Events

Lanterns, Turkey Trots and Holiday Lights take over City Place this November

By Lindsey Price | October 16, 2026

North Houston business and leisure destination City Place is welcoming November with a lineup of community events, outdoor activities and holiday fun for all ages.

Looking for some convenient places for visiting family members to stay this upcoming holiday season? City Place features several upscale options led by the flagship Houston CityPlace Marriott alongside neighboring properties like Courtyard Marriott and Residence Inn. These hotels offer walkable access to 290 acres of nature trails, community greenspace, and stellar family dining destinations. During the holiday season, guests can stay just steps from festive lakefront light displays, artisan markets, and seasonal community events.

All programming takes place on and around The Plaza at 1250 Lake Plaza Drive and is complimentary unless otherwise noted. For updates and details, check out cityplacenow.com or follow along on Instagram at @CityPlaceNow.

City Place_Tree Lighting Night_credit Alex Montoya — *City Place Tree Lighting; Photo credit: Alex Montoya*

NOVEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

City Place Veteran’s Day Community Bake-Off & Market

Saturday, Nov. 7 | 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

City Place puts the spotlight on local pastry talent while giving back to those who have served with its first-ever Veterans Day Community Bake-Off + Market. The free community celebration will feature a showcase of sweet creations from area bakers, an open-air market and plenty of opportunities to sample treats, with Vine & Valor Foundation serving as the event’s featured nonprofit partner.

Bakers of all experience levels are invited to put their signature recipes to the test in the bake-off, competing in either the Organic or Traditional division for the title of Veterans Day Bake-Off Champion. Guests can browse the market, discover local makers and bakers, and enjoy an afternoon centered around food, community and honoring veterans.

Pix on The Plaza: La La Land (PG-13) (2016)

Saturday, Nov. 7 | 8 p.m.

Aspiring actress Mia (Emma Stone) and jazz musician Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) meet while trying to make it big in Los Angeles. As they pursue their dreams and fall in love, the pair must navigate the highs and lows of their careers, their relationship and the sacrifices that come with chasing their passions. This event is sponsored by The Somerlyn Group.

Roaming Gnomes

Through Sunday, Nov. 8

Featuring eight giant, illuminated, character-driven inflatable gnomes scattered across the community’s mixed-use urban core, this interactive exhibition from Australian creative studio Amigo & Amigo transforms the City Place urban core into an open-air gallery filled with playful daytime discoveries and glowing nighttime displays. It’s the perfect fall outing and holiday portrait backdrop.

Hard Hats and Tutus Walk and Taste Fun Walk

Saturday, Nov. 14 | 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Strut, snack, sparkle, and celebrate with us on the trails. The EiSi Hard Hats & Tutus Walk & Taste is a fun, family‑friendly community event hosted by and benefiting energy support professionals from the energy industry. Join us for a lively walk featuring Taste Stations, music, photo ops, exhibitors, and activities for all ages. Whether you come in a hard hat, a tutu, or your favorite sparkle, you will be part of a day of celebration. Everyone is welcome! RSVP for the Walk & Taste here.

Houston Arts Cinema Film Festival: CineSpace on the Plaza

Saturday, Nov. 14 | 8 p.m.

Experience CINESPACE, a special screening presented by the Houston Cinema Arts Society in collaboration with NASA. Bringing together the wonder of space exploration and the power of cinema, CINESPACE invites audiences to see the universe through a creative new lens. Join us at City Place for an inspiring evening celebrating Houston’s unique connection to space, science and the arts – where imagination meets exploration, and the possibilities are limitless.

Water Lantern Festival

Friday & Saturday, Nov. 20-21 | 2:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Over two evenings, the Water Lantern Festival will transform City Place Plaza and its waterfront into a glowing spectacle of thousands of floating lanterns. Ticketed participants are invited to personalize their own lanterns with messages, wishes, drawings and dedications before launching the pond system at sunset, creating a luminous display of color and reflection across the City Place Park. Spectators are welcome to experience the festival and watch the illuminated display at no charge.

Gates open daily at 2:30 p.m., with an afternoon of live music, food trucks, lawn games, activities and photo opportunities leading up to lantern decorating at 5 p.m. and the collective lantern launch from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Each ticket includes a lantern kit, LED candle and decorating materials.

Designed with sustainability in mind, the lanterns feature biodegradable paper covers and natural wood bases with reusable, recyclable LED candles rather than open flames, and event crews retrieve every lantern from the water following the celebration. For more information or to purchase a lantern ticket, visit the event’s official website at https://www.waterlanternfestival.com/events/houston. Spectators are welcome to experience the festival and watch the illuminated display at no charge.

Good Books In The Woods Pop-Up

Saturday, Nov. 21 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Discover your next favorite read at this monthly outdoor residency from beloved, longtime local book seller Good Books In The Woods. Browse a curated collection of over 300 new, used, and rare titles, ranging from classic reads and hidden gems to an expansive selection of children’s books.

Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot with Give Me A Break Texas

Thursday, Nov. 26 | 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Start Thanksgiving morning on the move at City Place’s first-ever Turkey Trot, presented in partnership with Give Me A Break Fitness & Wellness Social Club. Start the holiday on the right foot with a run or walk, then keep the energy going with free Pilates and yoga classes, coffee and caffeine experiences, EDM music and live DJs, local vendors, games and more. Grab your family and friends and get moving before the turkey hits the table.

Oh, What Fun! Holiday Tree Lighting

Sunday, Nov. 29 | 3 – 7 p.m.

Kick off the holiday season at City Place’s annual Oh, What Fun! Holiday Tree Lighting celebration, marking the official illumination of the community’s spectacular 40-foot floating holiday tree and the return of its signature Giant Gingerbread Village. Rising from the pond system at City Place Park, the shimmering tree serves as the centerpiece of the waterfront holiday experience, while the immersive Gingerbread Village invites visitors along a candy-lined path past oversized gingerbread figures and cookie trees to a whimsical 16-foot gingerbread house and 12-foot windmill.

The free happening will feature snow, live music, seasonal crafts, photos with Santa, train rides, balloon artists, face painting, a holiday market and a visiting reindeer.