Holiday events fill the calendar in Fort Bend
Since Josh Lobel became the rabbi at Fort Bend’s only synagogue, Congregation Beth El in Missouri City, he has tried to increase interfaith dialogue across the county.
His latest effort, Thanksgiving in Community, is an interfaith Thanksgiving worship hosted by Christ Church Sugar Land.
The event is among many scheduled throughout the holidays in the county, ranging from concerts and ballet performances to toy drives. Many have free admission.
Ten houses of worship from five faith backgrounds will participate in the Thanksgiving in Community event. The service will include readings from different sacred texts and music in languages including Arabic and Hebrew, coordinated by Mary Thompson, the music director at St. Laurence Catholic Church in Sugar Land.
“In all of these scriptures, there are expressions of thanks,” Lobel said. “It’s my hope that this is the first of many times that we’ll do this service.” When: 7 p.m. Nov. 23 Where: Christ Church Sugar Land, 3300 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land
Information: christchurchsl.org/interfaith Free admission, but participants are asked to bring a canned food item to donate to the East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry Food Pantry Holidays in the Square
Sugar Land Town Square has a packed schedule for this holiday season. Its 13th annual Christmas tree-lighting event will be from 5-8 p.m. Dec. 3,
when Santa Claus will visit as the city’s 40-foot Christmas tree is lit.
Throughout the holiday season, Town Square will host a Holidays in the Plaza concert series, beginning 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21 with entertainment from The Freedom Center Church. From 6:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 11, choirs from Lamar Consolidated Independent School District’s Navarro Middle School, George Junior High School and Terry High School will perform as part of the series.
From 1-5 p.m. every Sunday in December before Christmas, children can stop by the square to take free photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus and drop off new and unwrapped toys for Fort Bend Rainbow Room’s Christmas Project. All donations go toward children and adults referred by caseworkers from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
On Dec. 7 from 7-8:30 p.m., the square will host a menorah lighting celebration.
On New Year’s Eve, a children’s celebration will occur from 7-9 p.m. An adult celebration will be from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Both the adult and children’s events will culminate in a show in which 3D videos are projected onto City Hall. Last year, the show included City Hall’s edifice crumbling, people dancing the “YMCA” on the side of the building, and 3D numbers for the ten-second countdown to New Year’s. Alcoholic beverages will be for sale at the adults’ event.
When: Sugar Land Holiday Events take place from Nov. 21 until Dec. 31.
Where: Sugar Land Town Square, in front of City Hall on City Walk, in Downtown Sugar Land
Information: sugarlandtownsquare.com/ play/upcoming-events/
Free admission Walk to Bethlehem returns to Mo City
First United Methodist Church in Missouri City is hosting its annual re-enactment of Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The guided walking tour will feature six performances, including the arrival of angels and shepherds. The event will also include children’s games and samples of foods of ancient Israel.
When: 5:45-9 p.m., Dec. 11-13. Tours leave every eight minutes.
Where: First United Methodist Church, 3900 Lexington Blvd., Missouri City
Information: fumcmc.org/WalkToBethlehem
Free admission Holidays at the Stafford Centre
The Stafford Centre will transform into Santa’s Village on Dec. 1 for its annual Children’s Holiday Spirit Celebration. Santa Claus will visit, and there will be refreshments and children’s activities and games. Participants should bring a nonperishable food item to donate to local families in need. The center will also host two productions of “The Nutcracker.” The Missouri City Ballet will perform the Nutcracker Nov. 28-29; Sugar Landbased Ballet Forte will perform Dec. 11-13.
Come Dec. 31, the center will host a Rockin’ New Year’s Eve Bash. Tickets include dinner, party favors, two drinks and a champagne toast at midnight.
When: Santa’s Village is on Dec. 1 from 5:30-8 p.m. Missouri City Ballet showtimes are 2 and 7 p.m. on Nov. 28 and 2 p.m. on Nov. 29. Ballet Forte showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12, and 2 p.m. on Dec. 13. The Rockin’ New Year’s Eve Bash is from 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Dec. 31.
Where: Stafford Centre, 10505 Cash Road, Stafford
Information: staffordcentre.com; 281-208-6900
Tickets: Admission to Santa’s Village is free. Early bird tickets for Rockin’ New Year’s Eve are on sale for $37.50 for Stafford residents and $55 for others until Dec. 24, after which tickets are $75 each. LaCenterra to turn on the tree lights
LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch will light a 30-foot Christmas tree at its eighth annual Tree Lighting Celebration. The event will include train rides, music, face painting, balloons and a photo booth. Santa Claus will make an entrance on a fire truck and the Katy Children’s Choir will perform. When: 5-8 p.m. Nov. 21. Where: The LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch courtyard, 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd., Katy. Library miniconcert to present carols
Austin Elementary School Cosmic Choir students will perform holiday carols in a half-hour Winter Holiday Mini-Concert at George Ranch Memorial Library. A choir of 94 fourth- and fifth-graders from Austin Elementary School in Lamar Consolidated Independent School District will perform.
When: 10:15-10:45 a.m. Dec. 8
Where: George Memorial Library lobby, 1001 Golfview, Richmond.
Information: Call George Memorial Library at 281-342-4455
Admission is free ‘Christmas Nights’ return to Rosenberg
Rosenberg’s historic downtown will be hosting Christmas Nights on Dec. 4 and 5. On Dec. 4, the city’s Christmas tree will be lit at 6 p.m. at the Third Street Art Park, 809 Third St., followed by a screening of “It’s a Wonderful Life” at 7 p.m.
Dec. 5 events include photos with Santa, cookie decorating at Old Main Street Bakery, 803 Third St., and a trackless train ride for adults and children that loads in front of the Rosenberg Railroad Museum, 1921 Ave. F, and travels through downtown, complete with artificial snow falling over the riders. These events go from 5-8 p.m.
Every Friday and Saturday in December, shops in downtown Rosenberg will be open late, and a brass band will play Christmas music outdoors.
When: Activities for Christmas Nights begin at 6 p.m. Dec. 4 and 5 p.m. Dec. 5
Where: Historic Downtown Rosenberg, between Second and Fourth streets and avenues H to F.
Information: cityofrosenberg.com/RCN
Activities are free Missouri City to host service event, festival
Missouri City is kicking off the holiday season with its “Operation Thanksgiving — Stuff the Squad Car and Fire Truck!” event on Nov. 21. Residents are encouraged to bring canned and nonperishable food items to fill at least 10 Missouri City police squad cars and two Fire & Rescue Services trucks. The goods will be donated to the Second Mile Mission Center, Bethel Ministry and the Fort Bend County Women’s Center. Missouri City will also host Snowfest on Dec. 4-5. Events include a festival on Dec. 4 with a tree-lighting ceremony, fireworks, a 3-lane snowhill, camel rides and photos with Santa. On Dec. 5, there will be a 1.25mile Snowfest Shuffle Fun Run. It is open to runners of all levels and ages. The race route will end at the Public Safety Headquarters, where participants can ride in the Snowfest Parade on the Snowfest Shuffle Float.
When: Operation Thanksgiving is 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Nov. 21. Snowfest Festival is 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m., Dec. 4. The Snowfest Shuffle Fun Run begins at 8:15 a.m., Dec. 5. The parade starts at 9 a.m., Dec. 5.
Where: Operation Thanksgiving and the start of the Snowfest Parade are at the Public Safety Headquarters at 3849 Cartwright Road, Missouri City. The Snowfest Shuffle Fun Run begins at the Recreation and Tennis Center at 2701 Cypress Point Drive in Missouri City. The Snowfest Festival will be at the City Hall Complex at 1522 Texas Parkway in Missouri City.
Information: missouricitytx.gov
All activities are free, but participants in the Snowfest Shuffle Fun Run are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy for the Missouri City Police Department Blue Santa Toy Drive.