Children's Museum Houston serves chills, thrills, and winter skills with 100% chance of snow, Santa visit, reindeer and cultural celebrations throughout the holiday season!

Now through Jan. 5

OPEN Mondays, Dec. 22, 29 and Jan. 5

OPEN New Year’s Day, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Free Family Night Thursday, 5 to 8 p.m.)

Closed Christmas Day

HOUSTON (Dec. 5, 2025) – Children’s Museum Houston is turning up the brrr-illiance this holiday season with Polar Palooza, an avalanche of festive fun packed with real snow days, shows, celebrations, and hands-on holiday magic for the whole family! From now through Jan. 5, the Museum becomes the destination for winter wonder, cultural traditions, and merry make-believe—all wrapped in one giant bow! Get ready for puns, play, and plenty of cheer…because we’re about to sleigh the season!

BLOCKBUSTERS:

Polar Palooza REAL Snow Days!

Dec. 20 to 24; Dec. 26 to 29; Jan. 1 to 4

Bundle up, Houston! Polar Palooza Snow Days are blowing into town! That’s right… real snow islanding at Children’s Museum Houston, turning our courtyard into a frosty, fluffy playground perfect for chills, thrills, and winter skills. Grab your mittens, bring your coolest moves, and get ready for snow much fun.  All included with general admission! Let it snow, CMH-style! 

Let’s Play: The Musical!

Dec. 22 to 23; Dec. 26 to 30; and Jan. 2 to 4
When the kids are away, the toys come to life! Join YoYo, Rubber Ducky, Pixel, Slime, and friends as they tumble, twirl, and sing their way through a playful tale of friendship, confidence, and untangling more than just strings. With lively songs, dance-along fun, and 15 to 20 min. of pure playroom magic, this interactive musical is perfect for families to laugh, move, and make memories together!

SPECIAL EVENTS:

Animals in Winter – Meet a REAL Reindeer!

Saturday, Dec. 13

Sponsored by Phillips 66

Get ready to paws for holiday fun during a wildly festive day packed with creative crafts, cool critters, and performances that will have the whole family feeling furry merry. Meet a real reindeer for the ultimate sleigh-side selfie, craft your own animal snow globes, make fluffy polar bear masks, and enjoy story times filled with lovable animal friends. Plus, don’t miss the Texas Six Steppers as talented pups dance their way into your heart.

The Nutcracker!

Sunday, Dec. 21

Step into a world of twirls, tunes, and holiday magic during The Nutcracker! celebration—our sweetest seasonal tradition! Enjoy enchanting excerpts from The Nutcracker performed by Intempo Dance Ensemble, whisking you away to the Land of Sweets with Clara, toy soldiers, and dancing snowflakes. Keep the magic going with festive story times, cheerful live Christmas music from We Care Act of Pearland, and hands-on fun like decorating your own wooden nutcracker or crafting 3D evergreen trees.

Nightmare Before Christmas

OPEN Monday, Dec. 22

Step into a frightfully festive world during our Nightmare Before Christmas-inspired celebration where spooky meets sparkly and holiday magic gets a Jack Skellington–style twist! Sing along with Jack and Sally, jump into merry mischief with festive games, and get hands-on in our toy workshop and DIY Zero projector station. Plus, explore seasonal crafts, cultural traditions, and joyful activities throughout the Museum.

 All Aboard

Tuesday, Dec. 23

Hop on board and steam into the holiday spirit with a magical Polar Express-themed adventure packed with stories, crafts, and hands-on fun! Join our friends from Ameritex for hourly Polar Express story times and creative make-and-takes, then keep the momentum going by building your own ramp-racing LEGO train and crafting festive bell ornaments and train whistles. It’s a day full of wonder, whistles, and all the track-tastic magic of the season!

Santa’s Jolly Visit – Ho, Ho, Ho!

Wednesday, Dec. 24 -Special Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Get ready for a jolly goodtime!  Santa’s Jolly Visit is rolling into Children’s Museum Houston with a sleigh full of holiday cheer! It’s your last chance to see Santa before he heads off on his big night, so bring your wish list and your camera for magical meet-and-greet moments. Enjoy a cozy story time with Mrs. Claus and craft your own gingerbread man ornament to take home. Arrive early!  Santa’s schedule is tighter than a wrapped present!

Mayor Ginger presents: Candyland!

Saturday, Dec. 27

Step into a world of sugar, spice, and everything nice. Meet the oh-so-sweet Gingerbread Man for a festive photo op, then dive into candy-colored science in our BASF Lab. Keep the holiday magic rolling as you craft your own foam gingerbread house and create a darling Gingerbread Man ornament to take home.

Let’s Play! – Hands-on Toy-Making Workshops!

Sunday, Dec. 28

Get ready to press play on a day packed with imagination and wonder! Let’s Play! brings you face-to-face with Ducky, Slime, YoYo, Pixel, and Buckets the Bear—the beloved stars of our original toy-themed musical. Then keep the fun rolling with hands-on toy-making workshops, a Toy Doctor who can bring well-loved favorites back to life, and festive global crafts—from spinning your own Chinese Zodiac wheel to creating radiant Fanous suncatchers.

Rockin’ New Year’s Noon Bash

Wednesday, Dec. 31 -Special Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Countdown to fun o’clock at our legendary Rockin’ New Year’s Noon Bash!—the city’s longest-running kids’ New Year’s Eve celebration where midnight comes way earlier and the party vibes last all day. Say “GOODBYE, 2025!” with ball drops at noon, epic dance parties, dazzling performers, roaming jugglers, magic acts, hoop shows, and DJ-fueled energy that’ll have everyone grooving into 2026. Snag festive hats, noisemakers, and light-up glasses, plus early-bird giveaways for lucky guests and members. This midday celebration is the perfect way to ring in the New Year without the bedtime battles! 

CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS:

Las Posadas

Saturday, Dec. 13

Step into the glow of the season as we celebrate Las Posadas with warm stories, bright crafts, and community cheer! Join us for a special story time and hands-on workshop where you can create your own traveling Nativity-in-a-box, then light up your imagination with handmade paper bag luminarias. And don’t forget to add a festive flair with colorful poinsettia bracelets—perfect for honoring the joyful journey of Joseph and Mary.

Hanukkah

Sunday, Dec. 14

Spin into the festival of lights with our joyful Hanukkah celebration, a full day glowing with stories, hands-on crafts, and family fun! Enjoy special Hanukkah story times, craft bright dreidel banners, and create suncatcher menorahs that shine with holiday magic. You can even design your own paper dreidels and put them to the test in a classic game!

Celebrating Kwanzaa

Friday, Dec. 26

Celebrate culture, creativity, and community during a vibrant day filled with art, music, and hands-on discovery! Dive into Kwanzaa’s rich traditions through an interactive workshop with Soullia Rae, feel the rhythm during lively djembe drum circles, and create meaningful crafts like Seven Principles hats and your very own kinara. It’s a joyful celebration that honors heritage, unity, and the spirit of the season!

EXHIBITS:

Seasons of Sharing

Now through Jan. 11

Sponsored by Lilly Endowment Inc.

Step onto Houston’s most multicultural neighborhood block and celebrate the magic of community and cultural identity! Explore eight global celebrations—including Christmas, Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas, Lunar New Year, Ramadan, and Vaisakhi—through language, art, music, hands-on crafts, and festive games shared by eight local families. From sparkling traditions to playful discoveries, Seasons of Sharing invites your family to celebrate the joy of diversity, one colorful experience at a time!

Faithful Friends

Exhibiting Now!

Sponsored by Lilly Endowment Inc.

Friendship builds bridges! Faithful Friends turns curiosity, kindness, and empathy into lasting friendships! Come explore Houston’s rich religious and cultural diversity through interactive storytelling, hands-on activities, and real-life stories from local kids while learning about beliefs, traditions and shared values. From crafts and games in the Kaleidoscope Room to storytelling and cultural discovery, this meaningful exhibit inspires understanding, respect, and friendship.

Rube Goldberg™: The World of Hilarious Invention!

Now through Jan. 11 – Limited time!

Sponsored locally by the William Stamps Farish Fund and Oxy

This exhibit was created by Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh in partnership with the Heirs of Rube Goldberg

Step into the zany world of Rube Goldberg, the Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist and inventor! Explore life-size, over-the-top machines that turn simple tasks into wildly complicated(and hilariously fun) chain reactions. Activate wacky contraptions, create your own cartoon inventions, and discover the STEAM behind silliness. From moving balls through wall machines to musical chain reactions, this exhibit invites you to experiment, imagine, and find the fun in failure—because in Rube’s world, the journey is just as exciting as the result!