Free Events Thursday

Houston Arboretum and Nature Center

Enjoy nature trail, bird watching, wildlife and forests at the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center. Calm your senses with a leisurely stroll through our 155-acre nature sanctuary with 5 miles of beautiful hiking. Located just 4 miles west of Downtown Houston.

Spring Native Plant Sale (Saturday, March 15 – March 16 and Saturday March 22 – March 23 at 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)

How I See It: Houston Architecture

March 13, 2014-April 18 at 5:30 pm

Architecture Center Houston, 315 Capital,

Discover Houston architecture through the eyes of high school students in this Opening Reception of “How I See It: Houston Architecture.” This juried exhibition of local high school photography is for FotoFest 2014.

Price: FREE!!!

Relax With Yoga

Every Saturday, 9 am

Discovery Green

1500 McKinney on the Grace Event Lawn behind The Grove Restaurant.

This yoga class brings together elements of tai chi, kung fu, balance techniques and energy building poses. No pre-registration required.

Price: FREE!!!

Gaze At The Stars

Reservations begin February 26

Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center

Humble at 20634 Kenswick Drive

Learn about the planets, stars and other celestial bodies at Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center’s Stargazing event.

Price: FREE!!!

“These Birds Walk” Houston Film Screening

March 13, 2014

River Oaks Theatre
2009 W. Gray St, Houston, TX 77019

Sundance Nominated film “These Birds Walk” by Omar Mullick and Bassam Tariq may be FINALLY coming to Houston. The film follows the life of runaway street children in Pakistan and the samaritans like Abdul Sattar Edhi who seek to care for them while living amongst them.

For those of you haven’t heard of Abdul Sattar Edhi, he is a guy who has been working for and living amongst the poor of Pakistan since 1947 to create rescue programs for over 20,000 abandoned infants, rehabilitation programs for over 50,000 orphans, training programs for over 40,000 nurses, and hundreds of food kitchens, shelters, and clinics for the mentally handicapped.

Price: $11

Architects of Air

March 15, 2014 – March 23, 2014

Discovery Green
1500 McKinney Street, Houston, TX 77010

Back by popular demand, Britain’s Architects of Air returns to Discovery Green with Miracoco, a one-of-a-kind stunning new luminarium! Inspired by the Lotus Temple in India, the monumental, inflatable structure is a dazzling maze of winding paths and soaring domes designed to generate a sense of wonder at the beauty of light and color. Rising almost 30 feet in the air and occupying half a football field, Miracoco can be appreciated by people of all ages, cultures and abilities.

The line will close when the number of people already in line exceeds the number that will go into the structure by 6:30 pm. Admission is limited to 80 people in the luminarium at one time.

Price: $10

Battleship Texas Centennial Celebration

March 15, 2014 at 12:00 p.m.

3527 Independence Parkway South
La Porte TX 77571

This event is a celebration to honor the Battleship TEXAS, her legendary history and the men who served on her. The festival will be held on the grounds surrounding the Battleship TEXAS and will feature educational exhibits, a World War I and World War II historical zone, ship tours, a children’s activity zone, concessions, shops and live entertainment throughout the day including Robert Earl Keen, Reckless Kelly, Charlie Robison, and Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis. The day will end in a celebratory fireworks display.

Price: $20

6th Annual Festival “Russian Spring Celebration”

March 16, 2014 at 3:00 – 6:00p.m

2349 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77005

It becomes our tradition to invite Houston public and visitors of the city to celebrate the end of winter in style of Russian folk holiday. We offer delicious home-made bliny or Russian pancakes, which symbolize the sun. Also on sale will be another traditional Russian food – savory piroshky. The guests will have a chance to purchase original hand-made Russian souvenirs.

“Flying Balalaika Brothers”, the popular group from Austin, will provide the entertainment. The group plays various music: from Russian folk to bluegrass, country and rock. Their lively performance would leave no one unmoved. This year we will introduce to our guests a folk choir “Sudarushka”. Vadim Angerov, the well-known Houston musician will accompany them on the button accordion. There also will be special activities for children.

Price: $10

Come Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at The Flying Saucer

March 17, 2014

15929 City Walk, Sugar Land, TX 77479

In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, Flying Saucer Sugar Land will be selling pints for $3 all day.

Price: FREE!!!

Free Events Thursday

by Lydia Free Events Thursday

Cultured Cocktails with the Framers!

Every Thursday from 5-7pm.

Boheme Cafe and Wine Bar

307 Fairview St, Houston, TX 77006

So if you want to see what we are all about then come join us and meet the Framers of Houston,TX!

Price: Free!!!

Party with the French

Friday, March 07 at 6 PM

Discovery Green

1500 McKinney
Houston, TX 77010

This Friday, kick off a month of events sponsored by the French Consulate in Houston. The free outdoor event features music from French musicians plus Houston natives Wild Moccasins from 7 pm – 10 pm. Authentic French food and wine will be available or purchase.

Price: Free!!!

Azalea Trail

March 07- March 09

River Oaks Garden Club

2503 Westheimer • Houston, TX 77098

One of the surest signs of spring in Houston is the annual Azalea Trail. Houstonians and visitors view the spectacular gardens at Bayou Bend and Rienzi and visit River Oaks’ exquisite private homes and admire their breathtaking gardens.

Price: $5.00

Listen to classical music

Friday, March 7th at 8 pm

Houston Baptist University’s Dunham Theater

7502 Fondren

The Houston Civic Symphony, our local community orchestra, presents a free concert. The evening features Young Artist Concerto Winners plus Schubert’s Symphony No. 8 in B minor.

Price: Free!!!

Clear Lake Jewelry, Gem, & Mineral Show

March 8, 2014 – March 9, 2014 (Recurring daily) at Saturday 10-6, Sunday 10-5

7902 Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena, TX 77507

The show is oriented for the whole family. Come out to see and learn about rocks, gems, fossils and Geology. Special demonstrations of lapidary work are included for the entertainment of all show patrons. Approximately 30 quality dealers have been handpicked to bring a balanced variety of merchandise to appeal to as many people as possible and at reasonable prices. There will be tools, raw materials, and books for the hobbyist, many mineral and fossil specimens for the collector, and jewelry ranging from fun-to wear to the finest opals, diamonds and emeralds. An excellent special program for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts hat provides hands-on experience will help with Geology related merit badges.

Price: $7 (Admission is cash only)

ROCO Chamber Series: Postcards from Paris and New Orleans

March 9 at 4:00 PM

Gremillion & Co. Fine Art

2501 Sunset Boulevard, Houston, TX 77005

Join us for Postcards from Paris and New Orleans featuring an oboe, clarinet, violin and viola quintet performance with music by Sergei Prokofiev and Dave Anderson, who was inspired by Prokofiev to write a jazz composition with the same instrumentation.

Price: $25; Student admission: $10

Free Events Thursday!

by Lydia Free Events Thursday

Championship BBQ Contest

Friday and Saturday, February 28th- March 1st from Noon- 11 pm

Reliant Stadium

All you can eat BBQ!

Price: $15

Downtown Rodeo Parade

Saturday, March 1st at 10:00 am

Price: Free!

Conoco 10K Run and 5K Run/ Walk

Saturday, March 1st at 9:20 am

Saturday, March 1st at 9:45 am

Find out more at http://www.conocophillipsrodeorun.com/events/10k/Pages/logistics.aspx

Price: $35

Sam Houston Race Park

Friday-Sunday, February 28th- March 9th at 7:00 pm

Watch thoroughbred live racing this weekend and next weekend!

Find out more at http://shrp.com/

Price: $7

Macbeth

Main Street Theater

Rice Village, 2540 Times Boulevard

February 27th- March 9th (Schedule daily)

Even though Macbeth is one of William Shakespeare’s shortest plays, Main Street Theater will be putting on an 80-minute version with no intermission courtesy of visiting director and actor Guy Roberts in a co-production with the Prague Shakespeare Company.

Price: $20-39

Last Tip of My Hat

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. every Sat. from March 1 until March 31
12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. every Sun. from March 2 until March 31
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. every Mon., Tue., Wed., Thu., Fri. from March 3 until March 31

National Museum of Funeral History

501 Crawford St., Houston, TX 77002

Every rodeo season the National Museum of Funeral History does its part in the spirit of the Wild West with its “Last Tip of My Hat” exhibit, which celebrates death in the time of the cowboy. The usually modest event has been ramped up considerably this year. As always, there will be a traditional pine box coffin on loan from Cowboy’s Last Ride casket company in Early, Texas. These simple containers were a common method of burial in the West, since pine was plentiful and easy to work with. “A cowboy is a simple man, hard-working, and finds a pine box to be a fine representation of who he was in life,” Edward Castillo, owner of Cowboy’s Last Ride, said via email.

Also on display will be memorial folders from the funerals of the one and only Roy Rogers and his wife, Dale “The Queen of the West” Evans. The duo was featured in more than 100 different cowboy movies and television shows. You can see plenty of other funeral folders from Hollywood cowboys in the “Thanks for the Memories” section of the exhibit, including those belonging to Michael Landon, John Wayne, Gene Autry and Tom Mix. Also represented are Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels (whom you may know as The Lone Ranger and Tonto, the ones from before the Johnny Depp movie).

Price: $7 to $10

Free Events Thursday

by Lydia Free Events Thursday

Cultured Cocktails Fundraiser For Frame Dance!

Thursday, January 16th at 5- 7 pm

Boheme Cafe and Wine Bar

307 Fairview St, Houston, TX 77006

Price: Free!!!

12 Minutes Max at the Barn

January 17, 2014

The Barn (formerly Barnevelder Movement/Arts Complex)

2201 Preston St., Houston, TX

12 Minutes Max! pops into The Barn with an exciting line up of choreographers showcasing all new work. Curated and produced by Dance Source Houston from participants of Fieldwork, 12 Minutes Max! features work by Rebekah Chappell, Sara Draper, Laura Gutierrez, Cori Miller and John R. Stronks. Performances will take place on Friday and Saturday, January 17 and 18, 2014 at 7:30pm at The Barn – Dance Source Performing Arts Space. Ticket Information: Dance Source Houston presents 12 Minutes Max! on January 17 and 18, 2014 at 7:30pm at The Barn, 2201 Preston St, Houston, TX 77003. Tickets are $10/pre sale general admission, $15/at the door and $5/Dance Source Members. To purchase tickets visit dancesourcehouston.secure.force.com/ticket/.

Price: $10/pre sale general admission, $15/at the door

2014 Opening Day at Sam Houston Race Park

January 17, 2014

Gates open at 6. Live racing starts at 7.

Sam Houston Race Park

7575 N. Sam Houston Parkway W, Houston, TX 77064

Live Thoroughbred Racing Returns with bigger purses than ever! Be at The Park Opening Weekend for our special TWO-DAY kickoff highlighting the best of Texas Thoroughbred racing at Texas Champions Weekend. Friday is 50 Cent Beer Night with more than $255,000 in purses! Opening Day is also Military Appreciation Day, with free entry for all Military with ID. Also don’t miss Master Sergeant Promise Harris performing the National Anthem, and the presentation of the colors by the Cypress Ridge HS AFJROTC Color Guard.

Price:

General admission starts at $7 per person
Children ages 3 and under get in FREE
Counter seats are available for an additional $4 per person
Box seats are available for an additional $6 per person
Luxury Suites are also available by calling 281-807-8750
Winner’s Circle buffet available starting at $22.95

13th Annual MLK battle Of The Bands Competition

January 18, 2014, 4 pm – 9 pm

Joe Kelly Butler Stadium

13755 S.Main Street, Houston, TX 77035

The MLK Battle Of The Bands Competition is one of the largest high school show band competitions in the U.S. Its purpose ist o promote racial harmony through music appreciation while providing scholarship opportunities to high school students.

The 2014 Activity will feature sixteen nationally acclaimed and award-winning high school show bands from across the nation as they compete for national honors.

Price: $10. Get your tickets at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/13th-annual-battle-of-the-bands-competition-tickets-6993221915?ref=ebtnebtckt

5th Annual Yaga’s Chili Quest and Beer Fest

January 18, 2014, 11am-6pm

Saengerfest Park
2300 Strand St, Galveston, TX 77550

Yaga’s Chili Quest & Beer Fest will return to Galveston’s Historic Strand District on Saturday, January 18, 2014, featuring 100 varieties of craft and imported beer selections and over 60 chili cook-off teams. The fifth annual Chili Quest officially opens to the public at 11 a.m. when the cook teams begin serving their chili concoctions on the Strand. Other Chili Quest events occurring throughout the day include a washer tournament, margarita making contest, jalapeno eating contest, 5k fun-run and a Strand merchant walk-about. An awards ceremony will conclude the event with the announcement of the best chili on Galveston Island. Beer Fest will open at 12:00pm for those with a VIP Early Bird Ticket. There are a limited number of VIP Early Bird Tickets available to allow for shorter lines and more one on one time with the brewers and representatives. Beer Fest opens to the public at 1:00pm with an estimated 100 craft and imported brews from around the world available for sampling.

Price: $8-35

America’s Got Talent – Open Auditions

From: January 18, 2014 – January 19, 2014 (Recurring daily), 8 AM-7PM

Reliant Park

The next stop for auditions are Houston (Jan. 18-19), Indianapolis (Jan. 25-26) and Los Angeles (Feb. 8-9). Additional audition cities will be announced shortly. For updates, registration forms, audition tips, venue information and to submit an online audition, visit www.AGTAuditions.com. “America’s Got Talent”is the only talent competition show open to any age and any talent. The auditions are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for performers across the country to showcase their talent in 90 seconds to the series’ producers, in the hopes of being able to take the stage in front of the “AGT” judges. Every type of performer is welcome: Last season’s competitors included musicians, dancers, magicians, contortionists, comedians, singers, jugglers, animal acts and everything in between.

Got what it takes? Register here: http://www.agtauditions.com/

Good luck!

Price: FREE!!!

A Celebration of the New Year of the Trees

January 19, 2014, 11-3pm

Urban Harvest Farmers Market

3000 Richmond
Houston TX 77098

Escape the winter doldrums! Enjoy a fun Tu B’shevat activity for the whole family with Big Tent Judaism, and check out the Urban Harvest Farmers Market! Learn about the “new year for the trees,” decorate a mini planter, and take home seeds to plant and grow! Enjoy a wide range of seasonal, sustainably produced goods from local farmers and vendors at this Farmers market.

Price: FREE!!!

Into the Woods

January 19, 2014 – February 09, 2014

Main Street Theater

2540 Times Blvd, Houston, TX 77005

Main Street Theater once again teams up with Guy Roberts and Prague Shakespeare Company to create a new, intimate production of James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim’s now-classic take on everyone’s favorite storybook characters.

The story follows a Baker and his wife’s wish to have a child, Cinderella’s wish to attend the King’s Festival, and Jack’s wish that his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch’s spell, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone’s wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.

In 1988, Into the Woods won Tony Awards for Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical.

Price: $20

Free Events Thursday

by Lydia Free Events Thursday

Roads of Arabia: Archaeology and History of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

December 19, 2013 – March 09, 2014

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Roads of Arabia: Archaeology and History of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia examines the impact of ancient trade routes that traversed the Arabian Peninsula, carrying precious frankincense and myrrh to Mesopotamia and the Greco-Roman world and allowing for a vibrant exchange of both objects and ideas. With the later rise of Islam, pilgrimage roads converged on Mecca and gradually replaced the well-traveled incense roads.

Price: MFAH Members: Free; Adults: $15 (online $14)

Friday Night Flicks at The ICE at Discovery Green

Friday, Jan 10, 2014 at 6:30 PM

Skate and watch or just enjoy the movie. The movie is free, skating fees apply. Smurfs 2 (PG) 2013, 105 mins.

Movies will be oriented towards the ICE rink. Feel free to bring blankets and chairs to view from the White Promenade and Lake House Deck. Food, beer and wine are available at the Lake House. No glass containers or outside alcoholic beverages, please.

Price: Free and skating is $12

Tchaikovsky Serenade

January 11th at 8:00 pm.

Wortham Theater Center

501 Texas Ave.
Houston,TX 77002

Mercury — The Orchestra Redefined performs one of the Romantic period’s most accomplished works on period instruments during today’s Tchaikovsky Serenade concert. The four-movement Serenade for Strings starts with a stirring and highly accented 36‑bar introduction reportedly meant to echo Mozart’s style. The motif is repeated at the end of the movement and again at the end of the work, tying it all together. Serenade’s second movement, Valse, is often performed alone. Valse should be familiar to the most casual music fan; it’s been used in several film and television soundtracks. Mozart’s Divertimento in D, K. 136, and Mendelssohn’s Concerto for Violin and Strings complete the program. The concert features Antoine Plante, Mercury’s artistic director, at the podium and Jonathan Godfrey (seen above), one of the group’s co-founders, on violin.

call 713-533-0080 or visit mercuryhouston.org

Price: $10 to $65

Houston Happy Hikers 5k/10k January Walk in Galveston

Saturday January 11, 2014

Start anytime between 9 a.m.-noon; finish by 3 p.m.

Mosquito Cafe

628 14th St., Galveston, TX 77550

Event is non-competitive; walk, jog or run at your own pace. Trail leads participants along city streets displaying some magnificent turn of century architecture. After the event, enjoy fresh seafood and visit Galveston’s Strand Historic District.

Price: Free

Winterfest!

Saturday January 11, 2014 at 11am-4pm

Join us for 3rd annual Winterfest! Hear live music from Katy Rocks. A variety of bands will be featured playing everything from rock to country to original songs ! Skeeters mascot will be there! Vendor booths will be set up for entertainment and shopping. All proceeds will go to Katy Rocks a non-profit that uses music to mentor kids.

Price: Free

Mini Pops!

Sunday January 12th 11 am to 5 pm

1657 Westheimer 77006 at the corner of Dunlavy

Hosted by Pavement Clothing and Leopard Lounge Vintage. Find awesome digs at the Pavement, Sole Purpose, and Leopard Lounge sidewalk sales. Participate in free craft activities, poems for sale or barter by Traci Lavois, Juice Girl fresh squeezed juices, and free Buff Brew beer tasting. This month we’ll be making mobiles and garlands with free paint chips collected from hardware stores. Don’t forget to stop by Space Boutique for even more handcrafted design.

Price: Free

Free Events Thursdays!

by Lydia Free Events Thursday

Secret Lives of the Stars

Houston Museum of Natural Science

Every Monday-Sunday. Various show times 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.

Don’t let the title Secret Lives of Stars fool you: This has nothing to do with Hollywood gossip. Instead, this planetarium special is all about the stars in the night sky, from the massive to the tiny.

Sir Patrick Stewart (Star Trek: The Next Generation and X-Men) narrates the show, explaining the difference between planetary nebulas and supernovas and the like.

Price:$8.

Holiday in the Woodlands

The Woodlands Town Center

10001 Woodloch Forest
Spring,TX 77380

Daily until January 20th

Stroll through a spectacular fantasyland of light displays and glide across the ice at the Holiday in the Woodlands. The Donoho’s Jewelers Winter Wonderland, an array of holiday scenes illuminated with thousands of lights, surrounds the Woodlands Outdoor Ice Rink. The Wonderland includes decorated snowmen, angels, elves, toy soldiers and more. The rink, among the largest outdoor ice rinks in the region, conducts skate sessions for families. Navigate around the displays and shops on the Waterway Trolleys and the Waterway Cruisers; both are offering rides during the holidays.

Dates and times vary. For information, call 281-419-5630 or visit thewoodlandsicerink.com.

Price: Free to $10.50.

Russian Holiday Bazaar

Russian Cultural Center “Our Texas”

2337 Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77005

November 18, 2013 – January 15, 2014

Monday-Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00p.m., Saturday: 11:00a.m. – 3:00p.m.

We offer a broad assortment of unique gifts that will satisfy the most demanding tastes. We have wooden figures of Father Frost and beautiful icons. There are lovely lacquer jewelry boxes, hand-painted with the Russian fairy-tale motifs and intricately carved containers made of birch bark. We also have vintage porcelain figurines by the famous Lomonosov (Imperial) Factory and golden wooden tableware called “Khokhloma.”Plus we have the famous Russian Matreshkas or nesting dolls.

Price: FREE!

Strawberry Picking at Blessington Farms

December 07, 2013 – May 03, 2014 (Every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) from 10am-3:30pm

Blessington Farms

510 Chisholm Road, Simonton, TX 77476

Gather the family and head over to Blessington Farms for u-pick strawberries! Enjoy picking and eating the most delicious strawberries. There are also lots of other Farm Funland festivities like hay rides, giant slides, pedal cars, chicken encounter, barrel train rides, hay maze and more. Blessington Farms is located 40 miles west of downtown Houston. Road trip!

Price:

Strawberries $5/pound

$8/person for Farm Funland. (Children under 18 months enter for free)

The Age of Impressionism: Great French Paintings from the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute

December 22, 2013 – March 23, 2014 (Recurring daily)

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (Beck Building)

1001 Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77005

The acclaimed international tour of The Age of Impressionism: Great French Paintings from the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute concludes in Houston at the MFAH. Showcasing the Clark’s renowned holdings of French Impressionist painting, this exhibition features 73 works of art by a stellar lineup that includes Edgar Degas, Édouard Manet, Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot, Camille Pissarro, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Alfred Sisley. Also represented are Pierre Bonnard, William-Adolphe Bouguereau, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, Jean-Léon Gérôme, Jean-François Millet, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

The Clark launched the collection tour in 2011 at the Palazzo Reale in Milan, coinciding with a three-year expansion of the Clark’s Williamstown, Massachusetts, facility. The MFAH is only the second, and the final, U.S. museum to host the exhibition.

This spectacular presentation tells not only the story of Sterling and Francine Clark’s devotion and passion for collecting but also of painting in 19th-century France, from the Orientalist works of Gérôme; to the Barbizon paintings of Corot and Théodore Rousseau; to the Impressionist masterpieces of Degas, Manet, Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, and Sisley; and concluding with the Early Modern output of Bonnard and Lautrec. Portraits, landscapes, marines, still life, and scenes of everyday life by 25 artists, spanning 70 years, are all on view.

Price: Free on Thursdays; Not free otherwise

Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony

From: January 03, 2014 – January 05, 2014 (Recurring daily)

Houston Symphony

Jan. 3rd- 4th at 8PM; Jan. 5th at 2:30PM

Celebrate the New Year with two of classical music’s great superstars. First Mozart, who’s brilliance shines through in his sublime final symphony. In the Jupiter, drama, joy and energy are presented with the composer’s trademark elegance. The program opens by turning up the heat with the equally exciting Fire Symphony by Haydn.

Program:
Haydn: Symphony No. 59, Fire
Schnittke: Moz-Art á la Haydn- for two violins and chamber ensemble
Mozart: Symphony No. 41, Jupiter

Artist: Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor; Eric Halen, violin

Price: It ain’t free…

Free Events Thursday!

by Lydia Free Events Thursday

Besides finishing up your Christmas shopping, here are some fun things to do this weekend!

Handel’s Messiah 10th Anniversary Performances

8 pm December 19, 20 & 21.

As our tenth season unfolds, we anticipate yet another wonderful experience for the Christmas season. The CEPC choir and orchestra along with special guest soloists will once again delight you with this special masterwork. Handel’s Messiah has become a wonderful tradition here at Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

Tickets: Free general admission tickets will be available at 7 pm each evening for that evening’s performance. Tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, so please arrive early.

Friday Night Flicks At The ICE (Discovery Green)

Friday, Dec 20, 2013 at 6:30 PM

Skate and watch or just enjoy the movie. Free Movie, Skating Fees Apply. A Christmas Story.

Movies will be oriented towards the ICE rink. Feel free to bring blankets and chairs to view from the White Promenade and Lake House Deck. Movies will be oriented towards the ICE rink. You are welcome to bring blankets,and chairs to view from the White Promenade and The Lake House Deck. Food, beer and wine are available at the Lake House. No glass containers or outside alcoholic beverages, please.

Free!

Prestonwood Forest

December 7 – December 29 (dusk to 10 pm weekdays and till 11 pm weekends).

This is considered the “granddaddy” of Houston neighborhoods with entire streets participating in elaborate light displays since the 1970s. The neighborhood is off Tomball Parkway (SH249).

Free!

Dickinson Festival of Lights (Dickinson)

Nightly through January 1, 6 pm – 9 pm.

Free walk-through lights display at Paul Hopkins Park. All parking and shuttle buses are free. Parking on weekends is courtesy the Dickinson Plaza Shopping Center, exit 19, I-45 N feeder.

Free!

Theatre Under The Stars presents Elf – The Musical

December 19th-December 22nd

Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
800 Bagby St.
Houston, TX 77002

Tickets: $24 – $127

A.D. Players presents The Pass-It-On Christmas

Friday-Saturday, December 20th-December 21st at 10:30 AM

A. D. Players
2710 W. Alabama St.
Houston, TX 77098

Follow a zany troupe of actors as they recount the adventures of a shepherd boy and his lamb crossing the countryside, passing on the news that Jesus is born.

Ticket: $10

Houston Children’s Chorus presents “A Concert of Sacred Christmas Music”

Saturday, December 21st at 3 PM & 6 PM.

Villa de Matel
6510 Lawndale Street
Houston, TX 77023

Set in the chapel on the campus of the Villa de Matel Convent, “A Concert of Sacred Christmas Music” features the voices of the Houston Children’s Chorus. Enjoy the spirit of the season as the children express the gentleness of Christmas through classic sacred selections. Website: houstonchildren.org

Tickets: $15

Free Events Thursday!

by Lydia Free Events Thursday

Merry Christmas Framers!

It’s that time again…Free Events Thursday!!!

A Christmas Carol

Tuesday- Sunday until December 26

Alley Theatre

Price: $26-$80

Tomball German Christmas Market

Friday through Sunday

Hours are 6 pm – 10 pm Friday.

Explore the German culture! Featuring 4 stages, 175 vendors, street performers, ethnic food, arts and crafts and more. Located in Old Town Tomball near the train depot.

Free admission and free parking!

Catch a movie under the moon

Friday, December 13: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is showing at Discovery Green, 6:30 pm

Friday, December 13: Edward Scissorhands at Whole Foods Market Montrose, at twilight.

Free!

Old-Fashioned Christmas Festival

The fun is Saturday, December 14, 10 am – 5 pm

Located in Old Town Katy between 2nd and Avenue B.

With snow play kicking off at 11 am. Families will enjoy arts and crafts, carolers, entertainment, food, produce and snow!

Free!

Lights in the Heights

Saturday, December 14 in the Woodland Heights neighborhood

Hours are 6 pm – 9 pm.

Streets are blocked off to best view the lighted homes and musical performances right from the porch! vent planners are scaling back this year with a shorter route (beginning at Watson and end at Florence). Plus no activities or vendors on Norhill Esplanade.

Free!

Caroling on the Square

December 14 features Girl Friday from 6 pm – 8 pm.

Waterway Square in The Woodlands Saturdays in December. Each week features a variety of entertainers. Appropriate for all ages, and picnics, chairs, blankets and coolers welcome!

Free!

Bizzare Holiday Market

Sunday, December 15, noon – 5 pm.

The event features local craftsmen, food, live music, and more. Located in the 3400-3700 block of Main Street.

…Free!!!

A.D. Players Presents: Gold, Frankincense and…Myrrh!

November 20 – December 31, 2013

Witty retelling of the nativity story and the boyhood of Christ follows a fourth wiseman who completely misses the point. When a star as bright as the sun appears in the sky, the wiseman and his servant boy set out to find the king whose birth has been foretold. Planning along the way how best to capitalize on the momentous occasion, they arrive in Bethlehem, but will the wiseman find what he is looking for?

The Mainstage Theater is located at 2710 W. Alabama, near the intersection with Kirby. Parking is available free of charge in the lot just west of the building. Parking is also available on side streets. (YAY!)

Tickets: Visit www.tickets.adplayers.org or Call 713-526-2721.

Not Free!

Free Events Thursday!

by Lydia Free Events Thursday

Feast: Radical Hospitality in Contemporary Art

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. every Tue., Wed., Fri., Sat. until December 7
10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. every Thu. until December 7

Blaffer Art Museum

Pegged an ”artist-orchestrated meal” originally cooked up by University of Chicago’s Smart Museum of Art, ”Feast: Radical Hospitality in Contemporary Art” at the University of Houston’s Blaffer Art Museum features contributions from more than 25 artists.

Fee: Free

Touring Taste of Dance Salad Festival – Film Premiere of Dance Salad Festival 2013

7:00 p.m. December 5

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston – Brown Auditorium Theater

Price: Free

Zoo Lights

6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. daily until January 4

Houston Zoo

Price: $9 to $12

A Christmas Carol

Every Tue., Wed., Thu., Fri., Sat., Sun. until December 26

Alley Theatre

615 Texas Ave.
Houston,TX 77002

Price: $26 to $80

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

1:00 p.m. every Sat. until December 21

4:00 p.m. every Sat. until December 21

Main Street Theatre

4617 Montrose Blvd.
Houston,TX 77006

Price: $13 to $17

Music Doing Good Presents “Miracle on 19th Street”

Saturday, December 7, 2013, 7 to 10 pm

Gallery M Squared, 339 West 19th Street, 77008

Price: Free

Tree-trimming and Celebration of Musical Outreach Programs. The tree will be donated to Houston Heights Tower, a retirement community on 19th Street. Guests will enjoy libations, light bites and holiday cheer while learning about how Music Doing Good outreach programs transform the lives of the underserved in the Houston area. Seating is limited to first 200 RSVPs (standing room will be available). To RSVP please call 713.900.3468 or email at info at musicdoinggood.org.