Houston Winter: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
(a.k.a. the one without all the sweating)
Updated 2019
Welcome to the season after Halloween – Houston Winter! (Thanksgiving, who?) I know, the stores can’t wait.
Christmas movies are already on a 24/7 loop of Hallmark love and jingle bells. I bet this is where Sabrina the Teenage Witch gets most of her residuals from.
Whether you are in the spirit, or not, it’s here!? This is definitely a situation where if you can’t beat them – join them! What’s the worst that could happen? Your jolly might get out of control?
To help you get in the spirit we have rounded up places around town where you can Deck the Halls, see the big man himself, shop ’til you drop, and all the other Houston winter wonderland-filled activities!
Need somewhere to send the kids on the long winter break we’ve got you covered with a complete roundup of winter camp opportunities!
Winter Festivals, Tree Farms, Activities & Events
Christmas & Holiday Lights
Santa Sightings
Snow in Houston!
Craft Fair/ Holiday Markets
Map
Winter Festivals, Tree Farms, Activities & Events
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Seasonally Ongoing Events
Individual Events by Date
Seasonally Ongoing
Christmas at Dewberry Farms (Brookshire) – Nov. 29 – Dec. 29, 2019 Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. In addition to the usual Dewberry Farms fun, each evening includes the Trail of Lights. Day passes available for those just wanting to cut-your-own-tree.
Holiday Acres (Manvel) – Beginning Nov. 29, 2019 – Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays only; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Cut your own tree, hay wagon rides, animals, etc. Due to limited capacity the farm is limited to customers purchasing a tree, on a field trip, or by appointment.
Magical Winter Lights Houston (La Marque) – Open from Nov. 15, 2019 – Jan 5, 2020. This festival will feature themed sections, interactive dinosaur exhibit, acrobatic performances, carnival, and live entertainment. Buy your tickets in advance to avoid long lines. Discounts: Black Friday code DECDATES will get you 25% off for visits between 12/2-5 & 12/9-12, 2019. Also, you can buy discounted tickets at Costco– two for $27.99.
Moody Gardens Holiday Attractions (Galveston): Open from Nov. 15, 2019 – Jan 5, 2020. Moody Gardens is getting dressed up for the season. Tickets vary and can be purchased as a combination or for single attractions. You can look forward to Ice Land, lights, the regular attractions, plus seasonal attractions like the arctic slide, ice rink, and train or Cirque Joyeaux.
Old Time Christmas Tree Farm (Spring) – Beginning Nov. 23 Choose and Cut your own Christmas Tree, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. daily through Dec. 15 (except M-Th of Thanksgiving week); prices vary based on tree height. Attractions such as Train, Slides, and Bounce House are available by ticket ($3 each). Take your own pictures with Santa on weekends.
Santa’s Wonderland (College Station): Nov. 8 – Dec. 30, 2019. Touted as THE Texas Christmas experience! Have a hayride through the woods (lights), food, Santa, live music, shopping, a mechanical bull, kids’ train, polar express, slides, toboggan chutes, campfire, petting zoo, and more.
Snowfall at The Square (Memorial, Memorial City) – FREE, Every day November 29 through Christmas Eve, starting at noon for one-hour the snow will fall!
Spring Creek Growers Christmas Tree Farm (Magnolia) – Nov. 23 -Dec. 24, 2019, Open daily; Choose and cut your tree, prices vary. Hayride and farm activities for the kids. Santa visits on the weekends!
Sugar Land Holiday Lights (Sugar Land, Constellation Field) Open from Nov. 22, 2019 – Jan. 5, 2020. Meet Santa and see over 3 million lights around Constellation Field.
The ICE at Discovery Green: Nov. 15, 2019 – February 2, 2020. Ice Skating beneath the glittering lights of downtown Houston! Embrace the holiday cheer and glide on The ICE!
The Ice Rink at The Woodlands Town Center: Nov. 16, 2019 – Jan. 20, 2020: A 21,000-square-foot permanent multipurpose facility features ice skating in a main room with lighting, a state-of-the-art sound system, tables for parties and concessions.
Individual Events by Date
Christmas & Holiday Lights
Most of these light are put on by private individuals or groups and will run from when they get the show ready through the New Year. Individual events are noted in bold. Check individual pages for updates. To find a light show in your area check the map above and filter by the green light bulbs (it also shows some suggestions that don’t have a dedicated page). Looking for a full holiday event check out our list of festivals and activities.
Candy Cane Court and other neighborhoods in Atascocita
City of Sugar Land’s Christmas Tree Lighting (Sugar Land) – November 30, 2019, 5-8 pm. The event will include performances, Mr. & Mrs. Claus, crafts, and more. FREE
Christmas Katy – 24603 Stoughton Ct, Katy, TX 77494. They’re back after taking a year off from flood damage! Nightly from 6-10 pm & 11 pm on Fridays and Saturdays – FREE.
Chrismas Ranch – Christmas Ranch is a drive-through light display in Cleveland, TX. It is free but donations are appreciated and all proceeds are distributed by St. Mary’s Catholic Church to helping needy families within the community. The hours are Nightly 6-10 p.m., 11 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Santa visits Dec. 7, 14, 21, 23, and 24 from 6-8 p.m. FREE.
Dickinson Festival of Lights – Cancelled for the 2019 season …. A Walk-thru Event at Paul Hopkins Park. With Free Admission, Parking and Shuttle Service. (Weather Permitting). FREE.
Dodd Family Holidays – This family is based in The Woodlands and has its lights set to music (broadcast to 95.1 FM. The hours are Sunday through Thursday, 6-10 p.m. (Friday and Saturday until midnight). The address is 62 W. Knightsbridge Dr., 77385. FREE.
Downtown Galveston Lasers & Lights – Stroll Galveston’s historic downtown district this year features new laser shows, a magical display of lights and other holiday-themed attractions in Saengerfest Park – and beyond. A giant snowglobe will be available on the weekends for holiday photos! FREE.
Franck’s Christmas Light Show – The Franck family runs their light show nightly from 5:30-10 p.m. (10:30 p.m. on the weekends). The lights are timed to music which is broadcast on 89.7 FM and lasts about 45 minutes. The address is 15923 Viney Creek. FREE.
Giant Menorah Lighting Celebration (Sugar Land) – December 22, 2019: 4 pm – 6:30 pm; FREE. Celebrate Chanukah with the lighting of the giant menorah in the Sugar Land Town Square. There will be music, dancing, performances, and more.
Gullo’s House Of Lights (Magnolia) – The 5-acre home of Tony Gullo, of Gullo auto dealerships, turns his home into Christmas wonderland each year. Sometimes, he even dresses up as Santa for the kids. 30723 Old Hockley Road. FREE.
Houston Zoo’s: Zoo Lights (Med Center) – November 23- January 12, 5:30 pm – 10:30 pm (closed December 24 & 25. Not included with zoo admission.) Prices vary.
Johnsons Christmas Corner– This family might have the Griswald’s beat. They are completely decked out, have themed days, and regular visits from Santa (follow them on Facebook or Twitter to get tips for when he’ll show). The address is 14811 Cypress Meadow Drive, 77429. FREE.
Lights in the Heights – December 14, 2019, due to road closures it is a public event, but please be mindful that this is a neighborhood (be respectful of their property and families). While the event is open to the public individual events at homes are private. If you just want to see the lights we recommend coming after the event to just drive the streets and see the displays and lights. FREE.
Moss Lights – The Moss Family is located in League City and puts their house on display Sunday – Thursday from 5:30-10:30 p.m. (11 p.m. on the weekends). The address is 540 Southhampton Lane, 77573. FREE.
Pearland’s Tour De Lites – December 14, 2019 Family Bicycle Ride begins at 7 p.m. at Independence Park and goes through the Green Tree Terrace Subdivision to view the Christmas lights. Registration and check-in for the ride ends at 6:30 p.m. Besides the event, Green Tree Terrace is a good destination most nights during the season to drive through and look at lights.
Pecan Grove Subdivision – Lights will be on daily from dusk to 11 p.m. (midnight on weekends). Travis High School uses this as a fundraiser and provides hayrides through the lights, check out their website for updates and to buy tickets. Plantation Drive is the main drag, but previous lighting contest winners were located on Morton League, Austin Colony, and Quarterpath as well. You may consider parking at Pecan Grove or Austin Elementary School and walking through the neighborhood. FREE.
Preston Woodforest Nite of Lites – This Northwest Houston neighborhood goes all out. The neighbors band together to create themed light displays. It is truly an amazing trip. The later in the season the more traffic you should expect, check out their visitor map to plan your drive. FREE.
River Oaks – If you head toward the street around the River Oaks Country Club you will see some amazing displays and huge oaks robed in lights. Generally, nightly 6-11 p.m. (some lights will stay on until midnight). There will be heavy traffic on Saturdays and the heaviest route is from Kirby going west on Del Monte. FREE.
Schultz Holiday Lights (2019 updates are on Facebook) – The Schultz Family is located in Klein and puts their house on display Sunday – Thursday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. (10:30 p.m. on the weekends). FREE.
Sugar Land Holiday Lights – Hosted at Constellation Field it will run Sunday-Thursday from 6-9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday (plus Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day) from 6-10 p.m. General admission is $14 per person, a $3 discount for military, seniors, children under 4, and groups of more than 10.
Spring Shadows – This neighborhood is north of I-10 and east of Beltway 8. There will be police to help traffic flow but expect long lines the later you go in the season. FREE.
Santa Sightings
Coming up this week:
Second Saturday Settlers at Jesse H. Jones Park
Second Saturday Settlers at Jesse H. Jones Park
Second Saturday Settlers at Jesse H. Jones Park
Second Saturday Settlers at Jesse H. Jones Park
Second Saturday Settlers at Jesse H. Jones Park
Breakfast with Santa (Medical Center, Houston Zoo) – 8 to 10 a.m., members only.
Breakfast with Santa & Mrs. Claus at the Farm – Enjoy a pancake breakfast and Hayride with Santa and Mrs. Claus
Breakfast with Santa at Rob Fleming Rec Center (The Woodlands) – $40/Family of Four; $45/ Family of Four Non-Resident; $8 Each additional family member; Registration required.
Caring Santa – A sensory-friendly Santa experience from Simon
Gingerbread House Making with Santa (The Woodlands) – $20/Resident; $25/Non-Resident; $5 Sibling Discount; Registration required.
Milk and Cookies with Santa (The Woodlands) – $15 Resident, $20 Non-Resident; $5 Sibling Discount; Registration required.
Old Time Christmas Tree Farm (Spring) – Take your own pictures with Santa on Saturdays, Sundays, and Thanksgiving Friday ($9)
Photos with Santa (Sugar Land) – Free Photos with Santa at Sugar Land Town Square. They will be collecting new unwrapped toys.
Photos with Santa by John Daugherty Realtors – several locations on Dec. 7, 2019, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Southside Place Park (3743 Garnet St., Houston, TX 77005)
- Briargrove Park Center and Pool (2301 Seagler Rd., Houston, TX 77042)
- Donovan Park (700 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77007)
Santa at Spring Creek Growers – Bring your own camera! He will visit several dates!
Santa Cares – Complimentary Sensory-friendly Santa visits, but reservations are required. Available at:
Skate with Santa (Downtown, Discovery Green) – select Saturdays, 4-6 p.m.
Craft Fair/ Holiday Markets
There are so many great markets around Houston check out our complete list, in the link, to plan your holiday shopping adventures!
Did we miss something? Comment below and we’ll add it to the list.
Check out individual events on our Community Calendar.
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