houston city lights tour

Houston Historical Tours

Educating and entertaining everyone, (713) 392-0867 [email protected], houston historical tours p.o. box 262404 houston, texas 77207-2404.

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Holiday Lights Tours

Celebrate the holidays with lights. We offer 9 different Holiday Lights tours.

• Holiday Lights Tours A through D are each approximately 3 hours and generally begin at 6:30 PM and end at 9:30 PM. Holiday Lights Tour A is from 5:30 to 8:00 PM on Sundays.
• Holiday Lights Tours E through G are each approximately 4 hours and begin at 5:30 PM and end at 9:30 PM.
• Holiday Lights Tour H is approximately 5 hours and begins at 5:00 PM and ends at 10:00 PM.
• Holiday Lights Tour I is approximately 7 hours and begins at 4:00 PM and ends at 11:00 PM.

Select one or more tours that appeal to you. We can be flexible on the starting times; just let us know what is your preference.

The sun sets on:

The above stated times are the results of Google searches.

We generally start the 3-hour tours at 6:30 PM to:

• Begin after sunset so that we can see the beauty of the lights against a dark background.
• Allow people to have time for dinner before the tour, often at the restaurant from where we begin.
• Avoid some of the rush hour traffic on Monday through Friday between 5:00 and 6:30 PM.
• Give time for people to commute from work to the starting location for the tour if their work day ends between 5:00 and 6:00 PM.
• Finish at a reasonable hour that will allow participants time to drive home while they are still alert.
• Hopefully conclude before our participants begin falling asleep.
• Provide the opportunity to have sufficient sleep before going to school or work the next day as is relevant.
• Enable parents to get back to their youngsters or to put them to bed at a reasonable time.

Each tour has at least one bathroom and refreshment break, usually at a Starbucks, where one can buy holiday drinks.

Each tour begins with about a 5 to 10 minute introduction.

Schedule these tours at least 1 month in advance to better enhance your chances of reserving the date that you want. These tours fill quickly. People begin reserving dates in August, four months in advance. The earliest time to go on a tour should be the first weekend of December; however, some people may still be putting up their lights. The latest time to go on a tour probably should be the weekend after Christmas. Although lights may be up until the Epiphany on January 6, many people and organizations take their lights down on the weekend after Christmas. The total window for these tours is approximately 6 weeks with the 3 weeks from December 4th through the 25th being the ideal period.

Some clients occasionally schedule to take these tours in late November. We will be glad to accommodate you, but be forewarned that you will see fewer light displays than if you can wait a couple of weeks.

We conduct these tours any day we have a request, Sunday through Saturday. The best days to take such a tour are Monday through Thursday. Less traffic is driving through the neighborhoods during the main work day nights. On weekends, particularly on the two Saturdays just before Christmas, traffic may move at less than 2 miles/3 kilometers per hour in many neighborhoods as people are getting out of their vehicles to take selfies and they will block half or all of the flow of vehicles.

We can provide a variety of holiday music, movies for groups of 6 or more, narratives about the communities that we visit and the traditions of the holidays, such as the Christmas tree, introduction and types of lights, Santa, music, depictions in cinema, ornaments, trivia, and more.

You can bring drinks that have covers, caps, and lids to reduce spillage. Eating in the vehicles is prohibited as crumbs and other items may be sticky and messy and cleaning up is additionally time consuming. We also stop for a break on each tour where one can have snacks.

Temperatures in Houston can vary from the 30s to the 80s degrees Fahrenheit/1 to 30 degrees Centigrade during this period. Dress appropriately as most of these tours involve going outside at some point(s).

3-Hour Holiday Lights Tours - Normally from 6:30 to 9:30 PM

Tour A — Near West Side of Houston Tour - The Waterwall, Galleria, Tanglewood, Uptown Park, River Oaks, Highland Village, and Greenway Plaza. We go through some of the most affluent neighborhoods in all of America and to the premier mall of Texas with a magnificent Christmas tree. On Sunday, we begin the tour at 5:30 PM to end at 8:30 PM. The reason that we start earlier is that The Galleria normally closes on Sundays at 7:00 PM. To have sufficient time to go into The Galleria and see the biggest Christmas tree in Houston, we have to begin early. This is the most popular tour, probably because of the reputation and prestige of the areas. The huge homes and trees have lots of lights. This tour starts and ends at the Cleburne Cafeteria at 3606 Bissonnet Street and Edloe Street, Houston, Texas 77005.

Tour B — North and Central Houston - Woodland Heights, Downtown, Midtown, and the Montrose Area. It begins in a classic neighborhood found in 1907 with huge oak trees and moves to the central business district where you can go or watch ice-skating. We then go through the redeveloped area of the 1990s and 2000s, and to one of the most famous gay communities in the US. This tour starts and ends at Chili’s at 2425 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas 77007. This is by the Taylor Street exit.

Tour C — Northwest Tour - Candlelight Plaza, Ella Lee Forest, Acres Homes, Prestonwood Forest, US 290,

Tour D — Southeast Tour - Green Tee, Glenbrook Valley, La Sallette Place, Washington Terrace, and Riverside Terrace. This tour goes from an elite suburb to an affluent Hispanic neighborhood to a few African American communities, one with a fantastic light show. This tour starts and ends at the McDonald’s Restaurant at 1619 South Loop West and Fannin Street, Houston, Texas 77054.

4-Hour Holiday Lights Tours - Normally from 5:30 to 9:30 PM

Tour E — Near Southwest - Meyerland, Maplewood North, Robindell, Sugar Land, and Greatwood. This tour starts and ends at the McDonald’s Restaurant at 4643 Beechnut Street, and I-610, Houston, Texas 77096.

Tour F — Northeast Tour - Kingwood. This tour starts and ends at Chili’s at 2425 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas 77007. This is by the Taylor Street exit off of I-10.

Tour G — Far Southwest of Houston - New Territory, Shadow Groves Estates, and Pecan Grove Plantation. This tour starts and ends at the McDonald’s at 5888 Richmond Avenue, Houston, Texas 77057. This is between Chimney Rock Road and Fountain View Drive.

5-Hour Holiday Lights Tour - Normally from 5:00 to 9:30 PM

Tour H — Galveston’s Moody Gardens and Dickinson’s Festival of Lights - Each of these stops are walking

excursions; thus, the weather has to cooperate. Food, drinks, and souvenirs are available. Walk through over 1 million lights. The tour starts and ends at Starbucks at 1450 Woodridge Street, Houston, Texas 77087.

7-Hour Holiday Lights Tour - Normally from 4:00 to 11:00 PM

Tour I — Far Northwest from Houston, College Station - Santa’s Wonderland A Texas Christmas

Experience. This includes admission to Santa’s Wonderland and to Santa’s Town, where movies constantly play on an outdoor screen, fires for smores and warmth are burning, you can have your photo taken with Santa (at an additional fee), and there are many restaurants and stores. This tour has 3 stops. This tour begins and ends at City Hall at 901 Bagby Street, Houston, Texas 77002.

Houston City Lights Tour

• All taxes, fees and handling charges
• Live commentary on board
• Tour escort/host
• Entry/Admission - Houston City Tours
• Food and drinks, unless specified
• Hotel drop-off
• 1100 Bagby St, Houston, TX 77002, USA Houston City Holiday Lights 8:15 pm The departure point is located 1100 Bagby Street Houston Texas ( Corner of Bagby & Lamar street )
• Infants must sit on laps
• Wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
• Children must be accompanied by an adult
• Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund
• Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark
• Most travellers can participate
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 60 travellers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• You'll start at 1100 Bagby St 1100 Bagby St, Houston, TX 77002, USA Houston City Holiday Lights 8:15 pm The departure point is located 1100 Bagby Street Houston Texas ( Corner of Bagby & Lamar street ) See address & details
• 1 Houston City Tours Stop: 15 minutes - Admission included Start your tour from a amazing Texas cowboy themed Visitor Center. Read more Pass by Downtown Historic District Market Square Downtown Aquarium Buffalo Bayou Park
• You'll return to the starting point

• richardhJ9034EM 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Very enjoyable tour Ben was very knowledgeable and provided a great tour. Downtown was stunning and vertical I impressed with the art wall murals. Read more Written 14 April 2024
• elizabethjR4295TE 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing experience! Great tour! The bus driver/tour guide was very informative and took us all around the city. I've lived in Houston for 20 years and took this tour with my parents. I even learned a few new things! We sat on the top part of the bus and it was comfortable and gave a great view of the city. It starts and ends near Discovery Green so plenty of places to eat lunch after or before the tour. Read more Written 9 April 2024
• Dreamer54261516538 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Lonnie and Tasha in Houston The views were amazing and the crew was very nice. The trip wasn’t too long or too short. I would recommend this trip to anyone visiting Houston. Read more Written 7 April 2024
• beverleyb605 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Ver glad we went Very interesting information and our guide was easy to hear and understand. Lots of great sights. The ride was comfortable Read more Written 6 April 2024
• bozidarj415 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Totally worthy and interesting experience I only can recommend this tour if you are visiting Houston! Tour guide was great and it was very interesting to learn all mentioned during the city tour. NASA site visit was great experience as well. Only thing which was not good communicated is the tram tour booking. There are three available out of which only one do not need to be booked earlier and that one had endless que line ahead. Anyhow, there's a lot to be seen and explored beside tram tours. Read more Written 3 April 2024
• mariebethp2024 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Gracias The staff were so nice and Mr. Antonio, the tour guide was funny and knowledgeable. The tour in total was very accommodating. It was a great experience. Read more Written 3 April 2024
• Traveler19461909495 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Family Owned - doing a great job! Superb - what a lot of fun and a super great way of seeing the town. Totally recommend it, not just for the varied and interesting commentary, or the sites, but being out in the open and seeing H'Town at its best with the best familly owned business. Read more Written 3 April 2024
• LoveTravel508804 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Do not miss this tour! Excellent tour all around! Do not miss seeing Houston from top of bus. Great commentary for such an interesting “young” 1836” city. Had no idea of the rich history. Architecture and murals are amazingly beautiful. Read more Written 22 March 2024
• 913thanht 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fun tour of the city in a double decker bus! What a wonderful tour guide! It was a sunny and cool day and we both enjoyed the ride. Our guide was funny and entertaining. You will enjoy it! Read more Written 19 March 2024
• nj710 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Don’t waste your time Not worth the price for what we seen. The bus needs to be cleaned. The man at the store was very rude while we were waiting for our Uber. It’s been raining and we are customers from the tour. Read more Written 17 March 2024
• rodom691 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Out of this world - literally.... Visiting the NASA Space Center in Houston was an out-of-this-world experience! The exhibits were fascinating, offering a captivating glimpse into space exploration. From the historic artifacts to the interactive displays, there was something for everyone to enjoy. However, the crowds were quite large, which made it challenging to fully immerse oneself in certain areas. Overall, a must-visit destination for space enthusiasts and families alike Read more Written 15 March 2024
• I2241XGharveys 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Thanks for that tour It was a great experience, I dreamed about visiting NASA since I was a kid. And totally worth it. It was something very special for me Read more Written 13 March 2024
• loriaA5956MD 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great travel group. We had an amazing time. They worked with me to get a time that worked. All the employees were very friendly and informative. I would highly recommend. Read more Written 5 March 2024
• 62margueritem 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great tour! Ver nice tour except the cold weather. Thought it was longer as the advertisement didn’t say it was on 1.5 hours. Great tour guide and beautiful city. Make sure you see the Aquarium when you’re done with the tour! Read more Written 3 March 2024
• H8140XMmichelleb 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Houston city tour I was looking for something to do while my husband was at a convention and I have done other tours similar to this one so I wanted to see what Houston had to offer. It was worth my time! It was a very informative tour with a great guide. He was funny too! I learned so much about Houston. Highly recommend! Read more Written 29 February 2024

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Houston City Lights Tour provided by Houston City Tours

Houston City Lights Tour

• All taxes, fees and handling charges
• Live commentary on board
• Tour escort/host
• Entry/Admission - Houston City Tours
• Food and drinks, unless specified
• Hotel drop-off
• 1100 Bagby St, Houston, TX 77002, USA Houston City Holiday Lights 8:15 pm The departure point is located 1100 Bagby Street Houston Texas ( Corner of Bagby & Lamar street )
• Infants must sit on laps
• Wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
• Children must be accompanied by an adult
• Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund
• Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark
• Most travellers can participate
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 60 travellers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• You'll start at 1100 Bagby St 1100 Bagby St, Houston, TX 77002, USA Houston City Holiday Lights 8:15 pm The departure point is located 1100 Bagby Street Houston Texas ( Corner of Bagby & Lamar street ) See address & details
• 1 Houston City Tours Stop: 15 minutes - Admission included Start your tour from a amazing Texas cowboy themed Visitor Center. Read more Pass by Downtown Historic District Market Square Downtown Aquarium Buffalo Bayou Park
• You'll return to the starting point

• richardhJ9034EM 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Very enjoyable tour Ben was very knowledgeable and provided a great tour. Downtown was stunning and vertical I impressed with the art wall murals. Read more Written 14 April 2024
• elizabethjR4295TE 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing experience! Great tour! The bus driver/tour guide was very informative and took us all around the city. I've lived in Houston for 20 years and took this tour with my parents. I even learned a few new things! We sat on the top part of the bus and it was comfortable and gave a great view of the city. It starts and ends near Discovery Green so plenty of places to eat lunch after or before the tour. Read more Written 9 April 2024
• Dreamer54261516538 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Lonnie and Tasha in Houston The views were amazing and the crew was very nice. The trip wasn’t too long or too short. I would recommend this trip to anyone visiting Houston. Read more Written 7 April 2024
• beverleyb605 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Ver glad we went Very interesting information and our guide was easy to hear and understand. Lots of great sights. The ride was comfortable Read more Written 6 April 2024
• bozidarj415 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Totally worthy and interesting experience I only can recommend this tour if you are visiting Houston! Tour guide was great and it was very interesting to learn all mentioned during the city tour. NASA site visit was great experience as well. Only thing which was not good communicated is the tram tour booking. There are three available out of which only one do not need to be booked earlier and that one had endless que line ahead. Anyhow, there's a lot to be seen and explored beside tram tours. Read more Written 3 April 2024
• mariebethp2024 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Gracias The staff were so nice and Mr. Antonio, the tour guide was funny and knowledgeable. The tour in total was very accommodating. It was a great experience. Read more Written 3 April 2024
• Traveler19461909495 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Family Owned - doing a great job! Superb - what a lot of fun and a super great way of seeing the town. Totally recommend it, not just for the varied and interesting commentary, or the sites, but being out in the open and seeing H'Town at its best with the best familly owned business. Read more Written 3 April 2024
• LoveTravel508804 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Do not miss this tour! Excellent tour all around! Do not miss seeing Houston from top of bus. Great commentary for such an interesting “young” 1836” city. Had no idea of the rich history. Architecture and murals are amazingly beautiful. Read more Written 22 March 2024
• 913thanht 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fun tour of the city in a double decker bus! What a wonderful tour guide! It was a sunny and cool day and we both enjoyed the ride. Our guide was funny and entertaining. You will enjoy it! Read more Written 19 March 2024
• nj710 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Don’t waste your time Not worth the price for what we seen. The bus needs to be cleaned. The man at the store was very rude while we were waiting for our Uber. It’s been raining and we are customers from the tour. Read more Written 17 March 2024
• rodom691 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Out of this world - literally.... Visiting the NASA Space Center in Houston was an out-of-this-world experience! The exhibits were fascinating, offering a captivating glimpse into space exploration. From the historic artifacts to the interactive displays, there was something for everyone to enjoy. However, the crowds were quite large, which made it challenging to fully immerse oneself in certain areas. Overall, a must-visit destination for space enthusiasts and families alike Read more Written 15 March 2024
• I2241XGharveys 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Thanks for that tour It was a great experience, I dreamed about visiting NASA since I was a kid. And totally worth it. It was something very special for me Read more Written 13 March 2024
• loriaA5956MD 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great travel group. We had an amazing time. They worked with me to get a time that worked. All the employees were very friendly and informative. I would highly recommend. Read more Written 5 March 2024
• 62margueritem 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great tour! Ver nice tour except the cold weather. Thought it was longer as the advertisement didn’t say it was on 1.5 hours. Great tour guide and beautiful city. Make sure you see the Aquarium when you’re done with the tour! Read more Written 3 March 2024
• H8140XMmichelleb 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Houston city tour I was looking for something to do while my husband was at a convention and I have done other tours similar to this one so I wanted to see what Houston had to offer. It was worth my time! It was a very informative tour with a great guide. He was funny too! I learned so much about Houston. Highly recommend! Read more Written 29 February 2024

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Houston City Lights Tour provided by Houston City Tours

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Holiday lights in houston, 🎉  your guide to christmas displays around the bayou city .

When it comes to the holidays, Houston gets into the spirit of the season! From drive-thru winter wonderlands to a beautifully illuminated zoo, there are plenty of holiday decor exhibits for visitors and locals to enjoy. In this guide, we break down attractions by areas of town to ensure you and your family have the best holiday light experience!

Quicklinks:

Museum district, the heights, space center houston, houston botanic garden, northwest houston, view holiday events.

City Lights DownTown Holiday Magic Nov. 17 - Dec. 31, 2023

City Lights Downtown Holiday Magic, presented by Shell Energy, is pulling out all the stops to transform Downtown Houston into the perfect winter wonderland with 11 unique themed villages. Open to the public and mostly free to enter, these sites offer an ice-skating rink, lights to gaze at, and activities to brighten the season for the whole family.

Enjoy Deck The Trees, Land of Sweets, Ice @ Discovery Green, Texas Winter Lights, Twinkle Town, Mistletoe Square, Winter Wonderlawn, Sugar Plum Plaza, Jingle Town, Winter Wanderland and City Hall-iday Lights.

EXPORE 11 UNIQUE VILLAGES

Zoo Lights  Nov. 17, 2023 – Jan. 7, 2024 5:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. (last entry at 9:30 p.m.)

A favorite holiday tradition among Houston families, Zoo Lights at the Houston Zoo will once again wow visitors with its impressive array of attractions. This year’s event will feature animal-themed lanterns and glowing flowers, an Illuminated Ocean experience where you walk under illuminated jellyfish and other sea creatures, a 33-foot tall color-changing holiday tree (perfect for pictures), and the 125-foot-long Infinity Tunnel of Light. Visitors will also have a chance to take a photo with Santa. Make sure you buy your tickets online before you go. Tickets will not be sold at the gate.

Self-Guided River Oaks Christmas Lights Tour Nov. 25 – Dec. 26, 2023

If you want to see one of Houston’s most beautiful neighborhoods transformed into a magical Christmas village, head to River Oaks . The residents of River Oaks spare no expense in adorning their homes and properties with thousands of Christmas lights. Start at the River Oaks Country Club and work your way around the neighborhood. The intriguing lighting displays and fanciful mansions are truly reminiscent of your favorite Hallmark holiday movies.

Self-Guided Christmas Lights Tour in The Heights Dec. 1 – Dec. 25, 2023

The charming Heights neighborhood has some of the best light displays in the city. Drive or walk around admiring the beautiful craftsman-style architecture of the area looking even more beautiful decorated for the holidays. Try starting Highland and Omar streets, between Studewood and Florence, and explore the area from there.

Galaxy Lights Nov. 11, 2023 – Jan. 7, 2024 6  – 10 p.m. Daily 

Space Center Houston is ready to welcome you to an out-of-this world lights experience this holiday season. During Galaxy Lights, visitors experience interactive, technologically advanced displays like kinetic light shows, where dozens of suspended lights move to music in precise choreographed sequences. Other attractions include a light tunnel, an indoor meteor shower, and a brand new interactive show – “Celebrate Light” – that explores the science behind light. The show takes place every hour starting at 6:30 p.m. with the last show starting at 9:30 p.m.

Radiant Nature Nov.17, 2023 - Feb.25, 2024

New this holiday season at the Garden, more than 50 larger-than-life Chinese lantern installations come to life in stunning displays that showcase the beauty of nature and celebrate the promise of the Lunar New Year in a spectacular way. Radiant Nature, presented by Reliant, is an unforgettable adventure for the entire family. See a majestic 200-foot-long dragon, a soaring 12-foot-tall peacock with a fan that gracefully unfurls, and much more. Explore an interactive zone buzzing with illuminated swings, whimsical seesaws, a digital kaleidoscope you can step inside, and other immersive, Instagram-worthy features.

Uptown 2023 Holiday Season Nov. - Dec. 2023

This holiday season in Uptown, you can expect the sights and sounds of Christmas, like the 300 dazzling holiday trees along Post Oak Boulevard and 1000 twinkling stars, to be adorning the area in festive lights. Uptown will be illuminated earlier than ever this year, which means we can enjoy the magic together even longer! Download the Uptown Radio app for wonderful holiday music, synched to the majestic sweeps of holiday tree lights along Post Oak Boulevard. The easy-to-use app is more than a music player. You can get directions, local weather, and explore Uptown’s ultimate shopping, delicious dining options, and more. Grab your earbuds and a friend, and enjoy the show. The Uptown Radio app is available on both Apple and Google App Stores.

Sugar Land Holiday Lights Nov. 17, 2023 – Jan. 1, 2024 Sun. – Thurs. 6 pm. – 9 p.m., Fri. – Sat. 6 p.m. – 10 p.m., New Year's Eve 6 p.m. - Midnight

Just 20 minutes south of Houston, you’ll find a sparkling wonderland featuring more than 3 million lights, eight themed areas, holiday shopping, food, and Santa Claus. The 8th Sugar Land Holiday Lights at Constellation Field is a holiday tradition that will surely make your holidays memorable. Make sure to check out the calendar of events to find out more about themed nights, discounts, and holiday movie showings.

Moody Gardens Festival of Lights Nov. 18, 2023 – Jan. 6, 2024 4 p.m. – 10 p.m. Daily

Enjoy a festive stroll along the mile-long illuminated trail at Moody Gardens’s Festival of Lights. Featuring 2 million lights themed to holiday music with spectacular views of Galveston Bay, this beautiful attraction will get the whole family into the holiday spirit. Along the way, visitors can enjoy concession areas, hot chocolate, s’mores and plenty of opportunities for pictures. Moody Gardens also hosts other holiday activities, such as holiday 3D films, train rides, and an arctic slide.

Annual Nite of Lites Dec. 11, 2023 – Jan. 2, 2024

The residents of Prestonwood Forest in Northwest Houston have been decorating their homes in grand fashion since the 1970s. Hundreds of homes participate in the neighborhood's annual Nite of Lites event. Neighbors compete in several categories, such as best block, best all-around, best house, best special effects, and even best mailbox. Start on Prestonwood Forest Drive, just off of Texas Highway 249, and you’re sure to run into other cars lining up to experience the neighborhood’s holiday hoopla.

Dasher’s Lightshow Nov. 17  – Dec. 31, 2023 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

For another magical drive-thru experience, head over to Dasher’s Lightshow at Sam Houston Racepark. Drive through light tunnels, past snowmen and other attractions synced to holiday tunes in your car.  Tickets will not be sold at the gate.

The Light Park at Hurricane Harbor Splashtown Nov. 3, 2023 – Jan. 1, 2024 5:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.

The Light Park is a very merry, drive-thru spectacular at Hurricane Harbor Splashtown. Brighten your holiday with this festive and safe holiday light display near Spring. This holiday attraction features millions of lights synchronized to a festive mix of music. Tickets start at $29 per vehicle, so pack your cars, bring some holiday treats and enjoy the ride. Keep in mind that tickets must be purchased online in advance with a reserved show time.

Magical Winter Lights

Katy Mills: 5000 Katy Mills Cir, Katy, TX 77494 Nov. 17, 2023 – Jan. 7, 2024

Explore illuminated castles and world landmarks, peek under the sea and step into imaginary lands of delight and adventure at Magical Winter Lights (MWL) in Katy, Texas. Encompassing more than 7 dazzling themed displays and with more than 6-million lights, the 2023 MWL is held all holiday season from November 17, 2023, to January 7, 2024, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.

Happy Holiday Season!

Whether before or after viewing Houston's holiday light displays, discover  holiday events the family won't want to miss and view our exclusive hotel deals if you want to be closer to family in town for the holiday season--but not  too  close.

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Houston City Lights Tour - With Reviews & Ratings

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Houston City Lights Tour

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Tour Information

Key Details

• Mobile Voucher Accepted
• Duration: 1 Hr 15 Mins
• Language: English
• Departure Time : 07:00 PM Times are subject to change due to local traffic conditions.
• Departure Details : 1302 Dallas St, Houston, TX 77002, USA
• Return Details : Returns to original departure point
• Cancellation Policy : This activity is non-refundable Tours booked using discount coupon codes will be non refundable.

See the historical highlights and cultural delights of Houston on a 75 minute guided evening tour. You will have the best views of Houston as you travel through the city on the top deck of a double decker bus.Take in the city lights and listen to fascinating live commentary as you cruise past important landmarks. See popular attractions like Market Square, the Downtown aquarium , the Theatre district , Texas avenue and the Buffalo bayou. Come see Houston 's Billion dollar skyline. Alternate vehicles may be used according to number of participants, weather or traffic conditions.

Know More about this tour

Itinerary This is a typical itinerary for this product Stop At: Houston City Tours start your tour from a amazing texas cowboy themed Visitor Center. Duration: 15 minutes

All taxes, fees and handling charges

Live commentary on board

Tour escort/host

Entry/Admission - Houston City Tours

Food and drinks, unless specified

Hotel drop-off

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking

Infants must sit on laps

No heart problems or other serious medical conditions

Children must be accompanied by an adult

Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund

Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark

Wheelchair accessible

Most travelers can participate

This experience requires good weather. If its canceled due to poor weather, youll be offered a different date or a full refund

This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If its canceled because the minimum isnt met, youll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund

This tour/activity will have a maximum of 60 travelers

Face masks provided for travelers

Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff

Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized

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Traveler Reviews

Very decent tour, enjoyed it. Just wish we could have kept our original time (7pm) the day tour was very hot.

Commentary stopped for the second half of the ride after City Hall. Not sure if speaker went out or he just stopped talking. Pretty dull ride at that point

We are very satisfied with our experience. It’s very informative, interesting, and fun. I would highly recommend it to tourists.

Great trip, started on time and the employees were really friendly. The guided tour offers Spanish translation which was great for us.

Effortlessly bilingual and pretty interesting bits of information. The sunset views throughout were awesome too!

Debido a las restricciones por el Covid19, este tour ya no es "hop on hop off". El recorrido tiene únicamente 2 paradas, y ambas son de máximo 5 minutos. En total solo dura 1:20 horas. No es posible bajarse en una parada y esperar el siguiente bus. Me parece que pagar $35 es muy caro para lo que se ofrece

We went the Sat before Christmas. The driver did the best he could do, but the traffic in river oaks was a mess so we didn't really see a lot. I kind of wish we had spent more times on the side streets and less on the major streets ... and I think it would have even been better to skip river oaks and maybe look at different neighborhoods? i feel like people just wanted to see lights, not sure if the river oaks part was the most important . overall, it was fun and I would recommend it .. just go EARLY in the season so the traffic isnt so bad. The service was great, the staff was friendly, the hot chocolate was yummy! Checkin process was quick and painless!

We were booked in for the Houston city of lights evening tour. We had received an email confirmation and the money was taken from our credit card for the tour. We then drove three hours - one of which in a thunder storm - to make sure we were in Houston on time for the tour. We turned up outside the visitor center at 6.45pm for the 7.00pm tour. We then waited and waited - and no tour! What shocked us so much is that they had our telephone number and our email - and didn’t have the courtesy to contact us to tell us the tour was cancelled or postponed. Instead they put us out hugely and were happy to take our money though. We still haven’t heard from them or received a refund. This is by far the worst experience we have ever had with any tour company and if we could have given them 0 stars - we would.

Booked a tour with this company to do the Houston City Lights tour during the Holidays. The company cancelled the tour due to there not being enough people. I was sent a email notifying me of this and that they would provide a full refund of the purchase. It's been 3 weeks and I still have not been able to resolve the issue. I've called and emailed several times. No response.

City Lights Holiday Events in Downtown Houston

Enjoy the holiday season in #DowntownHouston with 11 magical holiday villages, a holiday bus tour and more!

CITY LIGHTS HOLIDAY MAGIC

City Lights Downtown Holiday Magic  is pulling out all the stops to transform Downtown Houston into the perfect winter wonderland with 11 unique themed villages. As part of this special program, various organizations and companies have gone all out to transform Downtown Houston into the perfect winter wonderland, with 11 unique themed spots.

EXPERIENCE THE VILLAGES

HERITAGE HOLIDAY BUS HUB

After strolling through Winter Wanderland on Bagby, grab a ticket and a holiday passport and catch a ride on the Hop-on, Hop-off Holiday Trolley with Houston City Bus Tours to visit any of the 11 City Lights Holiday Villages. Bus tickets - $15/adults + $10/children. 

Meet us the Heritage Society Holiday Bus Hub every Friday and Saturday, from 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM, at 1100 Bagby Street.  

Enjoy free pictures with  Texas Santa  and  Letters to Santa  on the Bagby Street Patio.

Experience an  AO Art Show artists  and  Freedmen’s Town Farmers Market hosted by Heritage Society

Pick up a holiday treat at the The Heritage Society’s  Museum Gift Shop,  open from  6:30 - 10 PM . The museum exhibit is only  $5  and includes  hot chocolate  and  cookies .

FREE HERITAGE HUB RSVP

BUS STOP INFORMATION

- Avenida Houston (GRB + Discovery Green) | 1201 Crawford Pappasito's on Lamar Street

- POST Houston | Franklin Street (Look for blue holiday pedicab sign) 

- Market Square Park | 801 Congress (Bus Stop at Barnaby's) 

- Heritage Society | 500 McKinney (Across the street from Heritage Society next to Houston Public Library) 

- Trebly Park | 1515 Fannin (corner of Leeland and San Jacinto)  

PURCHASE A BUS TOUR TICKET

HOLIDAY PEDICABS 

Get in the Downtown holiday spirit and catch a free ride from village to village with the holiday pedicabs provided by DowntownHouston+. Locate the holiday pedicab stations at Discovery Green, Lynn Wyatt Square, POST Houston, Trebly Park and Market Square Park for an easy way to navigate the neighborhood. 

PEDICAB INFORMATION (Look for FREE blue holiday pedicab signs) 

- Market Square Park | 301 Milam (Corner of Congress + Preston) 

- Lynn Wyatt Square | 600 Louisiana (Corner of Louisiana + Texas) 

- Trebly Park | 1515 Fannin (Fannin Street)  

FIND THE STOPS

Holiday Passports 

Pick up  or download a holiday passport on the Holiday Bus Trolley or from Heritage Society, Trebly Park, Hilton Americas-Houston, Market Square Park, Winter Wanderlawn at POST Houston and Marriott Marquis to explore all 11 Downtown City Light villages for the chance to win awesome prizes and be entered to win a Downtown holiday staycation package with a one-night stay at Hotel Icon, (4) tickets to a Theater District Performance, and (4) tickets to a Houston Rockets game. 

• Deck the Trees - located with the Downtown Public Safety Guide on 1201 Crawford (Every Fri + Sat from 7-10pm)
• Land of Sweets - Hilton Americas-Houston concierge desk
• Green Mountain Energy Ice - located at Discovery Green ice skating ticket booth.
• Texas Winter Lights - Marriott Marquis concierge desk
• Twinkle Town - located with the Downtown Public Safety Guide or inside Tout Suite at Trebly Park.
• Mistletoe Square - located with the Downtown Public Safety Guide at bus stop, the park or with Santa at the  Cultural Extravaganza  every Friday and Saturday. 
• Winter Wonderlawn at POST Houston - located with the Downtown Pblic Safety guide at the stop or at the POST Houston Winter Wanderlawn ticketing booth. 
• Sugar Plum Plaza -  located with the Downtown Public Safety Guide  (Every Fri + Sat from 7-10pm)
• Jingle Town at Lynn Wyatt Square -  located with the Downtown Public Safety Guide (Every Fri + Sat from 7-10pm)
• Winter Wanderland on Bagby -  located with the Downtown Public Safety Guide or Heritage Society (Every Fri + Sat from 7-10pm)
• City Hall-iday Lights - located with the Downtown Public Safety Guide or Heritage Society (Every Fri + Sat from 7-10pm)

Once completed, take your stamp to Space City Birria Tacos & More , Cellar 7 or Tout Suite SODO  to redeem for a free treat. 

Downtown Houston+ Holiday Events

Mentioned in this post.

Discovery Green 1500 McKinney St

Market Square Park 301 Milam St

Trebly Park 1515 Fannin St

Avenida Houston 1001 Avenida De Las Americas

Heritage Society Historic Homes Tour 1100 Bagby St

It's the Holiday Season

Explore 8 unique holiday villages at houston's city lights.

Downtown Houston has just undergone a transformation, and the enchantment is so real. The extravaganza that is City Lights Downtown Holiday Magic gets lit via eight themed villages — each with its own unique delights — from November 18, 2022, through January 2, 2023.

Open to the public and mostly free, the villages usher in everything from ice for skating to lights for gazing, and festive activities to make your whole family's season bright.

Whether you’re enjoying a night out with friends or an evening of fam-friendly fun, here are eight must-have, magical experiences in the City Lights villages.

See the trees The trees are ready for their close-up at Deck The Trees Grand Holiday Window display. With 30 brilliantly decked and dazzling designs, the Grand Holiday Window display at the George R. Brown Convention Center is a sight to behold.

Even better, it benefits the Alley Theatre’s educational community and artistic initiatives. You can also catch an outdoor concert with performances on Thursdays through Sundays with carolers, strings, swing ensembles, jazz music, and more.

Check out some eye candy Get set for a sugar rush in the Hilton Americas lobby, where the hotel’s Land of Sweets has made its wow-worthy return. This year’s iconic holiday chocolate display features a hand-sculpted, Minion-themed masterpiece that boasts more than 2,000 pounds of the cocoa stuff.

Make it a staycation with the hotel’s ’Tis the Season package, which includes luxe accommodations, a holiday treat, and two tickets to the Discovery Green ice rink.

Engage in your own ice capades Speaking of Discovery Green, you can glide right into the holidays at the park’s bustling Holiday Ice Village . The open-air ice-skating rink has also scheduled in some fun music-themed nights with DJs and party vibes under the city lights. There’s even an opportunity to watch the pros take the ice — and Santa may make a few special appearances, too.

If you’re keeping your feet off the ice, catch a holiday movie under the stars every Thursday or check the box on your holiday shopping at Flea by Night every Saturday. The open-air market features local artisans and small business owners and a range of vintage, handmade, recycled, and repurposed goods.

Float under the lights Texas Winter Lights is back and it’s a must for your holiday to-do list. The one-of-a-kind poolside tradition is hosted at Marriott Marquis’ Altitude Rooftop & Pool (the lazy river is heated all winter!), where you can stroll through — or float under — the lights at night.

There will be no shortage of Instagrammable photo opps with illuminated activations, including a light-up stallion, graffiti wall, adult playground, and light grove. Plus, you can choose from more than 30 festive beverages. There’s also a nightly snowfall to add to the enchantment.

Have a date with Santa Santa Claus is coming to town — Main Street Square, to be exact — to share the wonder of the season. Get a pic with Kris Kringle every Friday and Saturday starting at 6 pm in Santa’s Village .

Then explore all the shopping goodness the square has to offer with a series of holiday markets that are held on Fridays and Saturdays, too, all set against a vibrantly lit backdrop of 40-foot water bursts and a 250-foot-long, eight-inch-deep reflecting pool.

Find somebody to smooch You know what they say: Everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes mistletoe. This 150-inch ball of greenery is suspended from a giant 15-foot candy cane in historic Market Square Park — a.k.a. Mistletoe Square . You’ll want your kissable plus-one around, too, for snuggling up under the twinkling lights and enjoying a holiday movie — or making a gingerbread house with Phoenicia Specialty Foods.

See visions of sugar plums The iconic Fish Plaza at the entrance of the Wortham Theater is dancing into the season with its temporary title of Sugar Plum Plaza — and it lives up to its name. Every square foot has been reimagined in an ode to the holidays with larger-than-life custom-built ornaments and cheerful tunes.

Wander through a wonderland If you love twinkling lights, the Winter Wanderland has 100,000 of them. The LED-lit scene is the ultimate in merry and bright vibes along the recently reconstructed and beautified Bagby Street from Lamar to Preston. Signature elements include giant angel wings, constellation arches, and an 80-foot light tunnel across from The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.

Be sure to sign up for the free City Lights Pass here . Check in to each village and you might win one of four holiday experiences — the more places you visit, the better your chances of winning.

Make your own magic and chart your holiday course at City Lights here .

Photo courtesy of VisitHouston.com

The trees are ready for their close-up at Deck the Trees.

Movie Review

Crime film laroy, texas is a lightweight-but-enjoyable fargo clone.

If you go by the movies, life in small towns can either be quaint and neighborly, or drudgery where even the smallest change to the daily routine can be cause for excitement. The latter is certainly the case in LaRoy, Texas , where a case of mistaken identity leads to the small Texas town having more crime than it’s seen in its entire existence.

Ray (John Magaro) is a sad-sack character seen as a pushover by the most important people in his life: His former beauty queen wife, Stacy-Lynn (Megan Stevenson), and his brother Junior (Matthew Del Negro), who manages the hardware store where they both work. Early in the film, Ray is shown evidence that Stacy-Lynn might be cheating on him by wannabe private detective Skip (Steve Zahn), bringing even more misery into his life.

While sitting in a parking lot, lamenting his horrible life, one night, Ray is approached by a man with an envelope full of money and a request to kill a man. Although initially taken aback, Ray decides to take the job if only to bring something different and exciting into his life. The real hitman (Dylan Baker) doesn’t take kindly to someone stealing work from him, and Ray soon finds himself in several situations that upend his world completely.

Written and directed by Shane Atkinson, the film is a lightweight but still enjoyable take on a Fargo -esque story. The fact that Ray has three separate elements with which to deal — his cheating wife, the seemingly ever-present Skip, and his inadvertent entry into the world of crime — gives Atkinson different avenues into which to channel the story, which keeps the film from becoming repetitive.

He also upends expectations at multiple points in the film, from the excellent opening scene to the climactic sequence. While some of the characters adhere to storytelling conventions, several take detours that keep the film from relying too much on Texas stereotypes. Ray especially keeps viewers on their toes, as just when it seems he’s becoming predictable, he makes an unanticipated choice.

The film does get bogged down a bit in the middle section after an initial jolt of energy that comes with the set-up of the story. Stacy-Lynn and Junior are both mostly one-note characters whose importance to the plot doesn’t help them much. The real hitman, after making a great first impression, recedes into the background too often. The few times he does pop up make you wish his role called for him to be in more scenes.

Magaro is good casting for this role, as — much like he did in Past Lives — he plays the well-meaning guy who is overshadowed by others in a way that makes you root for him and hate him at the same time. Zahn has the type of face that allows him to easily play the comic relief, but he’s also good in more earnest moments. Baker makes the most of his relatively limited screentime; if only had had more.

LaRoy, Texas doesn’t do enough to be a completely absorbing crime thriller, but with a few good performances and a story that’s familiar but still surprising, it has more highs than lows. With a deadly crime spree the most interesting thing to happen in this small town, it might be worth visiting again.

LaRoy, Texas is available on demand.

10 Best Houston Bus Tours To Experience The City

Bus Tours are common in this modern era because of their availability and package holiday. Houston is a fascinating city with excellent tourist attractions including museums, beaches, restaurants, historic sites, and abundant live entertainment venues. To travel around the city, you will require reliable means. Bus tours save you the hustle of exploring without being afraid of missing your destination. In this article, we have researched and compiled the best Houston Bus tours to experience the city for a fun-filled moment.

What's On This Page?

1. Galveston Island Tour

Galveston is a popular spot in Houston thanks to its major tourist attractions. Visiting this place is fun and requires comfortable means of transport. Galveston Island Tour is a private Houston bus tour offered to experience the island. The vehicle is air-conditioned and during your experience, you will visit The Strand, The Seawall, and Port of Galveston.

As one of the best Houston bus tours to experience the city, the Galveston Island Tour is unique with price starting from $121.74.

The tours take about 1-2 hours travelling as a group. In case of a refund, you will cancel your tour at least 24 hours in advance.

Book your bus tour: https://www.getyourguide.com/

2. Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern Guided History Tour

Discover one of the best attractions in the city by booking this bus tour. Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern History Tour gives travelers with an opportunity to learn about the architecture of this unique space. The tour is informative and entertaining with an expert tour of the underground cistern and subterranean architectural wonderland. Also, you will learn the history behind one of the country’s largest cisterns.

3. Astroville Best of Houston City

Experience the best Houston bus tours that are comfortable and worth your cash. Astroville Best of Houston City is a luxurious bus tour with efficient orientation for first-timers. You will experience the beautiful view of Houston’s historical landmarks , green spaces, lavish river oaks mansions, Houston’s downtown skyline, and the graffiti park .

Astroville Houston bus tours allow a maximum of ten people for 2 hours 30 minutes charging $45 per adult. In addition, transport is by conditioned Mercedes Benz sprinter van with a professional driver. They also offer a professional tour guide, bottled water, and photography .

Book your bus tour: https://www.tripadvisor.com/

4. Houston City Tours

Houston City Tours offers historical highlights and cultural insights about the city. It is one of the best Houston bus tours, offering guides to places such as the Downtown Aquarium , historic city Hall, Graffiti Park, and Market Square.

With tour guides available on weekends, this bus tour charges an admission fee of $39.95. For mapping and orientation, you will book as a group of 50 people and enjoy the tour for one hour.

5. Food Walking Tour in Houston Montrose

Houston Bus Tours has something for every one of your passions and professions. Whether you are a chef or passionate about cooking, you will enjoy the tours. Food Walking Tour in Houston Montrose is a fascinating tour to satisfy your culinary experience .

This bus tour, walks you to four tasty restaurants to experience diverse food flavors in the Montrose neighborhood . You will enjoy favorites of Mexican dishes, and southern foods and finish with crafted cocktails wines , or ice creams . The tour charges $95 per person in a group of 15 people for three hours. Savory snacks, local handpicked food, and refreshments are offered during the tour.

6. Houston City Lights Tour

For one hour, hop into an incredible double-decker bus in Houston and be ready to experience the city. Houston City Lights Tour is a thrilling bus tour offering travels through Allen Parkway, the downtown Historic District , Buffalo Bayou, and River Oaks District.

As you enjoy your ride, the tour guide provides informative information about this place while sipping your complimentary hot chocolate . In addition, lap blankets are available for warmth.

7. Kemah Waterfront Day Trip

Discover the incredible scenery of Kemah Boardwalk by booking the best Houston Bus Tour in the city. Kemah Waterfront Day Trip is one of Houstonians’ favorite bus tours offering doorstep pickup from your hotel.

For $475 you will spend five hours enjoying various games , restaurants, games, and stunning destinations. During your trip, the bus tours offer bottled water, air-conditioned chauffeured luxury vehicles, refreshments, and wheelchair accessibility.

8. Houston CityPass

Enjoy the best Houston bus tours that are affordable and luxurious. Houston CityPass is a popular bus tour that offers an opportunity for groups to explore the top five attractions in the city. With an admission fee of $69, you will explore the Museum of Fine Arts, Downtown Aquarium, Houston Zoo, Children’s Museum of Houston , and Houston Museum of Natural Science .

Houston CityPass Bus tour lasts nine days and has a mobile ticket for reservations. In addition, they offer Kemah Boardwalk all-day pass for admissions to special events or exhibitions. Don’t forget to bring your drinks and refreshments during the tour.

9. Houston Sightseeing Tour

Explore the city with the best Houston Bus Tours that are easily accessible. Houston Sightseeing Tour is of a kind bus tour. It offers you the opportunity to experience the Lone Star States, the modern and historic sides of the city, and Galveston on the Gulf of Mexico.

This tour allows families and individuals to admire and explore downtown Houston by double-decker bus. Their services are modern rated from $139.95 per adult. Houston Sightseeing Tour has air-conditioned vehicles to relieve you from the city’s heat and the tour takes about two hours.

10. Private Houston Brewery Tour

There are a lot of beautiful things to experience in Houston. If you are passionate about wines, cocktails , or beers, this bus tour is perfect for you. Private Houston Brewery is an incredible tour offering thriving brewery scenes . During your bus tour, a local guide is available to take you through personalized bar crawl, cozy pubs, and craft breweries.

Private Houston bus tours have an eco-friendly electric cart to enjoy the colorful murals on your way. Places you will visit include Downtown Historic District Market Square at a charge fee of $57 per adult. Remember the bus tour does not offer alcoholic beverages . The experience lasts for 2 hours with service animals included .

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8 Seasonal Sights to Experience at City Lights Downtown Holiday Magic

By Daniel Renfrow November 15, 2022

Houston First and Central Houston, Inc have joined forces this year to transform Downtown Houston into the ultimate holiday destination

Image: Courtesy Central Houston

The World Series may be over , but there’s still one good reason to keep Downtown Houston on your regular itinerary: City Lights Downtown Holiday Magic. For the holiday season-long extravaganza, Houston First and Central Houston, Inc have joined forces to transform Downtown Houston into the ultimate holiday destination.

The experience, which kicks off on November 18 with a ceremonial lighting at 5:30 p.m. on the plaza at Avenida Houston, runs through January 2 and spans eight unique themed villages spread across Downtown. We’ve put together a guide to each of the eight villages so you can make the most of them this holiday season—especially if, like us, you like to leave the roaming to the carolers. 

The George R. Brown Convention Center will contain an indoor forest this Christmas. 

Image: Courtesy Houston First

Deck the Trees and Live Music at Plaza at Avenida

If you’re looking to spruce up your holidays this year, then head over to the George R. Brown Convention Center for a Christmas display you will never fir-get. The Grand Holiday Window at the convention center will display 30 fully decked out Christmas trees this year, which will be viewable from Avenida de las Americas, the street that runs from Minute Maid Park to Hilton Americas. A series of live musical performances from the Avenida Concert Series promises to add to the installation’s holiday ambiance. 

Christmas in Texas sometimes calls for a bit of swimming. 

Image: Courtesy Marriott Marquis

Texas Winter Lights at Marriott Marquis

The Marriott Marquis , home to Houston’s famous Texas-shaped lazy river, is bringing back Texas Winter Lights, their one-of-a-kind poolside tradition, again this year. Through January 8, guests can kick back on the hotel’s lazy river (conveniently heated to 80 degrees all this winter) and slowly float their way through a holiday display that includes shimmering overhead lights, a grove of decorated Christmas trees, and nightly snowfall. Tickets start at $25. 

Celebrate the holidays by watching Houstonians try to ice skate at Discovery Green—and maybe put on some skates yourself. 

Image: Courtesy Discovery Green

Holiday Ice Village at Discovery Green

Even though winter temperatures sometimes make it into the 80s in Houston, you won’t be skating on thin ice at Discovery Green ’s annual Holiday Ice Village—although you might find yourself on some if you skip out on its potential as a great date option. The park’s famous outdoor ice-skating rink is back again this year, just in time for the holidays and everyone’s favorite pastime: watching Houstonians try to ice skate. To dial up the fun this year, quirky themed nights will be taking place throughout the season, including an opportunity to hit the ice with Santa . Tickets are priced at $17 a person and include a skate rental. 

A visit to the Land of Sweets at Hilton Americas is always a treat. 

Image: Courtesy Hilton Americas

Land of Sweets at Hilton Americas

Hilton Americas is giving Willy Wonka a run for his money this year through a chocolate display that will boast well over 2,000 pounds of chocolate. This year’s hand-sculpted display, which holds court in the hotel’s lobby, is a Minion-themed masterpiece that is sure to wow even the most chronically unimpressed of school-age minions—you know, the one’s whose parents almost want them to get stuck in a chocolate fountain. Since Hilton Americas is adjacent to the George R. Brown and Discovery Green, the Land of Sweets is a great holiday pit stop before heading out to other nearby holiday attractions.  

Sugar Plum Plaza at Wortham Theater

Wortham Theater ’s iconic Fish Plaza is getting a much-needed name change this holiday season when it is reimagined as a winter wonderland—and no, it unfortunately doesn’t involve any ice fishing. The plaza, which has been seasonally renamed to Sugar Plum Plaza, will serve as host this winter to a collection of leviathan, custom-built ornaments so grand in scale they’ll give any production by Houston Grand Opera a run for its money.

You have all holiday season to put this giant mistletoe at Market Square Park to good use. 

Image: Morris Malakoff

Mistletoe Square at Market Square Park

If your hints aren’t working, maybe a 150-inch ball of mistletoe will be enough to do the trick? Find out this holiday season at Market Square Park , which is home this year to what is being branded as the biggest mistletoe in the entire state of Texas. To the delight of lovebirds, the hulking bunch of greenery will be hanging from a 15-foot candy cane in Market Square Park all this holiday season—plenty of time for you to put it to good use. 

Main Street Square will be home to Santa's Village this year. 

Santa’s Village at Main Street Square

While it takes a village to raise a child, this holiday season you can let Santa’s Village at Main Street Square do some of the work. Santa Claus will be coming to the festive square every Friday and Saturday this holiday season (starting at 6 p.m.) to check in with visiting children so he can make sure he has a copy of everything on their gift list. After a meeting with the jolly man in red, visitors can explore a series of holiday markets also taking place in the market every Friday and Saturday—a perfect opportunity to find gifts that didn’t make it onto Santa’s list. 

Taking a photo in front of these wings might confuse Santa enough for him to take you off the naughty list. 

Winter Wanderland on Bagby Street

If you’re looking for a highly Instagrammable locale in which to snap some holiday pics, the Winter Wonderland on Bagby Street has over 100,000 twinkling LED lights that will ensure your pics will come out merry—and also very, very bright. The light scape, which will be strung from Lamar to Preston, includes constellation arches, an 80-foot light tunnel across from the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, and a set of giant angel wings that, if you take a picture in front of, are just convincing enough to trick Santa into thinking you’re on the nice list.

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Holiday Magic on the Plaza

Date:  November 17 – December 17

Every Saturday from 6-8pm and Sunday from 2-4pm

Avenida Houston is set to come alive with the enchanting sounds, dazzling lights, and heartwarming performances of “A Happy Houston Holiday,” a ten-day holiday stage show that promises to celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures that make our city vibrant and unique. The “A Happy Houston Holiday” stage show is a testament to the unity in diversity that defines our beloved city, and showcases a captivating blend of music, dance, and storytelling, drawing inspiration from the traditions of various cultures that call Houston home.

The “A Happy Houston Holiday” stage show will feature world-class performers, local talents, and even community groups, ensuring a diverse and inclusive experience that reflects the true spirit of Houston.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be a part of this unforgettable celebration of culture, community, and the holiday season. Mark your calendars and join us in making “A Happy Houston Holiday” a resounding success.

“A Happy Houston Holiday” will be a 2-hour holiday performance from our Main Stage on the Avenida Plaza that will include dance, songs by Houston artists and conclude with a holiday medley that everyone can sing along to.

Parking and Transportation

Guests coming to performances can find garage parking in the Avenida North and Avenida South parking garages, located at each end of the George R. Brown Convention Center More information on rates and transportation can be found  here. 

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City lights bringing dazzling holiday displays to downtown houston.

Briana Zamora-Nipper , Community Producer

City Lights Downtown Holiday Magic is transforming downtown Houston into a dazzling holiday destination featuring twinkling lights, ice skating, holiday villages, and more.

The holiday attractions cover dozens of blocks throughout the city’s central business district.

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Here’s what’s new this year:

• Harmonies by LeMonde Studio – Step into a world where music and magic meet in a captivating series of interactive music boxes presented by the Houston Theater District in partnership with Lynn Wyatt Square, Market Square Park, and Trebly Park. With a simple turn of the crank, 10 music boxes of various shapes harness the power of human energy to weave mesmerizing soundscapes and illuminate their surroundings with enchanting lights. Visitors will be fascinated by the larger-than-life creations, which include a giant Nutcracker, guitar slide, massive boombox, a banjo, violin, music note, theater mask, mic and an elegant harp, each with its own unique soundtrack.
• Pedicabs – Grab a free ride from village to village in one of the festively decorated pedicabs provided by Downtown Houston+. Locate the holiday pedicab pickup stations at Discovery Green, Lynn Wyatt Square, POST Houston, Trebly Park and Market Square Park.
• Hop-On, Hop-Off Holiday Trolley – For a nominal fee, guests can ride in a holiday-decorated double-decker trolley to five Downtown stops: Trebly Park, Heritage Society, Avenida Houston/Discovery Green, Market Square Park and POST Houston.
• Holiday Passports - Pick up a holiday passport from Market Square Park, Trebly and Heritage Society to explore all 11 Downtown City Light villages for the chance to win prizes and be entered to win a Downtown holiday staycation package with a one-night stay at Hotel Icon, (4) tickets to the Alley Theater’s, “A Christmas Carol,” and (4) tickets to a Houston Rockets game.

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Here are the holiday villages you can visit:

• Deck the Trees (Avenida Houston) – Enjoy the decorated Christmas trees on display at the Alley Theatre and the Grand Holiday Window at the George R. Brown Convention Center. On select weekends, live musical performances will take place on The Plaza at Avenida Houston.
• Land of Sweets (Hilton Americas) – Along with the legendary annual chocolate display, you can fill your holiday season surrounded by 80,000 sparkling lights and 14-foot Champagne trees lining the lobby of the hotel.
• Texas Winter Lights (Marriott Marquis) – Float along the 80-degree Texas-shaped lazy river atop the Marriott Marquis while enjoying thousands of twinkling lights with floating orbs and colorful archways. Admission is complimentary for hotel guests, and a nominal admission fee for others.
• ICE at Discovery Green (Discovery Green) - A holiday tradition continues with open-air ice-skating at Discovery Green Park.
• Sugar Plum Plaza (Fish Plaza, Wortham Theater) – Guests will be able to experience light and sound by turning the wheels on life-sized hourglasses. A Harmonies music box art installation will add to the whimsical holiday moments in Sugar Plum Plaza.
• Jingle Town (Lynn Wyatt Square) – The recently opened greenspace in the heart of Houston’s Downtown Theater District will come alive with sweet sounds of the holiday season when visitors turn a crank to experience three of the Harmonies interactive music box art installations—a guitar slide, banjo and violin.
• Winter Wanderland (Bagby St.) – Stroll through this spectacle of more than 100,000 lights in an 80-foot long tunnel. These dazzling lights are flanked by a number of constellations and blinged-out arches from Hobby Center to City Hall, creating some unforgettable selfie moments. Additionally, the Heritage Society at Sam Houston Park will be a Holiday hub with hot chocolate, free pictures with Texas Cowboy Santa, letters to Santa and the main place to grab a ticket and catch a ride on the Hop-On, Hop Off Holiday Trolley. You can also pick up your “Holiday Passport,” which if stamped at every village, qualifies you for some prizes.
• Twinkle Town (Trebly Park) – Enjoy live holiday music every Friday night, then on Saturday afternoons, Santa Paws will be available for photos with those ‘naughty and nice’ four-legged fur-babies. A life size, Harmonies music box art installation is available for everyone to explore whenever the park is open.
• Mistletoe Square (Market Square Park) – Prepare to pucker your lips under the state’s biggest mistletoe in this return of the 150-inch ball of greenery hanging from a giant 15-foot candy cane. A Harmonies music box art installation will be on site to add to the magic of the village.
• City Hall-iday Headquarters (City Hall) – The seat of city government is also the place to get the best view of H-town’s towering Christmas tree in Hermann Square. Live musical performances and a free photo with Santa will be part of the annual tree lighting festivities Dec. 2, 2023 from 6-8 p.m.
• Winter Wonderlawn (Post HTX) – Don’t miss viewing thousands of lights at the Post’s rooftop garden with Downtown Houston’s skyline as the backdrop. Skylawn will be decked out with festive holiday lights and decorations. At the center of it all, a 25-foot Christmas tree surrounded by multiple holiday-themed activations. A nominal fee will be charged for access to the Post’s rooftop during the holiday season.

For more details including info on times, parking, prices, purchasing tickets, a map and related holiday activities, visit visithoustontexas.com/citylights/ .

What are your favorite holiday festivities in the Houston area? What makes it so special? 📸 Don’t forget to share all your festive fun with us at Click2Pins . We love featuring your photos online and on TV!

Copyright 2023 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.

About the Author

Briana zamora-nipper.

Briana Zamora-Nipper joined the KPRC 2 digital team in 2019. When she’s not hard at work in the KPRC 2 newsroom, you can find Bri drinking away her hard earned wages at JuiceLand, running around Hermann Park, listening to crime podcasts or ransacking the magazine stand at Barnes & Noble.

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HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Thousands of bicyclists took off from downtown Houston Sunday morning for the 17th annual Tour de Houston , a ride that travels through some of the city's most scenic areas.

Participants were in good spirits as they were greeted with beautiful weather at the starting line on Avenida de las Americas, right next to Discovery Green. Mayor John Whitmire joined Apache Corporation, the event's sponsor, to send off each of the three groups, riding in the 20, 40, and 60-mile routes.

The ride almost didn't take place this year.

Back in January, the Mayor's Office of Special Events preliminarily canceled the 2024 event due to a lack of funding. Whitmire said this was done without his consultation and when he found out, he explored other options to keep the event going.

The longest route takes participants through Houston's historic neighborhoods, vibrant districts, and parks before going all the way down to Clear Lake Park in Seabrook. The intersections along the way were not closed, but manned by traffic officers.

READ MORE: Houston cyclists plead next mayor for more bike lanes: 'We're demanding safety improvements'

While the event allowed bicyclists to ride safely on Houston's roads on Sunday, some riders shared with ABC13 some of the long-term measures they'd like to see to make the city more bike-friendly.

"If they could connect the bike trails together to make even long trails, that would be the best thing the City of Houston could do to improve biking in the city, in my opinion. Connect the widest trails, like White Oak and Spring Creek. Those kinds of mega trails," Ulises Martin said.

"A clearly marked lane for bikes. We do know that we have to share with cars because the City of Houston is so car-oriented. Make a better effort of campaigning to let motorists know to be aware of cyclists," Phi Nguyen said.

Data obtained by ABC13 shows 13 cyclists died in accidents in Harris County in 2023. ABC13 asked the mayor where city officials stand on the issue of bicyclist safety.

"We're growing at a rapid rate. Our general mobility is very important. We've done great things along Allen Parkway. We need to make sure that there's a safe passage in Memorial Park. So there's a lot of things we still have to do," Whitmire said.

Meanwhile, organizers said proceeds from Tour de Houston will go towards the city's RE-Plant Houston Program, which helps plant thousands of trees and reforest parks and greenspaces.

For more on this story, follow Rosie Nguyen on Facebook , X and Instagram .

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