The Blonde Side’s Picks for Houston Holiday Happenings

You’ll flip for this Houston holiday photo experience at TFTI

The holidays are upon us and I’m feeling super festive. There’s not a day where the city of Houston doesn’t have something amazing going on, but the holidays take the cake. If you have friends or family coming in town, here are my picks for what to do with them.

(Also, one of the reasons I love living at Encore Montrose is the brand-new on-site guest suite, so if my parents come in town, it’s much easier and cheaper to have them stay one floor below in my Montrose apartment complex than to put them up in a hotel!)

TFTI– Houston’s newest interactive photo experience is a great idea to take the family for the holidays (or maybe even to snap your very own holiday photo, like above!). Definitely check out their “Upside Down Christmas” theme to get festive AF. TFTI prides in offering a variety of themes and photo opportunities (9 total exhibits) all in one Houston space. 

A few tips from their website: Guests are encouraged to dress appropriately (shirts on, please!) and arrive within 30 minutes of their start time to maximize the experience.

TFTI will be open Friday through Sunday from 9 AM – 8 PM and Thursdays from 10 AM – 8 PM. The entire space has been designed to be toured in one-hour increments. Children under four years of age are free admission. Tickets are non-refundable and pets are not allowed. Purchase TFTI tickets.

My personal tips: Arrive 15-20 minutes early, bring clothes to change if you want (there are bathrooms scattered throughout), if you have an external flash you should definitely bring it (the lighting can be harsh, but depends on the kind of photos you want) and have fun! There is also a tiny little tennis interactive experience that you don’t see a lot on Instagram, and I wish I had brought my tennis skirt for a fun photo there. Now you know! 

Jingle Balls– December 6^thmarks the 5^thJingle Balls from The Blonde Side, benefiting Houston children in need this holiday season. Must be 21+ and bring one brand-new sports ball or a $20 donation to Pitch 25 in downtown Houston and you’ll get in on all the action, for a great cause. Click the link above to learn more about the event (dress code is game day glam, lots of raffles and silent auction and we have some amazing sponsors this year). Only happens once a year, so don’t miss out!

The ICE at Discovery Green; Photo by Katya Horner

Ice Skating at Discovery Green –There is nothing more festive than ice skating, amiright? Don’t miss one of Houston’s most ideal photo opps this holiday season at Discovery Green, and go ice skating anytime from now – Sunday, January 27, 2019. According to their website, “The ICE” is the largest outdoor ice skating surface in the Southwest and paired with hot chocolate and an appearance by Santa himself, you won’t want to miss it! And it’s not very expensive – only $15 including your skate rental. You can also time your visit to skate with Santa and be sure to share your favorite shopping list with him!

Bank of America Screen on the Green^®– Outdoor movies are my jam, though I don’t do them enough. Be sure to check out Discovery Green this holiday season – go for a night of ice skating (see above) and/or pack a picnic and catch a movie on the hill. You can see Home Alone (December 6th, though that’s Jingle Balls so you’ll miss this one!), or A Nightmare Before Christmas (December 13th) or Polar Express (December 20th). Take the whole family or plan a romantic date night (just don’t forget to pack a light dinner and the wine!).

Zoo Lights– Full confession – I’ve never been to Zoo Lights, but it has been at the top of my list every year. Choose from Value Nights or Prime Nights and get your tickets online for a festive display of holiday lights at the Houston Zoo. Be sure to stop by the snack carts to make your own s’mores at the zoo – I’m all about s’more calories! Now in its seventh year, this is definitely one of Houston’s most beloved holiday traditions (and it’s time I go!).

A Charlie Brown Christmas Live On Stage– Don’t miss the brand-new touring production of A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage by Charles M. Schulzon December 23^rd. Featuring everyone’s favorite Peanuts gang – Linus, Lucy, Snoopy, Sally, and more, all led by the lovable Charlie Brown – as they discover the true meaning of Christmas.  When Charlie Brown becomes discouraged by the materialism of the season, Lucy convinces him to direct the neighborhood Christmas play. In typical Charlie Brown fashion, things go awry and it’s up to Linus to save the day and remind everyone of the real message of the holiday.

King’s Biergarten’s gettin festive with Irish Coffee

King’s Biergarten has Irish Coffee and more to get you through the holidays! You can also head to King’s BierHaus as they’re giving away one free glass of Gluhwein on Wednesdays throughout the holidays — it’s their version of German Mulled Wine. And they just released this brand new holiday/winter menu, so it’s a fun place to check out with friends and family, especially visitors from out of town as one of Houston’s most unique spots.

Check out more Houston holiday happenings from the VisitHouston website. 

This is part of a sponsored blog series with Encore Montrose. I am sharing what I love about Houston (especially around the holidays!) and specifically the Montrose neighborhood and walkability of my new home. Plus, did you see my tip above about the on-site guest suite for visitors in town? How perfect is that for the holidays?! These luxury Montrose apartments are currently offering major leasing specials, including look and lease gift cards and a few weeks free, so all them today. Drop a comment or an email if you’re interested in touring my favorite Montrose apartments and tell them Jayme (or The Blonde Side) sent you!