# Christmas break with kids in Houston, 2026

> What to do with kids in Houston over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by three museums, zoos and play places: three say they’re open on Christmas Day and three on New Year’s Day. Plus 11 dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.

- Last checked: 2026-10-26
- 3 places’ holiday hours; 22 dated outings
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/houston/christmas-break/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/houston/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/houston/llms.txt

## Open or closed: Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1

- **Children’s Museum Houston**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 25: closed; New Year’s Day Not listed. Their page says: “Closed Mondays; closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day” Source: https://www.cmhouston.org/visiting/admission (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Houston Zoo**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 24: closed; Dec 25: Zoo Lights open 5:30–10:30pm; New Year’s Day Not listed. Their page says: “Zoo also closed Dec 9” Source: https://www.houstonzoo.org/events/zoolights/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Hermann Park train, pedal boats and carousel**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 25: closed; New Year’s Day Not listed. Their page says: “Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas” Source: https://hermannpark.org/visit/train-pedal-boats/ (checked 2026-10-26)

## Christmas Eve

- **Photos with Santa at Memorial City Mall** at Memorial City Mall, 303 Memorial City Way, Houston, TX 77024. When: Nov 9 – Dec 24, 2026. Time: Mon–Thu 11am–8pm; Fri–Sat 10am–8pm; Sun 11am–7pm (hours vary Dec 18–24). Price: Packages from $42. Reserve a time online; walk-ins are accepted but may wait. Official page: https://vipholidayphotos.com/mall/H-MCM (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Photos with Santa at First Colony Mall** at First Colony Mall, 16535 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, TX 77479. When: Nov 27 – Dec 24, 2026. Time: Mall hours; reserve online. Price: Photo packages. Reservations are booked through whereissanta.com. Official page: https://houston.kidsoutandabout.com/content/photos-santa-first-colony-mall-0 (checked 2026-10-26)

## Between Christmas and New Year’s (Dec 26–30)

- **Zoo Lights at the Houston Zoo** at Houston Zoo, 6200 Hermann Park Dr., Houston, TX 77030. When: Nov 19, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: 5:30–10:30pm (last entry 9:30pm). Price: Dated tickets online; children 2 and under free. Closed Dec 9 and Dec 24; open Christmas night. A sensory-inclusive night is set for Mon, Nov 30. Official page: https://www.houstonzoo.org/events/zoolights/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Galaxy Lights at Space Center Houston** at Space Center Houston, 1601 E. NASA Pkwy., Houston, TX 77058. When: Select nights Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: 6–10pm (tickets until 9pm). Price: $19.95–$27.95 over age 3; 3 and under free. Official page: https://spacecenter.org/galaxy-lights/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Sugar Land Holiday Lights** at Constellation Field, Constellation Field, Sugar Land, TX. When: Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Evening times on the ticket page. Price: Family 4-pack $59 on select dates; early-bird prices through Nov 20. Includes photos with Santa nightly through Dec 23. A sensory-friendly night is Dec 15. Official page: https://www.sugarlandholidaylights.com/tickets (checked 2026-10-26)
- **The Light Park Katy** at Typhoon Texas Waterpark parking lot, 555 Katy Fort Bend Rd, Katy, TX 77494. When: Nightly Nov 6, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Sun–Thu 5:30–10pm; Fri–Sat 5:30–11pm. Price: $29.99 per car pre-sale online through Nov 5; $60 at the gate. Official page: https://www.thelightpark.com/locations/katy-texas (checked 2026-10-26)
- **The Light Park Spring** at Hurricane Harbor parking lot, 21300 Interstate 45 N, Spring, TX 77373. When: Nightly Nov 6, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Sun–Thu 5:30–10pm; Fri–Sat 5:30–11pm. Price: $29.99 per car pre-sale online through Nov 5; $60 at the gate. Official page: https://www.thelightpark.com/locations/spring-texas (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Holiday Lights Trail at Moody Gardens** at Moody Gardens, 1 Hope Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77554. When: Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027. Time: Nightly, about 6–10pm. Price: Dated tickets online; bundles with ICE LAND and skating. A mile-long walk through more than two million lights set to music. Formerly the Festival of Lights. Official page: https://www.moodygardens.com/holiday-season (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Radiant Nature at Houston Botanic Garden** at Houston Botanic Garden, 1 Botanic Lane, Houston, TX 77017. When: Nov 20, 2026 – Feb 21, 2027. Time: Timed evening entry, mostly Fri–Sun, plus select weeknights in December. Price: Timed tickets; 2 and under free; parking $12. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. Official page: https://hbg.org/series/radiant-nature/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Ice at Discovery Green** at Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney St, Houston, TX 77010. When: Nov 13 – Jan 18. Price: Last season: $18 plus tax for 75 minutes, skates included. Season dates from Travel Texas; check the park’s page for this year’s prices. Official page: https://www.discoverygreen.com/ice (checked 2026-10-26)
- **The Woodlands Ice Rink** at The Woodlands, 2005 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77380. When: Nov 20 – Jan 18. Price: $15 ages 6 and up; $7 ages 5 and under. Official page: https://www.visitthewoodlands.com/events/holiday/woodlands-ice-rink/ (checked 2026-10-26)

## New Year’s Eve and Day

- **Toddler Noon Year's Eve Party at Central Library** at Houston Public Library, Central Library (Jesse H. Jones Building), 1st Floor Family Place, 500 McKinney St, Houston, TX 77002. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Price: Free; registration required. A countdown to noon planned for toddlers 18 to 36 months, held in the Family Place play space downtown. Expect music, a craft and dancing, and party clothes or pajamas are equally welcome. Space is limited, so register ahead. Official page: https://calendar.houstonlibrary.org/event/16765742 (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Toddler Noon Year's Eve Party at Oak Forest Library** at Houston Public Library, Oak Forest Neighborhood Library (Meeting Room), 1349 W 43rd St, Houston, TX 77018. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Price: Free; registration required. A neighborhood option for families in Oak Forest and Garden Oaks. The toddler-sized party has crafts and songs, and the countdown lands right at lunchtime. Registration is required. Official page: https://calendar.houstonlibrary.org/event/17473500 (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Toddler Noon Year's Eve Party at Flores Library** at Houston Public Library, Flores Neighborhood Library (Meeting Room), 110 N Milby St, Houston, TX 77003. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11 a.m.–noon. Price: Free; registration required. The East End branch starts half an hour earlier than the others, so the countdown ends the party right at 12. It's for toddlers and their grown-ups, and you'll need to register. Official page: https://calendar.houstonlibrary.org/event/17054250 (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Noon Year's Eve at City Centre** at City Centre Houston, the Plaza, Memorial City. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11am–2pm. Price: No tickets listed. An outdoor party in the Plaza with a live band, face painting, balloon artists and The Texas Bubblers. The noon hour ends with bubbles. Bring chairs. Outside food isn't allowed, but you can get takeout from the restaurants nearby. It may be called off for bad weather. Official page: https://www.citycentrehouston.com/event/dec-31-noon-years-eve-2026 (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Zoo Lights at the Houston Zoo** at Houston Zoo, 6200 Hermann Park Dr., Houston, TX 77030. When: Nov 19, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: 5:30–10:30pm (last entry 9:30pm). Price: Dated tickets online; children 2 and under free. Closed Dec 9 and Dec 24; open Christmas night. A sensory-inclusive night is set for Mon, Nov 30. Official page: https://www.houstonzoo.org/events/zoolights/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Galaxy Lights at Space Center Houston** at Space Center Houston, 1601 E. NASA Pkwy., Houston, TX 77058. When: Select nights Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: 6–10pm (tickets until 9pm). Price: $19.95–$27.95 over age 3; 3 and under free. Official page: https://spacecenter.org/galaxy-lights/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Sugar Land Holiday Lights** at Constellation Field, Constellation Field, Sugar Land, TX. When: Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Evening times on the ticket page. Price: Family 4-pack $59 on select dates; early-bird prices through Nov 20. Includes photos with Santa nightly through Dec 23. A sensory-friendly night is Dec 15. Official page: https://www.sugarlandholidaylights.com/tickets (checked 2026-10-26)
- **The Light Park Katy** at Typhoon Texas Waterpark parking lot, 555 Katy Fort Bend Rd, Katy, TX 77494. When: Nightly Nov 6, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Sun–Thu 5:30–10pm; Fri–Sat 5:30–11pm. Price: $29.99 per car pre-sale online through Nov 5; $60 at the gate. Official page: https://www.thelightpark.com/locations/katy-texas (checked 2026-10-26)
- **The Light Park Spring** at Hurricane Harbor parking lot, 21300 Interstate 45 N, Spring, TX 77373. When: Nightly Nov 6, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Sun–Thu 5:30–10pm; Fri–Sat 5:30–11pm. Price: $29.99 per car pre-sale online through Nov 5; $60 at the gate. Official page: https://www.thelightpark.com/locations/spring-texas (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Holiday Lights Trail at Moody Gardens** at Moody Gardens, 1 Hope Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77554. When: Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027. Time: Nightly, about 6–10pm. Price: Dated tickets online; bundles with ICE LAND and skating. A mile-long walk through more than two million lights set to music. Formerly the Festival of Lights. Official page: https://www.moodygardens.com/holiday-season (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Radiant Nature at Houston Botanic Garden** at Houston Botanic Garden, 1 Botanic Lane, Houston, TX 77017. When: Nov 20, 2026 – Feb 21, 2027. Time: Timed evening entry, mostly Fri–Sun, plus select weeknights in December. Price: Timed tickets; 2 and under free; parking $12. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. Official page: https://hbg.org/series/radiant-nature/ (checked 2026-10-26)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
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## FAQ

### What’s open on Christmas Day in Houston with kids?
Children’s Museum Houston (Dec 25: closed), Houston Zoo (Dec 24: closed; Dec 25: Zoo Lights open 5:30–10:30pm), Hermann Park train, pedal boats and carousel (Dec 25: closed) post that they’re open on Christmas Day.

### What can we do with kids on Christmas Eve in Houston?
On the calendar: Photos with Santa at Memorial City Mall and Photos with Santa at First Colony Mall.

### What’s open on New Year’s Day in Houston?
Children’s Museum Houston (Not listed), Houston Zoo (Not listed), Hermann Park train, pedal boats and carousel (Not listed).

### What can we do with kids on New Year’s Day in Houston?
On the calendar for Jan 1: Zoo Lights at the Houston Zoo, Galaxy Lights at Space Center Houston, Sugar Land Holiday Lights and The Light Park Katy and three more. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.

### What is there to do with kids between Christmas and New Year’s in Houston?
Zoo Lights at the Houston Zoo, Galaxy Lights at Space Center Houston, Sugar Land Holiday Lights, The Light Park Katy and The Light Park Spring. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.

### How do you check these holiday hours?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 26, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).