Event Roundup: What to Look Forward to This Holiday Weekend

Hope you have all had a wonderful holiday weekend celebrating with family and friends! Looking for things to do over the weekend? There’s no shortage of festive fun around town, including:

Let it snow! Play in the snow at Children's Museum Houston during Polar Palooza days, Dec. 20-24, Dec. 29-29, Jan. 1-4. (Photo: Cody Duty)

Polar Palooza Snow Days and Celebrating Kwanzaa at Children's Museum Houston
Fri., Dec. 26-Mon., Dec. 29, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (plus Jan. 1-4)
Children's Museum Houston
Included with general admission
Bring your mittens and play in real snow!
On Friday only, celebrate Kwanzaa through an interactive workshop with Soullia Rae, feel the rhythm during lively djembe drum circles, and create meaningful crafts like Seven Principles hats and your very own kinara.

Discover an immersive Christmas experience at Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, Dec. 5–30.

Christmas Village at Bayou Bend
Through Dec. 30; timing varies by day.  
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens
$18 (ages 13+), $12 (ages 5–12); free (ages 4 & younger)
Discover an immersive Christmas experience at Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens. A dazzling bridge brings you into a winter wonderland featuring thousands of lights. Sled down faux snow, toss cotton snowballs, hunt for Santa's reindeer. New this year: New York-based gingerbread artist and Guinness World Record holder Jon Lovitch will be creating a 500+ gingerbread village sculpture. The Weihnachtsfilm Festival Berlin will also show indie short films with a Christmas-theme.

HMNS Trains Over Texas
Throughout the season  
Houston Museum of Natural Science, Level 1 
Prices vary by event. General admission: adults: $25; children: $16
Visit holiday favorite Trains Over Texas, a popular exhibit, this holiday season. Travel across Texas by model railroad in this scratch built “O” scale model. The multiple trains crisscrossing the state will visit important and unique places in the state’s geology and physiography.

Astros Light Up the Park
Through Jan. 4
Daikin Park
$20-$45 This new immersive experience presented by Houston Methodist will offer a festive blend of lights, sounds, and holiday joy with an Astros twist. Expect themed Astros- and Houston-inspired light displays and shows; special guests including Astros Santa and Orbit, holiday treats, and theme nights. 

The Houston Zoo offers immersive light displays and festive experiences for the whole family during Zoo Lights, Nov. 21-Jan. 4. (Photo: Houston Zoo)

TXU Energy Presents Zoo Lights
Through Jan. 4
Houston Zoo
$26+ Explore a dazzling winter landscape filled with fantastical bursts of color, immersive light displays, and festive experiences for all ages. As the Zoo transforms into a nighttime holiday spectacular, visitors will journey through vibrant realms like the Enchanted Forest, marvel at the shimmering Iridescent Immersion, and sip hot chocolate by cozy s’mores stations. New features include Wild Wonder Lights and the Neon Playground.

Houston's brightest space-themed holiday light show, Space Center Houston's Galaxy Lights, takes place Nov. 15-Jan. 4. (Photo: Space Center Houston - Aaron Rodriguez)

Space Center Houston’s Galaxy Lights 
Through Jan. 4, 6-10 p.m.
Space Center Houston
$19.95-$27.95
Experience the magic of the holiday season and the wonders of space at Galaxy Lights. View the Apollo-themed lantern activations, take a walk under the stars through a 200-foot LED light tunnel and 30-foot-tall light display of the Space Launch System rocket, enjoy LED light swings under the 747 Boeing aircraft, a crystal fireworks light show choreographed to an epic playlist, a 40-foot-tall shooting star light display, and daily screenings of the original film Holidays in Space. Then, gather around a fire pit station and enjoy hot cocoa and s’mores. 

The 12th annual Sugar Land Holiday Lights presented by Houston Methodist features 3.5 million lights and family-friendly holiday fun, Nov. 21-Jan. 4.

Sugar Land Holiday Lights
Through Jan. 4
Constellation Field
$18.24+
The 12th annual Sugar Land Holiday Lights features millions of dazzling light displays, a new 9-hole Mini Golf Course, a carnival (through Jan. 1), a synthetic ice rink, vendors, food, and more. 

 

ARTECHOUSE Holiday Special
Through Jan. 4, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
ARTECHOUSE Houston
$15-$45
Experience the magic of the holiday season reimagined through art and technology! This limited engagement brings together two audience favorites – Spectacular Factory and Tingle Bells – in one joyful, multisensory celebration for the entire family. From vivid visuals and dynamic soundscapes to touch-based experiences, the ARTECHOUSE Holiday Special transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary – a festive fusion of creativity, innovation, and cheer for visitors of all ages.

Cistern Illuminated transforms the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern into a transcendent spectacle of color, echo, and optical illusion. On select evenings, Cistern Illuminated will be further activated with live performances by Ars Lyrica.

Cistern Illuminated
Through Jan. 18
Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern
Tickets vary
Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern will be transformed into a transcendent spectacle of color, echo, and optical illusion. Tours will be offered Weds.-Sun., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m. On select evenings, Cistern Illuminated will be further enhanced with live performances by Ars Lyrica. 

Glide under the glittering lights of downtown this holiday season. The Ice at Discovery Green is open Fri., Nov. 21, 2025-Mon., Feb. 16, 2026.

Green Mountain Energy Presents Ice at Discovery Green
Through Feb. 16; hours: Mon.-Thurs., 5-10 p.m., Fri., 5-11 p.m., Saturday and HISD school holidays, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sun., 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
$18 plus tax (includes skate rentals)
Glide under the glittering lights of downtown. Enjoy festive themed nights like Skate with Santa or DJ Skate nights.

Enjoy thousands of lights, two 25-foot Christmas trees, and multiple holiday-themed activations with a fantastic view of Houston’s skyline during Winter Wonderlawn at The POST's Skylawn. (Photo courtesy of POST Houston)

Winter Wonderlawn
Through Jan. 11
POST Houston 
Weekdays: $12; Fri-Sun: $19; Children 5 and under: Free
Skylawn, the five-acre rooftop park at POST, is decked out in illuminated lights and décor this holiday season. Enjoy thousands of lights, two 25-foot Christmas trees, and multiple holiday-themed activations with a fantastic view of Houston’s skyline.  

Radiant Nature, presented by H-E-B, opens for its third season at Houston Botanic Garden with all-new installations on Nov. 14.

Radiant Nature is inspired by traditions celebrating the Lunar New Year, the zodiac calendar, and regional plant and animal life. (Photo: Tianyu Arts & Culture)

Radiant Nature
Through Sun., Feb. 22, timed entry from 6-8:30 p.m. Open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, along with select weeknights
Houston Botanic Garden 
$28.50+. Get $2 off admission on Thursday and Sunday nights.
Inspired by traditions celebrating the Lunar New Year, the zodiac calendar, and regional plant and animal life, Radiant Nature this year will celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse. The floral-inspired portion of Radiant Nature includes a field of giant Texas bluebonnets, the vibrant red of holiday poinsettias, a tunnel of morning glories, and a glowing peach tree. 

More Events
Find more upcoming events on our calendar.