Everything You Absolutely Need to Do in Houston This Winter

Get even more holiday cheer at the Miracle bar pop-ups

Now through December 30
Heights (& Galveston)
The month-long holiday celebration and Miracle bar pop-up will be running at Johnny’s Gold Brick and Galveston’s Daiquiri Time Out through the holiday season, featuring a festive menu of signature cocktails, holiday lights, garlands, ribbons, and tchotchkes, and a soundtrack of holiday songs. In addition to toy drives for Houston Area Women’s Center and The Galveston Police Department, expect fun like Nog Bottle Service paired with fresh baked cookies and treats and Tuesday Night Tamales with Christmas Movies at Johnny’s, plus Christmas-themed Miracle Mondays movie nights at DTO during the duration of the pop-ups.
Cost: Free to attend

See Avenida Plaza transform into a giant kaleidoscope

Now through January 5
Downtown
The totally cool Prismatica art installation brightens downtown’s Avenida Plaza with every color in the rainbow, using giant prisms to reflect surrounding area by day and night. Visitors are invited to wander around and rotate the prisms, creating a rad mix of lights, bells and colorful reflections.
Cost: Free

Be dazzled by lights at Moody Gardens

Now through January 12
Galveston
Hit the island for Moody Gardens’ annual Festival of Lights, complete with over 1 million lights and 100 sound-enhanced light displays. The family-friendly fest also boasts outdoor ice skating, 3D holiday films, a land of ice with a giant arctic ice slide, train rides, live entertainment, and plenty of good eats throughout. The Festival of Lights opens at 6pm, and Ice Land opens at 10am.
Cost: Tickets are $11.95 and up, depending on the day/pass/attraction

Ice skate under the Houston skyline

Now through February 2
Downtown
The Ice at Discovery Green returns for a season full of open skating right in the heart of Downtown. Glide to the backdrop of the city skyline, and try not to embarrass the crap out of yourself in front of your date.
Cost: $11 admission; $4 skate rental

Play among origami birds in Discovery Green

Now through February 24
Downtown
Discovery Green's winter art installation, Paloma, features two complementary works: Paloma, created by French creative studio Pitaya and featuring a series of 200 colorful aluminum “origami” birds suspended from the canopy along Discovery Green’s Brown Promenade; and Here and Now, a sound installation by Houston-based artist and anthropologist Lina Dib, choreographed sounds will dance in conversation with Pitaya’s sculptures to create an immersive experience beneath the park’s century-old live oaks. While you’re checking the two out, stop by The Grove to sip a Cranberry Bourbon Smash in celebration.

Cozy up for classic holiday film under the stars

December 12
Downtown
Catch a screening of It’s a Wonderful Life under the stars at Discovery Green. You can bring blankets, and food/drink (including beer) will be available from the Lake House. The free showing starts at 7pm, and those who want to ice skate can do so for a fee.
Cost: Free

Hear those sleigh bells jinglin' at the Houston Symphony

December 13-15, 17
Downtown
The Houston Symphony and Chorus present a sparkling concert filled with Very Merry Pops, including a musical and narrative telling of the Christmas story, Glad Tidings, packed with classic carols like “Silent Night” and “Joy to the World.” The shows run at the beautiful Jones Hall at 8pm on Friday and Saturday, 2:30pm on Sunday, and 7:30pm on Tuesday.
Cost: Tickets run from $25-$159

Shop and drink glühwein at a traditional Weihnachtsmarkt

December 13-15
Tomball 
Old Town Tomball’s German Christmas market rocks a 200+ roster of festive street vendors, polka music, lederhosen, and fun stuff like the ceremonial tapping of the Christmas keg over at the Historic Train Depot. Hours are Friday 6-10pm; Saturday 10am-10pm; and Sunday 10am-6pm. Parking pro-tip: definitely take advantage of the free shuttle.
Cost: Free

Help a local ice house say “goodbye” to its Pappy

December 26 
Heights 
To say “screw off” to the nightmare that bars can experience over Van Winkle allocations this time of year, Eight Row Flint is throwing its 4th annual ““Say Hello and Goodbye To Our Pappy” party, a day in which the modern icehouse serves up its coveted collection of Pappy Van Winkle at cost. Show up starting at 2pm, get your “obnoxiously bright” wristband and number (based on arrival time), and earn your Pappy selection (one per person).
Cost: Prices will range from $6 for 1.5 oz of Old Rip Van Winkle 10-year to $30 for 1.5 oz of Pappy 23

Cry ugly tears at A Dog’s Way Home

December 26
Downtown
Pet lovers can get a good cry out in the middle of Discovery Green as the park shows A Dog’s Way Home on the big screen, beginning at 7pm. You can bring blankets, and food/drink (including beer) will be available from the Lake House. Those who want to ice skate can do so for a fee.
Cost: Free

Boot stomp your way into 2020 at a whiskey-fueled NYE

December 31
Montrose
Fan favorite whiskey watering hole and modern honky-tonk Goodnight Charlie’s will be ringing in the New Year with Jarrod Sterrett & The Hired Guns, who will heating up the dancefloor with their mixture of wild cowboy party songs and Texas country love songs. The revelry starts at 4pm, and includes a Champagne toast when the clock strikes twelve.
Cost: $50 for a table for two (includes a bottle of June’s Rosé and six assorted tacos); Booths are $300 for six people (includes a bottle of Ruinart Blanc de Blanc Champagne and 12 assorted tacos); For rezzies, contact Jennifer Caldwell at jennifer@goodnighthospitality.com.

Cure your hangover with a New Year’s Day brunch bar crawl

January 1
Washington
Get some hair of the dog and crawl your way into the new year at this Washington-area pub crawl. The all-day (11am-8pm) party journeys through spots like Concrete Cowboy, Fuego’s Saloon, Lincoln Bar, and Velvet Taco, with live music, drink specials, and brunch bites along the way.
Cost: $30 gets you a wristband access to brunch buffets, boozy specials, swag, and 1 free drink ticket

Watch Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse in the park

January 9
Downtown
Discovery Green will be showing the cult favorite computer-animated superhero film starting at 7pm. Blankets, pets (on leashes), and picnics are welcome and encouraged, with lawn chairs allowed on the north side of the hill. Food, beer and wine are available for purchase at The Lake House.
Cost: Free

Get a taste of the Woodlands

January 16
The Woodlands
Yes, there is good food outside the loop. Case in point: The annual Taste of the Town festival, a food paradise for gourmands in The Woodlands. Head to the Woodlands Waterway Marriott from 4-9pm and let over 40 of the area’s finest restaurants, bakeries, caterers and beverage companies convince you.
Cost: Tickets are $35 online/$40 at the door

Catch an ‘80s classic under the downtown Houston skyline

January 16
Downtown
Watch Molly Ringwald light up the big screen in Sixteen Candles at Discovery Green. Blankets, pets (on leashes), and picnics are welcome and encouraged, with lawn chairs allowed on the north side of the hill. Food, beer and wine are available for purchase at The Lake House.
Cost: Free

Go overboard on chili and beer

January 18
Galveston
Yaga’s annual Chili Quest & Beer Fest brings fiery chili and craft beer tastings to the island’s Historic Strand District. Sample chili from competing teams, tack on excellent suds, shop the vendors at the historical strand merchant walk-about, compete in a washer pitching tournament, taste the goods from the jackpot margarita contest, and pregame for it all with a 5K fun run. Chili teams will be serving from noon to 3pm, and the beer fest starts at 1pm.
Cost: Chili tasting tickets are $14 ($19 day of), with chili and beer tasting combos running $42

Work off the festive fifteen at the Houston Marathon

January 19
Houston
Race Weekend will be here before you know it, so if you plan on running the Houston Marathon (or Half Marathon), we hope you’ve started training. The 26.2-mile course begins on Congress Avenue in Downtown, making its way down major streets from Washington and Kirby to University, Post Oak, and Memorial before finishing back Downtown. Check out the course map if you plan to cheer on your favorite runners. 
Cost: Registration costs $175 for the full, with charity entries available for the half

Celebrate the Year of the Rat

January 25
Chinatown
You’ll find Asian-style street foods, cultural performances, exhibits and workshops (including dragon and lion dance), vendors and crafts from Chinese calligraphy to lantern making, and free giveaways and games at the Chinese Community Center’s annual Lunar New Year Festival, held from 10am to 4pm.
Cost: Free admission and parking

Head to the island for Galveston Restaurant Week

January 25 - February 9
Galveston
The 9th annual Galveston Restaurant Week takes over the island for two full weeks of dining out for a cause. Committed to help Access Care of Coastal Texas provide weekly lunches for persons with HIV or AIDS, this year’s list of participating restaurants includes local hotspots like Buck’s Barbeque, Little Daddy’s Gumbo Bar, Gaido’s, Hearsay on the Strand, Porch Cafe, and Shrimp ‘n Stuff. 
Cost: 2 and 3-course dinners are $20-$35; 2-course lunches, breakfasts, & brunches will cost between $10-20

Sample chilis, stews, gumbos and more at Saint A’s One Pot Showdown

January 26
Warehouse District
The 13th Annual Saint Arnold One Pot Showdown invites cooking teams to throw down their best one-pot dishes in a gastronomic gauntlet. The only caveat is they have to use Saint Arnold beer in their recipes; and if you ask us, that’s a pretty good caveat. The brewery is currently calling for teams to sign up, with further details to be announced soon.
Cost: Ticket sales for the general public will be announced at a later date, but teams that want to compete can sign up for $110

Help crown the 2020 “Truffle Master” in an epic truffle throwdown

January 27
Downtown
Where else do you have the chance to taste 20+ black truffle dishes from top chefs and restaurants in one fancy night? (If you know somewhere, please tell.) At Truffle Masters, you’ll be able to savor the creations and vote for the People’s Choice award. The event will be held at The C. Baldwin Hotel from 7 to 10pm (6pm VIP). Elegant attire required.
Cost: Tickets are $195 for general admission and $295 for VIP

Get Footloose at Discovery Green

January 30
Downtown
The ‘80s musical drama Footloose will be showing on the big screen at Discovery Green. Blankets and lawn chairs, picnics, and pets (leashed) are welcome, with food and drink available from the Lake House. The film starts at 7pm.
Cost: Free

Sip Pinot at Minute Maid Park

February 4
Downtown
Pinot in the City is bringing 60 wineries from Oregon’s Willamette Valley to downtown’s Minute Maid Park, showcasing some of today’s most exciting Pinot noirs in the Lobby and Atrium. Mix it up as owners and winemakers will be pouring a selection of wines alongside Pinot noir-friendly small bites.
Cost: Tickets are $85 for GM (6:30-9pm) and $150 for VIP (5:30-9pm)

Channel your inner Irishman at an Irish Stew Cook-Off

February 8
EaDo
Now in its 14th year, Lucky’s Pub brings back its Rory Miggins Irish Music Festival & Stew Cook-Off to help raise funds for the 61st Annual Houston St. Patrick’s parade coming up in March. Hit the rain-or-shine event from noon to 6pm for samples of stews, chilis, desserts, Irish coffee, and more, plus fun stuff like indoor and outdoor music, bagpipers, vendors, raffles, and the annual stout relay. 
Cost: Donations are $10 at the door, free for children under 12

Throw beads and get weird at Mardis Gras

February 14-25
Galveston
Feel the vibe of New Orleans without the 5+ hour drive. Galveston Island’s official Mardi Gras celebrations come with glitzy balcony parties, over-the-top parades, live music and entertainment, festival eats, and plenty of boozy fun. 
Cost: Weekend packages start at $18.90

Conquer Cupid’s Pub Run

February 15
Washington
Five bars… five beers... 5K. This love and beer-fueled pub run begins at Kung Fu Saloon at noon, with the current lineup hitting bars from NettBar to Underdogs Sports Pub and Porch Swing Pub to HandleBar, and back to Kung Fu for the after party.
Cost: Register for $35 to $50

Get Uncorked at the Rodeo

February 23
NRG Center
Before the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo officially begins, boot-stompers gear up with this epic food and wine event. At the Rodeo Uncorked! Roundup & Best Bites Competition, you can sample signature dishes from approximately 100 of the area’s top restaurants and culinary institutions, and vote for your favorites in the Best Bites Competition. You’ll also have the chance to sip through more than 400 award-winning wines, including the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion of the International Wine Competition. It all goes down at NRC Center, with doors opening at 6:30pm.
Cost: Tickets are $165 per seat.

Gear up for the Rodeo with BBQ

February 27-29
NRG Center
Any good Houstonian knows that rodeo season kicks off with the HSLR’s World Championship Bar-B-Que Contest. Talk your way into an invitation-only tent, or hit the open-to-the-public carnival, Garden, Rockin' Bar-B-Que Saloon, and Chuck Wagon for good times and tasty ‘que.
Cost: Tickets are typically $20 for adults and include a complimentary sliced barbecue beef sandwich plate, access to live music areas and admission to the carnival

Do the Houston Rodeo justice

March 3-22
NRG Center
The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo returns in all of its bull ridin’, mutton bustin’, barrel racin’, and boot stompin’ glory. Every night brings a new live concert from a set of the country’s top artists, with the lineup TBA in early January. End the experience with even more live music and boozin’ at The Hideout or Wine Garden.
Cost: Tickets usually run around $30 to $350

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