Check out some of the top kid-friendly things to do in Houston from Monday, November 27 to Sunday, December 3, 2023.

This week, hone your craft skills, pound pavement as a family, watch the City Hall tree light up for the 104th time, take a trip to Victorian times, and more.

Do you know an event that could make the list? Drop us a line at [email protected] with a link to the official event details.

Top 16 Family Things To Do in Houston This Week

• Holly Jolly Jingle at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion | Wednesday, November 29 | FREE – The Woodlands pavilion closes out its 2023 season with the free, annual Holly Jolly Jingle concert, showcasing holiday and seasonal classics performed by student musicians from Conroe ISD. Santa Claus will be on hand for photos. 6pm.
• Energy Corridor District’s Tree-Lighting Celebration at Hyatt Regency Houston West | Thursday, November 30 | FREE – Kick off the holiday season with the Energy Corridor’s lighting of its 50-foot Christmas tree, live music, a drone show, photo ops with Santa, and more in the Energy Corridor. 5pm to 9pm.
• Home Alone Movie Screening at Jefferson Theatre | Friday, December 1 – Watch a screening of the classic 1990 holiday movie, Home Alone at Jefferson Theatre in Beaumont. Kevin must defend his house from the Wet Bandits when he is accidentally left home alone over Christmas. $6; $4 for ages 12 and under. 7pm.
• 50th Dickens on the Strand in Downtown Galveston | Friday, December 1 to Sunday, December 3 – Celebrate in true Victorian fashion at the 50th anniversary of Galveston’s Dickens on the Strand. The weekend-long holiday street festival, based on 19th-century Victorian London, features parades, non-stop entertainment on multiple stages, strolling carolers, roving musicians, bagpipers, jugglers, and a host of other entertainers. Free on Friday; Saturday and Sunday tickets are $25; $18 for ages 7 to 12. Times vary.
• A Charlie Brown Christmas 5K at Addicks Park & Ride | Saturday, December 2 – This annual family-friendly fun run in the Energy Corridor kicks off with a Snoopy Dash for kids, followed by 10K and 5K events. Everyone will get a festive, officially licensed Peanuts finisher medal, bib and t-shirt, plus Santa will come around to visit at the post-race party. $44.95 for the 5K; $49.95 for the 10K; $36.95 for the Snoopy Dash for ages 12 and under. 8am.
• Comic Indie Con at Silver Street Studios | Saturday, December 2 – Join in a celebration of indie comics, boardgames, arts and crafts at this Sawyer Yards mini-con featuring panel discussions, a cosplay contest, unique gifts, and more. Meet with talented creators and learn how to kick off your own creative endeavor. $11.50; free for ages 10 and under. 10am to 6pm.
• Hands-On Houston: Giant Felt Candy at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft | Saturday, December 2 | FREE – This free workshop at HCCC shows you how to stuff and decorate colorful felt pieces to make candy canes, wrapped candies and other sweet treats. 11am to 3pm.

• Woodland Wizards at Houston Arboretum & Nature Center | Saturday, December 2 – Study magical creatures, decorate your own wand, make a kid-friendly batch of butterbeer, and practice your potions the Arboretum. $30. 4pm to 6pm.
• Cirque Dreams Holidaze at Smart Financial Centre | Saturday, December 2 – This whimsical, family-friendly holiday spectacular combines the thrill of Broadway with the artistry of circus performance for an unforgettable evening. Aerial acts, sleight-of-hand jugglers, acrobats and more take to the stage for a dazzling display of holiday delight. $33 and up. 4pm and 8pm.
• Books Rock! A Holiday Literacy Event at Sabine Street Studios | Saturday, December 2 – This fun-filled evening offers live music, comedy, food and more, benefiting Books Between Kids and their mission to serve Houston’s at-risk children by providing them books to build their own home libraries. $10 at the door; book donations are encouraged. 6pm to 9pm.
• Elf Movie Screening at Redemption Square | Saturday, December 2 – Watch an outdoor screening of the 2003 holiday movie starring Will Ferrell as Buddy the elf at Redemption Square. Buddy leaves the North Pole behind for the big shiny city of New York as he tries to find his place in the world and his father’s heart. 6pm to 8pm.
• 104th Annual Mayor’s Holiday Spectacular at City Hall | Saturday, December 2 – Mayor Sylvester Turner will be joined by emcee Samica Knight to kick off the 2023 holiday season at the free Mayor’s Holiday Spectacular. In addition to the lighting of the towering 55-foot Christmas tree, a visit from Santa Claus, and fireworks, the evening will also feature live entertainment from entertainers like Jordan Sparks. 6pm to 8pm.
• Holiday Market at Houston Toy Museum | Sunday, December 3 – Visitors can take advantage of discounted museum admission and browse pop culture and nostalgia-inspired goods from about 15 local vendors. Kids will also have the chance to visit with Santa from 1pm to 4pm and create holiday art projects with Kidcreate Studios. Bring a new toy for the toy drive and get a 10% discount in the museum’s gift shop. $10. 11am to 5pm.
• 24th Annual Clara’s Nutcracker Tea at Safari Texas Ranch | Sunday, December 3 – Clara and other characters from BalletForte’s production of The Nutcracker will be greeting guests at the annual event in Richmond. Enjoy tea with treats, a reading of The Nutcracker, photos with Clara, a Kendra Scott pop-up shop and more. $50. 3pm to 5pm.
• Magical Winter Lights at Katy Mills | Daily – Discover the wonder at Magical Winter Lights, one of Houston’s most popular holiday attractions. The event has moved to Katy, offering a lit-up wonderland filled with dazzling themed displays, decked out in more than 6 million lights and crafted using cutting-edge lantern art. Tickets are $25; $18 for ages 3 to 12 and 65+; free for ages 2 and under. Family 4-packs are available for $88. Carnival wristbands, which offer unlimited rides, are $25. Sunday to Thursday 5pm to 10pm; Friday & Saturday 5pm to 11pm.
• Galaxy Lights at Space Center of Houston | Daily – Space Center Houston welcomes the return of Galaxy Lights, presented by Reliant—a stellar spectacle that twinkles throughout the campus and allows guests to step through space-themed light installations, take in high-tech experiences, and walk among flown space craft in a one-of-a-kind holiday event that can only be found in Space City. $19.95 and up; free for ages 3 and under. Save $5 on each ticket when you use promo code 365XLIGHTS at checkout. 6pm to 10pm.

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