Your weekend wish list: 20 things to do, see, and enjoy in the Houston area

Here’s our take on the greatest things to do, see, and enjoy in the Houston area this weekend.

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Perry Como crooned “(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays,” and he’s oh so right. The Houston area undergoes a magical transformation during December. Buildings beam with twinkling bulbs and Christmas trees illuminate the night sky. With its festive events, dazzling light displays, and signature holiday experiences, there’s simply no place like Houston for the holidays.

If your weekend bucket list includes Christmas cocktails, holiday lights, and perhaps a meet-and-greet with the big man in red, then read on.

Here’s our take on the greatest things to do, see, and enjoy in the Houston area this weekend.

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Houston-area holiday happenings 🎄

Read on for a smorgasbord of seasonal offerings and holiday happenings.

Rudolph’s Replacement (Melissa Hom)

Dec. 15 — Jingle All the Way, Quail Valley: Ride on a hay ride to see the holiday lights on Lollipop Loop and Candy Cane Lane.

Dec. 15 — Family Movie Night: “Polar Express,” Levy Park: “Put on your pajamas and take a magical ride with us. This free screening of ‘The Polar Express’ presented by Texas Children’s starts at 7 p.m. All aboard!”

Dec. 15-16 — Krampus: The Fright Before Christmas, 13th Floor Houston: “13th Floor Houston has transformed the beloved haunted house into a Christmas wonderland, although it won’t be all glitter and snowflakes. Horrifying Christmas characters will haunt all those who enter, trading Christmas cheers for Christmas fears. In addition to the main haunted maze attraction, guests will enjoy themed photo ops, and special holiday drinks and treats.”

Dec. 16 — Breakfast with Santa & Mrs. Claus, Rosenberg Railroad Museum: Eat breakfast at the Ol’ Railroad Cafe before venturing through the Railroad museum with Santa and Mrs. Claus for holiday activities and a picture aboard the Quebec passenger railcar.

Through Dec. 30 — Miracle Pop Up Bar, Various locations: Sip a Christmas-themed cocktail in a kitschy holiday oasis at one of several pop-up bars coming to the Houston area for the holiday season.

Through Dec. 30 — Holly Jolly Holiday Bar, Big Casino: “The halls will be decked with floor-to-ceiling tinsel, trimmings, ornaments and more, allowing you to immerse yourself in holiday magic from every angle and capture memories of your favorite moments. Warm up with seasonal cocktails and bring your friends to partake in some holiday cheers.”

Holiday light displays 💡

Radiant Nature (Briana Zamora-Nipper/KPRC 2)

Through Jan. 1 — The Light Park, Hurricane Harbor and Typhoon Texas: With locations at Typhoon Texas Waterpark in Katy and Hurricane Harbor in Spring, the holiday attraction features millions of lights synchronized to holiday music and features dozens of animated figures in numerous displays, including a holiday light tunnel.

Through Jan. 1 — Sugar Land Holiday Lights, Constellation Field: More than three million lights will brighten Constellation Field during Sugar Land’s annual holiday lights extravaganza, held Nov. 17, through Jan. 1. See dazzling light displays, snap a photo with Santa, enjoy carnival rides, attend holiday movie screening and more at this holiday festival.

Through Jan. 7 — Galaxy Lights, Space Center Houston: Galaxy Lights consists of several indoor and outdoor light displays composed of hundreds of thousands of lights. Some of the displays include a high-tech kinetic light show featuring hundreds of suspended LED orbs that move in move in choreographed sequences to holiday music, as well as an LED light tunnel, a simulated indoor meteor shower, a massive model of the solar system, and a 40-ft tall,100-ft long shooting star made from LED lights.

Through Jan. 7 — Magical Winter Lights, Katy Mills: At this attraction on the Houston Raceway in Baytown, journey through more than 100 lantern sets in several themed sections including a magical castle, a Christmas village, a tribute to Houston, a dino fun zone, a space maze, and an ocean paradise.

Through Jan.7 — Cistern Illuminated, Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern: The site-specific winter light installations will cast festive colored light throughout the space. The special angle of these lights will create a mesmerizing reflection of the Cistern’s ceiling on the glassy water below.

Through Feb. 25 — Radiant Nature, Houston Botanic Garden: Sculpted in metal and covered in painted cloth, Radiant Nature’s enormous lanterns occupy several show gardens at the Houston Botanic Garden. The merry and bright displays feature dazzling, supersized flora and fauna.

MORE: Where to find holiday lights shows in and around Houston

Houston holiday shows 🎭

For theatergoers, Houston offers a rich menu from which to choose.

Houston Ballet’s The Nutcracker 2021 (Lawrence Elizabeth Knox 2021, Houston Ballet)

Dec. 15 — “Elf” In Concert, Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land:“This holiday season relive this heartwarming holiday classic on a giant screen as every note of John Debney’s wonderful score is played live to picture in: ‘ELF’ in Concert!”

Dec. 15-17 — Handel’s “Messiah,” Houston Symphony:“Jones Hall will be filled with joyous refrains and exultant arias, including the iconic ‘Hallelujah’ Chorus, in this powerful presentation of the greatest story ever told.”

Dec. 17 — “A Magical Cirque Christmas,” Cullen Performance Hall: “Embrace the holiday spirit with ‘A Magical Cirque Christmas,’ a variety show full of nostalgia, charm, and awe-inspiring performances for all ages. Get ready to be dazzled, enchanted, and filled with holiday cheer as you witness the incredible talents of world-class entertainers performing to your favorite holiday music.”

Through Dec. 17 — “Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley,” Main Street Theater: “The final installment of the Christmas at Pemberley trilogy follows two close friends: Mr. Darcy’s younger sister, Georgiana, and the youngest Bennet sister, Kitty. It is Christmastime at Pemberley and the pair impatiently await the imminent arrival of Henry Grey, Georgiana’s shy, secret correspondent. When Henry enters a family holiday in full force and is met by the unwelcoming presence of Mr. Darcy, Georgiana fears her chance at love will be lost forever. But somehow, love always finds a way!”

Through Dec. 23 — “A Texas Carol,” A.D. Players: “The Dinkel family is back by popular demand! This laugh-out-loud funny and heart-warming story was a huge success for A.D. Players last season and returns for another year! The Dinkel family is headed to Mee-Maw Jane’s East Texas ranch for what might be her last Christmas. The only problem? When the first grandchild arrives, Mee-Maw is already gone! Now how to keep that fact (and her body) from the rest of the family and save Christmas?”

Through Dec. 24 — “A Motown Christmas,” The Ensemble Theatre: “Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with this festive holiday revue. It’s the perfect blend of traditional Christmas carols paired with the soulful sounds from such Motown celebrities as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, and The Jackson 5.”

Through Dec. 27 — “The Nutcracker,” Houston Ballet: “Following the annual Stahlbaum Christmas party, journey through the glittering Land of Snow to the bright and joyful Kingdom of Sweets with Clara, Drosselmeyer and the Prince as he reunites with the Sugar Plum Fairy amongst the clouds, where the real magic happens.”

Through Dec. 30 — “A Christmas Carol,” Alley Theatre: “Celebrate the holidays with the Alley’s hit new adaptation with colorful Victorian costumes, special effects, lively dancing, stunning sets, and just the right blend of Christmas carols. It is a dazzling Christmas feast with the beloved story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his miraculous transformation.”

MORE: These electrifying Houston stage spectaculars scream ‘Christmas’

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