Event Roundup: Christmas Week

Merry Christmas Week! If you’re looking for ideas of what to do with family this week, here are some fun events happening around town: 

(Photo courtesy of Discovery Green)

Screen on the Green  
Holiday favorite ELF (PG) will play on the screen at Discovery Green on Thursday at 7 p.m. 

Light Show in Uptown 
Drive or stroll along Post Oak Blvd. between West Loop to Richmond Ave. and enjoy the 300, 20-foot-tall holiday trees each covered with 250 multi-colored lights. The holiday tree light show choreographed to festive music can be enjoyed by downloading the Uptown Radio app, available on Apple App Store and Google App store. 

Celebrate the holiday season with Santa's Sugar Land, a special pop up in Sugar Land Town Square with a full calendar of events for the whole family.

Santa’s Sugar Land  
The special holiday pop-up in Sugar Land Town Square is open through Thurs., Dec. 23. The experience includes festive decorations, Santa photo opps, story time with Mrs. Claus, a market featuring local makers, a coffee and hot cocoa bar, interactive games, holiday arts and crafts, and more. "Santa’s Magi-Sphere," a holographic snow globe, determines visitors’ status on Santa’s infamous naughty or nice list. 

StoryWalk Houston: 'Pick a Pine Tree'  
Walk through Whitt Johnson Park for StoryWalk Houston's holiday installation, Pick a Pine Tree, through Dec. 24. Pick a Pine Tree celebrates the traditions and rituals around choosing and decorating a Christmas tree with family and friends. Read more about the story behind StoryWalk Houston here. Story Walks are free and self-guided. 

Shoppers are invited to skate on the ice rink under falling snow at the Galleria. (Photo courtesy of The Galleria)

The Galleria’s Snow Spectacular  
This new holiday event at The Galleria ice rink continues through Dec. 24. Glide underneath falling snow and take in the spectacular Christmas tree in the center of the ice. 

Holiday Fun at Children’s Museum Houston  
Children’s Museum Houston offers tons of winter-break fun, including Seasons of Sharing, an exhibit dedicated to holidays around the world, play in real snow, meet Santa, and more. The museum closes at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve and is closed Christmas Day. 

Santa’s Wonderland  
Santa’s Wonderland, a seasonal amusement park in College Station, features a Trail of Lights, opportunities to meet Santa, race down the toboggan chute, enjoy live music, or take a carriage ride. Open through Dec. 30, including Christmas Eve. 

Frostival kicks off The ICE at Discovery Green this weekend! (Photo courtesy of Discovery Green)

The Ice at Discovery Green  
Skate around The Ice at Discovery Green for some holiday magic downtown. Purchase tickets in advance online. The Ice is open through Jan. 30, including Christmas Eve (11 a.m.-7 p.m.) and Christmas Day (1-7 p.m.). While you’re at Discovery Green, be sure to check out the new immersive art experience – Mosaic of Light by artist collective HYBYCOZO.  

Space Center Houston’s Galaxy Lights  
Stroll through an interactive, technologically advanced light display at Space Center Houston. Galaxy Lights is open through Jan. 2 (closed Dec. 24-25). 

Holiday Lights in Clay Family Eastern Glades  
Walk through dazzling light displays, oversized ornaments, and festive decorations at the Clay Family Eastern Glades, through Jan. 3.

Set along a beautifully illuminated one-mile trail winding through the Garden, this world-renowned light show features spectacular artistic installations that come to life after dark with color, imagination, and sound. (Photo: Richard Haughto)

Lightscape at Houston Botanic Garden  
Set along a beautifully illuminated one-mile trail through the Houston Botanic Garden, the immersive experience features dazzling artistic installations through Jan. 2. Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Magical Winter Lights  
Magical Winter Lights is a 20-acre, 45-day larger-than-life Christmas light show with themed lantern light sections, entertainment, carnival rides and games, an interactive dinosaur area and lots of family-friendly holiday fun. Open through Jan. 2, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 

Moody Gardens offers a ton of festive, family-friendly holiday fun.

Holiday in the Gardens  
Moody Gardens in Galveston hosts lots of festive holiday attractions this time of year, including a one-mile trail filled with lighted, animated themed displays, Rudolph 4D, holiday 3D films, an Arctic Slide and train rides, and more. Open through Jan. 2, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Boxing Day at Rienzi  
Visit Rienzi for the annual Boxing Day celebration, Dec. 26. The tradition of Boxing Day dates back to the early 1800s. Before England began to celebrate Christmas as we know it, employers would “box up” gifts for their employees on the day after. Rienzi brings some of the English holiday spirit to Houston with an afternoon of seasonal music, an art-making activity for all ages, and self-guided tours with docents on hand to answer questions.

Zoo Lights  
TXU Energy’s Zoo Lights is celebrating 10 years as one of Houston’s most beloved holiday traditions! Stroll through the Zoo while taking in thousands of holiday lights. Open through Jan. 9, Zoo Lights is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 

Over three million lights will shine throughout Constellation Field. Light shows featuring a 50-foot animated tree and lights throughout the ballpark synced up to music will be conducted throughout the night.

Sugar Land Holiday Lights
Constellation Field is lit up with more than three million lights. Take in light shows featuring a 50-foot animated tree and lights synced up to music. Walk the warning track while viewing the lights up close. Open through Jan. 9, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

THE INFINITE  
Experience the International Space Station at THE INFINITE, a new interactive virtual reality experience at Sawyer Yards. The 12,500-sq.-ft. exhibition takes 360-degree footage from the VR series and incorporates it into a life-size 3D replica of the International space Station, complete with a multisensory reproduction of a liftoff. The preview period kicked off Dec. 20 and continues through Jan. 12, with limited hours for Christmas day. THE INFINITE will be open through Feb. 20.

PIXAR PUTT, the ultimate pop-up, open-air mini-golf experience is made up of 18 fun and interactive holes inspired by the stories, characters and icons from some of Disney and Pixar's most beloved films.

Pixar Putt  
Pixar Putt, a pop-up, open-air, mini-golf experience, made its Houston debut Dec. 17 at Sarofim Picnic Lawn at Discovery Green. The mini-golf fun – inspired by the iconic characters from some of Disney and Pixar’s most beloved films – will be open through March 20. Holiday hours: Christmas Eve: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Christmas Day: 1-7 p.m.

Editor’s note: Meet Santa and snap a picture with him at one of these festive stops around town. Browse our event calendar for more upcoming events.