MUSED HOUSTON ART EVENTS | December 17

THIS WEEK IN HOUSTON

December 17–21, 2025

This week, I’m highlighting three ticketed events you’ll want on your radar now:

🎵 Ars Lyrica at the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern presents a series of must-see performances through January 9 — I attended this week and it’s unforgettable.

🎨 River Oaks Theatre hosts a 25th anniversary screening on January 6 of The Art Guys' Suits: The Clothes Make the Man road-trip film – this will sell out quickly, so get your tickets now.

💃 Nationally acclaimed ISHIDA Dance Company performs Rara avis at Asia Society Texas Center, January 15–18, 2026 – tickets are now on sale.

Whether you’re picking just one night out or building a full weekend of culture, I’ve got you covered right here. Let’s get into this pre-holiday week.

Melissa Richardson Banks

Founder, Publisher & Editor

MUSED HOUSTON

www.musedhouston.com

👉 PRINT & SAVE THIS EMAIL: As I'm now focusing more on curated listings in this newsletter (rather than maintaining a comprehensive online calendar), this email serves as your primary weekly arts guide. Please save or print this issue (or bookmark the "Read this newsletter in your browser" link above for easy reference this week.

My online calendar will remain reserved for submitted community listings, client events and projects, and select special features.

👉 SUPPORT THIS NEWSLETTER: If my work has helped you discover exhibitions, plan gallery crawls, promote your events, or elevated your own creative work, I invite you to support MUSED Houston and help sustain this independent visual arts platform. Learn more HERE.

WEDNESDAY 12.17.2025

6–9 PM ART EVENT Winter Open House at Houston Center for Photography

6:30–8 PM ART EVENT Buffalo Bayou Partnership presents Tinsel Trek with Urban Paths at Sabine Park and throughout Downtown Houston – three-mile holiday walk

6–9 PM ART EVENT Fresh Arts presents Artist INC Alumni Showcase + Year End Celebration at Winter Street Gallery

7:15–9:15 PM SCREENING Houston Cinema Arts Society presents December Houston Filmmaker Showcase at River Oaks Theatre – tickets $8.30

8–11 PM ART EVENT Art Installation & Community DJ Night by local art collective VRTX.HTX at notsuoh

THURSDAY 12.18.2025

6–8 PM OPENING RECEPTION Foto Futures 1 at Houston Center for Photography

6–8 PM ART EVENT Music at the Museum: Sound of Jupiter & Cyanotype Workshop at CAMH

7–8:30 PM PERFORMANCE SERIES Ars Lyrica presents Ring in the Peace at Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern – multiple 20-minute performances nightly (tickets $25) through January 9, 2026

7–10 PM ART EVENT Holiday Party & Raffle at Aurora Picture Show

7:30–10:30 PM Houston Music Classifieds presents Year in Review 2025 at Axelrad Beer Garden (upstairs)

FRIDAY 12.19.2025

6–9 PM PERFORMANCE Hopera HTX presents Opera Karaoke at Gristworkz – free, family-friendly all-ages participatory music event

7:30 PM–10 PM CONCERT Sofar by Candlelight at a secret Downtown Houston venue (location provided with $25 ticket purchase)

8–9 PM GALLERY CONCERT Songs of the Virgin: An Italian Baroque Christmas at Museum of Fine Arts Houston – Mercury Chamber Orchestra and acclaimed countertenor Michael Skarke; $35 adults; $25 MFAH members $10 youth

SATURDAY 12.20.2025

12–5 PM ART EVENT The Auntie Holiday Market at HTX Bodega

1–4 PM ART EVENT Roadtrip Playlist at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston

2–4 PM CLOSING RECEPTION XZZX: Soberanía (Sovereignty) at Lawndale Art Center

2:30 PM–4 PM PERFORMANCE Mercury Chamber Orchestra performs Songs of the Virgin: An Italian Baroque Christmas at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

5–7 PM MUSIC & FASHION EVENT Walker Western Wear Pop-Up at Monterroso Gallery – artisanal Western and Americana-inspired neckwear with vintage silks and other textiles

5–10 PM ART EVENT The Beautiful Bazaar 2.0: Friends for Life Edition at Hardy & Nance Studios

SUNDAY 12.21.2025

2–4 PM FILM SCREENING Houston Cinema Arts Society presents Luv Ya Bum at River Oaks Theatre – tickets $22.05

2:30 PM–4 PM VIDEO SCREENING WiVLA presents Margo's The Organ-ic Variety Show at the Aurora Chapel

7:30–8:30 PM CONCERT Cantare Houston presents And Miles to Go at MFAH (Gallery 214 in the Beck Building) – $35 general admission / $10 students; repeats on Monday, 12.22.2025

🌟 HOUSTON HOLIDAY EVENTS 🌟

this list is updated weekly during the season

🔔 Christmas Village at Bayou Bend

🔔 Cistern Illuminated at Buffalo Bayou Park

🔔 Holiday Special at ARTECHOUSE

🔔 H-Town Holiday Lights at Discovery Green

🔔 Radiant Nature at Houston Botanic Garden

🔔 Winter Wonderlawn at POST Houston

What are your favorite Houston holiday events? Let me know so I can share them in my next issue.

NOTE: Event details may change without notice. Confirm with the venue or event organizer before attending. Missed an opening reception? Many exhibitions remain on view–visit during public hours.

MORE EVENTS ON MY ONLINE CALENDAR

SUPPORT THIS NEWSLETTER

Since launching MUSED Houston on July 20, 2023, I’ve featured 2,500+ events at nearly 400 local venues presented by over 400 organizers — highlighting the incredible work of Houston’s artists, curators, galleries, alternative art venues, and museums.

If my MUSED Houston newsletter has helped you discover new art, connect with the scene, support your business, make new friends, or grow your audience, please consider making a gift.

Every dollar — $10, $25, $50, or more — helps keep it going. Thank you to all who’ve already given. Your support means the world.

🔹 Submit Your Events Online (FREE!)

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