Event Roundup: What to Look Forward to This Holiday Week

Glide around The ICE at Discovery Green this holiday season. (Photo: Morris Malakoff, The CKP Group) 

Staying in town for the holidays? Check out these fun events happening this week! 

9th Annual Menorah Lighting at the Galleria 
Join for the 9th annual public Menorah Lighting in the Galleria. Enjoy music, dreidels, sufganiot, Chanukah gelt and gifts for children. The Monday evening event will also feature addresses by prominent citizens and dignitaries, a children’s choir and a short presentation. 

Santa at the Houston Galleria
Santa will be at the Houston Galleria through Dec. 24 for photo ops. You can skip the line by booking online. See more photo ops with Santa around town here.  

City Wide Club SuperFeast  
Held annually on Christmas Eve at the George R. Brown Convention Center, this event feeds thousands in need and provides the needy with nutritious meals plus clothing, household items, shoes blankets, coats and more. Sign up to volunteer here, and also see additional opportunities to give back during the holiday season here.  

Stroll through the Houston Zoo and admire the trees and paths lit up with holiday lights. (Photo: Stephanie Adams/Houston Zoo)

Zoo Lights  
Stroll through the Houston Zoo this week and admire the trees and paths lit up with holiday lights. New for this year, stroll through a 100-foot-long Infinity Tunnel of Light, experience the 4-D Enchanted Forest, see a giant Ice Dragon, experience "snow" in the Winter Wonderland and more. Zoo Lights is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; regular hours are 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Last entry is at 9:30 p.m. 

Moody Gardens Exhibits   
Galveston’s Moody Gardens offers multiple ways to celebrate the holiday season this year. The park offers eight holiday attractions, including a mile-long trail with more than two million Christmas lights, an outdoor skating rink and ice sculptures. The park is open all day on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  

Space Center Galaxy Lights  
This brand-new event, presented by Reliant, features a high-tech kinetic light show, photo stations, a tram tour and more, all at Space Center Houston. Guests can also check out an original film, "Holidays in Space," which includes real footage of astronauts celebrating the holidays as well as interviews with retired astronauts about what it was like celebrating in space. Closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; regular hours are 6-10 p.m. 

There’s 100 percent chance of snow at Children’s Museum of Houston! 

Snow Days at the Children’s Museum    
Enjoy “100% Chance of Snow” at the Children’s Museum of Houston. Play in real snow and experience a winter wonderland, all included with general admission. Snow Days will take place all day from Dec. 19 through Dec. 29, excluding Christmas Day. See more opportunities to play in snow around Houston here. 

The ICE at Discovery Green  
Enjoy skating on the largest outdoor ice skating surface in the Southwest! Discovery Green uses water from Kinder Lake to freeze the ice, and all equipment runs on Green Mountain Energy’s renewable energy. The rink is open on Christmas Eve (11 a.m.-7 p.m.) and Christmas Day (1-7 p.m.) 

The Nutcracker  
Houston Ballet presents their annual production of The Nutcracker all season long. In this traditional holiday tale, Clara and Drosselmeyer travel together to the Land of the Sweets where the Sugar Plum Fairy is reunited with her Nutcracker prince and discovers a world of magic. There’s a 2 p.m. show on Christmas Eve; no shows on Christmas Day. 

Magical Winter Lights  
Magical Winter Lights, at Gulf Greyhound Park, is bigger than ever this year. With more than six million lights, upgraded installations and interactive displays, the festival will leave adults and children of all ages fascinated. Magical Winter Lights is open regular hours (5-11 p.m.) on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 

Discover an immersive Christmas experience at beautiful Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens. (Photo: Cameron Bertuzzi, courtesy of the MFAH) 

Christmas Village at Bayou Bend  
Discover an immersive Christmas experience at beautiful Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens. A dazzling bridge brings you into a winter wonderland featuring thousands of lights and activities for all ages throughout the 14-acre estate. There will also be fun, holiday-themed tours of Ima Hogg’s historic mansion. Christmas Village is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 

A Christmas Carol  
Enjoy the colorful, comical, music-filled production of A Christmas Carol at the Alley Theatre. Now in its 15th year of production, this year’s rendition includes new traditions under new Artistic Director Rob Melrose. A 2:30 p.m. matinee show is on for Christmas Eve; closed on Christmas Day. 

Comedy & Chinese: Adult Chanukah Party  
Enjoy a Christmas day Adult Chanukah Party featuring comedy and Chinese food at the home of Lisa and Clive Fleisherman in Bellaire. Enjoy Jewish stand-up comedy by Robert Cait, a premium open bar, gourmet latke tasting and more. RSVP required. 
 
Not so Silent Night Christmas Karaoke
The Secret Group presents this karaoke event on Christmas Day at 8 p.m. Bring your family for an extended Christmas celebration with drink specials and karaoke all night. 

5th Annual Concert Against Cancer  
The 5th Annual Concert Against Cancer benefitting the Broach Foundation for Brain Cancer Research will take place at Axelrad on Thursday, 6-10 p.m. Enjoy live music featuring performances by Houston’s own Meg Bres, Christie Dawson, Cameron Hull, Elizabeth Cregan, Ross Smolen and Jake Schick.

Discovery Green brings back Bank of America Screen on the Green during its Winter 2019–2020 Season. Part of the Xfinity Entertainment Series, these popular screenings present family-friendly movies with a scenic view of the downtown Houston skyline. (Photo: Morris Malakoff, The CKP GRoup) 

Bank of America Screen on The Green 
Enjoy a screening of A Dog’s Way Home on the lawn at Discovery Green on Thursday. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and picnics and enjoy this family-friendly movie along with a scenic view of the downtown Houston skyline. 

Academy Sports & Outdoors Texas Bowl
Watch the Oklahoma State Cowboys take on Texas A&M Aggies deep in the heart of Houston at the Academy Sports & Outdoors Texas Bowl on Friday. 

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical  
This beloved TV classic is coming to life on stage at Jones Hall this holiday season. Shows take place on Thursday and Friday.  

Texas Children’s Hospital Presents Art in the Park
Visit Evelyn’s Park Conservancy on Saturday for Art in the Park, a family-friendly event where you’ll get a chance to make your own snowman ornaments!  

Rival Rally: Texans vs. Titans  
Join hundreds of other Texans fans at the final Rival Rally of the 2019 Texans season, happening Saturday at Rice Village District. You’ll have the chance to win two tickets and a parking pass to the Texans vs. Titans game, on Sunday at noon. 

Houston Rockets vs. Brooklyn Nets  
Cheer on the Houston Rockets on Saturday as they take on the Brooklyn Nets in one of the last home games of the year! 

More Events
See all upcoming events here.