Thanksgiving is almost here and with that comes over eating, football, possible family drama, more football and leftovers. If you’ve got out of town guests and want to show them how wonderful Houston is then this list of fun things do to after Thanksgiving is for you.
Children’s Gingerbread House Workshop
Bring the family to Four Seasons each weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas for some festive twist on traditional tea time! Parents can relax with an afternoon tea while the Quattro team leads a gingerbread building workshop for children with loads of specialty candies to decorate their personal gingerbread house to take home and enjoy for the duration of the season. Reservations are required, 713-276-4700.
Moody Garden’s Festival of Lights
As the largest holiday lighting events on the Gulf Coast, the Festival of Lights receives over 125,000 visitors, many of whom have made the festival their own holiday tradition.
In addition to over 100 sound-enhanced animated light displays and nightly live entertainment, visitors can strap on a pair of skates and glide across the ice at the area’s only Outdoor Ice Skating Rink. Guests can slide into a thrilling experience with the 100-foot, Texas-sized Arctic Slide. Indoors, guests can take pictures with Santa or enjoy a variety of holiday-themed films at the MG3D Theater, Ridefilm Theater and 4D Special FX Theater.
Admission to any Moody Gardens attractions is just $6 each with a Festival ticket. Bring your own skates or skate rental is also available for just $6. Food Drive Fridays also offer 2 for 1 admission to the Festival for guests who bring a non-perishable food item. All food will be donated to the Galveston County and Houston Food Banks for needy families in the area this holiday season.
The ICE at Discovery Green
Ice skating returns to Downtown Houston this holiday season! The ICE presented by XFINITY® opens at Discovery Green November 22, 2013 and is bigger than ever! Using recycled water from Kinder Lake, the expanded 7,716 square-foot ice skating surface is the largest outdoor skating rink in the Southwest and will open to the public for an extended skating season through February 2, 2014.
Holiday Magic 2013
For the second year, the entire community unites to bring the magic of the holiday season to League City. Holiday Magic brings League City and the surrounding communities together to celebrate the spirit of the season and benefit local charities. The City of League City and participating organizations invite you to take part in a wide range of holiday activities, from a gingerbread house competition to a polar plunge, boat parade and holiday festival.  Holiday Magic includes more the 20 events throughout the holiday season.
Pop Shop Houston
Skip the lines, bring the kids, and celebrate Black Friday with Pop Shop Houston On November 29-30, Pop Shop Houston comes to Silver Street Studios for a special “Black Friday edition” of the indie craft, art, and music festival. The two-day event features over 90 Houston-based vendors, and lots of family-friendly activities, including a vintage video game arcade, cool science lessons from Bright Minds, and craft tables for kids and adults. Black Friday has never been this much fun.
The Nutcracker by the Houston Ballet
This holiday, treat your lovelies to The Nutcracker, that shimmering, glittering spectacle of holiday cheer. Follow Clara on her journey from the family party to the Land of the Sweets. You’ll see a Christmas tree that grows to magnificent heights, dancing dolls, flying cooks and lots and lots of beautiful snow. With music by Tchaikovsky and stunning sets by Desmond Heeley, Ben Stevenson’s production has something to delight every member of the family. It just wouldn’t be the holidays without The Nutcracker.