Houston’s Uptown Holiday Lighting Makes a Dramatic Return — Your Thanksgiving Weekend Guide

Houston weekends are packed full of events, but how many of them are truly worthy of your time? PaperCity’s new events calendar offers a curated look at all the best things to do in the area. But everyone can still use a guru — or two.

PaperCityWeekend Gurus Matthew Ramirez and Virginia Reynolds cull our calendar for your weekend must dos in this weekly series. Thanksgiving fun takes centerstage this weekend.

32nd Annual Uptown Holiday Lighting

After taking a two-year hiatus thanks to unrelenting, traffic-inducing Galleria-area construction, the Annual Uptown Holiday Lighting is back for its 32nd year. The highly anticipated holiday tradition will help kick off the Christmas season this Thursday, November 28 with live entertainment, art cars (would it really be Houston without them?), dancing trees (no, really), concessions, a visit from Santa, and of course an incredible fireworks and lights show.

To make the return of the holiday lighting ceremony even more exciting, the event will be debuting a bigger, better, and brighter lights show. How do more than 300 new, 20-foot-tall trees (each with 249 individually controllable LED light units) sound?

The celebration is free, but a portion of the proceeds from concession sales will benefit Be An Angel and Houston Area Urban League.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

The Nutcracker

This weekend officially marks the start of your all-things-Christmas obsession. No, it’s not just because Thanksgiving has (sadly) come and gone – it’s because The Nutcracker is back at Houston Ballet. Time to tune into your Tchaikovsky, freshen up on all your favorites, and imagine what could have been if you had just stuck to those childhood ballet classes.

Beginning Friday, November 29, head to the Wortham to take part in this beloved Christmas tradition. No matter how many times you’ve heard the incredible music or have watched the beautiful story, the experience never gets old.

So grab your tickets, get dressed up, and make a time of it. Enjoy dinner at any one of the area restaurants beforehand, or waltz into a bar right afterwards. ‘Tis the season.

Tickets start at $30.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

Holiday Brews on the Bend

If you’re looking to switch things up this weekend amidst all the holiday lightings and Christmas festivities, head to Bayou Bend on Saturday, November 30 for Holiday Brews on the Bend.

The special event will offer a lineup of all your favorite H-town brews, including 8th Wonder, Saint Arnold, Breckenridge, Eureka Heights and Karbach. Moon Rooster will be on-site to provide some delicious savory bites, including tacos, hot dogs and more. And to further enliven the party, enjoy live music entertainment from The Black Luster Quartet.

Tickets are $35.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

Thing-A-Ma-Jingle on Main Street

A brand new tradition, Thing-A-Ma-Jingle on Main Street debuts this Friday, November 29, at Downtown’s Historic District (between Commerce and Rusk near the Marriott). Recommended for guests 21-plus, the block party features a Black Friday Gift Market, a “hipster” Santa, food and drinks, and specials at the bars in the area, alongside carol-oke and plenty of Instagram-ready photo ops. It all gets underway at 7 pm — and it’s free.. -Matthew Ramirez

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

Young M.A.

New York rapper Young M.A. roared onto the scene with 2016’s viral “Ooouuu,” a rough bit of tough talk from a talented and youthful new voice out of a city that has had trouble grooming new rap stars. She’s built a steady, loyal following since, staying low to the ground and releasing new singles at a clip, culminating with this fall’s Herstory in the Making, an exciting debut record that demonstrates practice often makes perfect in hip-hop.

She’ll storm House of Blues this Monday, December 2. Doors open at 7 pm. Tickets are just $22.50. -Matthew Ramirez

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

Don’t forget…Saturday, November 30, marks a full century of Christmas trees and lights in Houston, featuring music, fireworks, and family fun at the 100th Annual Mayor’s Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting. Featuring environmentally friendly LED lights, the tree will sit in front of City Hall this holiday season. Mayor Sylvester Turner will be the guest of honor Saturday, starting at 6 pm.