What’s Happening This Weekend In Houston

With so much stuff happening in this weekend in Houston noone can claim they are bored or can't find something exciting to do. If you are one of the many people who regularly dodge their “to do list”, especially if it is swamped with things to do around the house, check out some of the events around town that are included as must see holiday activities.

We have the 411 on where to see fantastic holiday lighting displays, homes and other places that will brighten your mood for the season.

A few places that bear mentioning include the homes near the Medical Center in Scott Terrace where there have street after street of creatively decorated homes. Each street has a fanciful theme like Lollipop lane, the North-pole ect. Other places “Inside the Loop” to experience that jolly holiday spirit include:

Hermann Park
Sam Houston Park- Downtown
Downtown District
City Hall

B-T-W Have you seen the ice rink in Discovery Green? It’s not just a place to skate. You can take lessons, there is Jazz on Ice, Disco skating and of course for the younger crowd, skating with Santa. I’m not sure if he’s bringing any of the reindeer along, because on weekends it can get tough to find a parking meter around the urban Greenspace.

Enough of me jabbering. Take a look at the short photo show on Houston I put together with 10 things you can to do this weekend. It has some places that you may have already visited and are familiar with and threw in a few new ideas.

You can see more tips on enriching, exciting and enjoyable activities for just about any weekend or events year around by signing up for our monthly newsletter. Got way to much e-mail in your in box? Simply visit our Facebook fanpage and hit the like button to get Houston entertainment updates added to your Facebook feed. Don’t forget to read some of the other articles on holiday events and fun things to do in Houston, here at Midtownlive, by clicking on one of the categories below.

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Houston Holiday Events- Christmas 2011

Some of Houston holiday events are bringing in flocks of folks to local waterways for fantastic voyages during the Christmas 2011 season. The city got its start on the banks of a bayou and people have been using area lakes and waterways for commerce, travel and recreation every since.



This Christmas is a wonderful time of the year to see the city from the deck of a luxury yacht or the bow of a pontoon boat. The holiday activities on this list of things to do in Houston during December are all short cruises that you don’t want to miss.

Buffalo Bayou Christmas Cruises

Now thru December 17 you can enjoy a short comfortable 30-minute boat ride that travels down the winding waters of Buffalo Bayou. You can bring your family or friends along and everyone will leave with a new viewpoint of the city, as seen from the banks of our famous bayou.

No reservations needed. It’s first come, first served just try to arrive 10-15 minutes before you'd like to board the boat. Tours leave about 30-minutes apart from Sesquicentennial Park between 5 -8 pm visit the Bayou partnership website for weather advisories, dates and more information.

Armand Bayou-Houston Holiday Events

Armand Bayou Nature Center (ABNC) wants to help you start each weekend during the holidays on the good foot. They are offering a variety of boat tours. From a leisurely Saturday morning trip on the "Bayou Ranger" to a moonlight jaunt to see the nocturnal nightshift at work.

You’ll enjoy a light breakfast while drifting down the bayou to observe a variety of wildlife during their morning search for food, on the Breakfast On The Bayou trip.

For those who prefer to sleep late you can catch a glimpse of the wildlife around the ANC during the laid back sunset cruise. It takes voyagers on a peaceful journey through placid water to observe the wildlife going to and fro as the sun makes its decent into the West.

Moonlight Cruise

There is also some holiday activities on the bayou for everyone who likes the nightlife. At ABNC night time brings with it a constant chorus of frogs, crickets and and owl calls. It's also when the animals on nightshift of the forest begin to emerge and you can only see them during the nature center's "Moonlight Cruise".

Each of the cruises leave from Bay Area Park aboard the "Bayou Ranger" pontoon boat. Don't worry, you'll be happy to know that the ticket prices for these Houston holiday events are really reasonable. Visit abnc.org for more information

Holiday Party Cruise

Every weekend from now until , Dec 18 It’s “All aboard “ on the FantaSea the Big White Boat. They will take you on an exciting afternoon party cruise around Kemah, Clear Lake and Galveston Bay. The trip will include plenty of delicious food, foot stomping entertainment and fun as you celebrate the holidays in a unique way this year, with a floating holiday party. Try it, you'll love it.

With all of these exciting Houston holiday events happening right here in your own backyard, why would you want to go any where else during Christmas? These incredibly entertaining voyages have something to offer everyone.

For more tips on enriching, exciting and enjoyable Houston holiday activities and events year around sign up for our monthly newsletter. Got way to much e-mail to sort through already?
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10 Holiday Activities In Houston You Shouldn’t Miss

Attending holiday activities in Houston (H-town) is a great way to bring the family closer together if only for a few hours. The backdrop of dazzling light displays, unlimited shopping opportunities and the constant smell of freshly baked goods around the city will combine to make it a highly stimulating full sensory experience.

So, what’s there to do in Houston between now and Christmas ? Plenty! For starters there are local celebrations with winter wonderlands complete with outdoor skating in several locations. Plus, several candlelight tours of homes and neighborhoods exquisitely decorated for the yuletide season. It goes without saying that there are boo-coos of places where you can find shopping bargains.

Local Yuletide Celebrations

Here’s a small sampling of whats happening in Houston this month and some of the places where the Christmas spirit rules.

Old Town Spring                                  Uptown Lighting
Heights Home Tours                             Outdoor Ice Skating
Mayors Christmas Celebration            Nutcracker Market

For more info on the dates and times of the individual events check out their website. Don’t leave Midtownlive without browsing through our Event Calender where Houston couples can sort through a whole year of fairs, festivals and free events to attend and indulge themselves.

 Christmas Deals For H-town Shoppers

Once Black Friday shoppers have returned to their roost to put away the recent purchases it will be time for round two. Cyber-shopping. The top gifts that are keeping shoppers busy searching high and low off-line and online this year include:

Fragrances
Electronics
Computer Software
Tours/Travel / Hotel Deals



These are a handful of the items from a recent list compiled by the Nielsen Company of the top 10 online purchases during the past quarter :

• Books
• Clothing
• Airline reservations
• Electronic
• Music
• Cosmetics
• Computer hardware
• Event tickets

The local malls still have plenty of Christmas deals left for us last minute shoppers. During a recent trip to Target on Main Street I spotted a few specials on HDTV’s, small electric heaters and laptop gear ( bags, fans etc.) still in stock. Why sit in holiday traffic when you can CLICK HERE to Shop Target's Cyber-Monday Specials all week long.

Fun Holiday Activities For The Kids

Beginning the incredibly fun Children's Museum, along-with the Kid’s first Saturday @Breakfast Klub and the Nutcracker Market everyone is gearing up to lead little hands on art-full journeys. Their take-away will be more than just another piece of refrigerator art. Camaraderie, fun and expert instruction will boost their self-esteem and smash any ideas they may be harboring about being creatively challenged.

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7 Ideas For Things To Do In Houston During Christmas Holidays

We have some great ideas for things to do in Houston during the holidays. Christmas is a special time of year and if you’re having trouble getting into a jolly mood or even if your Christmas spirit is bubbling over, take a look at these exciting ways to spend an evening or two during this time of year.

You’ll find a few things to do around the house. Stuff you can do with your extended family and suggestions for tranquil gatherings for a few close friends. There also some places you can visit that should perk up any old Grinch.

Ugly Sweater Party

You know that sweater that you paid good money for and have only worn it once, because you realized later that it’s ugly. Your friends, coworkers and most of us, all have a similar holiday sweater that we feel the same way about too!

You can have a contest, or just a friendly get together where everyone can finally wear his or her sweater without feeling embarrassed or ashamed of their bad taste.

12 Dishes Of Christmas Pot Luck

Any excuse especially a yuletide gathering, is good reason to have an old fashion pot luck. You can assign dishes for everyone to cook or have them pull one out of a hat or tell them to bring their favorite Christmas dish

Christmas Light Tour

It’s a Houston tradition to decorate entire neighborhoods, the yards, houses and some homeowners dress in character for the holidays. Sometimes each street has a different theme i.e.lollipop lane, candy land or North Pole are some of the popular selections.

Shepard Terrace on the North, Sheffield Estates in the Northwest and Scott Terrace on the South are a few of the popular communities that are heavily visited by people that enjoy Christmas light tours in Houston. This is a real crowd-pleaser for small children and Seniors.

Smores And Games By The Fireplace

Nothing can warm the heart and ignite the Christmas spirit faster than an evening spent enjoying the cozy heat emanating from a fireplace. You can keep it simple by trying your hand at roasting chestnuts, making smores or a variety of other tasty treats in wood burning fireplaces.

Your evening will be filled with wonder, amazement and suspense if you share your favorite board games, stories or exchange ideas about current events. You can always go retro and turn off the lights and TV and let the flickering light from the red hot embers burning in the hearth bath the room with shadows as you absorb the silence.

Call People You Haven’t Heard From In Longtime

If you have free long distance or an unlimited calling plan, the yuletide season is a good reason to contact some of your long lost friends, relatives and that retired co-worker that you always tell yourself you are going to call someday.

Before you start, prepare a nice short Christmas greeting that you can leave you when you get sent to the voice mailbox of the folks who are unavailable to answer their phones.

Wine and Cheese Night Hike

Whether you spend the first part of your evening dashing through the snow or walking through a local mall, a wine and cheese hike will energize your holiday spirit. On a mild evening you and one or more people could take a walk in the beautiful outdoors, at the Houston arboretum, Bayou Bend or Discovery Green culminating the journey with an informal picnic.

Don’t prepare anything elaborate or time consuming. Just grab a bottle of your favorite vino and a cheese tray from your wine collection or newly released wine vintage from a local store to share as you discuss, debrief and deliberate about the wonderful events you experienced during the evening..

Ice Skating In Houston

Your don't have to worry about thin ice, polar bears straggling around or waiting for the pond to freeze over to go ice skating in Houston. Discovery Green has just the thing for you. An outdoor ice skating rink. It’s a surefire way to get the young and old Houstonians into the spirit of the season.

What is really amazing is that you don’t have to get out on the ice and skate to enjoy this fun filled holiday idea. You can watch other people gleefully gliding back and forth on the ice and still have a good time.

Final Thoughts

You probably already noticed that this list of things to do in Houston during the Christmas holiday’s won’t cost you a ton of money, require any special skills or perfect weather to make them enjoyable.

We hope you try one or more of them this yuletide season and please do come back and tell us about your experiences with these nifty holiday activities in the comments section.

		Houston Networking To energize your career and attract more business view the top business and professional networking events in Houston.			Houston Attractions Get discounts tickets for your family or group on the exhibits and events at many of the fun places to visit in Houston.
		Midtown Houston Apts Find deals on move in specials, rebates and pricing on renting apts and lofts in Midtown and other great places in Houston.			Festivals In Houston Here is a list of the many family friendly, exciting nieghborhood and city-wide festivals that you should know about.
		Museums in Houston Located near Midtown Houston in the Museum District, there is plenty of things to see and do at any of the great museums in town.			Houston African American There are lots of events in Houston where you can experience its rich African American cultural heritage here's a look at a few of them.

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Thanksgiving Cruises In Houston Texas

You can treat yourself, your family or someone special to a memorable Thanksgiving in Houston by taking them to enjoy an incredible cruise on one of the luxury yachts in the area that are offering holiday cruises.

Most cruises last between two and four hours and have a high-energy party atmosphere that will perk up any old Grinch. It’s the perfect way to ensure there is stuffing in the turkey, without being bored by the same old stuffy routine holiday activities in Houston.

Here’s our short list of places where you can set sail during the holiday season.

Starfleet Youtube Channel




City Lights Cruises
Star Fleet Yachts
The Big White Boat
Houston Party Boats

Thanksgiving Parade In Houston

This year's parade theme “Adventures at Sea” features newly-designed floats, giant helium balloons, along with a 40-ft pirate ship, marching bands and more. The parade will come alive and set sail through downtown Houston streets Thanksgiving morning Nov 25, 2010 at 9:am.

The annual parade also marks the official kick off of the 2010 holiday season with the arrival of Santa Claus and his reindeer in Houston.

Plenty of local high school marching bands are scheduled to participate in the Thanksgiving parade this year including:

Marching Bands

• Willowridge Mighty Eagle Marching Band and Wings Drill Team
• Stephen F. Austin High School Sonic Boom Marching Band
• Bellaire High School Mighty Cardinal Band
• MacArthur High School Marching Band
• Raul Yzaguirre School for Success "Heart Beat of Soul" Band
• Wheatley High School Wild Cat "Purple Explosion" Marching Band
• Trinity Valley Community College Cardettes & Cardinal Regiment
• Madison High School Marching Band


Admission to the Thanksgiving parade is free along the parade route. If you prefer a comfy spot to view the action, there are reserved seats in the television zone available for purchase.

Thanksgiving in Houston - Attractions

Houston Zoo

Holidays are no longer free days at the Houston Zoo. They have a new policy which changed the free admission days to the first Tuesday of every month from 2 p.m. until closing.

They are hoping that by spreading out the opportunity for free admission to 12 times each year instead of only five over-crowded holidays, that more guests will be able to come to the Houston zoo and have a better experience when they visit.

Houston Children's Museum

If a Thanksgiving cruise in Houston won't fit into your schedule, try visiting one of Houston's premiere attractions, The Children's Museum Houston. It is an excellent opportunity for kids to create their own handmade dazzling float and strut it through Kid’s Hall during a vivacious Thanksgiving Parade!

There are other exhilarating activities that will engage children and teach them about the customs, traditions and the spirit of Thanksgiving. This kids allowed party is on Friday 26 November from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.. It promises to be full of joyful moments and good times.

		Houston Networking To energize your career and attract more business view the top business and professional networking events in Houston.			Houston Attractions Get discounts tickets for your family or group on the exhibits and events at many of the fun places to visit in Houston.
		Midtown Houston Apts Find deals on move in specials, rebates and pricing on renting apts and lofts in Midtown and other great places in Houston.			Festivals In Houston Here is a list of the many family friendly, exciting nieghborhood and city-wide festivals that you should know about.
		Museums in Houston Located near Midtown Houston in the Museum District, there is plenty of things to see and do at any of the great museums in town.			Houston African American There are lots of events in Houston where you can experience its rich African American cultural heritage here's a look at a few of them.

Link To this post!