Event Roundup: What to Do This Holiday Weekend

Winter wonderland at the Houston Zoo. (Photo: Stephanie Adams/Houston Zoo)

Happy Friday and merry (almost) Christmas! Here’s a list of festive, family-friendly Christmas events going on this weekend. Wishing you a wonderful weekend with family and friends.

8th Annual Holiday Lights Tour 

Hop on the Houston Wave and check out festive holiday lights around the city. The tour meets at Market Square Park and takes place at 6:30 p.m. every evening through Dec. 24. Tickets include specials at some of the establishments in Market Square before, holiday treats on the buses, the pre-set tour of lights (City Hall, Discovery Green, River Oaks and, if time permits, Woodland Heights) and the transportation. A portion of the proceeds will go to Buffalo Bayou Partnership.

Cookies with Santa 

Kids can enjoy cookie decorating, meet-and-greets with Santa plus other holiday-themed activities at The Children’s Museum such as making your own snowflake, painting a reindeer mask, creating a holiday wreath and more. The museum will be open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Christmas Eve but closed on Christmas Day.

Magical Winter Lights 

The festival at Gulf Greyhound Park features large lanterns shaped like landmarks and landscapes from around the world, cultural performances, food, carnival rides, entertainment, live music and holiday shopping. The festival is open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and continues through Jan. 2.

Christmas Village at Bayou Bend 

Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens has been transformed into a beautiful Christmas experience complete with carolers, a faux-snowball play area, a handcrafted model train, a trail of lights and more. The Christmas Village is open every evening through Jan. 6 except Dec. 24, 25 and 31.

Zoo Lights 

The Houston Zoo is home to a winter wonderland this holiday season with more than two million lights. Look forward to 15 miles of lit-up paths, a Texas-themed areas, a Holiday Train Village, the Enchanted Forest and more. Zoo Lights is open every evening through Jan. 14 except Dec. 24-25.

Christmas on the Island

If you’re looking for a quick getaway that’ll be fun for the whole family, there are lots of festivities in Galveston including Festival of Lights - a mile-long trail of more than 100 sound-enhanced, animated light displays – Ice Land at Moody Gardens, including 28,000 square feet of rainforest-themed ice sculptures. Ice Land is open on Christmas, 12-11 p.m. and Festival of Lights from 6-11 p.m. Holiday festivities at Moody Gardens are open through Jan. 7.  

More Events

See our event calendar for more upcoming events and see our holiday event roundup for more holiday ideas in Houston and in Galveston.