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Holiday events around town
Ring in the season downtown Dec. 4 with the Mayor’s Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting. (Photo: Richard Carson)
This holiday season, consider tiaking family and friends to some seasonal events around town and in nearby Galveston.
Houston Zoo
Now-Jan. 9. 6-10 p.m. Mon.-Thur.; 6-11 p.m. Fri.-Sun. Closed Dec. 25-26.
The Houston Zoo is transformed into a dazzling wonderland of colorful lights, holiday music and animal sculptures.
Admission: $15-20; free 1 and under.
Sam Houston Race Park
Now-Jan. 10. Times vary.
Light up the holiday season with larger-than-life lanterns shaped like landmarks and landscapes from around the world, international performances, food, carnival rides and holiday shopping.
Admission: Adult: $27-29; child (4-12): $16-18; children under 4: free
Discovery Green, downtown
Now-Feb. 7.
Discovery Green Park will host a 7,716-square-foot ice-skating rink, holiday music and fun events throughout the season.
Admission: $14 includes skate rental
Houston Ballet’s The Nutcracker
The Brown Theater at The Wortham Center, downtown
Now-Dec. 27. Performance times vary.
Enjoy this popular holiday tradition. Houston Ballet performs Ben Stevenson’s beloved version of The Nutcracker.
Admission: $29-149
Bellaire Town Square, Bellaire
Dec. 3, 6-8:30 p.m.
Santa, holiday music, the official tree lighting, rides aboard a kiddie train, holiday crafts, pony rides, moon bounces and a petting zoo. Highlight: 40,000 pounds of snow, with two snow slides.
Admission: Free
Houston City Hall, downtown
Fri., Dec. 4, 6-8 p.m.
Ring in the holiday season with the Mayor’s Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting Presented by Reliant. Holiday music, Santa, fireworks, a lit holiday tree and more.
Admission: Free.
Home Alone with the Houston Symphony
Jones Hall, downtown
Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m.
Experience the holiday classic Home Alone in a new way – with the Houston Symphony. The film starring Macaulay Culkin will play with accompaniment from a live orchestra.
Admission: $35-129
4th Annual Southside Place Winter Wonderland Carnival
Southside Place Clubhouse Grounds, 3743 Garnet St.
Sat., Dec. 5, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Food, carnival games, inflatables, a mechanical bull, a rock-climbing wall, face-painting, balloon artists. Photos with Santa and a huge pile of snow.
Admission: Free.
2015 Chanukah Fest: Menorah Lighting at City Hall
Houston City Hall, downtown
Sun., Dec. 6, 2-6 p.m.
Celebrate Chanukah with a rock concert by the band 8th Day, a Judah the Maccabee live statue, booths, fire jugglers and arts and crafts stations. The menorah lighting will take place at 6 p.m. and will conclude with a fireworks display.
Admission: Free.
West U Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Across from West U Community Center, 6104 Auden
Mon., Dec. 7, 5:30 p.m.
Performances by the St. Andrews Children’s Choir and youth programs from the West U Rec Center will set the tone for the annual tree-lighting ceremony. Cookie decorating, live reindeer, a photo booth, Santa and snow.
Admission: Free.
CityCentre, 800 Town and Country Blvd.
Dec. 12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Head to CityCentre to shop from Santa’s Holiday Market, which will feature local vendors, gifts and stocking stuffers. From 12 to 4 p.m., there’ll be Santa sightings in his reindeer-driven sleigh, plus strolling Dickens carolers.
Admission: Free
The Heritage Society’s Annual Candlelight Tour
The Heritage Society at Sam Houston Park, downtown
Dec.12, 5-10 p.m.; Dec. 13, 5-9 p.m.
Take in Houston’s history through decorated buildings and historic characters. Hear about Houston’s early residents and customs with a cup of cocoa in hand. Children’s activities in Santa’s Workshop, plus performances.
Admission: Adult: $10; senior: $8; youth (6-18): $5; child (5 and under): free
Hermann Square, City Hall, downtown
Sat., Dec. 12, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Architects will build gingerbread houses. More than 3,000 are expected to cheer on the teams and view the edible masterpieces. Includes a kids’ construction zone and Santa appearance.
Admission: Free; team registration to participate: $125
32nd Annual YMCA Jingle Bell Run & Walk
Tellepsen Family Downtown YMCA, 808 Pease St.
Sun., Dec. 13, noon
More than 7,000 will participate in this annual run/walk downtown. 5-mile Timed Race, 3-mile Run/Walk and Kids Fun Run. Costume contest, live music, kids zone, food trucks.
Admission: Prices vary.
Moody Gardens, 1 Hope Blvd.
Now-Jan. 10, 6-10 p.m.
More than 1 million lights within 100 animated light displays. Live entertainment. Ice skate, experience the Arctic Ice Slide, take photos with Santa.
Admission: $10.95 (including skating)
Moody Gardens
Now-Jan. 10. Times vary.
Chill out with SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy, Mr. Krabs, Squidward and other SpongeBob favorites, all carved out of more than 2 million pounds of ice.
Adult: $27; child (4-14): $22
2300 Strand
Fri., Dec. 4-Sun., Dec. 6. Times vary.
Travel back to 19th-century Victorian London in this annual holiday street festival. Parades, entertainment, strolling carolers, musicians, bagpipers, costumed vendors, crafts, gift items.
Admission: Adults: $13-15; kids: $7-9. Attendees in Victorian costume are admitted for half-price. Everyone free Friday night.
East End Christmas Homes Tour: A Victorian Christmas
Meet at EEHDA Cottage, 1501 Postoffice St.
Fri., Dec. 4, 5:30-9:30 p.m.
Explore Victorian architecture on the 26th annual home tour, in which four homes will be decorated for the holiday season. Three East End sites also included. Refreshments available at the EEHDA Cottage. Proceeds benefit the East End Historical District Association.
Admission: $17
Galveston Railroad Museum, The Strand
Sat., Dec. 12, 10 a.m.-noon
All aboard! Santa is coming to the Galveston Railroad Museum. Enjoy holiday lights and decorations, and learn about railroads.
Admission: adults (13+): $10; seniors (60+): $8; children (4+): $5; children 3 and under: free
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical
The Grand 1984 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice St.
Sat., Dec. 19, 2 and 7 p.m.
The popular red-nosed reindeer performs on the stage.
Admission: $25-65
Santa Hustle Half Marathon & 5K Run/Walk
Saengerfest Park, 2300 Strand
Sun., Dec. 20, 8 a.m.-noon
The fourth annual Santa Hustle starts and ends at Saengerfest Park. Race participants receive a Santa hat and beard along with dri-fit sweatshirts. Music, candy and cookies on course.
Admission: $50-65
Merry Texas Christmas Y’All: Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel
The Grand 1984 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice St.
Tues., Dec. 22, 8 p.m.
Deck the halls with the sounds of Western swing at The Grand.
Admission: $30-50
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