PJ Party, Gigantic Bubbles, Gingerbread Buildoff and More! Here Are All the Free Festivities at Levy Park

PJ Party, Gigantic Bubbles, Gingerbread Buildoff and More! Here Are All the Free Festivities at Levy Park

THROUGHOUT DECEMBER, Levy Park will host a variety of holiday-themed, fun, family-friendly events, including live music, crafty activities for the kids, an outdoor movie night, and of course, an appearance by the chubby guy in a red suit with a beard white as snow. All of the events are free and take place at the Levy Park Event Pavilion.


The festivities get rolling this weekend (Dec. 2-3) with the sixth annual Levy Park Holiday Festival, featuring a holiday shopping market with vendors selling jewelry, fragrances, candles and more; a craft station for kids of all ages; and a photo booth where the whole family can have their photo taken with Santa. Also expect exciting live performances by River Oaks Dance, our favorite blues, jazz and rock saxophonist Evelyn Rubio, and soap-bubble virtuosos The Texas Bubblers. (The complete lineup and a full schedule of performances is available on the Levy Park website.)

‘Tis the season for eating, and throughout the six-acre park, there will be plenty of handheld food and beverages, as well as treats for your four-legged friends courtesy of Gaspachos Mexican Bites.

Looking ahead, on Saturday, Dec. 9, Architecture Center Houston presents the 14th annual Gingerbread Build-Off at the park, where teams using gingerbread, candy, and other sweets, compete to see who can construct the most creative and mouthwatering architectural masterpiece. (Note to those with a sweet tooth: All leftovers will be composted!) The all-day event includes a construction zone for kids and, of course, Santa.

On Sunday, Dec. 10, at 4:30pm, Rhythm Energy presents the Prelude Family Concert Series, a 45-minute, holiday-themed “music experience” designed for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers to inspire self-expression and development through a variety of musical styles. And on Friday, Dec. 15, at 7pm, there will be a free screening of the holiday classic The Polar Express, based children's book by Chris Van Allsburg. Pajamas and blankets are encouraged.

Art + Entertainment

Caviar — chef Kate's favorite condiment — at Tony's

SITTING WITH TONY’S chef Kate McLean, she muses “caviar is my favorite condiment.” It’s a statement proven by the fact that that’s no shortage of caviar on her revamped menu at fine-dining stalwart Tony’s; there’s even a caviar flight with three piles of the savory fish eggs served with all the accoutrements and a shot of chilled vodka. The decadent dishes pair well with another new addition at Tony’s: live music in the middle of the dining room.

Keep Reading Show less
Food

Spring Expression

WHILE SPRING CAN seem fleeting in Houston, chef de cuisine Felipe Botero at Le Jardinier inside the MFAH is making the most of the season’s freshest ingredients. French for “the gardener,” Le Jardinier is helping to extend Springtime sensations, even if it’s just through the extra-fresh ingredients Botero has used to craft the seasonal menu.

Keep Reading Show less