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Winter Wonder

A Seasonal Guide to Local Holiday Events and Festive Fun

League City offers a season of magic and memories, with holiday events kicking off in November and running through the end of the year. From a Nutcracker-themed sleepover with the Sugar Plum Fairy, to breakfasts with Santa, festive markets, parades, and the Hallmark-worthy Holiday in the Park, there are countless ways for families and visitors to celebrate. Plan your holiday getaway and experience the best of Christmas on the Texas Gulf Coast.

iconic local events

Celebrate the holidays in League City near Houston! Enjoy festive parades, markets, Nutcracker fun & the Hallmark-worthy Holiday in the Park.

Two ballet dancers
Attend a mesmerizing performance of the holiday favorite, The Nutcracker, presented by Bay Area Houston Ballet and Theatre. Performances: December 5-7, 12-14, 18-21 at the Bayou Theatre, UHCL
Galaxy Lights is the perfect date night and meet up for friends and students.
Embark on a dazzling cosmic adventure with massive light displays at Space Center Houston. Galaxy Lights, presented by Reliant runs November 15–January 4.
Kemah Boardwalk decorated for Christmas festival
Jingle on the Boardwalk festivities run throughout the season with nonstop events and celebrations including: Festive Friday Flicks, 64th Annual Christmas Boat Parade, concerts, dance parties, special deals, and a New Year Eve celebration with fireworks.

Experiences & Activities

Three little girls pose in a large red ornament.
Whether you're looking for the perfect Christmas card picture or simply want some festive gram-worthy uploads, we have plenty of gorgeous spots. From the charming decked-out gazebo in League Park to the whimsical ornament bench and towering Christmas tree, you can capture a perfect pic that rivals Hallmark's quintessential cards.
Large gingerbread house and santa
Head to South Shore Harbour Resort to see the enormous 6-foot gingerbread house, crafted with nearly 400 pounds of gingerbread and decorated with intricate candy details. It’s the perfect backdrop for your family holiday card! On Display: November 20, 2025 – January 3, 2026
Women making candles in a shop
Enjoy a custom candle-making experience at The Chandlery Candle Bar. Choose from an array of scents (ranging from vanilla and clean linen to popcorn and whiskey) to create your very own candle. Top it off with colorful botanicals and glimmering gems, and voilà! You have a unique candle for yourself or as a gift for a loved one.
Holiday parade float with a large gingerbread house and person wearing a green tree costume waving
Bring the family, line the streets, and experience one of League City’s most cherished holiday traditions, The Grand Night Parade. Sat. Dec 6th, Main Street will come alive with holiday music and performances beginning at 5:30. The Parade officially will start at 6:30 as dazzling holiday floats make their way down Main St. to Park Street.
Girl and Boy in front of large candy canes
Take part in the “Candy Cane Quest” and find all the local restaurants with candy canes. Find the candy cane, and spend time sharing their favorite holiday memories, traditions, and customs. Participants can win some festive League City swag by visiting at least three restaurants and then sharing their questions and answers with us!
House lit up with holiday lights. Text: Light Map
Looking for the best places and neighborhoods to see lights? Check out League City's Holiday Light Show Map for 2025 where locals can submit their home and participate in the Community Lights Showcase on December 20th. Click the photo for details on the city's interactive light map.

12 days of diy shopping in league city

Have you heard of the hottest new trend this holiday season? It’s DIY shopping! Instead of buying all your gifts online, you actually walk into local shops, meet shop owners, browse the merchandise, and pick out unique and meaningful gifts for your friends and family!

Discover handcrafted pieces, coastal-inspired goods, and one-of-a-kind finds made by people who love this community as much as you do.

Shopping local warms more than your spirit. It strengthens the small businesses that make League City vibrant and welcoming all year long.

To help you on your journey, we’ve recruited the Sugar Plum Fairy and Clara from Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre’s “The Nutcracker Ballet” to share 12 local shops with you. Follow along and get inspired to find the perfect gifts for your loved ones this holiday season. Watch the video playlist below or go to visitleaguecity.com/shopping for all your DIY shopping inspo!

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Shop Local
Event Calendar

recent holiday events

Festivals, Parades & Merry Markets

Escape the holiday hustle and discover small-town charm, festive traditions, and coastal magic this season.

Shop small at nutcracker in the park

Saturday, November 29, 2025 • 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
League Park | 512 2nd Street League City, TX 

Kick off the holiday season at League City’s Nutcracker in the Park—the ultimate Shop Small Saturday celebration! Enjoy a day filled with shopping, family fun, and festive activities in the heart of the Historic District.  Browse a lively outdoor holiday market featuring League City’s local makers, crafters, artists, and small businesses. After, don’t miss the charming Shoppes at Founder’s Square and other boutiques nearby in the historic district.

Children dressed in red and green dancing under trees with a ballerina during the day
In partnership with the Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre, kids can experience ballet classes with real Nutcracker ballerinas! Each 30-minute class includes instruction, music from The Nutcracker, a meet-and-greet with characters, photo opportunities, and a holiday goodie bag. Class Times: 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. (Space is limited and registration is required)
Register for ballet classes

Sugar plum fairy gala weekend

November 21–22, 2025 | South Shore Harbour Resort

Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre’s sweetest event of the year! Celebrate the magic of the holidays with Clara, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and friends during this enchanting sleepover weekend at South Shore Harbour Resort in League City.  Shop the Nutcracker Boutique, see a preview of The Nutcracker, and have your photo taken with the Sugar Plum Fairy.

PLAN SUGAR PLUM WEEKEND
Nutcracker ballerinas strike a pose on stage in front of an audience
Be whisked away into Clara’s enchanted world with dinner, boutique shopping, and meet-and-greets with ballerinas. Have dinner with Clara & Friends or join the Sugar Plum Fairy Gala for Breakfast or Tea – Nov 22

Friday, Nov. 21 – Have Dinner with Clara & Friends

Clara and Friends will entertain throughout the evening while you enjoy dinner at Paradise Reef Restaurant. Afterward, enjoy special preview shopping at the Nutcracker Boutique.

Saturday, Nov. 22 – Annual Sugar Plum Fairy Gala Breakfast & Tea

The most magical day for ages 2 to 91!  Choose breakfast or tea and enjoy the same wonderful experience, including shopping at the Nutcracker Boutique, a sneak preview of The Nutcracker, and photo opportunities with the Sugar Plum Fairy.  

Holiday in the Park

December 5–7, 2025 | League Park

Celebrate the 28th Annual Holiday in the Park, a beloved League City tradition filled with festive family fun! This three-day event features live music, shopping, food vendors, children’s activities, and the largest holiday parade in Galveston County. The event is hosted and planned by the League City Proud Organization.

Holiday in the Park Website
white vendor tents set up for a festival
Shop the Holiday Market
Saturday's Grand Night Parade
Saturday's Grand Night Parade
Pick out sweet treats
Pick out sweet treats
Children's Parade
Children's Parade
Live music and entertainment
Live music and entertainment
Hundreds of vendors
Hundreds of vendors
Family photo moments
Family photo moments
3-Day Holiday Market
3-Day Holiday Market
Festive food trucks
Festive food trucks
People walking along a brick path at an outdoor holiday market with white vendor tents, festive decorations, and a Christmas tree in the background.
Located in League Park off Main Street
Holiday In the Park Daily Events
Friday, Dec 5 | 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
  • 4:00 pm Vendor Market Opens. Come shop over 150 booths until 9 p.m.
  • 6:20 pm Mrs. Claus reads ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
  • 6:30 pm Movie in the Park (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & Frosty the Snowman)
  • 9:00 am Vendor Shopping Begins and Continues until 9 p.m.
  • 9:00 am Live Entertainment Begins (choirs, orchestras, dance groups, etc. throughout the day) 
  • 9:30 am Lineup for the Children’s FREE Holiday Costume Parade in front of Butler’s Courtyard on 2nd Street.
  • 10:00 am Children’s Holiday Costume Parade 
  • 5:55 pm Historic St. Mary’s Church Ringing of the Bells 
  • 6:00 pm National Anthem
  • 6:30 pm Grand Night Parade (floats begin making their way down Main Street from 6:55 to 9 pm)
  • 10:30 am Registration for Extraordinary Individuals Parade (Registration in children’s play area) 
  • 11:00 am Extraordinary Individuals Parade Begins 
  • 12:00 – 2:00 pm Santa Visit at the Gazebo (Bring a camera to snap a photo.)
  • 12:00 – 4:00 pm Vendor Shopping
  • 12:30 pm Faithful Friends Pet Parade Registration and Lineup (Registration ends at 12:45) 
  • 1:30 pm Faithful Friends Holiday Pet Parade Begins
  • 4:40 pm Grand Night Parade Awards and Raffle Drawing
  • 4:50 pm Closing Ceremonies 
Parade Map for Saturday Night
Grand night parade route
Holiday in the Park Vendor and parade registration

Christmas in old league city

December 13, 2025 • 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
League City Historical Society

Step back in time and celebrate the holidays in Old League City’s historic district. Enjoy a weekend filled with historic charm, traditions, and festive activities for the whole family.

Colorful quilts are hung out to air on the porch of a historic white two story home decorated with red bows
Airing of the Quilts
kids sit in a vintage car
Take pictures of vintage cars and trucks parked in the historic district during Old League City Christmas.
Experience the charm of League City’s historic neighborhood Porch Parties with music, art displays, outdoor games, folks strolling the historic streets in traditional costumes and more.
Experience the charm of League City’s historic neighborhood Porch Parties with music, art displays, outdoor games, folks strolling the historic streets in traditional costumes and more.
A lady in a black dress is ready to give a Christmas tour of the historic district.
WALKabout Old League City Christmas Tours

Enjoy the Christmas Walkabout Tour, the Airing of the Quilts, Porch Parties with music and art, and hands-on demonstrations at the LCHS Museum. Rounding out the festivities are beautifully restored vintage cars and trucks displayed throughout the neighborhood, offering wonderful photo opportunities and the chance to meet the proud owners.

Christmas Tour info

Clear Lake Christmas Boat Parade

Saturday, December 13, 2025 • 6:00 p.m. | Clear Lake

A Clear Lake tradition for more than 60 years, this dazzling lighted boat parade cruises from Clear Lake to Galveston Bay. Dozens of boaters go all out to compete for prizes, creating an extravagant show of lights, music, and cheer.

hotel reservation
Sailboats decorated with colorful lights on parade through the Clear Lake channel.
The parade begins in the Clear Lake channel—starting at South Shore Harbour Marina and Nassau Bay Lagoon—and proceeds past the Kemah Boardwalk out to Galveston Bay.

A Tradition with History–More than six decades ago, five Bay Area Houston friends lit up their boats with Christmas lights and cruised Clear Lake on a whim. Locals loved it, and the tradition grew into today’s beloved Clear Lake Christmas Boat Lane Parade, now drawing over 100,000 spectators. 

One of those original five was Red Adair, the famed oil well firefighter later portrayed by John Wayne in Hellfighters. Adair returned to the parade year after year, and today the top honor—the Red Adair Award for Best Overall Boat—bears his name. Each year, participants push the limits with bigger, brighter, and more creative designs, all hoping to take home this coveted prize.

where to watch the boat parade
  • The Kemah Boardwalk is the best public spot to watch the annual boat parade.
  • Several local boat charters also offer special viewing excursions for a truly, one-of-a-kind experience.
clear lake Boat Parade website