Looking for something to do in the Houston area this weekend? Check out this weekend's guide!

Flashlight Candy Cane Hunts

The Woodlands Township is holding a candy cane hunt for children age 5 and older. The Terramont Park grounds will be filled with treats to hunt in the dark. There will be prizes awarded to the candy hunters who find the “golden” candy canes. Parents must accompany their children at no charge. Preregistration is required.BalletForte’s 'The Nutcracker'

This Stafford Centre studio will put on the 28th annual production of Michael Banigan’s classic holiday story, which follows Clara on her magical journey through the Snow Forrest to the Kingdom of Sweets. Military and group discounts are available.
  • Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 9, 2 p.m., 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 10, 2 p.m.
  • Starts at $12
  • 10505 Cash Road, Stafford
  • www.balletforte.org
Tomball German Fest Christmas Market

The annual Tomball German Fest Christmas Market will feature a lineup of over 150 vendors, contests and entertainment, including four live music stages and more than 30 entertainers. Santa will also make an appearance. Free parking will be available downtown, plus a free shuttle will be available from the east parking lot of HCA Houston Healthcare Tomball.
  • Dec. 8, 6-10 p.m.; Dec. 9, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Dec. 10, 10 a.m.-6 a.m.
  • Free (admission, parking)
  • Downtown Tomball
  • www.tomballgermanfest.org
Live Nativity Program and Celebration


Atascocita Presbyterian Church will host a family-friendly holiday event with hot chocolate, cookies, Nativity sets for sale, scent tasting of frankincense and myrrh, an a cappella choir, a petting zoo, a photo booth, and a Nativity sing-along play.Historic Montgomery Christmas

This event by the Montgomery Historical Society will feature a holiday marketplace with vendors near the Old Community Building at 14420 Liberty St. along with a cookie walk and a candlelight tour of historic buildings. At 10 a.m., the city of Montgomery’s Christmas parade will showcase civic organizations, school spirit and other participating groups through Historic Downtown Montgomery.
  • Dec. 9; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (holiday market), 10 a.m. (parade), 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (cookie walk), 4-7 p.m. (candlelight tour)
  • Free (admission to general events), $5-$15 (tickets for candlelight tour)
  • Downtown Montgomery
  • www.mhs-tx.org/christmasinhistoricmontgomery
Winter Words Book Fair

Receive tips on writing and publishing, meet local authors, and peruse a variety of books at the Winter Words Book Fair. The event will feature book signings and Q&A sessions with nearly two dozen local authors as well as a brief seminar on self-publishing.
  • Dec. 9, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • Free
  • Humble Civic Center, 8233 Will Clayton Parkway, Humble
  • www.humblecc.com
Special Pals Pet Adoption

Visit Willowbrook Mall’s center court to meet and interact with dogs and cats of all ages at this adoption event hosted by Special Pals. All adoptable pets are up to date on age-appropriate vaccinations, microchipped and spayed or neutered.Tour De Lites


The 30th Annual Tour De Lites will kick off at Independence Park this December. Visitors can participate in decorating contests, hayride tours and holiday lights. Organizers said they expect more than 100 individual bikers to participate.A Revolutionary Christmas: The Boston Tea Party 250th Anniversary Festival

Lone Star College-Montgomery will house A Revolutionary Christmas: The Boston Tea Party 250th Anniversary Festival this weekend. This festival will feature Santa, holiday shopping, inflatables, 18th-century food and entertainment, re-enactments, and food trucks.Carols on the Green

The Houston Grand Opera brings its annual holiday celebration back to Discovery Green. The event will feature music celebrating Christmas, Kwanza and Hanukkah performed by singers from the Houston Grand Opera alongside community partners, including the Segundo Barrio Children’s Chorus, the Indigo Diaspora Dance Company, the HGO Chorus and HGO’s Bauer Family High School Vocal Studio. Guests are encouraged to wear festive holiday attire, including ugly holiday sweaters.
  • Dec. 9, 7-8:30 p.m.
  • Free
  • 1500 McKinney St., Houston
  • www.hgo.org
The 10th annual Islamic Arts Festival

The Islamic Arts Society will host its 10th annual Islamic Arts Festival with a visual feast featuring hundreds of artworks, including Islamic calligraphy, woodwork, ceramic tiles and paintings from local artists. There will also be opportunities to interact with the artists, henna tattoos, activities for children and ethnic food from food trucks.Telemundo Houston Toy Drive


Telemundo Houston is hosting a toy drive with games and TV personality Antonio Hernandez, who will be on-site receiving toy donations. New, unwrapped toys are encouraged.
  • Dec. 10, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • Free (admission)
  • Traders Village, 7979 N. Eldridge Parkway, Houston
  • www.tradersvillage.com
Tenth annual Hanukkah Celebration

LaCenterra’s Central Green park will host the Roger Spark Band and Rabbi Goldstein as he tells the story of Hanukkah. The Jewish festival of lights occurs from Dec. 7-15 this year and is hallmarked by the eight-day lighting of a candle holder called the menorah. The menorah will be lit at the family-centered event.Brunch with Santa

Armandos is bringing Santa to the dining room during brunch. There will be photo opportunities and festive menu items.