Unexpected Holiday Experiences

1. Christmas Markets … at a Brewery

At Saint Arnold Brewing Company, they really get into the holidays with markets, activities, and three days with Santa visiting near Christmas. Parents can sip seasonal brews while kids enjoy cocoa, lawn games, and a surprisingly cozy holiday atmosphere - totally unexpected for a brewery!

For an alternative holiday show, try Cirque de Soleil. Photo courtesy of Cirque Dreams

2. Skip the Nutcracker - Try Cirque Dreams Holidaze

Instead of the usual holiday classics, catch Cirque Dreams Holidaze at Jones Hall for a fresh, high-energy twist. This touring show combines Broadway-style theater with circus arts, including acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, dancers, and singers in a festive holiday production. With live music, dazzling costumes, and gravity-defying performances, it offers a magical outing for kids and adults alike.

3. ICE LAND: Christmas Around the World at Moody Gardens

For a truly unusual holiday experience, Moody Gardens’ ICE LAND transports visitors on a global journey using 2 million pounds of ice. For 2025, expert ice carvers have created intricate sculptures representing holiday traditions from Russia, Egypt, China, and beyond. Families can glide down the Giant Ice Slide at the top of the Eiffel Tower and explore each ice display, then warm up with a festive drink inside Shiver’s Ice Bar. Unlike typical holiday attractions, ICE LAND will educate on worldwide Christmas traditions, all while having fun! This is just one of Moody Garden’s amazing holiday attractions. 

Underrated or Hidden-Gem Holiday Activities

4. Lights in the Heights Historical Vibe

If your family loves Christmas Neighborhood Light Displays, then the Lights in the Heights festival might be on your list. The full festival draws crowds, but visiting on quieter nights lets families stroll among beautifully decorated historical homes. The Heights often has local musicians performing from porches and driveways. It’s a relaxed and festive vibe!

5. Tinsel Trek: Buffalo Bayou Park

Bundle up in your festive attire and join the Tinsel Trek, a free guided walk through Buffalo Bayou Park. This seasonal stroll lets families and friends explore downtown Houston’s holiday lights while staying active.

6. Gingerbread Builders Paradise

For families who love hands-on holiday fun, Houston’s gingerbread scene is a hidden gem. Central Market hosts charming Make & Take Gingerbread House sessions where kids (and grown-ups) decorate their own frosted creations with piles of candy and icing. If you want something bigger and more imaginative, head to Levy Park for the Gingerbread Build-Off, where local architects and artists construct towering edible masterpieces. The event includes a kids’ construction zone, games, and plenty of sweet inspiration. 

Unconventional Family Fun

7. Ride with Santa on Nigel the Bus in Tomball!

If your kids love vehicles and Santa, this is one of North Houston’s most delightfully unusual Christmas adventures. Families hop aboard Nigel the Bus, a cheerful double-decker, for a festive countryside loop with Santa and Mrs. Claus themselves. Enjoy Santa far away from the crowds and chaos of bigger holiday attractions.

Don't miss your chance to ice skate with Santa in downtown Houston. Photo courtesy of Discovery Green

8. A Different Kind of Light Show at Discovery Green

It's always fun to enjoy Activities in Downtown Houston with Kids, so skip the usual light displays and head to Discovery Green for a unique light and sound spectacle. The park is partnering with Frankie To-ong of Space City Light Shows to fill the Brown Promenade with his signature synchronized lights and music. Afterward, you can enjoy the annual ice rink! 

9. Sharks and Santa at the Downtown Aquarium

Santa scuba dives? Absolutely. Kids can watch him and his elves swim among sharks and rays during special holiday breakfasts - one of the most unique Christmas things to do in Houston and a guaranteed hit for lovers of the Downtown Aquarium.