Photo: Houston Zoo · Zoo Lights
Every month we round up what's going on around town: things to do, what's opening, what will slow down your commute, and what rent is doing. Here's December.
Things to do
- Houston Ballet's The Nutcracker, through Dec 28: Stanton Welch's production turns 10 this year, at the Wortham Theater Center downtown. A sensory-friendly performance is set for Fri Dec 18 at 1 p.m. (houstonballet.org)
- Zoo Lights, through Jan 3: 5:30–10:30 p.m. nightly. New this year, the zoo opens for Zoo Lights on Christmas night (Dec 25) for the first time. It's closed Dec 9 and Christmas Eve. (houstonzoo.org)
- Energy Corridor tree lighting, Thu Dec 3: a 50-foot tree, a holiday drone show and live music, 6–9 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Houston West on the Katy Freeway. No tickets needed; RSVP on the district's site. (energycorridor.org)
- Astros Light Up the Park, Dec 4 to Jan 3: a walk-through light show at the Astros' downtown ballpark that winds through the concourse and ends on the field. Select nights; tickets online. (mlb.com/astros)
- Deck the Hall, Sat Dec 5: the city's official holiday kickoff with the Mayor at Hermann Square in front of City Hall. (houstontx.gov/specialevents)
- Levy Park Holiday Festival, Dec 5–6: a holiday market, Santa photos, crafts and live music in Upper Kirby, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. both days. (levyparkhouston.org)
- Lights in the Heights, Sat Dec 12: the 39th year of the Woodland Heights porch-music stroll, 6–9 p.m., on Highland and Omar this year. (woodland-heights.org)
- Day trip: Holiday in the Gardens, through Jan 2: Moody Gardens in Galveston celebrates its 25th holiday season with a mile-long lights trail and ICE LAND, nightly 6–10 p.m. (moodygardens.com)
- Kinder's Texas Bowl, Thu Dec 31: Big 12 vs. SEC at Reliant Stadium, 6:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve. (kinderstexasbowl.com)
- Save the date: the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon run Sun Jan 17, 2027. The next day, Mon Jan 18, the city holds its first MLK Unity Parade. (chevronhoustonmarathon.com, houstontx.gov)
What's opening
- Marvel: The Exhibition – Universe of Super Heroes opens to the public at the Houston Museum of Natural Science on Dec 19. It has 150+ original artifacts, including Marvel Studios costumes and props. (Houston Chronicle)
- Dead Sea Scrolls: The Exhibition opened at the Houston Museum of Natural Science on Nov 21. It includes the Magdala Stone and a 1st-century fishing boat found on the Sea of Galilee. (hmns.org, CW39)
- American Modernism from the Charles Butt Collection is at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston through Jan 18, 2027. It's 80 works by artists such as Georgia O'Keeffe, Edward Hopper and Jackson Pollock, shown in Houston for the first time. (mfah.org)
- House of Louie, the new restaurant from James Beard Award-winning chef Justin Yu, opened Oct 1 at 1931 Fairview in Montrose. Dinner is served daily from 4:30 p.m. (CultureMap Houston)
Around the city
- NRG Park is Reliant Park again. The stadium and complex went back to their original 2002 names on Aug 1, 2026, so it's now Reliant Stadium. Same place, same address. (Houston Texans, Houston Public Media)
- Emancipation Park's renovated Cultural Center is open in Third Ward. It has new exhibits and audio-visual upgrades as part of an $18.5 million investment in Houston's oldest public park. (Axios Houston, Emancipation Park Conservancy)
Commute watch
- The I-10 Katy HOV lanes between Franklin St and Studemont St are still closed (since Oct 9). Houston TranStar lists the closure through July 2027. Two outside westbound I-10 lanes from I-45 to Studemont are also closed through the end of 2027. (Houston TranStar)
- Two downtown-area detours from the I-45 rebuild: Alabama Street over I-69 is closed for the bridge rebuild through Feb 8, 2027, and Chartres Street east of downtown is closed between Commerce and Runnels through Jan 31, 2027. (TxDOT NHHIP)
- Game days at Reliant Park: the Texans host Jacksonville on Sun Dec 20 at noon, and the Texas Bowl kicks off there Dec 31. Expect heavier traffic around the stadium both days. (houstontexans.com, kinderstexasbowl.com)
If you're thinking about moving, test the commute at rush hour before you sign.
What rent is doing in Houston
From the latest MRI ApartmentData Market Line report:
- The average Houston apartment rents for $1,247 a month, down 1.9% from a year ago.
- 91.2% of apartments are leased, so roughly 1 in 11 is open.
- 57% of apartments are offering a move-in special. At the newest, nicest (Class A) buildings it's 73%, worth about 11.8% of the lease on average. On a 12-month lease, that's roughly six weeks of rent (our estimate).
- Galleria/Uptown was Houston's hottest area over the past three months, with rents growing at a 3.6% annual pace. Downtown came second.
- 17,817 new apartments opened recently, and 12,722 more are under construction.
In plain English: Houston renters still have a lot of choice, especially at newer buildings. But the busiest areas, like Galleria/Uptown, are firming up, so the best specials there may not last. Specials change week to week, so the best deal goes to whoever knows where to look.
That's what we do. We do in one conversation what takes most renters weeks on their own — and the properties pay us, so it costs you nothing.
Thinking about a move? DM us "TOUR" or call (713) 357-6339.
Sources are listed after each item. Rent figures are from the MRI ApartmentData Market Line Report, Houston, October 2026. Event details can change, so check with organizers before you go.