Party down at the Noon Year's Eve celebration at the Children's Museum Houston. Photo courtesy of the museum
New Year's Eve Weekend 2024 in Houston: Noon Year's Eve, Family Celebrations, and More
Head to the Houston Zoo for a fun outing this Christmas break. Photo courtesy of the zoo
Christmas Vacation in Houston: 16 Staycation Ideas for Things To Do With Kids
Free activities like feeding the ducks at Mary Jo Peckham Park are simple and still great fun for kids. Photo courtesy of Canva
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Take a road trip to play in the snow. Photo courtesy of Canva
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Dickens on the Strand in Galveston. Photo courtesy of Visit Galveston
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Go Rio Riverboat at Hilton Palacio del Rio San Antonio during Christmas. Photo by Nan Palermo via Flickr 2.0
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Christmas trains near Houston 2024. Photo courtesy of The Polar Express Train Ride at the Texas State Railroad
Polar Express Train Rides and Christmas Trains Near Houston
Photo by Mommy Poppins
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There are so many ways to see The Nutcracker in Houston this season. Photo courtesy of NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet
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Beautiful neighborhood Christmas lights are all around Houston. Photo courtesy of the Franck's Christmas Light Show
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Photo courtesy of Levy Park, Facebook
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See animals up close at some of these farms near Houston. Photo courtesy of Dewberry Farm
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Pleasure Pier in Galveston is a top attraction near Houston. Photo courtesy of Visit Galveston
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Stop at Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo for some cool photos on your roadtrip to the Texas Panhandle.
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Baywatch Dolphin Tours are a fun, kid-friendly tour near Houston. Photo courtesy of Visit Galveston
Best Kid-Friendly Tours in Houston
Make dining out with kids more fun at one of Houston's themed restaurants. Photo courtesy of Rock N Roll Sushi
Themed Restaurants in Houston for a Fun Night Out With Kids
City Park Skate Park near Houston. Photo courtesy of the Sugarland Texas Govt.
Kid-Friendly Skate Parks in Houston
Urban Air has quite a few trampoline parks near Houston. Photo courtesy of Urban Air Adventure Park
Fun Trampoline Parks Near Houston for Kids to Jump in the AC
Batting cage photo courtesy of the Bellaire Bats
Indoor Batting Cages Near Houston Where Kids Can Practice Their Swings
Houston's Walking Stick Brewing Company has plenty of outdoor space. Photo courtesy of the Walking Stick Brewing Company
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Plan a magical quinceañera with these dress shops and venues. Photo courtesy of Canva
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Photo courtesy of Big Air in North Houston
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In winter, visit Luminations at the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. Photo by Ann Alva Weiding Photography, at bigredmuse.com.
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New to fishing? Try a Galveston fishing boat tour.
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The outdoor pool at the Moody Gardens Hotel, photo courtesy of Visit Galveston.
Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Galveston, TX
One of our favorite petting zoos near Houston. Photo courtesy of Dewberry Farm
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Make it an unforgettable family getaway from Houston by hiking Enchanted Rock. Photo courtesy Passport to Texas.
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Photo courtesy of Schlitterbahn Waterparks
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Photo by author Rebecca Matheson Ortiz for Mommy Poppins.
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Little girl playing at an indoor play space in Houston. Photo courtesy of Frogs, Snails and Fairy Tales
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Houston has many kid-friendly museums, and not all are children's museums. Photo courtesy of the Children's Museum of Houston
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John P. McGovern's state-of-the art playground is perfect for both younger and older children. Photo courtesy of Discovery Green.
20 Things To Do in Downtown Houston With Kids
Ice at the Galleria provides year-round ice skating in Houston. Photo courtesy of the Houston Galleria
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MKT has great family-friendly restaurants! Photo courtesy of @mendocinofarms and MKT
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Fishing in Lake Somerville. Photo courtesy of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
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There's no shortage of fun baby activities in Houston.
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Your little learner will love the variety of toddler classes in Houston. Photo courtesy of the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
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Treat your kid to one of these Houston spas with services for children. Photo courtesy of Float Baby
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Climb with your kids at one of these indoor rock climbing gyms in Houston. Photo courtesy of Texas Rock Gym
Best Indoor Rock Climbing Gyms in Houston for Kids
Bowling is a fun indoor activity to add to your list this summer. Photo courtesy of Palace Social
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Fishing at Sea Center in Freeport, TX. Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife
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Photo courtesy of Osprey Cruises
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Round up the girls and head out for a kid-free night in Houston. Photo courtesy of Thirsty Bee Meadery
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Kids love the carousel on Kemah's boardwalk.
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San Antonio has a lot of budget-friendly things to do with kids. Photo courtesy of the San Antonio Botanical Garden
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Birdwatching at the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary, photo courtesy of Houston Audubon
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Photo courtesy of Cypress Academy
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Hero Headquarters is a birthday party entertainment company in Houston. Photo courtesy of Hero Headquarters
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Check out one of these breakfasts in Houston for a casual meal when the kids get up early. Photo courtesy of Snooze
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Free activities like feeding the ducks at Mary Jo Peckham Park are simple and still great fun for kids. Photo courtesy of Canva
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Photo courtesy of Threadfare Children's Boutique
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The Houston Zoo is a great stop for kids, and near other things to do in Houston, too. Photo by Jessica A., courtesy of the zoo
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Families enjoying a night out. Photo courtesy of Paradigm Brewing in Tomball
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Montessori preschools focus on hands-on learning. Photo courtesy of The Woodlands Montessori School
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Levy Park in Houston has one of our favorite playgrounds. Photo courtesy of OJB Landscape Architecture
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Playgrounds Without Limits photo courtesy of Memorial Park, Facebook
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Take a look at one of these popular toddler dance classes in Houston. Photo courtesy of the Houston Ballet preschool program.
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Baby music classes are a great way to bond and learn. Photo courtesy of Musik Garden
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Photo courtesy of Texas Health Resources
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Photo courtesy of the Children's Museum of Houston
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Birthday party places near Houston include arcades, escape rooms, climbing gyms, and more. Photo courtesy of The Main Event
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There are a variety of fishing lakes near Houston to fish with your kids. Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife
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San Antonio is full of amusement parks, good food, and lots of other things to do with kids. Photo courtesy of the San Antonio Riverwalk
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Try fishing for the first time in Lake Livingston. Photo courtesy of Lake Livingston State Park, Facebook
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Kids eat Free at Dickey's on Sundays with each adult purchase of $10 or more. Photo courtesy of Dickey's
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The St. Regis in Uptown is one of Houston's best family-friendly resorts.
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Photo courtesy of Lake Conroe KOA Campground, Facebook
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Hiking at Garner State Park in the Texas Hill Country. Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife
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Fresh air is one of the best antidotes to a grumpy toddler or baby. Photo courtesy of Bigstock
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Come for the queso, stay for the ice cream at these Tex-Mex restaurants in Houston.
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Explore the 21 miles of trails around the park, of varying lengths and difficulty to suit your family’s needs.
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Kids can learn about Robotics at the Houston Space Center. Photo courtesy of Rebecca Ortiz.
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Photo courtesy of Levy Park, Facebook
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Samuel Sykes, owner of Trill Taco, photo courtesy of Samuel Sykes
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Calling all space lovers! NASA’s Space Center Houston, photo by Rebecca Matheson Ortiz
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Toddlers can enjoy playing with the foam block structures at Exploration Park. Photo courtesy of Exploration Park
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The Menil Collection is a free art museum in Houston. Photo courtesy of the Menil Collection
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​Galveston's Schlitterbahn is an indoor waterpark near Houston. Photo courtesy of Schlitterbahn in Galveston Island
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Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2024 in Houston: Thanksgiving Parade, The Nutcracker, and Holiday Celebrations

Berry Merry Christmas begins this Thanksgiving weekend in Houston. Photo courtesy of Dewberry Farm
Berry Merry Christmas begins this Thanksgiving weekend in Houston. Photo courtesy of Dewberry Farm
11/27/24 - By Rachael Cherry

Looking for the best things to do in Houston this Thanksgiving weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

As always, the City of Houston is putting on its amazing Thanksgiving Day Parade. And, if you have family in town, consider taking them to experience a Holiday Boat Cruise on Buffalo Bayou – it’s an event that is uniquely Houston! The Houston Ballet's The Nutcracker opens this weekend, but if your kids are still too little to sit through theater, take them to find that perfect tree at Froberg's Tree Farm opening weekend.

If you decide last minute that you don't want to cook, we have lots of kid-friendly restaurants open on Thanksgiving. You can also find all things Thanksgiving in our Thanksgiving Activities Guide - everything from themed crafts to recipes and more. 

Happy Thanksgiving from the Mommy Poppins Houston team!

More Things To Do in Houston this Week with Kids:

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Head downtown for the 2024 City of Houston Thanksgiving Parade this weekend. Photo by Jim McIngvale.
Head downtown for the 2024 City of Houston Thanksgiving Parade this weekend. Photo by Jim McIngvale.

Things to Do This Thanksgiving Weekend 2024 in Houston with Kids

Annual City of Houston Thanksgiving Day Parade

Downtown – FREE
Thursday, Nov ember 28
H-E-B presents the city of Houston's annual Thanksgiving Parade, where families can enjoy traditional parade floats, attractions, and entertainment. The parade will be led by nine-time gold medalist Carl Lewis and honors Houstonians who competed in the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics. READ MORE

Froberg's Christmas Tree Farm Opening Weekend

Alvin – FREE
Friday, November 29 through Sunday December 1
Enjoy the opening weekend of Froberg's Christmas Tree Farm with cut your own trees, create your own ornament, photo booth with baby cows, strawberry express ride, face painting, and Christmas treats.   READ MORE

The Houston Ballet Presents The Nutcracker

Downtown
Friday, November 29 through Sunday, December 29 (Select Dates)
Houston’s holiday tradition continues with the magic and wonder of Stanton Welch’s The Nutcracker. READ MORE

The Hip Hop Nutcracker at Smart Financial Centre

Sugar Land
Saturday, November 30
A holiday mash-up for the whole family, The Hip Hop Nutcracker returns for another spectacular tour. This contemporary dance spectacle is a re-mixed and re-imagined version of the classic, smashing hip-hop dance and Tchaikovsky’s timeless music together into a heart-stirring and inspirational holiday event.   READ MORE

Moana's Ocean Commotion - A Polynesian Thanksgiving! at Children's Museum Houston

Museum District
Saturday, November 30
Enjoy Polynesian dance performances and join Moana herself for a special Thanksgiving-themed story time and celebrating the release of the “Moana 2” movie. It’s an adventure across the sea to be thankful for!   READ MORE

Holiday in the Plaza at CityCentre

Memorial – FREE
Saturday, November 30
Come visit Santa and 2 of his reindeer at CityCentre during Holiday in the Plaza. Donation of new, unwrapped toys can be donated in exchange for a complimentary picture with Santa.  READ MORE

Holiday Bash at Rice Village

West University – FREE
Sunday, December 1
Kick off the holiday season at Rice Village’s biggest seasonal celebration yet! Marking the 4th anniversary of the Rice Village Farmers Market with a Holiday Bash including Santa photos, carolers, kid's craft tables, face painting, and snow! READ MORE

Oh, What Fun! Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration at City Place

Spring– FREE
Sunday, December 1
Experience the magic of the holidays at City Place with free family-friendly activities, festive music, and endless photo opportunities to create lasting memories.   READ MORE

Sleeping Beauty The Musical at Main Street Theater

Midtown
Select Dates through Sunday, December 22
Experience the family-friendly musical Sleeping Beauty performed by Main Street Theater.  READ MORE

A Christmas Carol at the Alley Theatre

Downtown
Through Sunday, December 29
Celebrate the holidays with the Alley’s hit new adaptation with colorful Victorian costumes, special effects, lively dancing, stunning sets, and just the right blend of Christmas carols. READ MORE

Holiday Boat Cruise on Buffalo Bayou

Downtown
Weekends through Sunday, December 29
Enhance your holiday season with a festive experience like no other by joining a Holiday Boat Cruise on Buffalo Bayou! These immersive boat tours offer up-close views of the bayou’s unique ecology with glittering lights of the downtown Houston skyline as a sparkling backdrop.   READ MORE

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