Houston Christmas Festivals, Shows, Lights & Family Fun

Happy Holidays, Houston! Here are all the Houston holiday festivals, shows and Christmas lights for November 1, 2024 through January 6, 2025.

As events change and pop up, we’ll update the list… and since things can change quickly, be sure to click the links and check before you head out to each venue.

If you want this list emailed to you each week, sign up for the free newsletter HERE. And if you know of more events, let us know!

Quick Links

• All the events for the current week

Christmas Lights Near You

• The Light Park - November 1, 2024-January 5, 2025 - Katy & Spring
• Radiant Nature - November 8, 2024-February 23, 2025 - Houston Botanic Garden
• Texas Winter Lights - Now through December 31, 2024 - Marriott Marquis
• Santa’s Wonderland – November 15, 2024-December 30, 2024 – College Station
• Sugar Land Holiday Lights – November 15, 2024-January 5, 2025 – Constellation Field
• Magical Winter Lights – November 15, 2024-January 5, 2025 - Fort Bend County Fairground
• Galaxy Lights – November 16, 2024 – January 5, 2025 – Space Center Houston
• Dasher's Lightshow - TBD - Sam Houston Race Park and New Caney
• Zoo Lights – November 22, 2024 - January 5, 2025 – Houston Zoo
• Lone Star Lights - November 22-December 22, 2024 - Carolina Creek (Use code JBJ30 for 30% off entrance to park all season)
• Classic Christmas - November 22-December 29, 2024 - Memorial City
• Festival of Lights – November 23, 2024  – January 1, 2025 – Moody Gardens
• Winter Wanderland - TBD - Downtown Houston, between Lamar and Franklin Street
• Cistern Illuminated - December 6, 2024-January 5, 2025 - Buffalo Bayou Cistern (Ages 9+)
• Christmas Village - December 6-30, 2024- Bayou Bend

Houston Holiday Shows & Concerts

• A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas – November 15 – December 29, 2024 – Alley Theatre
• Houston Ballet Nutcracker - November 29 - December 29, 2024 - Wortham Theater
• Nightmare Before Christmas - Film with Live Orchestra - November 16 & 17, 2024 - Jones Hall
• Very Merry Pops - December 12-15, 2024 - Jones Hall
• Houston Symphony: Holiday Jolly Holiday - December 14, 2024 - Jones Hall
• Handel's Messiah - December 20-22, 2024 - Jones Hall

Houston Holiday Festivals & Family Fun

• Texas Renaissance Festival – Weekends through December 1, 2024 – Todd Mission, Texas 
  • The world’s largest Renaissance Festival has themes that change each weekend.
  • This is the 50th anniversary.
• Texas Winter Lights - Now through December 31, 2024 - Marriott Marquis
  • Open to the public on weekdays, with ticket. Float for walk through the lights!
• Polar Express Train Rides - November 8-December 23, 2024 - Galveston Train Museum
  • Ice skating and real snow.
• Home for the Holidays - Opens November 9, 2024 - Old Town Spring
  • Every weekend from mid November to Christmas. (But you could see the decorations/lights any day.)
• Polar Express Train Ride – November 15, 2024 - December 28, 2024 – 789 Park Road 70, Palestine, Texas 75801
• ICE at Discovery Green– Opens November 15, 2024 – Discovery Green
  • All ages are invited to skate at Discovery Green.
• Santa’s Wonderland – November 15, 2024-December 30, 2024 – College Station
  • Biggest Christmas attraction in the state of Texas
  • Several ticket options are available
• Magical Winter Lights – November 15, 2024 - January 5, 2025 - Fort Bend County Fairground
  • This lantern festival is one of my favorite light shows around Houston!
  • There are seven themed displays, with more than six million lights.
• Splashway Christmas Celebration - November 16-December 28, 2024 - Splashway Campground
  • Celebrations each weekend
  • Lighted Christmas River Float, Ice Skating on the synthetic ice rink, Arts and Crafts, Live Nativity
  • Use code JILLXMAS24 for $10 off Splashway Christmas tickets
• Frostival – November 17, 2024 – Discovery Green
• Holiday Spectacular - November 22, 2024 - January 5, 2025 - ARTECHOUSE
  • This unique experience blends digital art, technology, and interactive design to bring the magic of the holidays to life.
  • Family friendly.
• Trains Over Texas – Starting November 22, 2024 - Houston Museum of Natural Science
  • Create holiday memories by travelling across Texas by model railroad in this scratch built “O” scale model.
  • See our past post HERE.
• Zoo Lights – November 22, 2024 - January 5, 2025 – Houston Zoo
  • Tour the Zoo after dark! The Zoo closes at 5:00pm and reopens at 5:30pm for this event.
• Holiday in the Gardens – November 23, 2024 - January 1, 2025 – Moody Gardens
  • Ice Land, Festival of Lights, Ice Skating Rink, Holiday 3D Films, Rudolph 4D, Arctic Slide, Train Rides, Cirque Joyeux Holiday Show, New Year's Palooza
• Lone Star Lights - November 22-December 22, 2024 - Caroline Creek
  • Lone Star Lights offers a-17 acre park with 8 immersive thematic zones complete with incredible photo opportunities, engaging interactions, and over a million lights.
  • Use code JBJ30 for 30% off entrance to park all season
• HEB Thanksgiving Day Parade – November 28, 2024 - Downtown Houston
• Christmas Train – November 29-December 23, 2024 – 1407 Victory Lane, Alvin, Texas 775711
  • Old-fashioned train ride through our winter wonderland of lights and religious scenery.
  • Over 300,000 lights sparkle along the ¾ mile track.
• Holiday Vendor Blender – December 5th - Downtown Sealy
  • Embrace the holiday spirit with local shopping and explore charming vendors and shops.
  • As night falls, see the annual Lighting of the Christmas Tree, featuring a visit from Santa.
• Cistern Illuminated - December 6, 2024-January 5, 2025 - Buffalo Bayou Cistern (Ages 9+)
  • Must be 9+ years old.
  • On certain days, Cistern Illuminated will also be the venue for special performances by the Schola Cantorum of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.
• Dickens on the Strand – December 6-8, 2024 – Galveston –Strand National Historic Landmark District
  • Victorian holiday festival!
  • Multiple stages, strolling carolers, musicians, bagpipers, jugglers and  even more entertainers. Costumed vendors peddle their wares from street stalls and rolling carts laden with holiday food and drink, Victorian-inspired gifts.
• Christmas Village - December 6-30, 2024- Bayou Bend
  • Immersive Christmas experience at the beautiful Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens.
• Mayor's Holiday Spectacular- December 7, 2024 - City Hall
  • The Reliant Lights Mayor’s Holiday Spectacular will ring in the Holiday season with live music and the lighting of the official holiday tree.
• Jingle Bell Fun Run – December 7, 2024 - Sealy
  • Participate in the 1K and 5K runs.
  • Post-run, from 12 PM to 5 PM, enjoy Kids Fantasy at Levine Park, which includes inflatables, crafts, and rides for children.
• Fantasy of Lights Parade – December 7, 2024 - Sealy
  • A dazzling celebration of community spirit, creativity and festive cheer.
• Story Time at the Trains - December 9-20, 2023 - Second Baptist Woodway
  • Storytime begins in the Atrium with train displays and scavenger hunt.
  • Next you move to the new Children's Building for themed story times, train rides, treats and more!
• Stearman Santa Fly-In– December 14, 2024 – Lone Star Flight Museum
  • Santa flies in to the Lone Star Flight Museum!
  • After you watch him land, you can meet him, do some activities and explore the museum!
• Tomball German Christmas Market & Festival – December 13-15, 2024 - Tomball
• Christmas Boat Parade – December 14, 2024 – Kemah Boardwalk
  • Boats cruise along Galveston Bay.
  • Boats will pass the Boardwalk at approximately 7-8pm
• Family Celebration - TBD – Kemah Boardwalk
  • Fireworks at 10:00pm.
• New Year Palooza - TBD - Moody Gardens
• New Year's Noon Celebration - TBD- Children's Museum of Houston
• High Noon Countdown - TBD - The Woodlands Children's Museum