Event Roundup: What to Look Forward to This Weekend

Happy Friday! There are tons of fun and festive events taking place this weekend, including Opening Weekend of ARTECHOUSE's Holiday Special, the annual Gingerbread Build-Off at Levy Park, Carols on the Green at Discovery Green, Hanukkah happenings, and more. 

 

ARTECHOUSE Holiday Special (Opening Weekend)
10 a.m.-10 p.m., daily through Jan. 4
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.

Architecture Center Houston hosts the annual, delicious competition at Levy Park. Spectators can cheer on the teams, play in the kids’ construction zone, enjoy lawn games, a scavenger hunt, and more.

16th Annual Gingerbread Build-Off
Sat., Dec. 13, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Levy Park
Free for spectators
Architecture Center Houston hosts the annual, delicious competition at Levy Park. Competing teams will create 100 percent edible, architectural masterpieces using gingerbread, candy, and other sweet treats. Spectators can cheer on the teams, play in the kids’ construction zone, enjoy lawn games, and more. This year’s special category celebrates iconic movie moments reaching milestone anniversaries in 2025 – reimagined as edible cinematic masterpieces. Teams are encouraged to bring their favorite films to life one gumdrop at a time – whether it’s sending a gingerbread DeLorean “Back to the Future,” stacking candy boulders in The Goonies’ treasure caves, or filling Andy’s room from Toy Story with frosted toys and marzipan details. Teams may also compete in one of the following categories: Architectural Icons, Tallest Standing Structure, Best Holiday Themed, Best Non-Holiday Themed, Best Houston-Centric.

 

Stearman Santa
The Lone Star Flight Museum
Sat., Dec. 13, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
$15-$18, Kids under 4 free
Ho ho ho from the hangars! The original flight legend is cleared for landing!! Get ready for a little holiday magic as Santa gives his reindeer a break before the big night. Watch Santa taxi in on a vintage open-cockpit biplane live, followed by photos, activities and more! Activities will include: story time with Mrs. Claus, exploring the Bernoulli Principle with the Ornament Hover Challenge, designing your own stomp rocket with the Reindeer Rocket Launch, powering a reindeer nose or a torch to help Santa find his way at the Light It Up Lab, and crafting your own compass at Santa’s Navigation Station. This event is included in general admission and free for members.

Enjoy the holiday classic The Nutcracker on ice at Memorial City. (Photo courtesy of MetroNational)

The Nutcracker on Ice
Sat., Dec. 13, 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Ice Skate Memorial City
Tickets start at $30
Celebrate the season with the magic of The Nutcracker on Ice! Delight in dazzling performances, enchanting costumes, and timeless holiday music, all on the ice at Ice Skate Memorial City. You can catch the show at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Gather at Discovery Green for Carols on the Green, the company’s annual holiday concert and sing-along combining beloved carols with festive Spanish-language favorites, held in partnership with the park. (Photo: LaTroya Brooks)

Carols on the Green
Sat., Dec. 13, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Discovery Green, Anheuser Busch Stage
Free
Houston Grand Opera (HGO) invites the community to gather for Carols on the Green, the company’s annual holiday concert and sing-along combining beloved carols with festive Spanish-language favorites. This year’s event will be curated, conducted, and emceed by Jorge Parodi, music director of the University of Houston Moores Opera Center and general and artistic director of Opera Hispánica. Parodi has programmed a night of opera, holiday hits, mariachi, and more for this celebration of Latin American and Hispanic culture. The evening will feature performances by Butler Studio artist Demetrious Sampson, Jr., as well as rising opera artist from Mexico, baritone Esau Alvarez. Groups performing include the University of Houston’s Mariachi Pumas and the Segundo Barrio Children’s Chorus, who will be joined by members of HGO’s Bauer Family High School Voice Studio and the renowned HGO Chorus.

Celebrate Hanukkah at Children's Museum Houston with a full day of stories, hands-on crafts, and family-friendly activities. (Photo courtesy of Children's Museum Houston) 

Hanukkah at Children's Museum Houston
Sun., Dec. 14, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Children's Museum Houston
General admission
Celebrate Hanukkah at Children's Museum Houston with a full day of stories, hands-on crafts, and family-friendly activities that honor the traditions and joys of Hanukkah. Activities include Hanukkah Storytime, creating festive dreidel banners, making suncatcher menorahs, paper dreidel-making workshops, and other Hanukkah crafts like bead bracelets, coloring crafts and more!

PJ Library's Family Chanukah Party
Sun., Dec. 14, 2 - 4 p.m.
Family-friendly brewery in Sugar Land (location provided after RSVP)
Free
Join PJ Library for a family Chanukah party, including treats, crafts, and snacks. The location has a large playground.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Houston Texans
Sun., Dec. 14, 12 p.m.
NRG Stadium
Tickets start at $45
Cheer on the Texans as they take on the Cardinals at NRG.

Celebrate Chanukah on the first night with The Shul of Bellaire’s annual Chanukah Festival.

Bellaire Chanukah Festival
Sun., Dec. 14, 4 p.m.
Bellaire Town Square
$15 for adults; $12 for children
The Shul of Bellaire’s annual Chanukah Festival includes a delicious dinner buffet, Menorah lighting, live music, face painting, crafts, a surprise entertainer, Judah the Maccabee on stilts, and a Gelt Launcher.

Inside The Yards: Merry & Bright at Sawyer Yards
Thursday, Dec. 11 - Sun., Dec. 14, 6 to 9 p.m.
Silver Street Studios
Free
A four-day community holiday celebration at Sawyer Yards featuring local artists, festive installations, live entertainment, and creative workshops. This event brings together the creative campus and the Houston community for a joyful, art-filled holiday experience - supporting local makers while giving back to the Houston Food Bank. Free general admission and great for all ages! Free activations include: a 10,000 square foot light installation, Santa meet and greet, photo booth, balloon artist, caricature artist, face painting, and DIY tote bag screen printing. There are also several donation-based workshops benefiting The Houston Food Bank: a Felted Icicle Workshop with Olga Tarasova, Glass Christmas Ornament Workshop with Deborah Ellington, Tinsel Tree Workshop with Leslie Gaworecki, Holiday Bracelet Workshop with The Jewelry Instructor, and Linocut Workshop with Toto. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

More Holiday Fun 
Find more ongoing festive events, including new event Astros Light Up the Park and community favorites such as The Ice at Discovery Green, Zoo Lights, Space Center Houston’s Galaxy Lights, Sugar Land Holiday Lights, Winter Wonderlawn at POST, and more here.