Festivals, concerts, plays and more, there are lots of events in the area to keep your calendar booked.
Festival of Lights [Through Jan. 3]
Enjoy more than 1 million lights within 100 sound-enhanced animated light displays and nightly live entertainment. You also can skate around on the area’s only outdoor ice skating rink, try out the new Arctic Ice Slide or take pictures with Santa.
Through Jan. 3, Moody Gardens, 1 Hope Blvd., Galveston, www.moodygardens.com
Ice land: ice sculptures with SpongeBob SquarePants [Through Jan. 3]
This frosty new addition to Moody Gardens’ holiday offerings features 900 tons of ice transformed into holiday scenes with the beloved Bikini Bottom inhabitants from Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants.
Through Jan. 3, Moody Gardens, 1 Hope Blvd., Galveston, www.moodygardens.com
‘Flashdance’ [Jan. 3]
This Broadway musical delight is the unforgettable story of Alex Owens, a Pittsburgh steel mill welder by day and bar dancer by night, who dreams of one day becoming a professional performer.
3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Jan. 3, The Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice St., Galveston, 800.821.1894 or www.thegrand.com
Galveston Symphony Orchestra [Jan. 4]
This ensemble of highly skilled amateur and professional musicians has been bringing the unforgettable experience of live performances to Galveston audiences since 1979.
7 p.m. Jan. 4, The Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice St., Galveston, 800.821.1894 or www.thegrand.com
‘Over the River and Through the Woods’ [Jan. 9 to Feb. 1]
Nick is a single, Italian-American guy from New Jersey who is offered his dream job in Seattle. His grandparents do not take the news well and scheme to keep him around.
8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays from Jan. 9 to Feb. 1, Bay Area Harbour Playhouse, 3803 state Highway 3, Dickinson, 281.337.7469 or www.harbourplayhouse.com
Steve Tyrell [Jan. 10]
With his breakthrough performances in “Father of the Bride” and “Father of the Bride II,” Steve Tyrell reinvented and repopularized classic pop standards for a modern-day audience.
3 p.m. Jan. 10, The Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Post-office St., Galveston, 800.821.1894 or www.thegrand.com
Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting & Awards Gala [Jan. 16]
The Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce invites the community to participate in its 169th annual meeting and awards gala. The event’s theme is Soul Train and will feature a special tribute to the 150th anniversary of Juneteenth.
6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Jan. 16, The Tremont House, Davidson Ballroom, 2300 Mechanic St., Galveston, www.galvestonchamber.com
‘In the Mood’ [Jan. 16]
Presented by Artbeat Inc., In The Mood celebrates the jazzy, brassy, sentimental and patriotic music of the World War II era.
7:30 p.m. Jan. 16, The Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice St., Galveston, 800.821.1894 or www.thegrand.com

Head down to the historic Strand District on Jan. 16-17 for Yaga’s Chili Quest & Beer Fest. Photo by Jennifer Reynolds
Yaga’s Chili Quest & Beer Fest [Jan. 16-17]
Head down to the historic Strand District for a fun-filled weekend of chili and beer sampling, live music, a 5K Fun Run, a washer pitching tournament, a jackpot margarita contest, a jalapeño-eating contest, vendors and a Strand merchant walkabout.
Jan. 16-17, Downtown Galveston, www.yagaspresents.com/chiliquest/
‘The Vagina Monologues’ [Jan. 16-17, 23-24]
‘The Vagina Monologues’ is a testimonial of women’s experiences on their journey through sexual discovery. These women share their most intimate desires and fears in a backdrop of humor.
8 p.m. Jan. 16-17 and 23-24, Island ETC, 2317 Mechanic St., Galveston, 409.762.3556 or www.islandetc.org
‘Murder on the Nile’ [Jan. 16 to Feb. 1]
After Simon leaves his fiancee Jacqueline to marry heiress Kay Ridgeway, Jacqueline plots revenge and follows the couple on their honeymoon down the Nile.
8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays from Jan. 16 to Feb. 1, Clear Creek Community Theatre, 18091 Upper Bay Road, Nassau Bay, 281.335.5228 or clearcreekcommunitytheatre.com
ArtWalk [Jan. 17]
Stroll the streets of downtown Galveston and check out works by local artists and artisans in a wide variety of media.
6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Jan. 17, Galveston Arts Center and other galleries, 2501 Market St., Galveston, www.contemporaryartgalveston.org
Bridal Show [Jan. 18]
Planning a wedding? Then plan to attend The Boutique Bridal Show of Galveston Island, featuring a range of vendors covering every aspect of the big day. Admission is $5.
Noon to 3 p.m. Jan. 18, The San Luis Resort, 5222 Seawall Blvd., Galveston, www.bridalshowgalveston.com
The Oak Ridge Boys [Jan. 24-25]
The Oak Ridge Boys’ music industry achievements are legendary: 12 gold, three platinum and one double platinum album; plus one double platinum single, more than a dozen No. 1 singles, and more than 30 Top Ten hits.
7:30 p.m. Jan. 24 and 3 p.m. Jan. 25, The Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice St., Galveston, 800.821.1894 or www.thegrand.com
Always … Patsy Cline [Jan. 29 to Feb. 15]
College of the Mainland Community Theatre’s biggest box-office success returns to thrill audiences with the glorious sounds of Patsy Cline’s remarkable music.
8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays from Jan. 29 to Feb. 15, College of the Mainland Community Theatre, 1200 Amburn Road, Texas City, 409.933.8345 or www.com.edu/community-theatre
‘Guys and Dolls’ [Jan. 31]
Colorful gamblers, their dance-hall “dolls” and upright members of the “Save-a-Soul” Mission find they have more in common than the sidewalks they share in 1940s New York.
3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Jan. 31, The Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice St., Galveston, 800.821.1894 or www.thegrand.com
Galveston County Ranchers Dance [Jan. 31]
The Pee Wee Bowen Band will take the stage at the Galveston County Ranchers Dance, which raises money for scholarships.
8 p.m. to midnight Jan. 31, Jack Brooks Park, Picket Hall, 5700 FM 2004 Road, Hitchcock
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