Christmas Events in Houston

Looking for some exciting holiday events in the Houston area? The city has a number of things to do for Christmas, and many of them are very family-friendly. Whether you want to do something a little romantic with your special someone or take the whole family out for a winter adventure, you’ll find something on this list that sounds perfect.

Discovery Green Park is going white for the second year in a row. The open-air ice skating rink is open to skaters of all ages and experience. For $10, you can skate for an hour and a half, and that price includes your skate rental. Once you’re done with skating, you can take the free trolley to the Shops at Houston Center, the Houston Pavilions, and several other locations without dealing with the holiday parking mess.

The Galleria Shopping Center also offers ice skating and shopping. They are a little more expensive—$13 for skate rental and time on the ice—but you can skate indoors, so the weather isn’t a factor. You also have plenty of shopping and eating choices right there in the mall.

The Children’s Museum of Houston is featuring an educational display this year that highlights seven different holidays. Kids will learn about Christmas, Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Ramadan, Las Posadas, and Lunar New Year. Each different holiday gets its own house and neighborhood “block” featuring decorations and traditional events.

The Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens is very festive during this time of the year. The historic museum will be decorated until January 3^rd. Visitors get to see a recreation of the Twelfth-Night anniversary dinner featuring George and Marsha Washington, a Christmas scene from 1950s Houston, and more. The museum is even open late for music, hot cider, and a candlelight tour.

The Houston Ballet is performing The Nutcracker until December 27^th. This traditional Christmas ballet features gorgeous costumes, amazing choreography, and, of course, great music by Tchaikovsky. The December 27 performance at 7:30 is marked as a special discount performance, so tickets will probably be selling out quickly.

Of course, there are many other activities in Houston that you can do this holiday season that don’t cost a thing. One of the most popular is to simply drive around looking at Christmas lights. This is a great way to spend the evening with the family, especially if you have young kids. Going caroling is also very fun and can quickly become a neighborhood event.

Holiday Entertaining

Entertaining during the holidays can be stressful, but it can also be very rewarding. Seeing all your friends or family members gathered around your table to celebrate the holidays can be a great sight. Of course, this sight can’t come without a good amount of work on your part. That’s why it’s important to make a plan for your holiday events.

First, be sure you have a firm guest list. While it’s OK for one or two people to show up or cancel at the last minute, you need a good idea of just how many people to expect. This is especially true if you’re cooking a full meal. If you don’t have any idea of how many people are coming, you have no way of knowing how much food to buy. Ask your invited guests to let you know if they are coming a week or so before the event. That way, you have enough time to purchase food and other items. Also, make food ahead of time if you can. Desserts like cookies or pie can be made the day before, as can some cold appetizers.

Don’t wait until the last minute to clean your house. In fact, if you can, clean a little bit each day. While you’ll still need to do some sweeping and a little straightening up the day of the event, you won’t have to do anything major.

Another thing to do ahead of time is to order flowers for your table. Selecting a great arrangement for your centerpiece or for your mantle can add a lot to your holiday décor. However, the holidays are one of the busiest times for florists, so if you’re going to order an arrangement, be sure to do so in advance. Don’t wait until the last minute or you may not be able to get the arrangement you want, especially if you’re looking for traditional holiday arrangements like poinsettias.

Finally, remember not to stress too much over the event. You’re entertaining some of your closest friends or your family, and it should be an enjoyable experience. To that end, try not to wear yourself out. If you’re exhausted from cooking and cleaning, you won’t have any fun at your own party. Remember to ask your spouse and even your children to help you, or ask a friend or relative to co-host the holiday festivities.