Event Roundup: What to Look Forward to This Holiday Week

Cookies with Santa at the Children's Museum of Houston. 

Happy holidays! This week, we’re rounding up events a little early in light of Christmas. Here are some fun, family-friendly events to look forward to this week and weekend.

Christmas Village at Bayou Bend 

Enjoy festive decorations, lights, holiday activities and performances at Bayou Bend Collections and Gardens. Kids will enjoy the Holiday Craft Station, Christmas Express Train, Storying and more. Open 6-9:30 p.m.; closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. See more details and hours. 

The Ice at Discovery Green

It may not feel like winter here in Houston but as always, Discovery Green is hosting its 7,716-square-foot ice-skating rink and cheerful holiday music. Bundle up and enjoy the ice. Open Christmas Eve, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and Christmas Day, 1-11 p.m. See more details and hours. 

Magical Winter Lights

This new holiday tradition at Sam Houston Race Park includes larger-than-life lanterns, carnival rides and games, international cultural performances, food, shopping and more. Open Christmas Eve, 5-10 p.m. and Christmas Day, 1-11 p.m. See more details and hours. 

Zoo Lights

Experience a wonderland of colorful lights, holiday music and animal sculptures at the Houston Zoo. Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. See more details and hours.  

Holiday Lights Tour with The Wave

Hop on The Wave at Market Square Park and enjoy Christmas lights in a three-hour tour, including City Hall, Field of Lights at Discovery Green, River Oaks and Woodland Heights. Sold out for Dec. 23 but tickets are still available for Dec. 24, 6:30-9:30 p.m. See more details. 

Cookies with Santa

Get in the Christmas spirit of Christmas Eve and enjoy cookies with Santa at the Children’s Museum of Houston. Snap a photo with Santa and enjoy holiday treats. Event takes place Christmas Eve, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. See more details. 

Moody Gardens: Festival of Lights and Ice Land: Ice Sculptures

Moody Gardens is once again hosting its dazzling Festival of Lights display, which includes more than one million lights, ice skating, an Arctic Ice Slide and photos with Santa, as well as Ice Land: Ice Sculptures, which features SpongeBob characters carved out of more than two million pounds of ice. Festival of Lights is open 6-10 p.m. daily. Ice Land: Ice Sculptures is open daily, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. and open Christmas Day, 12-10 p.m. 

More events

Save the date for more upcoming events in Houston and Galveston in our holiday listing and check out our events calendar.