The holidays are here and in full swing! We are ready to experience and enjoy it all- from the {hopefully} cooler weather to alllllll the twinkling lights and activities. We know it can get overwhelming with all the events and festivities we have to choose from in the Greater Houston area, so Houston Moms is breaking it down for you. Want to get dressed up and take the family to a live holiday performance? Sit on Santa’s lap and cut down your own Christmas tree? Or perhaps you just need ideas for some free family fun this year! Houston Moms and our friends at Dewberry Farm have got you covered with all that and more in our Ultimate Houston Holiday Bucket List.
This Christmas you don’t have to drive far and spend your entire budget for a little holiday magic. Get into the spirit of the season and make the happiest of holiday memories at Dewberry Farm– Houston’s best value for the holidays! Pick out a tree in their Christmas Tree Forest, cozy up with hot chocolate on a hay wagon through a winter wonderland of lights, toss real snowballs at targets, meet their friendly animals and visit Santa Claus! Plus, new for 2025, embark of the brightest journey of the season aboard the Jingle Bell Express! Ride the rails on our train through a magical mile of 5 million dazzling Christmas lights moving to the beat of your favorite holiday tunes!
A Berry Merry Christmas at Dewberry Farm will be open from Nov 22 – December 28. Located in Brookshire, its just a 45 minute drive from downtown Houston west on I-10. And this year they’re offering our readers an EXCLUSIVE discount! Use code SANTA6 online to save $6 per ticket for a limited time.
We hope you get to try out an activity or two {or three!} off our bucket list and that you have the best time making memories together this holiday season! We’ve got all the ideas for you below in various categories with links, recipes, activities, and more! We’ve even got some ideas for how you and your family can give back this year!
Live Holiday Music and Entertainment
- It’s a Houston family tradition- see A Christmas Carol at the Alley Theatre!
- Houston Symphony offers a variety of Holiday performances to celebrate the season!
- Experience an immersive light wonderland of Holiday Flair at Coca-Cola Classic Christmas at Katy Mills Mall!
- It wouldn’t be Christmas without the sounds of Mannheim Steamroller! Experience it live on Dec 30 for an exciting night of holiday music.
- Enjoy a beloved classic musical from TUTS- Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” will be showing December 9-24.
- Have a merry and musical holiday at one of the many Candlelight Christmas Concerts in our area.
- Check out “Narnia the Musical”, by the AD Players, playing November 19th through December 23rd.
- Visit Galveston for their historic annual Dickens on the Strand! Make sure to visit their website for all the details on this holiday festival December 5-7. It’s sure to be full of incredible family fun, live entertainment, special events and more.
- Downtown Houston kicks off the Holiday Season with Deck the Hall, The Mayor’s Holiday Tree Lighting and Concert on December 6.
- Get the fam dressed up and see The Nutcracker by the Houston Ballet which runs November 28- December 28.
- Ring in the holidays on the water at the 64th Annual Christmas Boat Parade in Clear Lake on December 13.
- When author Mo Willems’ characters get together for the holidays, it’s bound to be the biggest extravaganza ever! Take the family to Main Street Theatre to see “The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza”! You all will enjoy this brand-new musical party that sleighs!
Holiday Lights, Family Fun, & Santa Sightings!
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A BERRY Merry Christmas! At Dewberry Farm is open from November 22 – December 28.Dewberry Farm is just a short 45-minute drive from downtown Houston. Sip hot cocoa, cut down your own Christmas tree, see their dazzling light displays, and enjoy all the rides and attractions!
- Moody Gardens Festival of Lights features a celebration of cultures this year with “Ice Land – Christmas Around the World! Enjoy a mile long trail in Galveston with more than two million lights. Check out their website for more holiday fun.
- Visit the Houston Botanic Garden for Radiant Nature– their dazzling Chinese lantern festival! Experience this installation from November 14-February 22.
- Zoo Lights at the Houston Zoo is sure to be a family favorite this time of year.
- Santa’s Wonderland in College Station promises a fun-filled family experience with many attractions!
- Brighten up your winter with Cistern Illuminated, an immersive light and sound installation in the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern. This event will run from November 28-January 18.
- All aboard! The Polar Express Train Ride in Galveston will be a most memorable outing for your family!
- Stay cozy in your car and enjoy the wonder of The Light Park, a drive-thru Holiday light show. The Light Park’s season starts to sparkle on November 7.
- Head to the Galaxy Lights Exhibit at Space Center Houston. This exhibit runs from November 15-January 4.
- Get moving and be merry at the Charlie Brown Christmas 5K/10K on December 6.
- Go walking in a Winter Wonderlawn at the POST skylawn! This event runs November 1-January 11.
- Snuggle in for a Holiday movie at home with hot cocoa and popcorn. Here are 70 Best Christmas Movies of All Time!
Holiday Food & Drink
- Throw a cookie decorating party for the kids!
- Make Cake Batter Christmas Cookies. Use this recipe, but swap out traditional sprinkles for Christmas colored sprinkles. These are a guaranteed hit with the kids!
- Try this Oreo peppermint bark– it’s so easy and so delicious. This has become an annual favorite in my house.
- Check out the Saint Arnold Christmas ale, only available October through December.
- Hosting? Make this beautiful and tasty Christmas Sangria.
- This Pear and Pomegranate salad is the perfect side dish for a holiday dinner party.
- Each Christmas, Taste of Texas transforms their restaurant into a beautiful Christmas wonderland with more than 25,000 sparkling lights, thousands of feet of garland and hand-tied velvet ribbon, antique sleighs, and dozens of nutcrackers, as well as Snow Village houses, and handmade needlepoint stockings. Make a reservation for dinner there this year to experience the beauty!
Get Crafty
- Make a paper chain garland with the kids to countdown to the big day!
- Create a stovetop potpourri like this Simmer Pot Recipe to have your whole house smell amazing! You can also bag these ingredients together to give as a gift to teachers, neighbors, etc.
- Buy fleece and make your own fleece blanket. Here is a super easy no sew blanket tutorial that will have you wanting to make blankets for everyone this winter!
- Make scented Christmas play dough with the kids. Use this tried and true play dough recipe. Add peppermint oil and choose a festive color of choice.
- Decorate a gingerbread house with your kids! It’s a wonderful way to use up the last of that Halloween candy. Here are some great gingerbread decorating tips. Trader Joe’s & Five Below have ready to build gingerbread houses in stock late November/early December.
- Make fake snow and have a blast throwing snowballs or making a mini snowman.
- Teach your kids the art of paper snowflake cutting and let them decorate the house with their creations.
- Make an ornament for your own Christmas tree or do a homemade ornament exchange with a friend. You can buy craft items from the craft store and make it from scratch, purchase a pre-made kit or let the kids make simple ones with card stock, markers, and ribbons. It will be cute either way!
- Make your own Christmas Activities Advent Calendar!
- Enjoy building these Lego Ornaments as a family!
Easy Holiday Decorating
- Amp up the Hygge in your home this year with twinkle lights, everywhere!
- Decorate the tree together as a family while listing to Christmas music and drinking hot cocoa. We usually order pizza too to make it an easy and yummy night.
- Swap out your usual sheets for holiday themed ones. There are lots of adorable options!
- Put little trees with twinkle lights in the kids’ rooms, the kitchen, the bathroom, everywhere!
- Frame your kids’ annual photo with Santa and bring them out every year along with your Christmas decorations. It’s always so sweet to walk down memory lane together!
- Check out a local nursery for poinsettias and Christmas cacti!
- This year, add colorful velvet ribbons to your Christmas tree for a touch of vintage charm.
- Did you know you can make your tree rotate? Mind blown.
Get Outdoors
- Invite some neighbors over for a s’mores night. Don’t have a fire pit? Try this little tabletop set!
- Take a hike or bike with your family! Did you know that Houston has more than 128 miles of trails that loop within our parks or are linear and run along bayous and outside park boundaries? Awesome, huh!?
- Have you visited the McGovern Centennial Gardens with your kids yet? This 8 acre beauty is a perfect spot to get your family moving and then relax together too! The “birthday cake” hill is a favorite for kids!
- Sign up and train for Houston Running Co’s 12K of Christmas! Don’t worry if you’re not up for a 12K. There are 6K and Family Walk options as well. There will be live music and a Santa appearance too! This event will take place on December 20.
- Invite family/friends to join a friendly game of flag football or driveway pickleball!
- Set up an obstacle course or relay race and invite the neighborhood kids!
- Go on a scavenger hunt around the neighborhood. Create a list for your kids to find items like colorful leaves, birds, wreaths, reindeer, etc.
- Visit the Kemah Boardwalk!
- Go ice-skating outdoors at Discovery Green! Yes, even in Houston we can ice-skate outside!
- Go on an evening walk as a family around your neighborhood to check out the Christmas lights. You could even sing Christmas carols and deliver treats to neighbors!
- Take a ride on The Christmas Train in Alvin!
Give Back
- Put out snacks and a holiday card for delivery drivers.
- Find a Toys for Tots drop off near you!
- Ring the red kettle for the Salvation Army, or donate to the Angel Tree toy drive.
- Volunteer for extra holiday shifts at the Houston Food Bank
- Send gifts, snacks, or letters to troops overseas with Operation Shoe Box.
- Donate toys and clothes to Goodwill, Purple Heart, Family Time thrift shops, Cottage Shop, etc.
- Bring homemade cards, socks, small lotions and chapsticks, or used books to a nearby nursing home.
- Help make holiday meals, donate food, or plan activities for people staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Houston or the Ballard House in Katy.
- Make care kits for a local homeless shelter {Star of Hope, Salvation Army, or click here for a directory of other homeless shelters in our area}.
- Donate pet supplies or used towels to a pet shelter near you.
- $5 and under teacher gift ideas would be great little treats for not only teachers, but neighbors and friends.
- Bake a box of brownies {or make it from scratch} and drop it off at your local fire station or police station, along with a homemade card of course!
- Our make ahead breakfast ideas make great holiday treat baskets! Have the kids make a card and deliver to a neighbor. This is a wonderful way to spread some holiday cheer while getting to know your community!
Happy Holidays, Houston Moms! And remember to check out Dewberry Farm’s A Berry Merry Christmas! Be sure to use the exclusive discount code SANTA6 to save $6 per ticket!
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