Free Events and Activities for Kids
in January 2026 in Houston

Best Free Things To Do in Houston January 2026

First Day Hike at Sheldon Lake State Park
North Houston
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Ring in 2026 by getting outdoors with this nationwide First Day Hike initiative! Website

Mini Makers Workshop at Discovery Green
Downtown
Saturday, January 3, 2026
At Discovery Green, YOU are the artist! Manifest your goals for the upcoming year with a vision board, using recycled magazines, scissors, and glue. Kids of all ages are welcome! Website

Hands-on Houston: Embroidery Hoop Art Houston Center for Contemporary Craft
Museum District
Saturday, January 3, 2026
Explore the art of embroidery at this month’s Hands-on Houston! Learn how to thread a kid-friendly needle and design your own composition using a hoop and burlap (a beginner-friendly loose weave cloth). Add interesting shapes and textures to your artwork using yarn and beads, and leave with a finished hoop ready to hang in your home! Website

Nature Storytime at Nature Discovery Center
Bellaire
Wednesday, January 7, 2026 (Every Wednesday)
Preschoolers and their caregivers join on Wednesday afternoons for nature stories, live animals, touchable specimens, and a simple craft. This is a free, drop-in program! Website

Japan Junction: Oshogatsu 2026 at Levy Park
Upper Kirby
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Celebrate the start of 2026 at the Second Annual Japan Junction Oshogatsu New Year’s Celebration! This exciting, free, and family-friendly event promises a vibrant mix of live performances, traditional Japanese games, omikuji fortune telling, and hands-on craft stations. Website

We Are Houston Run Fest at Discovery Green
Downtown
Saturday & Sunday, January 10 & 11, 2026
The Houston Marathon weekend of events includes activities for everyone in the family at Discovery Green. Website

Monthly Volunteer Workday at Buffalo Bayou Park
Downtown
Saturday, January 17, 2026
Houstonians, ages 9 and up, are invited to join Buffalo Bayou Partnership for community-wide volunteer days at Buffalo Bayou Park happening the third Saturday of each month. Website

MATCH Family Fun Day
MATCH - Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Gather the kids for an afternoon full of family-friendly fun, featuring free activities like face painting, balloon art, bounce houses, stilt walkers, and colorful chalk art. Enjoy live performances throughout the day from local favorites, including Main Street Theater for Youth, Prelude Music, and Open Dance Project. Website

MLK Unity Parade & Festival
Downtown
Monday, January 19, 2026
Houston will host a unified 2026 MLK Unity Parade in January, combining past separate parades into one major downtown event for the first time, featuring marching bands, floats, and community groups, followed by festivals with music, vendors, and kids' activities, honoring Dr. King's legacy of unity and peace. Website

Arbor Day Celebration at Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Memorial Park
Saturday, January 24, 2026
Arbor Day is a celebration of trees and all the incredible benefits they provide. This year’s festivities focus on having fun with nature through hands-on activities for the whole family. Guests can test their skills with lumberjack games, build a fairy house, explore the forest on a self-guided hike, and even meet Johnny Appleseed. Website

Mr. Leo Puppet Show at CityPlace
Spring
Saturday, January 17, 2026
Hop aboard for a delightful ride with “Mr. Leo’s Puppet Show Bus,” where colorful puppets bring stories to life with laughter and fun! Website

Kawaii Market Presented With Tokyo X at Asia Society Texas
Museum District
Saturday & Sunday, January 24 & 25, 2026
Join Asia Society Texas for a vibrant, anime-inspired market! Over two days, this free event — presented in partnership with Tokyo X — will feature more than 20 vendors offering kawaii crafts, collectibles, artwork, and more. Visitors can browse and shop, sip specialty coffee from Kopi Cowboy, and enjoy free admission to The House of Pikachu: Art, Anime, and Pop Culture, making it the perfect weekend to celebrate all things anime. Website

Free Events and Activities for Kids in January 2026 in Houston

Free Events and Activities for Kids
in January 2026 in Houston