If there’s one thing people love to talk about in Houston this time of year, it’s the weather. If there’s another, it’s how to cope with it. Booze always seems to warm the soul, so why not check out a tiki-fied holiday pop-up bar, sip glühwein at a traditional German Christmas market, or pair aforementioned booze with beads at Galveston’s annual Mardi Gras? Things also heat up with some annual events at a chili- and beer-fueled festival, BBQ cook-off, and an epic truffle throwdown. And if you’re looking for more traditional wintery fun, check out the return of old favorites like the The ICE at Discovery Green and Magical Winter Lights.
Here’s how to spend your Houston winter ever so wisely:
See the Houston ballet perform a holiday classic
Now through December 29
Downtown
The Houston Ballet officially returns home to the Wortham Theater, opening its 2018/19 season just in time for its annual performance of The Nutcracker. Watch as the talented dancers portray beloved characters from the timeless classic, set to Tchaikovsky’s magical score.
Cost: Tickets are $30 and up
Sip a festive cocktail a holiday bar pop-up
Now through December 31
Heights
Mele Kalikimaka! Tiki Legend Jeff "Beachbum" Berry’s Sippin’ Santa holiday pop-up will take place at local rum and tiki bar Lei Low Bar this year. The rum and tiki bar will go full on holiday this season, with over-the-top nostalgic and Polynesian decor, Sippin’ Santa’s signature lineup of cocktail -- like the “Kris Kringle Colada” and “Mele Kalikimaka,” and great holiday mugs up for sale, with 10% of all sales donated to Action Against Hunger.
Cost: Drinks are a la carte
Feel the holiday magic under hundreds of beautiful lanterns
Now through January 6
La Marque
The largest lantern festival of its kind in the US, the Magical Winter Lights festival invites you to get enchanted by over 100 individual lantern sets showcased in eight unique themed sections. Head to Gulf Greyhound Park and you’ll find lantern renditions of landmarks of the world, a Christmas village, skylines of Houston, the mysterious East, a Dino fun zone and more.
Cost: Tickets are $22 for adults, $76 for family four-packs, $13 for seniors and children age 4-12, and $20 for unlimited carnival rides
Be dazzled by lights at Moody Gardens
Now through January 6
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 $10.95 and up, depending on the day/pass/attraction
Go holiday beast mode at the zoo
Now through January 13
Museum District
...because animals celebrate Christmas, too. For its annual Zoo Lights, the Houston Zoo decks out its ancient oaks and winding paths with over 2 million twinkling LED lights. That’s 15 miles worth, in case you were wondering. The animals will likely be resting, but you may spot some giraffes, zebra, ostriches and snakes, or at the very least, an LED version of your favorite zoo animal. A BBQ food truck, snacks carts and kiosks will be available along the way, offering festive stuff like your own s’mores, hot chocolate and craft beer.
Cost: Tickets are $12.95 to $22.95
Ice skate under the Houston skyline
Now through January 27
Downtown
In Houston, it’s not often you get the chance to embarrass yourself ice skating in the great outdoors. This (and every) winter, you can do so at The ICE at Discovery Green. Hours vary by day.
Cost: General admission is $11 and skate rentals are $4; your ticket and wristband are valid for 90-minutes
Feel and see the breeze at Discovery Green
Now through March 20
Downtown
There’s a new art installation at Discovery Green, GUST: Celebrating a Decade of Discovery,
brings to life the invisible patterns of the wind with vivid color, motion and light along the Brown Foundation Promenade. The artwork is inspired by folk traditions of hand-made art and is intended to be playful and interactive, which visitors invited to ´be the wind´ by spinning and making the pinwheels turn. The installation will be on view daily during park hours, and lights will be activated nightly from dusk until midnight.
Cost: Free
Between the holidays and finishing out the year at work, your calendar can fill up fast in the colder months. But whether your winter plans involve heading out to a new bar opening, onto the open road, or to the office, Wrangler has new styles and comfortable fits made for wherever life takes you -- so you won’t have to think twice about what to wear.
Watch a '90s holiday classic under the stars
December 6
Downtown
Bring your blankets and chairs for an evening screening of holiday cult classic Home Alone at Discovery Green. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from the Lake House. Skate and watch or just enjoy the movie. Goes from 7 to 9pm.
Cost: Free ($7 to skate)
Holiday shop and see real snow on 19th
December 7
Heights
Stroll the historic 19th Street in the Heights at its annual Holiday on 19th event, which will rock live music, special in-store sales and cocktails, plenty of holiday shopping opportunities, and REAL SNOW!! Pop into shops from Emerson Rose and Manready Mercantile to Vinal Edge Records and We Olive & Wine Bar.
Cost: Free to attend
Hear those sleigh bells jinglin' at the Houston Symphony
December 7-9
Downtown
Enjoy an evening of live orchestra music at Jones Hall, as the Houston Symphony warms hearts with its annual holiday spectacular, Very Merry Pops. Guests can expect a cozy winter wonderland of traditional carols, festive favorites, and holiday cheer.
Cost: Tickets range from $40 to $152
Hit up a traditional Weihnachtsmarkt
December 7-9
Tomball
Don’t know what a weihnachtsmarkt is? It’s a Christkindlesmarkt, duh. Ok fine, it’s a German Christmas market, and you’ll find it in Old Town Tomball near the Historic Train Depot. The annual festivities rock 200+ street vendors, polka music, lederhosen, festive eats, and the ceremonial tapping of the Christmas keg, as is tradition. Hours are Friday 6-10pm; Saturday 10am-10pm; Sunday 10am-6pm. Parking pro tip: Definitely take advantage of the free shuttle offered on Saturday and Sunday.
Cost: Admission is free
Light up the Heights at a massive block party
December 8
Heights
Just in case it wasn’t clear, by “light up” we totally mean fill your flask and get warm and fuzzy at the annual Lights in the Heights. From 6 to 9pm, the streets of Euclid and Byrne will be buzzin’ with Christmas carols, jazz bands, live music, bright lights and holiday joy, so make sure you take a nice stroll through them before you hit the bar festivities along the nearby White Oak.
Cost: The block party is free
Shop a nighttime flea market
December 8, 15, & 22
Downtown
Bargain hunters can treasure hunt at this destination market, nestled in the southeast end of Discovery Green. Shop for vintage items, mid-century modern furniture, repurposed goods, artsy kitsch, and crafts from local artisans and designers alongside food trucks, lawn games, and live music. It runs 6 to 10pm.
Cost: Free to attend
Catch a screening of a Tim Burton holiday classic under the stars
December 13
Downtown
Bring your blankets and chairs for an evening screening of holiday cult classic The Nightmare Before Christmas at Discovery Green. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from the Lake House. Skate and watch or just enjoy the movie. Screening goes from 7 to 9pm.
Cost: Free
Watch Home Alone with a live orchestra
December 14
Downtown
You can catch the beloved holiday comedy Home Alone with the backdrop of its magical score, composed by John Williams and performed live by the Houston Symphony. The show begins at 7:30pm at Jones Hall.
Cost: Tickets start at $35
Pretend to live in a Christmas Village
December 14 - January 5
Memorial Park
Head to the Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens and you’ll be treated to a winter wonderland. The annual Christmas Village gets into the holiday spirit with thousands of lights over the beautiful 14-acre estate, plus carolers, faux snowballs, holiday tunes, mansion tours, and sledding. The Village is open every evening, Wednesday through Sunday.
Cost: Tickets are $13 ($8 for youth) for members and $15 ($10 for youth) for non-members, with kids 4 and under free
Get your holiday movie fix at Market Square Park
December 18
Downtown
Catch a free outdoor screening of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation from 7 to 9pm. And don’t forget to bring your blankets and lawn chairs. Food and (boozy) bevys are available for purchase at Niko Niko’s.
Cost: Free
Join Saint Arnold’s naughty list
December 21
Downtown
‘Tis the season for Houston’s oldest brewer to take over the taps at Conservatory’s underground food hall and beer garden. Saint Arnold will be upping the ante this year, presenting 32 taps of deliciousness, from the Chardonnay barrel-aged Boiler Room to the Double Virgin Monk, a bourbon barrel-aged quad with double cherries.
Cost: Beer available for purchase a la carte
Laugh with Buddy the Elf under the stars
December 27
Downtown
Bring your blankets and chairs for an evening screening of holiday cult classic Elf at Discovery Green. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from the Lake House. Skate and watch or just enjoy the movie. The action goes from 7 to 9pm.
Cost: Free ($7 to skate)
Watch the latest Avengers movie under the stars
January 3
Downtown
Bring your blankets and chairs for an evening screening of Avengers: Infinity War at Discovery Green. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from the Lake House. Skate and watch or just enjoy the movie.
Cost: Free ($7 to skate)
Catch Star Wars: Episode VIII outside on the big screen
January 10
Downtown
Bring your blankets and chairs for an evening screening of Star Wars: The Last Jedi at Discovery Green. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from the Lake House. Skate and watch or just enjoy the movie from 7 to 9pm.
Cost: Free ($7 to skate)
Laugh your ass off at The Book of Mormon
January 15-20
Downtown
See why this hilarious show has been hailed as "the best musical of the century" by the The New York Times. The nine-time Tony award-winning Best Musical will be popping in at The Hobby Center’s Sarofim Hall for a total of eight performances this winter.
Cost: Tickets start at $45
Go overboard on chili and beer
January 19
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.
Cost: Tickets are $12 for the chili tasting, $30-40 for the beer tasting, $39 for the combo package, and $15 for a three-style chili dish and 16-ounce beer
Work off the festive 15 at the Houston Marathon
January 20
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 on cheering on your favorite runners.
Cost: Registration costs $175 for the full, with charity entries available for the half
Watch Hans Solo's story under the stars
January 24
Downtown
Bring your blankets and chairs for an evening screening of Solo: A Star Wars Story at Discovery Green. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from the Lake House. Skate and watch or just enjoy the movie. You guessed it… 7 to 9pm.
Cost: Free ($7 to skate)
Help crown the “Truffle Master” in an epic truffle throwdown
January 28
Washington Corridor/Memorial Park
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 Revaire from 7 to 10pm. Elegant attire required.
Cost: Tickets are $195 for general admission and $295 for VIP
Experience Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in concert
February 1-2
Downtown
The Triwizard Tournament never felt so real, as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire soars across the high-def big screen set to the backdrop of the Houston Symphony’s live performance of Patrick Doyle’s incredible score. The shows begin at 7:30pm in Jones Hall.
Cost: Tickets start at $35
Conquer Cupid’s Pub Run
February 9
Washington
Five bars. Five beers. A 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 Fuego's Saloon before finishing with the after-party back at Kung Fu.
Cost: Register for $35 to $50
You be the judge at a Gumbo Smackdown
February 9
Sugar Land
Houstonia’s Gumbo Smackdown is back for its sixth year, going down outdoors in Sugar Land Town Square from noon to 4pm. You can expect endless drinks, entertainment, and duh, tons of gumbo for you to judge. Vote and stick around to see who takes home the coveted People’s and Judges’ Choice trophies at the end of the day.
Cost: Tickets are $45 and include all food and drink ($20 for guests age 13-20)
Gear up for the Rodeo with BBQ
February 21-23
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 $20 for adults ($5 for kids age 3-12) and include a complimentary sliced BBQ beef sandwich plate, access to live music areas and admission to the carnival
Throw beads and get weird at Mardis Gras
February 22 - March 5
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
Do the Houston Rodeo justice
February 25 - March 17
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 range from $30 to $350 and will go on sale January 10
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