Michael Adkison/Houston Public Media
Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker Market runs through Sun., Nov. 16, 2025.
It may not feel like Christmas walking around Houston, but inside the NRG Center, the holidays are here.
Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker Market is back for its 45th year. And 2025 is expected to draw more shoppers than ever, with more than 100,000 people expected to visit the market this weekend.
“Nutcracker Market really brings out the best in people,” Angie Lane, chief development officer at Houston Ballet, told Hello Houston. “We’re so fortunate to have such popular support from the community. People come from Oklahoma, from Louisiana, from all over Texas to partake in this wonderful market, and it brings people together.”
Sign up for the Hello, Houston! daily newsletter to get local reports like this delivered directly to your inbox.
It’s also expected to raise millions of dollars in revenue. Last year, shoppers spent more than $23 million at the market, $6.3 million of which went toward the Houston Ballet. Vendors say it’s a critical market for them.
Michael Adkison/Houston Public Media
Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker Market runs through Sun., Nov. 16, 2025.
“This is the moneymaker,” Eryn Elliott, one of the co-owners of Two Tequila Sisters, a custom denim seller, said at the Nutcracker Market on Thursday.
“And it’s more than just the sale itself,” added Debbie Rank, the other tequila sister. “It’s the ability to market to this many women at one time in your local hometown, is just invaluable.”
Here’s what to know about going to the Nutcracker Market.
When and where is the market?
The Nutcracker Market is at NRG Center. You can park there for $25 per vehicle, and there are plenty of pedicabs on site to get you to the center.
The market is open:
10 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16
How can I get tickets?
General admission tickets are available for one-day only shopping for $20.
You can purchase them online at Ticketmaster, or at H-E-B Business Centers. You can also purchase them onsite for cash only, and there are ATMs at the NRG Center.
When is the best time to go?
The Nutcracker Market gets crowded, but if you’re looking for fewer crowds, there are some better times.
Any day from 3 p.m. to the close of the market typically has fewer shoppers. Anytime Sunday will be quieter.
Michael Adkison/Houston Public Media
Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker Market runs through Sun., Nov. 16, 2025.
During the three hours prior to closing on each day, the NRG Center ticket windows will have half-priced general admission tickets.
You can also go onto the Nutcracker Market website for an online app to show you each of the merchants, where they’re located, and how to get around the market.
How does it help Houston?
Eleven percent of all merchandise sales and proceeds from admission to the Nutcracker Market support the Houston Ballet and its academy. That includes scholarships for dancers, arts education programming and more.
Houston Ballet begins its performances of The Nutcracker on Nov. 28 and run through Dec. 28. Two educational performances solely for students on Dec. 11-12 also benefit from some of the money generated by the Nutcracker Market.
On top of that, about 90% of the businesses at the Nutcracker Market are small, women-owned businesses.
If one weekend in November isn’t enough for you, Houston Ballet will have a spring Nutcracker Market at NRG Center from April 17-19, 2026.