The Woodlands Winter Holiday Events
From The Ice Skating Rink in The Woodlands Town Center nestled in The Woodlands Winter Wonderland, to the Annual Lighting of The Doves celebration and festival, The Woodlands is home to many special Winter Events and fun Christmas Holiday Activities that are sure to become a family holiday tradition. The Lighting of the Doves – aka The Woodlands Winter Holiday Festival / IWOW was originally held in Town Center near Market Street (2015) prior to being relocated to a more permanent location on the grounds of The Woodlands Pavilion.
The Woodlands Winter Holiday Festivals include traditional and international performances, showcasing the cultural diversity of The Woodlands and holiday traditions celebrated around the world. Featuring snow play areas, vendor booths, children’s activities and strolling entertainers. The Lighting of the Doves culminates with a special appearance by Santa Claus arriving by sleigh down The Woodlands Waterway and finally, a dazzling fireworks display over The Woodlands Waterway.
Winter in The Woodlands Texas
From “Joyeux Noël” to “Feliz Navidad,” arts & crafts, foods, and music and entertainment can be enjoyed by all at iWoW. Although the words may be foreign to your ears, the festive feeling is familiar as carolers sing the original, German version of “Silent Night,” “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht” around a decorated Tannenbaum, while visitors celebrate south of the border-style with a tasty Buñuelo de Navidad or nibble a Buche de Noel, which adds a touch of French flair. An evening filled with fine fare from area restaurants, holiday music, interactive booths and games, balloon artists, face painters, inflatables, ice carvers, and a snow hill all wrapped up with a beautiful bow of a fireworks display and the Lighting of The Doves ceremony, which will be displayed over the Lake Robbins Bridge and throughout The Woodlands through the end of the holiday season.
Christmas Activities Town Center
Every year brings new and exciting acts to the stages along The Waterway, as well as old favorites that return season after season. From Irish and Spanish dancers to Scottish bagpipes, a whole spectrum of entertainment is available for enjoyment and interaction at Town Green Park. Christmas Holiday events across several stages including the Celebration Stage, and the Festival Stage, all running scheduled entertainment events to ensure there’s never a dull moment!
Admission to the event is free. Wristband are required ($10) for unlimited use of inflatables, snow play areas and snow slides. The Woodlands Children’s Museum craft zones are free. The family photo area featuring a live reindeer is free. Balloon art and face painters are free. Concessions will be available for purchase – prices vary.
Note: Entertainment schedule and posted pricing is subject to change without notice, and is not in the control of TheWoodlands.guide.
Waterway Swans Paddle Boats
The Swan-boats At The Mall, pop-up kiosk (geographically) is just north of the intersection of Mall Ring Road and Woodloch Forest Drive. The Waterway location is at the heart of several outdoor mall restaurants making it a cute attraction for dinner and a boat-ride. Swan pedal boats can be reserved for thirty minutes or one hour, (currently) weekends only.
The swan-shaped boats are available to the public, and are located at the waterway turning basin at The Woodlands Mall. Are you looking for other watercraft options? Try Riva Row Boat House!
The Woodlands Lighting of the Doves
The Lighting of the Doves Festival is a long-standing November tradition in The Woodlands that signifies the start of the holiday season in the community. Featuring snow play areas, vendor booths, children’s activities and more, Lighting of the Doves culminates with a special appearance by Santa Claus arriving by sleigh down The Woodlands Waterway followed by a nearby dazzling fireworks display.
Junior League Holiday Market
The Junior League Holiday Market will be held again at the One of more than 25 hotels in The Woodlands allowing for the maximum amount of shopping in the minimal amount of time with hundreds of merchants under one roof! And whether you’re out shopping or visiting and spending time with friends and family who have come home to The Woodlands, there are a wealth of family and kid-friendly for one and all, all throughout, and around-about, The Woodlands!
HOLIDAY MARKET PREVIEW PARTY
Thursday, November 16, 2023:
7:30 pm to 10:30pm
Holiday Market Schedule
Friday & Saturday, November 17 & 18, 2023:
9am to 6pm
Sunday, November 19, 2023:
10am to 4pm
Christmas in The Woodlands Texas
- Pictures with Santa
- Lighting of the Doves
- Winter Wonderland
- The Woodlands Ice Rink
- New Year’s Eve
- Valentine’s Day
Fall / Winter in The Woodlands Texas
There are so many possibilities for Christmas shopping in The Woodlands, from the national retailers at The Woodlands Mall to the boutique and specialty merchants scattered throughout more than a dozen different shopping centers in and around The Woodlands! Be sure to check out all the new shops available at Market Street, where the Christmas shopping season kicks off with the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony.
WINTER FESTIVAL PARKING
Guests can find complimentary parking at numerous locations throughout Town Center Parking Garage (next to the ice rink), the surface lot at Lake Robbins Drive & Six Pines Drive, 24 Waterway Square Parking Garage, Waterway Square Parking Garage, and the surface lot at the corner of Timberloch Place and Waterway Avenue. Accessible parking is available at numerous locations throughout Town Center, just west of Town Green Park on Lake Robbins and the Gold lot in the ground level parking area adjacent to the Town Center Parking Garage.
Attendees will find additional potentially paid parking, the surface lot at the corner of Lake Robbins Drive and Six Pines Drive (next to the Township Multi-use Building) and the Town Center Parking Garage on Six Pines Drive. Additional parking can be found at 24 Waterway Square Parking Garage (paid), Waterway Square Parking Garage (paid) and the surface lot at the corner of Timberloch Place and Waterway Avenue (potentially paid). Nearby Handicap parking (always free with plates or placards) is available in the South County Regional Library lot, just west of Town Green Park on Lake Robbins Drive.
Go see a Movie on the big screen!
With 4 area Movie Theaters in The Woodlands Texas, finding a big screen flic is simple. AMC, Cinemark, Cinepolis, and Xscape. Cinepolis features food and (adult) beverage service along with the latest movies to hit the big screen.
AMC Theater
Metropark Square 10 Shenandoah, Texas
CinemarkTheater
Cinemark XD Town Center
Cinépolis Theater
Village Creekside Park West
Xscape Theater
FM 1488 @ Old Conroe Rd
Reel Luxury Cinema
9995 Six Pines Market Street
The Woodlands Texas Activities Guide
Family Activities
For the same reasons many choose to make their home here, families find charm and appeal in spending a day, a weekend or a week in The Woodlands.
Waterway Activities
The centerpiece of Waterway Square is the 120' Waterwall and circular fountain featuring regularly scheduled light and music shows. The public venue also features restaurants, hotels, and is the nightlife area of The Woodlands Texas.
Festivals in The Woodlands
Several festivals and other outdoor events held throughout the year in Town Center. Festival events are frequently held on the Great Lawn in Town Green Park including, the Annual Crawfish festival.
Sports Activities
From the jogging loop in Grogan's Mill, you can travel along the pathways to Disc Golf courses, pickle ball courts, Bocci Ball, and various playfields.
Swimming Pools
Live Music in The Woodlands
Throughout the year, you’ll hear about concerts, performance art shows, festivals and free live music, all happening in The Woodlands.