The Move Live Love TX Team™

2026 Christmas Events · Galveston to Conroe

Houston Christmas Events, Festivals & Shows

Tree lightings, Christmas markets, Zoo Lights, Galaxy Lights, holiday shows and breakfast with Santa, from Galveston to Conroe, on one map. 22 events with this year's dates, hours and cost, plus one day trip worth the drive.

  • 21 events, Galveston to Conroe
  • 8 free to get into
  • 1 day trip
A red mug of hot cocoa topped with whipped cream, sprinkles and a candy cane, beside peppermint chocolate bark and glowing holiday lights
Download the list (PDF) ↓Every event, address, date and price in one printable list. Print it or keep it on your phone.

Just want the lights? See It’s All About The Lights, our drive-through and neighborhood lights map.

Show
Where
  • Festivals, Markets & Tree Lightings
  • Walk-Through Lights & Holiday Parks
  • Shows, Train Rides & Santa

Showing all 22 events.Tap a pin for the quick version, then scroll to that card for the full details.

Festivals, Markets & Tree Lightings

One night or one weekend, most of them free. Miss the date and you miss it.

Dickens on The Strand

GalvestonSouth & Coastal

Season
Dec. 4 to 6, 2026
Hours
Fri 5 to 9 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sun noon to 6 p.m.
Cost
Friday free. Sat/Sun $20 adult, $13 ages 7 to 12, 6 and under free, before Nov. 20; prices go up $5 after that
Where
Historic Strand District, 2002 The Strand, Galveston, TX 77550
More about this one

Victorian-themed festival with parades, vendors, performers and activities.

Sugar Land Christmas Tree Lighting

Sugar LandCentral & WestFree

Season
Nov. 20, 2026
Hours
5 to 8 p.m.
Cost
Free
Where
Sugar Land Town Square, 2711 Plaza Dr, Sugar Land, TX 77479
More about this one

Live entertainment, holiday activities and the tree lighting.

Good to know: Free shuttle from Mercer Stadium.

City Lights Kick-off Party

HoustonCentral & WestFree

Season
Nov. 20, 2026
Hours
5:30 to 8 p.m.; tree lighting at 6:15 p.m.
Cost
Free
Where
Avenida Plaza, Downtown Houston, TX 77010
More about this one

Downtown holiday kick-off and tree lighting.

Home for the Holidays, Old Town Spring

SpringNorthFree

Season
Nov. 14 to Dec. 24, 2026; festivities on weekends
Hours
Activities and shop hours vary
Cost
Free to browse; shopping and activities extra
Where
Historic Old Town Spring, Spring, TX 77373
More about this one

Decorated shops, Santa photos and live entertainment.

Good to know: Tree lighting is Nov. 14.

Lighting of the Doves

The WoodlandsNorthFree

Season
Nov. 21, 2026
Hours
3 to 8 p.m.; Santa, the dove lighting and fireworks around 7 p.m.
Cost
Free festival; snow-area wristband $5
Where
Town Green Park, 2099 Lake Robbins Dr, The Woodlands, TX 77380
More about this one

Music, crafts, snow play, Santa's arrival and fireworks.

Tomball German Christmas Market

TomballNorthFree

Season
Dec. 11 to 13, 2026
Hours
Fri 6 to 10 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sun 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost
Free admission and parking
Where
Downtown Tomball, TX 77375
More about this one

German-themed market with vendors and entertainment, plus a Saturday parade at 10:30 a.m.

Baytown's Holiday Hangout

BaytownSouth & CoastalFree

Season
Dec. 3, 2026 to Jan. 5, 2027; closed Dec. 24, Dec. 25, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1
Hours
Mon to Thu 4 to 9 p.m.; Fri to Sun 2 to 9 p.m.
Cost
Free; roller skating $5 per person
Where
Baytown Town Square, 213 W Texas Ave, Baytown, TX 77520
More about this one

Christmas lights, evergreen trees and photo spots fill Town Square, with a full-size outdoor skating rink, a hay maze, yard games and a toddler zone.

Walk-Through Lights & Holiday Parks

Park the car and walk through. Most run all season.

Holiday in the Gardens, Moody Gardens

GalvestonSouth & Coastal

Season
Nov. 21, 2026 to Jan. 2, 2027
Hours
Hours vary by attraction and date
Cost
Paid; ticket type and price vary
Where
1 Hope Blvd, Galveston, TX 77554
More about this one

Walk-through lights, ICE LAND, ice skating and seasonal attractions. A walk-through, not a drive-through.

Dickinson Festival of Lights

DickinsonSouth & CoastalFree

Season
Nov. 28 to Dec. 30, 2026; closed Dec. 24 and 25
Hours
6 to 8:30 p.m., weather permitting
Cost
Free admission, parking and shuttle
Where
Paul Hopkins Park, 1000 FM 517 Rd. E., Dickinson, TX 77539
More about this one

The 29th annual walk-through festival of lights, built and run by volunteers.

Good to know: Free parking in the park Monday to Thursday. Friday to Sunday, park free at Shrine of the True Cross Catholic Church, 300 FM 517 Rd. E., and ride the free shuttle.

Sugar Land Holiday Lights

Sugar LandCentral & West

Season
Nov. 20, 2026 to Jan. 3, 2027
Hours
6 to 10 p.m.; New Year's Eve until midnight
Cost
Paid; 2026 admission depends on ticket selection
Where
Constellation Field, 1 Stadium Dr, Sugar Land, TX 77498
More about this one

Walk-through light installations, vendors and seasonal activities.

City Lights, Downtown Houston

HoustonCentral & West

Season
Nov. 21 to Dec. 31, 2026 (individual sites vary)
Hours
Hours vary by village
Cost
A mix of free experiences and paid activities
Where
12 holiday villages across Downtown Houston, including Market Square Park and Discovery Green
More about this one

Holiday villages, lights, ice skating and entertainment across downtown.

Good to know: The map pin marks Market Square Park. The organizer's site has a map of all 12 villages.

Santa's Wonderland (day trip)

College StationDay trip

Season
Nov. 13, 2026 to Jan. 3, 2027
Hours
Open times vary by date; check the ticket calendar
Cost
Ticket prices vary by date and package
Where
18898 State Highway 6 S, College Station, TX 77845
More about this one

Large Christmas park with hayrides, lights, Santa, live entertainment and shopping.

Good to know: About 90 minutes northwest of Houston, outside the Galveston to Conroe area.

Galaxy Lights, Space Center Houston

Houston (Clear Lake)South & Coastal

Season
Select dates, Nov. 14, 2026 to Jan. 3, 2027
Hours
Evenings on open dates; check the calendar
Cost
$19.95 to $27.95 per person over age 3, depending on the night; 3 and under free
Where
1601 E NASA Pkwy, Houston, TX 77058
More about this one

A space-themed holiday light show on the Space Center Houston grounds.

Good to know: Not open every night. Sensory-Friendly Nights have discounted admission.

Zoo Lights, Houston Zoo

HoustonCentral & West

Season
Nov. 19, 2026 to Jan. 3, 2027; closed Dec. 9 and Dec. 24
Hours
5:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Cost
Ticketed; buy ahead online. Seniors 65+ free with photo ID
Where
6200 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030
More about this one

An after-dark walk through the Houston Zoo along lit paths and animal-themed light displays, with hot chocolate, s'mores and churro fries along the way.

Radiant Nature, Houston Botanic Garden

HoustonCentral & West

Season
Nov. 20, 2026 to Feb. 21, 2027, on select nights
Hours
Timed entry every 30 minutes from 6 p.m.; last entry 9 p.m.; closes 10 p.m.
Cost
$26.50 adults, $24.50 ages 3 to 15, 2 and under free
Where
1 Botanic Ln, Houston, TX 77017
More about this one

A Chinese lantern festival with larger-than-life lantern installations along an evening trail through the garden.

Good to know: Credit cards only. Leashed dogs are welcome on select dog nights (dog ticket $10).

Light Up the Park, Daikin Park

HoustonCentral & West

Season
Dec. 4, 2026 to Jan. 3, 2027
Hours
Evenings; see the schedule on the Astros site
Cost
Ticketed; ages 2 and under free
Where
Daikin Park, 501 Crawford St, Houston, TX 77002
More about this one

The Astros' downtown ballpark becomes a walk-through holiday light display, with lights and music.

Trail of Lights, Tomball Methodist Church

TomballNorthFree

Season
Dec. 4 and 5, 11 and 12, and 18 and 19, 2026
Hours
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Cost
Free
Where
1603 Baker Dr, Tomball, TX 77375
More about this one

A free walking trail of Christmas lights on the acreage next to the church, with Santa on the trail.

Good to know: Open only six nights, all Fridays and Saturdays.

Shows, Train Rides & Santa

Ticketed and timed. Book ahead, especially for December weekends.

The Polar Express Train Ride

GalvestonSouth & Coastal

Season
Nov. 13 to Dec. 23, 2026
Hours
Departure times vary by ticket; allow about 2 hours
Cost
About $40 to $135 per ticket
Where
Galveston Railroad Museum, 2602 Santa Fe Place, Galveston, TX 77550
More about this one

Themed train trip with hot chocolate, a cookie and Santa.

Good to know: Advance reservations strongly recommended.

A Christmas Carol, Alley Theatre

HoustonCentral & West

Season
Nov. 15 to Dec. 27, 2026
Hours
Performance times vary
Cost
Ticketed; price varies by seat and date
Where
Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77002
More about this one

Live stage production of the classic Dickens holiday story.

The Nutcracker, Houston Ballet

HoustonCentral & West

Season
Nov. 27 to Dec. 28, 2026
Hours
Performance times vary
Cost
Ticketed; price varies by seat and date
Where
Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77002
More about this one

The traditional holiday ballet.

Breakfast with Santa, Downtown Aquarium

HoustonCentral & West

Season
Dec. 12, 13, 19, 20, and 22 to 24, 2026
Hours
Reservation seating times vary
Cost
Paid; check the aquarium for pricing
Where
Downtown Aquarium, 410 Bagby St, Houston, TX 77002
More about this one

Breakfast buffet and a visit with Santa.

Good to know: Reservations required.

Polar Palooza, Children's Museum Houston

HoustonCentral & West

Season
Dec. 19, 2026 to Jan. 4, 2027
Hours
Museum hours vary
Cost
Included with general museum admission
Where
1500 Binz St, Houston, TX 77004
More about this one

Winter-themed hands-on activities at the museum.

Before you go

Every date, price and hour here came from the organizer and was current on November 9, 2026. Holiday schedules move: shows sell out, outdoor events close for weather, and ticket prices change by date. Check with the organizer before you go, and book the ticketed ones ahead.

Spotted something out of date, or know a spot we missed? Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

Download the list (PDF) ↓

Quick answers

Common Questions

What Christmas events near Houston are free?
8 of the 22 events on this map are free to get into, including the Lighting of the Doves in The Woodlands, the Tomball German Christmas Market, the Dickinson Festival of Lights, Tomball Methodist's Trail of Lights and Baytown's Holiday Hangout. Some charge for extras like a snow area or roller skating.
When is Dickens on The Strand in 2026?
December 4 to 6, 2026, in Galveston's Historic Strand District. Friday is free. Saturday and Sunday tickets are $20 for adults and $13 for ages 7 to 12 before November 20, and go up $5 after that.
Is Moody Gardens Holiday in the Gardens a drive-through?
No. It is a walk-through, with lights, ICE LAND and ice skating, running November 21, 2026 to January 2, 2027. For drive-through shows where you stay in the car, see our Christmas lights map.

Why a real estate team made a Christmas events map

Because we live here too. The Move Live Love TX Team™ is Peter and Vicky Royster. We grew up in Clear Lake, we work from Galveston to Conroe, and we have driven most of these roads with our own family in the car. Knowing the area is not a marketing line for us; it is the job.

If a move is somewhere on your horizon, we would love to help. If not, go have a merry December.