Holiday Lights in Houston, Texas and Nearby Areas

I have only been living in the Houston area about six months, my family and my husband's family lives in Ohio, and many of our friends in Tennessee. With the big holiday of Christmas coming up, my son returning from college, Christmas presents to purchase and parents that are retired, airline tickets are out of the question. So what are some good ideas for how to celebrate Thanksgiving when loved ones are so far away?

Thanksgiving is traditionally known as a family holiday with a large dinner and family relaxation afterwards. In the past, our family, like many other families, each gave thanks for something that happened in our lives over the past year. I usually spend a great deal around this time of the year being thankful for my family and friends and all the blessings that I have. What happens when the turkey with all the trimmings, even in small portions is enough to feed several families? How do we all give thanks when there are two family members that don't really "talk" yet? (however my 2 year old is very verbal in her "thank you's")This year I decided to take a different approach to my Thanksgiving activities, an approach which hopefully will entertain the children and add to our enjoyment of our new hometown.

The Houston area, by its size alone, provides for a wealth of activities during every season and every holiday. Here are just a few that I have found that my family and yours; whether you are visiting or living here, may enjoy.

November 1, 2007 7:00 p.m. USAF Band of the West Performs

The Katy Veterans of Foreign Wars are sponsoring an evening of musical performances by the United States Air Force Band of the West. They will be performing at the Morton Ranch High School Performing Arts Center.

Sixth Annual Festival of Lights at Moody Gardens November 17-Jan 5, 2008

The famous Moody Gardens, which features an aquarium, a rainforest, 3 and 4D Imax theaters, walking gardens and bay cruises adds to the selection of holiday activities with a celebration of lights, special effects and music like no other on the Gulf coast. Who knew an island could come up with so much winter? There are specially designed scenes which feature the Christmas Story, Toyland at Moody Station, a Magic Castle, Artic Express and of course in keeping with the nature loving image of Moody Gardens a Fantasy Forest, Wild Africa, and Tropical Jungle Display. Tickets for the light display are $5.95 a person, children 3 and under free. If you want even more winter fun visit the Moody Gardens other entertainments including for this season an outdoor ice rink.

November 22, 2007 9:00 HEB Holiday Parade (ok it's not Macy's but it's close)

The annual Thanksgiving Day Parade in Houston, Texas began in 1949 with the arrival of Santa at Union Station. Since then the parade has had several sponsors including Washington Mutual and in 2006 it was named the H.E.B Thanksgiving Day parade. Approximately 3000 participants provide a procession of floats, giant balloons, marching bands and drill teams, to an audience of hundreds of thousands in the streets of Downtown Houston. The parade is also telecast live on KHOU- Channel 11 and is free. If you prefer to sit and enjoy the festivities, tickets may be purchased online for either $10.00 for Reserved Turkey Seats or Reserved Grandstand Seats (with parade stop) for $17.00. Proceeds benefit the Houston Festival Foundation, with educational programs developed for over 1400 public schools in the area and the Houston Chronicle Readers Literacy Program.

As we have seen in many of my other writings, the bigger the better here in Texas, and it is no different on Thanksgiving Day. Later in the evening is the traditional Tree Lighting Ceremony with over half a million lights on 80 Christmas trees along Post Oak Boulevard in the city's Galleria Section.

November 22, 2007 Evening Tree Lighting Ceremony

The tree lighting ceremony on the evening of Thanksgiving is not the only thing bigger and better that Houston, Texas has available. The festivities include holiday music, the arrival of Santa Claus, decorations and lighting throughout the Galleria area, the only outdoor ice skating area in Houston and finally at dark, the downtown Houston sky will be lit up by fireworks. The lighting, decorations and ice skating are available all throughout the holiday season - not to mention some really wonderful holiday shopping and restaurants.

November 22, 2007 (and the whole holiday season) Memorial City Mall will be hosting public skating sessions. On Thanksgiving Day, you may enjoy the ice for a small fee of $5.00 for a full day of skating. The mall also provides excellent shopping and restaurants as well as a play area for the children and other activities thoughout the mall.

November 30, 2007 Free Performance of the Velveteen Rabbit

The Katy, Texas Performing Arts Center offers free performances throughout the year. In November the beloved story of the Velveteen Rabbit is performed on stage - for free. This makes for a wonderfully inexpensive evening with a quality performance by local actors. Seating is limited, tickets are required and may be obtained at the box office up to one week in advance.

Several other performances are available across the region including: The Nutcracker Ballet being performed by the Houston Ballet November 23- December 29. Tickets for a matinee range in price from $33.00 - $97.00 depending on your seating preference.

Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol is being performed at the Alley Theatre November 20 - December 29 tickets prices for a matinee range from $38.00-$51.00.

Instead of focusing on the things I may not have this holiday season, I am going to try to focus on the things I can give to others and these activities provide a family with a wide range of activities to give something back to the community it has come to call home. My personal favorite activities are:

Random Acts of Kindness

This is an opportunity to perform random acts of kindness wherever I go. A smile, a kind word, a compliment - it sounds silly but it can make someone's day. Just this week a woman was thrilled with a coupon for $10.00 off a purchase she was making at Party City for her son's birthday. I couldn't use it, but she could. Some other ideas include make holiday greeting cards to pass out at a nursing home (especially if you are visiting family there, make it an event for all their friends too who may not have family to visit them); collect items needed for a food drive, clothing or toy drive. Organize one in your neighborhood designating your home as the drop off point and increase your collections and spread the joy of giving. Leave smile cards at table or restaurants. Leave a larger than normal tip for excellent service with a note saying what a good job they did (you can even do this on a napkin). Be creative, but find a way to bring kindness and a smile to at least one person everyday throughout this holiday season. You never know what it may mean to them.

Healthcare for the Homeless Collection Drive (Houston)

Donations of sock and underwear, clothing and jackets, personal care and hygiene products, washcloths, tissues, band aids, combs and brushes, feminine care products, and whatever you can think to make life a little more safe and healthy for the homeless. The drop off site is still to be determined, but that gives plenty of time to collect items over the course of the season. Small items are especially needed so that they can be carried.

Start your own collection or holiday service opportunity. My mother's group will be collecting shipping donations and kids meal toys for the Toys4Troops group previously mentioned in "Sister's Soldier Brings Happy Meals to Iraq."

There are several "turkey trots" walks to raise money and canned goods for charity gets the whole family involved. Several across the region include the TXU Turkey Trot sponsored by Sheltering Arms (Houston), Sugarland Turkey Trot and the Ft. Bend County Turkey Trot.

I haven't given up on the table thanks. I haven't given up on the turkey and "fixings." I am going to take advantage of all that my new city has to offer and give thanks every day for all the entertainment, education and other opportunities that my family and I can enjoy in the Houston, Texas area. No matter what day it is, I give thanks for my family, my new friendships, my home, our family's health and all of the amazing opportunities that living in this area has provided to myself and my family. It doesn't have to be Thanksgiving Day to do this.