River Oaks District is kicking off the season in serious style with its Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration on November 22, and yes, Santa himself will be there to meet families, take photos, and spread a little magic around The Park. Whether you’re hoping for a Christmas miracle or just want a cute selfie for your holiday card, this is the place to be.

Make sure you have your golden tickets!

Fog will impact Sunday morning

Forget the open-air sleigh overloaded with gifts and powered by a tuckered herd of flying reindeer.

Fog will impact Sunday morning

Houston is celebrating the holiday season with a variety of festive deals and events.

The griping Vatican-based movie thriller “Conclave” about picking a new pope and Stephanie Hsu starring in the dark comedy series “Laid” as a woman whose former lovers keep unexpectedly dying are some of this week’s new streaming entertainment releases.

Santa's elves and Mrs. Claus are in town from the North Pole. With three days left until Christmas, Santa's workshop is buzzing with activity as they race to complete the big day's final preparation and need your help.

Would you consider giving your children the ultimate gift of all? The gift of teaching them how to serve and help people in need. Studies show volunteering builds character and builds a sense of pride and confidence with children.

Houston is offering an exclusive preview of the 2024 floats for the 75th Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade, featuring iconic floats like Tom Turkey and Santa, as well as new designs.

Classic Christmas is a dazzling holiday attraction in Houston, running from November 16 to December 29.

For the first time ever, Classic Christmas comes to Houston, bringing the magic of the holidays to Memorial City Mall.From November 16th, guests can step into a magical holiday wonderland designed for visitors of all ages with exciting attractions that capture the season's essence.

Frustrations continued for Americans as they awaited their packages that were expected to be delivered months ago.

Dear Santa, Finn is asking to find a loving home this year.

Freelance writer Amanda Sorena shares a list of fun events happening all around the city.

North American military assets are keeping a sharp eye on Santa's travels.

Holiday travel is expected to hit its peak right around now.

Here’s our take on the greatest things to do, see, and enjoy in the Houston area this weekend.

The Bank of England has kept borrowing rates unchanged despite mounting worries over the state of the British economy.

Celebrate the holidays with one of the biggest-selling artists of all time, Barry Manilow! He’s helping us get ready for the holidays with his special tonight at 9 p.m. on KPRC 2.

Have you captured the Christmas cheer on camera? 📸 We want to see your favorite festive photos! Send us pictures of your holiday decor, Christmas tree, and any other holly jolly pics you snap.

A few of Houston’s inanimate objects have hilariously conveyed the city’s collective distaste for this seemingly unending onslaught of rain.

Expect heavy traffic and closures this Saturday as the city of Houston gears up for live performances and the big tree lighting.

Jill Biden has chosen a White House holiday décor that she hopes will inspire guests to feel like kids again.

Glide beneath the glittering lights of downtown Houston and discover the holiday magic on the Green Mountain Energy Ice at Discovery Green!

This year, skip the annual pilgrimage to meet Santa Claus at the local mall and try a festive breakfast and meet-and-greet instead. You can swap the claustrophobic crowds and long wait times for a custom experience, more time with the big man in red, and might fine meal to boot.

Visitors can stroll through the gardens, pose for pictures with Santa, or take a holiday-themed tour of Ima Hogg’s historic mansion with actors and theatrical effects.

The lighting of Christmas trees at ceremonies across the Houston area will commence the most wonderful time of the year.

The annual event will kick off the holiday season with the lighting of their famous 55-foot Christmas tree, which features 450,000 twinkling lights and 5,000 different colored ornaments.

Cher is obviously a superstar but even a superstar is happy to be the opening act when it comes to Santa.

The lighting of the Christmas tree at City Hall returns in December to commence the most wonderful time of the year.

Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis also has a busy career as a children’s author.

Did Santa bring you a new air fryer for Christmas this year?

Every week, our viewers and readers deliver great pictures to Click2Pins and December was no different. From dressed up dogs and cats to kids and Christmas decor, this month’s Pins have been festive and fun.

Hours after Santa delivered a shiny new remote-control car to a Houston-area family, the miniature motorized vehicle was nearly lost on its maiden voyage. The Willowfork Fire Department in Katy, Fort Bend County posted photos from the rescue Sunday afternoon on Facebook. The pictures show firefighters lowering a ladder into a drain and then a first responder crawling down to save the newly treasured toy.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency as wintry weather moves through the state.

Patients at the Texas Children’s Hospital were surprised after receiving gifts from wish lists to Santa’s “elves” ahead of Christmas Day.

Professional Santa, Gary Dellacroce, from McAllen, Texas arrived at Memorial Hermann in early 2022 for a second opinion on congestive heart failure.

Santa Claus is coming to town!

Let's get the Elf on the Shelf to work for us this year (and hopefully every year moving forward).

The Polar Express Train Ride is returning this holiday season to the Galveston Railroad Museum.

Get set for the U.S. Ski Jumping Olympic Trials, airing live on Christmas Day.

Sure, Santa is great, but have you met his cousin, or primo, Pancho Claus? He’s a zoot-suit-wearing, lowrider-driving Houstonian who has been passing out presents in the East End since the 1980s. Pancho Claus is a local legend in the Houston community who has even gained national attention, but this year he needs your help.

With eight holiday attractions all at one venue, it’s one of the largest holiday destinations in Texas.

A man who loves to decorate for the holidays has taken the Christmas spirit to a whole new level.

Sugar Land Town Square is bringing the magic of the season to the square with a special holiday pop-up, Santa’s Sugar Land, featuring a full calendar of free events and special moments for the entire family.

We’re used to seeing Santa at the mall, or better yet, on his sleigh delivering toys to children around the world, but you don’t see Santa (let alone hundreds of him) skiing or snowboarding down a mountain.

If you’re looking for some holiday cheer, “Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Musical” could be just what you’re looking for.

Some families who were trying to pay a visit to Santa Wonderland in College Station were frustrated as they got tied up in a major traffic jam that seemingly had no end in sight.

Santa and his elves are kicking it into high gear and so are thieves. We have a warning about the increase in fake shopping websites popping up all over the internet. KPRC 2 Investigates team explains what you need to look out for when shopping online.

There is so much to do in Houston over the holidays, and they’re right around the corner.

Nearly two years into a global health crisis that has killed more than 5 million people, infections are again sweeping across parts of Western Europe.

HOUSTON – Cold air has settled into Southeast Texas and will be sticking around for a while. We are in the beginning of the longest stretch of cold weather that has hit Houston so far this season. As we head into late Sunday, temperatures will start to drop and wintry precipitation will be getting close to Southeast Texas! Sunday NightAccumulations will be insignificant in Southeast Texas but snow will accumulate north and northwest of our area. Weekend Travel WeatherAfter Sunday’s rain/snow mix event, the rest of the ten day forecast shows a cooler than normal start with plenty of sunshine for the week ahead.

Kids eager for the arrival of Santa Claus tonight can follow his journey across the globe using NORAD’s official tracker.

(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea has added 1,092 new coronavirus cases in a resurgence that is erasing hard-won epidemiological gains and eroding public confidence in the government’s ability to handle the outbreak. It would deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals and resources to vaccinate a nation confronting a frightening surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths. Preliminary data on U.S. deaths show the coronavirus pandemic contributing to a 15% or more increase in deaths over last year. ___MEXICO CITY — Mexican officials have reported a new daily high in confirmed coronavirus cases as the country awaits its first shipment of vaccine. ___WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The Navajo Nation is reporting 151 new coronavirus cases and seven more deaths related to COVID-19.

HOUSTON – Christmas arrived early for one Houston family. The patriarch of their family returned home on Monday after battling COVID-19 for nearly five months. The 83-year-old spent 149 days in three different medical facilities battling COVID-19. He was moved to Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Houston Medical Center for two months and spent the remaining time at Baywind Village Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation. The hospital wouldn’t allow family visits whenever COVID-19 cases in the city were high.

When it comes to Christmas movies, there’s no shortage of choices. There are, however, some that stand the test of time and become traditional favorites of the holiday movie lover in all of us.

Jessica Kuhns with husband Robert dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus (left) hope to bring smiles to kids during this holiday season. While husband Robert was Santa, Jessica joined in becoming the “Mrs. Claus” beside him in hopes to bring smiles to children this year. “Parents aren’t going to want to take their kids to a crowded mall just to see Santa,” Kuhns told KPRC 2. Posted by Jessica Kuhns on Saturday, December 12, 2020“We told her we would be honored to be their Santa this year,” Jessica told KPRC 2.

HOUSTON – ‘Tis the Season for the holidays and the end of 2020! Despite this year being filled with many surprises, here at KPRC 2, we wanted to take a moment to spread some holiday cheer. From Santa hats to menorahs, our KPRC 2 team members got a chance to pick their favorite holiday attire and snap a snazzy holiday photo. SCROLL DOWN TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE KPRC 2 FRIENDNow, it’s time to see all of our holiday pics and select your favorite! Vote for your favorite holiday portrait here:Click here to view all 35 of our holiday photos on InstagramHappy Holidays, from all of us at KPRC 2!

Santa, Mrs. Claus and all their helpers – decked out in masks — gathered outside Christus Health in Midtown to spread some holiday cheer to the young patients of San Jose Clinic. For 85 years, San Jose Clinic has hosted a Christmas party. This year’s party took place Saturday morning in a drive-thru style due to the pandemic. “Oh, it’s going to be very different this year but can’t disappoint the children at all,” said Mrs. Claus. Santa is helping to put food on the table this Christmas along with presents under the tree.

The Houston Home Instead Senior Care office is seeking donations for seniors through its “Be a Santa to a Senior” program. “The Be a Santa to a Senior program brings so much joy to seniors in our community,” said Gregory Gomez-Mira, owner of the Houston Home Instead office. The Houston Home Instead Senior Care office serves Alvin, Baytown, Channel View, Bacliff, Deer Park, Dickinson, Kemah, La Porte, Galena Park, Manvel, Houston, League City, Pasadena, Pearland, Rosharon, Seabrook, Webster and Friendswood. Those who’d like to purchase a gifts for a senior can visit Beasantatoasenior.com, enter their zip code and view wish lists for local seniors. For more information about the Be a Santa to a Senior program, visit BeaSantatoaSenior.com.

’Tis the season to give, and we have a feeling this might be one of the best ways yet to do exactly that.

HOUSTON – New for this season are two, one-of-a-kind attractions that will be unveiled during a lighting ceremony at CityPlace Park – 1200 Lake Plaza Drive, Spring, TX 77389 – on Sunday, November 29 between 4 and 7 p.m. with help from Santa and Mrs. Claus. A super-sized, fantasy version of the holiday classic, the installation is anticipated to expand each year. This is a first of its kind endeavor for Kopelman, a pioneering and globally recognized haunted house producer, COO of the country’s largest escape room company, and co-founder of soon-to-open immersive experiential museum Seismique. In addition to enjoying an inaugural look, visitors of the evening’s complimentary festivities will also enjoy carolers and complimentary hot chocolate. For those unable to attend the kickoff, both the tree and gingerbread village will be on display through January 9 with free hot chocolate served on the Plaza every Thursday and Sunday from 4 until 7 p.m.

HOUSTON – From candles to custom ornaments, Houstonians are treasuring their Christmas décor. We asked our KPRC 2 Facebook followers to share their Christmas décor and received a stunning amount of submissions, some shared with special stories. Here are some of our favorite submissions and what people said about their holiday décor. But after deep research, my daughter found one in New York and to my surprise--THIS was the most treasured gift I received Christmas Day 2017. Love my Santa tree.

(KARK/NBC News) – An Arkansas man’s response to a racist letter he received after installing a Black Santa inflatable in his yard is going viral. Chris Kennedy’s excitement for the holidays is mirrored in his North Little Rock front yard. I want kids to smile.”What puts a smile on many people’s face is an 8-foot-tall Black Santa that can’t be missed. Then on Monday, Kennedy received a letter he called racist, in which someone posing as “Santa” asked him to remove his Black Santa“Please remove your [racial slur] Santa. You should not try to deceive children into believing that I am a [racial slur] the letter states.

From the first letters opened at the secretariat from Nov. 12, it quickly became apparent how the pandemic is weighing on children, says the chief elf, Jamila Hajji. One letter in three mentions the pandemic in some way, Hajji says. “The letters to Father Christmas are a sort of release for them. Replying to 12,000 letters per day, the team of 60 elves sets aside some that move them or catch the eye. One asked for “a pandemic of love.” A 77-year-old lamented that “lockdown is no fun!

The chart resembles another one that the Texas Medical Associated released earlier this year that shows which common activities put people at greater risk of contracting COVID-19. The new chart ranks 34 holiday activities from least to most risky “so holiday revelers can make informed choices during the busiest travel and social-gathering season of the year,” according to the association’s website. What is safe or not safe?’” Dr. Ogechika Alozie, an El Paso infectious disease specialist and TMA COVID-19 Task Force member, said on the association’s website. The chart was developed by the Texas Medical Association’s coronavirus task force, a team of front-line infectious disease and primary care physician experts tasked with advising fellow physicians across the state about COVID-19 developments. The TMA #COVID19 Task Force has developed a new version of our popular risk assessment chart to help you choose your activities wisely this holiday season.

It’s called the “Secret Santa” or “Secret Sister” and it’s a gift exchange, usually amongst women. It works like this:Secret Sister social media recruitment post (Copyright 2020 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.) Secret Sister social media post (Copyright 2020 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.) • Report social media posts. Some pyramid schemes try to win your confidence by claiming they’re legal and endorsed by the government.

Santa Claus is coming to town!

Zoo Lights is returning to the Houston Zoo from Nov. 15 to Jan. 9.

HOUSTON – Here are some fun, free things going on this weekend to help get you into the holiday spirit. Pictures with Santa and the Satna House in River OaksYou can also take some free photos with Santa at the “Santa House” in River Oaks tomorrow. “Christmas Vacation” Screening at City Acre Brewing CompanyEnjoy a screening of the classic “Christmas Vacation” at City Acre Brewing Company off Topping Street Saturday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. There will also be a Christmas photo booth, a fire pit for smores, holiday drink specials, and the Griswold family Christmas dinner-themed menu. Holiday Dance Showcase in the Sugar Land Town SquareEnjoy dance performances by local companies during the Holiday Dance Showcase in Sugar Land Town Square Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you’ve ever been to a holiday cookie swap, then you know just how intense and daunting they can be.

Amanda Sorena, contributor with the popular parenting app and website, Mommy Nearest, shared the 6 must-see holiday light displays you can’t miss season. MAGICAL WINTER LIGHTSMagical Winter Lights (Magical Winter Lights)Fresh and multicultural display in La Marque. ZOO LIGHTSFamily at Zoo Lights (Houston Zoo)After closing, the Houston Zoo transforms into a magical light display with trees and exhibits aglow. Enjoy a 100-foot-long tunnel of light, a 4D enchanted forest, an ice dragon and “snow”“We always love Zoo lights. SUGAR LAND HOLIDAY LIGHTSSugar Land Holiday Lights (Sugar Land Holiday Lights)Constellation Field lights up with more than three million lights.

In case you didn't know, 2019 is all about pressure cooking, and the Instant Pot does that and so much more. We searched the internet far and wide to find the easiest, most delicious and fun Instant Pot recipes. Instant Pot Eggs Benedict from The Foodie and The FixEggs Benedict is a breakfast staple, so the fact that you can make it in an Instant Pot is beyond wild. Instant Pot Lemon Vegetable Risotto from Lexi's Clean KitchenLook, making risotto is stressful and difficult and has sent more chefs home on "Top Chef" than probably any other dish, but cooking risotto in an Instant Pot is easy and you almost can't mess it up. Instant Pot Mac & Cheese from DelishOK, y'all, you need to get into this mac and cheese recipe.