Houston family weekend planner
Holiday events in Houston: lights, Santa and Christmas shows
Holiday events in Houston for 2026: 4 listings across 2 cities — light displays, Santa visits, tree lightings, Nutcracker shows, markets and New Year's Eve, from official calendars.
Houston's museum district and its library and parks systems carry most family programming, but the city's sprawl makes travel the deciding factor. Summer heat and humidity push almost everything into mornings or indoors, and a single district per outing beats a cross-town itinerary.
What's on this weekend in Houston →
Nutcracker and holiday shows
- West Pearland - School Age: Grow the Grinches Heart with Science! — West Pearland Teaching Theater, Pearland · Dec 5
- All Aboard the Polar Express! — Children's Museum Houston, Houston · Dec 12
- The Nutcracker! — Children's Museum Houston, Houston · Dec 21
- Merry Grinchmas! — Children's Museum Houston, Houston · Dec 23
Holiday traditions in Houston
Quick questions
When do the holiday lights start in Houston?
The earliest listing on this page opens Dec 5: West Pearland - School Age: Grow the Grinches Heart with Science!.
What holiday events in Houston are free?
None of the listings here are marked free — check each organizer's page for pricing.
Where can we see Santa in Houston?
Santa visits are usually announced later in November. This page updates every day as organizers publish them.