By Melissa Voelker
Houston is a large city with many events and activities during the holidays to offer visiting families and long term residents. From visiting with Santa Claus, to ice skating indoors, to marveling at elaborately decorated neighborhoods, you and your children can find something to excite you at Christmas.
Go Ice Skating
While several of the smaller malls now offer ice skating rinks you can visit on a daily basis all year-round, it has been a tradition for years to go to the Polar Ice Skating Rink at the Galleria Mall. Public sessions are offered daily for free skating and Broom Ball (which is similar to ice hockey) can be arranged for groups interested in playing. The Ice Rink is open seven days a week, except for Christmas, and is decorated with a large, lighted tree during the holidays. General admission is $8 and children under 12 can skate for $7, with skate rentals going for $3 (as of 2009).
Galleria
5015 Westheimer Suite 1260
Houston, TX 77056
Telephone: (713-621-1500)
Visit Santa Claus
Anyone can see old St. Nick at the mall. Why not take your kids to see him underwater? The Downtown Aquarium offers a Breakfast with Santa on the Saturday and Sunday before Christmas. It includes a buffet, pictures with Santa Claus, and even the opportunity to see Santa swim underwater in one of the aquariums. Kids can attend the breakfast for $7.99 and adults get in for $14.99 (as of 2009). Because space fills up fast it is a good idea to call ahead and make reservations.
Downtown Aquarium
410 Bagby
Houston, TX 77002
Telephone: (713-223-3474)
Drive Through Decorated Neighborhoods
The Greatwood subdivision in Sugarland has some of the best home light displays in town as residents try to top not only each other, but their own previous efforts at decorating. Many of the streets will join together in a specific theme and most houses have lights and music that work in harmony.
Herman Park also does a yearly light show, with giant displays that you can stroll through. It begins each year with an opening ceremony led by the Houston Symphony and usually stays open until New Year's Day.
Greatwood, Sugarland
59 Southwest Freeway
and West Grand Parkway
Herman Park
6001 Fannin St
Houston, TX 77030
Telephone: (713-524-5876)
Attend the "Nutcracker" Ballet
Each year the Houston Ballet company stages the "Nutcracker" from the end of November through the entire month of December. Productions take place twice a day, in the afternoon and evening, so you can find a time that suits any child's schedule. Tickets can be purchased singly or as part of a season package, and discounts are available for groups, students and seniors. The ballet takes place at Brown Theater at the Wortham Theater Center.
Wortham Center
501 Texas Ave
Houston, TX 77002
Telephone: (713-224-7575)
Visit a Winter Wonderland
The Woodlands makes the most out of the holiday season by holding a series of events in Town Green Park, including ice skating, visits with Santa Claus and the Lighting of the Doves festival. This festival is free to attend and includes live music, food booths, face painting and ice carving. There is also a snow hill available for children to take rides down, though there is a small fee charged for this.
Town Green Park
2099 Lake Robbins Dr
Spring, TX 77380
About the Author:
Melissa Voelker has been a professional writer since 2002. She works full time at a TV station in the commercial traffic department and also writes for Paperbackreader.com and Pinkraygun.com. Her articles have appeared in "Listen," "The Spokesman Review" and "Freepress Houston."
