ANA KHAN’S THINGS TO DO
Jurassic Quest
Visitors can journey among colossal dinosaur herds at Jurassic Quest in Houston and enjoy interactive experiences with baby dinos, fossil excavations and even raptor training amid towering giants like the Spinosaurus and the renowned Tyrannosaurus rex.
When: Dec. 8: Noon-8 p.m., Dec. 9: 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Dec. 10: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Where: NRG Center, 1 NRG Park
Details: $19-$36; jurassicquest.com
Tomball German Festival Christmas Market
Tomball honors its German heritage annually with a festive event featuring street vendors and live music. You can experience free entry, family-friendly activities, and a taste of German traditions and treats.
When: Dec. 8: 6-10 p.m., Dec 9: 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Dec. 10: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Where: 201 S. Elm St., Old Town Tomball Details:tomballgerman fest.org
Opera in the Heights: ‘Hansel & Gretel’
Opera in the Heights presents a family-friendly production of Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel,” bringing the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tale to the stage. Follow the young siblings as they venture into an enchanted forest, encountering magical fairies, a gingerbread house and a wicked witch. When: Dec. 8: 7:30 p.m., Dec 9: 2 p.m.
Where: Lambert Hall, 1703 Heights Blvd. Pet a raptor and more at Jurassic Quest at the NRG Center.
Details:
$29-$85 operaintheheights.org
Big Jay Oakerson
Houston Improv hosts comedian Big Jay Oakerson, famed for his laid-back style and two-decade career. He’s a comedy festival regular and co-hosts shows like “The Bonfire” on Sirius XM with Bob Kelly, as well as “Legion of Skanks” and “The SDR Show” on The Gas Digital Network.
When: Dec. 8: 7:30 and 9:45 p.m., Dec. 9: 7 and 9:30 p.m.
Where: Houston Improv, 7620 Interstate 10 W., No. 455
Details: Tickets start at $100 for a table of four; improvtx.com
14th Annual Gingerbread Build-Off
Competing teams will create their masterpieces using edible materials at Levy Park. The public is invited to attend and cheer on the teams, play in the kids’ construction zone and see Santa. Presented by the Architecture Center Houston.
When: Dec. 9: 10 a.m.-5p.m. Where: 3801 Eastside
Details:
Free; levyparkhouston.org
Islamic Arts Festival
The 10th-year festival showcases acclaimed U.S. artists and the nation’s premier Islamic arts collection. Attendees can engage in interactive art sessions, delve into Islamic art and culture, enjoy diverse cuisine from food trucks and witness live demonstrations, including calligraphy, henna tattoos, painting and kids art activities. When: Dec. 9-10: 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: Masjid Al Salam, 16700 Old Louetta, Spring
Details:
Free; islamicartssociety.org
62nd Annual Christmas Boat Parade
The annual parade features hundreds of boats decked out for the holidays as they cruise along Galveston Bay. Arrive early at Kemah Boardwalk for entertainment and rides. When: Dec. 9: 7-8 p.m. Where: 215 Kipp, Kemah Details: kemahboard walk.com
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
The celebrated orchestral ensemble returns to Houston with its Ghosts of Christmas Eve: The Best of TSO & More tour, showcasing its renowned holiday tradition.
When: Dec. 10: 2:30 and 7 p.m.
Where:
Toyota Center, 1510 Polk
Details: $55 and up; toyotacenter.com
Here are five live events recommended for the coming week.
Black Pumas
Austin’s Black Pumas have found a formidable following with a distinctive mix of psychedelic rock and soul music that sounds great on record and explosive in concert. The band’s two principals crossed paths six years ago. Singer and songwriter Eric Burton traveled to Austin from California, where he met with guitarist and producer Adrian Quesada, a Grammy winner with Grupo Fantasma. Their debut, “Black Pumas,” made a bit of noise in 2019. Earlier this year, they offered “Chronicles of a Diamond,” an album with a more lively and experimental bent. They’ll headline a pair of shows in Houston.
When: 7 p.m. Dec. 9-10
Where: House of Blues, 1204 Caroline
Details: $59.50-$89.50; houseofblues.com/houston
Yussef Dayes
A young drummer in London’s vibrant jazz scene, Yussef Dayes made a strong impression earlier this year as a bandleader and composer with his album, “Black Classical Music.” Dayes’ music finds ways to shrink the world: He mixes jazz with funk, soul, electronic music, Afrobeat and music from the Caribbean into his own sound. The effect is both far-reaching and concentrated, with deep grooves to keep it traveling.
When: 8 p.m. Dec. 13
Where: Rise Rooftop, 2600 Travis
Details: $25; 832-767-0513, riserooftop.com
Macy Gray
A quarter-century has passed since Macy Gray found fame with the hit single “I Try.” Those who tuned out after her big breakthrough have missed some of the most intriguing and daring
Macy Gray comes to House of Blues on Dec. 12.
funky soul made in the 21st century. She tried her hand at a jazzy recording in 2016 with “Stripped” and succeeded. And more recently, she released “Ruby,” a kaleidoscopic progressive soul record. But that was five years ago, so Gray may have something new to thread
into her set full of old favorites. When: 7 p.m. Dec. 12
Where: House of Blues, 1204 Caroline
Details: $29.50-$39.50; houseofblues.com/ houston
Queens of the Stone Age
Having released eight albums over the past 25 years, Queens of the Stone Age has become a stoner rock brand in a way Josh Homme’s shorter-lived previous band Kyuss did not. QOTSA has in that time become a catalog band and this year released “In Times New Roman …” The band’s show here gets an epic value add in its opener. Spiritualized doesn’t get to Houston very often. I can’t find mention of an area show since it played Meridian 15 years ago. The band turns out epic and melancholic psych rock, most recently on a pair of Vonnegut-titled albums: “Everything Was Beautiful” in 2022 and “And Nothing Hurt” in 2018.
When: 7 p.m. Dec. 9
Where: 713 Music Hall, 401 Franklin
Details: $59-$89; 832-204-6920, livenation.com
‘Nightmare Before Christmas’
The Houston Symphony has enjoyed great success pulling in audiences for its screenings of beloved films with live performances of their scores. For the holidays, the symphony will dive into Danny Elfman’s dark and playful score to accompany Tim Burton’s beloved stop-motion animation film “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 10
Where: Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana Details: $43-$185; 713-224-7575, houstonsymphony.org