 2025 - 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.
• Story Time at the Trains - TBD - Second Baptist Woodway
  • Storytime begins in the Atrium with train displays and scavenger hunt.
  • Next you move to the new Children's Building for themed story times, train rides, treats and more!
• Stearman Santa Fly-In– TBD – 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 12-14, 2025 - Tomball
• Christmas Boat Parade – TBD – Kemah Boardwalk
  • Boats cruise along Galveston Bay.
  • Boats will pass the Boardwalk at approximately 7-8pm
• Family Celebration - TBD – Kemah Boardwalk
  • Fireworks at 10:00pm.
• New Year's Noon Celebration - TBD- Children's Museum of Houston
• High Noon Countdown - TBD - The Woodlands Children's Museum