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Fun Free Activities for Kids in January 2026: Top Free Things To Do in Houston with Kids

Don't miss the MLK Grande Parade this January 2025. Photo by 2C2K Photography via Flickr 2.0
Don't miss the MLK Grande Parade this January 2025. Photo by 2C2K Photography via Flickr 2.0
12/29/24 - By Elizabeth R

From New Year's Day to MLK weekend and beyond, January is packed with free activities for kids. Don’t miss our favorite free and fun things to do in Houston with kids this month.

Looking to save after the holidays? This roundup of free things to do in Houston with kids is the perfect way to kick off 2026. From celebrating the Japanese New Year at Japan Junction: Oshogatsu 2026 at Levy Park, featuring live performances and traditional games, to MATCH Family Fun Day, where an entire city block fills with kid-friendly activities, performances, and hands-on fun hosted by the Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston, these free family events in Houston offer plenty of ways for kids to have fun without stretching the budget.

These are just a few of our favorite things to do in Houston this January—we're adding more events to the Houston Events Calendar every day. And for free things to do every month, check out our Free Fun Things to Do with Houston Kids Guide. 

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Prelude Family Concert event photo courtesy of Levy Park
Prelude Family Concert event photo courtesy of Levy Park

Best Free Things To Do in Houston January 2026

First Day Hike at Sheldon Lake State Park

North Houston
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Ring in 2026 by getting outdoors with this nationwide First Day Hike initiative! READ MORE

New Years Day Family Celebration at Wakefield Crowbar

Garden Oaks
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Live music, a massive balloon drop at noon, kids eat free, open play, and brunch and drink specials for parents—this is a New Year’s celebration the whole family can enjoy. READ MORE

Mini Makers Workshop at Discovery Green

Downtown
Saturday, January 3, 2026
At Discovery Green, YOU are the artist! Manifest your goals for the upcoming year with a vision board, using recycled magazines, scissors, and glue. Kids of all ages are welcome! READ MORE

Hands-on Houston: Embroidery Hoop Art Houston Center for Contemporary Craft

Museum District
Saturday, January 3, 2026
Explore the art of embroidery at this month’s Hands-on Houston! Learn how to thread a kid-friendly needle and design your own composition using a hoop and burlap (a beginner-friendly loose weave cloth). Add interesting shapes and textures to your artwork using yarn and beads, and leave with a finished hoop ready to hang in your home!   READ MORE

Nature Storytime at Nature Discovery Center

Bellaire
Wednesday, January 7, 2026 (Every Wednesday)
Preschoolers and their caregivers join on Wednesday afternoons for nature stories, live animals, touchable specimens, and a simple craft. This is a free, drop-in program!   READ MORE

Japan Junction: Oshogatsu 2026 at Levy Park

Upper Kirby
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Celebrate the start of 2026 at the Second Annual Japan Junction Oshogatsu New Year’s Celebration! This exciting, free, and family-friendly event promises a vibrant mix of live performances, traditional Japanese games, omikuji fortune telling, and hands-on craft stations. READ MORE

We Are Houston Run Fest at Discovery Green

Downtown
Saturday & Sunday, January 10 & 11, 2026
The Houston Marathon weekend of events includes activities for everyone in the family at Discovery Green.  READ MORE

Monthly Volunteer Workday at Buffalo Bayou Park

Downtown
Saturday, January 17, 2026
Houstonians, ages 9 and up, are invited to join Buffalo Bayou Partnership for community-wide volunteer days at Buffalo Bayou Park happening the third Saturday of each month.   READ MORE

MATCH Family Fun Day

Midtown
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Gather the kids for an afternoon full of family-friendly fun, featuring free activities like face painting, balloon art, bounce houses, stilt walkers, and colorful chalk art. Enjoy live performances throughout the day from local favorites, including Main Street Theater for Youth, Prelude Music, and Open Dance Project. READ MORE

MLK Unity Parade & Festival

Downtown
Monday, January 19, 2026
Houston will host a unified 2026 MLK Unity Parade in January, combining past separate parades into one major downtown event for the first time, featuring marching bands, floats, and community groups, followed by festivals with music, vendors, and kids' activities, honoring Dr. King's legacy of unity and peace. READ MORE

Arbor Day Celebration at Houston Arboretum & Nature Center

Memorial Park
Saturday, January 24, 2026
Arbor Day is a celebration of trees and all the incredible benefits they provide. This year’s festivities focus on having fun with nature through hands-on activities for the whole family. Guests can test their skills with lumberjack games, build a fairy house, explore the forest on a self-guided hike, and even meet Johnny Appleseed.   READ MORE

Mr. Leo Puppet Show at CityPlace

Spring
Saturday, January 17, 2026
Hop aboard for a delightful ride with “Mr. Leo’s Puppet Show Bus,” where colorful puppets bring stories to life with laughter and fun! READ MORE

Kawaii Market Presented With Tokyo X at Asia Society Texas

Museum District
Saturday & Sunday, January 24 & 25, 2026
Join Asia Society Texas for a vibrant, anime-inspired market! Over two days, this free event — presented in partnership with Tokyo X — will feature more than 20 vendors offering kawaii crafts, collectibles, artwork, and more. Visitors can browse and shop, sip specialty coffee from Kopi Cowboy, and enjoy free admission to The House of Pikachu: Art, Anime, and Pop Culture, making it the perfect weekend to celebrate all things anime.  READ MORE

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About the Author

Elizabeth R.
Elizabeth R. is a writer, editor, and mom. She shares all the fun things to do in Houston on social @mommypoppinshouston
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