It’s the Most Wonderful Time for Holiday Photo Ops!

November 16, 2022
| 21:27 PM

Let's Get into those Holiday Photo Ops in HOU!

It’s official, we are in the holiday season. One of our favorite things to do around this time of year is to go look at beautiful lights and decor and snap some photos at some awesome holiday photo-ops here in HOU! Here in Houston, we have so many stunning holiday experiences, and some of them are free! Many of these spots are family-friendly and feature other activities for people of all ages to enjoy!

If you are looking for amazing holiday photo-ops in HOU, now’s your chance. From gorgeous parks to downtown light installations, to Christmas festivals, we have so many great outings in store for you. Read on for our favorite holiday photo-ops in and around Houston!

TFTI - Selfie Museum

TFTI is one of the most instagrammable hotspots in Houston, with a unique photo experience for everyone! Located inside the Galleria, just above the Apple store, features over 18 curated rooms which is perfect for capturing your next selfie or family photo. Check out the Upside Down X-mas Room, the new Silver Wrap Room, the Snowflakes Projections Room (all for a limited time this holiday season), the Love Room, the Infinity Mirror Room and more holiday rooms coming in December. The entire space has been designed to be toured in one-hour increments, and all of their staff members can help you capture your photos!✨

Visit TFTI

Lightscape at Houston Botanic Garden

The internationally acclaimed lightscape is returning this year to the Houston Botanic Garden! This is one of the most incredible holiday photo-hops in Houston. Enjoy stunning immersive installations set to your favorite songs of the season. Walk through almost 20 different themes, and get some awesome Instagram pics!

The hours depend on the night and the events, so check the calendar out here!
📍1 Botanic Lane, Houston, TX 77017

Watch Downtown Transform into a Magical Wonderland

City Lights Downtown Magic

This season, areas all over downtown Houston will be converted into a magical holiday wonderland. There will be nine unique villages with different holiday activities around the city. Throughout downtown, you will find a Sugar Plum Plaza, Santa’s Village, a Land of the Sweets, Mistletoe Square, and Winter Wanderland. Each of these different areas has something unique to offer, and most are free! This is a great way to explore the city and get into the holiday cheer. Find information about all of the locations here. 🪄 🎄

Moody Gardens Holiday Photo-Op

📸 Moody Gardens

Holiday in the Gardens at Moody Gardens has been wowing Texans for a long time, and there’s no question as to why! The Festival of Lights is guaranteed to be one of your favorite holiday photo-ops in Houston. It features a mile-long trail with over two million lights and scenes themed to holiday music. Not only are there beautiful holiday lights, but you will be able to see Galveston Bay while you walk. You will be able to enjoy a hot chocolate, see a dancing tree, and of course grab some awesome holiday selfies. Holiday in the Gardens has some MUST-SEE holiday photo-ops in HOU this season!💡 💫

Hours and Location

Festival of Lights & Holiday Attractions
Peak Nights: 4PM – 10PM
Value Days: 4PM – 9PM
(Including Christmas Day)

📍 Moody Gardens

Deck the Trees

Deck The Trees has been a Houston favorite for the past 15 years. Inside the lobby of the Alley Theatre and the windowscape at the George R. Brown Convention Center, you will find the most beautiful and unique Christmas trees you have ever seen. There are all different trees, and all of them are Insta-worthy. Trust us. There are trees that represent different cultural, traditional, and eclectic holiday designs. You are sure to find something that matches your feed. Don’t miss out on this awesome holiday photo-op in HOU!🌲

Hours and Location

The trees will be on display throughout the holiday season.

📍 Alley Theatre

Discovery Green Park

📸 Discovery Green Park

Discovery Green can be one of the best places to catch some holiday photos in Houston, and there is plenty to do besides take pictures! During the holiday season, Discovery Green pulls out all of the stops. There is an ice rink, and plenty of holiday events to go around!

As far as holiday photo-ops in HOU go, at Discovery Green you can find holiday decor, art installations, and beautiful pathways. The only downside of Discovery Green is that it is one of the most popular parks in all of Houston, so if you want to get some solo photos in, make sure to think ahead!⛸ 🧊

Hours and Location

Sunday	6AM–11PM
Monday	6AM–11PM
Tuesday	6AM–11PM
Wednesday	6AM–11PM
Thursday	6AM–11PM
Friday	6AM–11PM
Saturday	6AM–11PM

📍 Discovery Green

Check out these 3 Miracle Pop Locations!

Miracle at Winnie's, Santa's Speakeasy, and Miracle at Johnny's

Miracle Pop-Up was Houston’s first immersive Holiday Pop-Up bar and man they don’t disappoint. This year, they’re back and better with 3 locations in the Houston area! Winnie’s and Santa’s Speakeasy can be found in Midtown, Johnny’s is in the Heights! At each of these locations, you will experience wall-to-wall Christmas decor, and children are allowed before 8! This is an awesome holiday experience that you can grab some pictures at, and surely don’t want to miss!

Hours and Locations

You can find the specific addresses and information for each location here!

Christmas Village at Bayou Bend

This is an immersive experience at Bayou Bend Collections and Gardens. On this 14 acre estate, you will enjoy live actors, theatrical effects, and 3D video animation. Have fun with the fam through a cotton snowball fight, pictures with Santa, and even go sledding! Don’t miss out, buy your tickets here!

Hours and Location

December 9–30, 2022

Closed December 24 & 25
Open 5:30–9 p.m. Sundays–Thursdays (except Thursday, December 22)
Open 5:30–10 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays & Thursday, December 22

📍Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, 6003 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77007

Magical Winter Lights

📸 Magical Winter Lights

Up next is a Houstonian fave, Magical Winter Lights. This is a one-of-a-kind holiday experience with ample opportunity for absolutely incredible photos. Magical Winter Lights is a 20-acre light show extravaganza that features over 100 individual lantern sets in 8 themed sections. At these holiday lights in Houston, you can visit the magical castle, Christmas village, Houston skyline replica, interactive dinosaur area, carnival rides and games, and acrobatics shows on select nights. There is no shortage of awesome holiday photo-ops in HOU here.

This is basically a maze of large-scale light exhibits, and your family members of all ages will enjoy strolling through it. You’re going to need a whole scrap-book for all the amazing pictures you take here.

Hours and Location

Sunday-Thursday
5:00PM -10:00 PM
Friday & Saturday
5:00 PM -11:00 PM

Extended Hours
December 24th – January 7th
*Closed Jan. 2nd – 4th*

📍2525 FM 565, Baytown, TX 77523

Houston Flower Wall Co.

Enjoy the Holiday Studio!

Houston Flower Wall Co. is bringing its incredible backdrop skills to the holidays. You’ve got to stop by and see all the beautiful scenes they have set up! This is a great spot to get your photos taken for your Christmas card, or just to grab some photos for the gram. If you’ve been looking for somewhere indoors while we have this cold weather, but you still want an awesome photo opportunity, this is the place for you!

Hours and Location

Make sure you check their website here as they do open house admission as well as private events so you can make sure to find what works for you!

📍1151 Brittmoore Rd Unit B, Houston, TX 77043

That concludes our holiday photo-ops in HOU list!

There is something on this list for everyone. Whether you are looking to snap some pictures for your latest Christmas card, or you are just trying to add some holiday spice to your Instagram, the incredible locations on this list are ready for whatever you need. Get out there and check out these holiday photo-ops in HOU!

Happy holidays, and if you are looking for more awesome holiday experiences make sure you check out our Holiday Lights in Houston list!

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Curated by

Katherine Galland | Visit Profile >

I am currently an undergraduate student at the University of Houston where I study History with a minor in Creative Writing. In my free ti...

It’s the Most Wonderful Time for Holiday Photo Ops!

Let's Get into those Holiday Photo Ops in HOU!

TFTI - Selfie Museum

Lightscape at Houston Botanic Garden

Watch Downtown Transform into a Magical Wonderland

City Lights Downtown Magic