Photo: Houston Museum of Natural Science

Please Have Snow and Mistletoe…

There may well be mistletoe on the Live Oaks in Hermann Park, but we know one thing for sure: There will be Snow! Yes, snow.

Come December 21, the grounds in front of the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) will host Snow Flurry, the “coolest event” in town. This traditional event on the first day of winter pours 130,000 pounds of snow (last year they only had 110,000 pounds, but even that was so popular the hours had to be extended) onto the grounds for folks to enjoy a real winter wonderland. On Sunday, you can frolic in the frost from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., depending on the weather. Be aware that the event may be postponed if the weather isn’t working for winter whiteness. There will be sweet treats, live entertainment, a DJ, and other surprises. Tickets can be purchased here and are $5 for members (both children and adults) and $10 for nonmembers. Even if the weather’s warmish on this shortest day of the year, do wear your mittens and goulashes to play in the snow. Because it’s cold. And wet. And about the closest thing to snow falling from the clouds as we’re likely to see this Christmas. The white stuff comes from Special Events Houston Party Rentals and is made from regular old ice.

Photo: Houston Museum of Natural Science

The company says their snow lasts for six to eight hours, depending on the weather, so it will be long gone by New Year’s Eve. But the fun won’t be gone. The HMNS is hosting Mixers & Elixirs: New Year’s Eve, a festival way to ring in the New Year from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., dancing among the dinosaurs and noshing on festive eats. Entertainment will be Danny Ray and the Atlantic Street Band, plus beats from DJ Q and DJ SkaDean, and you can make your own music in a Karaoke lounge inside the planetarium. The Wortham Giant Screen Theatre will be showing the 2001 film Ocean’s Eleven.

The event is 21 and up, and you can buy your tickets here. They are $50 for members and $60 for nonmembers. You can also get a VIP ticket for $120 that includes access to three exclusive VIP areas, a complimentary drink ticket, a midnight champagne toast, and a food voucher redeemable at any Sundial food vendor, excluding dessert vendors.

by Marene Gustin