Photo credit: @vcentx via Unsplash
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The holidays are a magical time for many of us. But our experience simply cannot hold a candle to that of children. If you want to ensure that the kiddos truly have the most wonderful time of the year, take a look at our list below to see the best light displays, winter wonderlands, and other festivities for kids in Houston this winter!
City Place in Memorial City is here for the holidays. This coming season, City Place is set to feature a vibrant program of holiday happenings. At the forefront, is its amazing Gingerbread village, complete with the likes of giant gumdrops and lollipops, cookie trees, and a trail of candy canes.
Furthermore, City Place will reprise its Roaming Elves as well as its Oh What Fun! Holiday Market, film screenings, live music, and new VOUW interactive installations.
Come New Year’s, City Place will host its first New Year’s Eve celebration where a special Noon Year’s Eve party for families will take place. At nightfall, the community will feature a City Place Midnight Lights event capped off by a Midnight Drone Show.
📅 November 22 –
📍1250 Lake Plaza Dr.
The North Pole is closer than you think, Houston. Specifically, it’s in Galveston. Grab the kiddos and hop aboard the Polar Express. Inspired by the 2004 major motion picture, the Polar Express at the Galveston Railroad Museum is a magical ride featuring characters from the movie, including singing chefs, tiny helpers, and Kringle, himself.
Furthermore, the two-hour round trip features Christmas cookies, hot chocolate, and all sorts of goodies, photo-ops, and merry-making.
📅 November 8 – December 23
📍2602 Santa Fe Place, Galveston, Texas 77550
Photo credit Discovery Green
Take the kids for a Yuletide glide this holiday season at ICE at Discovery Green. The beloved outdoor ice rink in Downtown, Houston returns this November for the holiday season.
In addition to surrounding festive light installations, Discovery Green will also feature special themed skate nights, including Skates with Santa on Saturdays (from 4 – 5 pm) from November 29 through December 20.
For a special treat for parents, Discovery Green offers Kids Skates on Thursdays between December 4 and February 12, where kids 10 and under can skate for FREE with the purchase of an adult ticket. Also, beginning January 2, Discovery Green will reprise its popular Bumper Cars on Ice!
📅 November 21 – February 12
📍1500 McKinney Street
Step inside a Hallmark movie at this newly debuted Christmas theme park! Located in Huntsville, just outside of Houston, The Christmas Village offers a nostalgic holiday experience complete with old-school storefronts and throwback eateries, light trails, campfires and s’mores, and horse-drawn carriage rides.
Plus, the village features regular live music, an outdoor cinema queued up to Christmas classics, and more!
📍1225 Village Ln.
Take a sleigh ride over to College Station, home to Santa’s Wonderland. The “World’s Largest Christmas Park” is back with a full-scale village aglow with over four million lights. Ice skating, snow tubing, holiday hay rides, and more await.
For the kiddos, Santa’s Wonderland offers a number of experiences where kids can get in a good word with Santa. Located in Santa’s Station, the Post Master allows kids to write their letters to Mr. Claus. Mrs. Claus will also be around to offer special story hours.
📅 November 15 – December 30
📍18898 State Highway 6 South, College Station
6. Holiday in The Gardens
Called the Largest Holiday Celebration on the Gulf Coast, Moody Gardens’ Holiday in the Gardens is back with an expansive (and literal) winter wonderland fit with unbridled festivity. At the forefront, is its award-winning ICE LAND exhibit. Carved out of two million pounds of ice, ICE LAND is the coolest spot in town.
Furthermore, Moody Gardens has lit up Galveston Bay with over two million twinkling lights alongside an outdoor ice rink where all sorts of cozy treats await.
Other featured festivities at Moody Gardens this holiday season include its arctic ice slide, Yuletide train rides, North Pole’s Got Talent production, and holiday film screenings.
📅 November 22 – January 3
📍1 Hope Boulevard, Galveston
The Houston Astros are getting into the holiday spirit this year with their new Blitzen-esque ballpark experience: Astros Light Up The Park. Through November 22 to January 4, Daikin Park will light up with all sorts of immersive, Astros and Houston-themed light installations, while also offering special holiday treats.
The venue will also feature a variety of themed nights throughout the season. On Mondays, Astros mascot Orbit will be on-site to take photos with the kids. Not to be outshined by Santa Claus, who will also present on select nights.
On December 20, the park will host a special Family Movie Night, screening The Polar Express. The event will also feature festive activities and hot chocolate. Daikin will host a special Pajama Night on December 23, if the family wants to rock their matching PJ sets.
📅 November 22 – January 4
📍401 Crawford St.
Photo credit: Houston Zoo 8. Zoo Lights
The magical beloved holiday event is back at the Houston Zoo. New to Zoo Lights this year are a myriad of magical experiences that include its dazzling Iridescent Immersion inside the Great Ape Gallery, colorful Holiday Grove installation, projection-mapped Wild Wonder Lights, and Neon Playground.
Houston Zoo Lights will also reprise some of its holiday favorites including its Geo-Prism Safari, snowy Winter Wonderland, and Enchanted Forest. Until December 23, the zoo will also feature Santa’s Workshop at Cypress Circle Cafe.
📅 November 21 – January 4, 2026
📍6200 Hermann Park Drive
Space Center Houston is taking the holidays to the heavens this season with the return of its cosmic Galaxy Lights experience. Known as “Houston’s brightest holiday light show“, Galaxy Lights is a true Space City experience, complete with towering installations like its 40-foot-high shooting star and 200-foot LED light tunnel.
Galaxy Lights will also feature on-site fire pits where families can warm up over s’mores and hot cocoa. Additionally, the event will also see screenings of Holidays in Space and mesmerizing crystal fireworks light shows.
📅 November 15 – January 4, 2026
📍1601 E NASA Pkwy
New to Houston this year is the inaugural Festival of Trees. Hosted by the city’s resident castle, Chateau Nouvelle, the Festival of Trees is a five-day celebration of the holidays.
In addition to plenty of entertainment for adults, the festival will feature a magical array of activities for the kids, including a Polar Express train, Iceland attraction, community performances, and Santa’s Workshop.
Speaking of Santa, the big man will be on-site each day of the festival to meet with the kids.
📅 November 25 – November 29
📍14525 Champions Dr.