The area’s most popular tourism destination is gearing up for the approaching holiday season. Nov. 22-23 and Nov. 28-30 mark the seventh annual Christmas in Kemah Holiday Open House.

Browsing the shops in the newly renamed “Lighthouse District” can be a delightful experience. Some of the items you may enjoy while sightseeing will be a wide array of nautical gifts, resort clothing, garden sculpture, handmade crafts, jewelry and imported home decor. Take a few minutes to tour the local Bed and Breakfast and don’t forget to visit with Santa from 1 - 5 p.m. each day.

The kids will especially want to visit “Blizzard on the Bay.” There will be 60,000 lbs. of snow blown in during the two-weekend event. Come throw a snowball at your best friend. This event will be from 1 - 5 p.m. each day.

The entertainment this year will be spectacular. There are several artists from the surrounding areas scheduled. Some to mention are the Harbor Lights, Van Lang, Robert Greaney, Cindy Thomas of Ambiance & Spirits, and many more; and as always our wonderfully talented face painter Janet Pollard Burton will be on hand.

Also featured this year is “Shiloh,” world- famous Texas Longhorn. Shiloh is from “Cowtown” the stockyards in Fort Worth and will be ridden by Santa in the parade on Nov. 29 at 10 a.m. Shiloh will also be available for pictures after the parade until 5 p.m.

Animal Rescue efforts represented by the Animal Alliance of Galveston County will be selling ornaments for the Remembrance Tree as well as pet gifts for the holiday. Ornaments can be purchased and hung on the tree with the name of a loved one or pet that has passed away. It is a wonderful way to remember someone this holiday season. Proceeds from the ornaments will help homeless pets with food, medical attention and finding new loving homes.

The Kemah Merchants Association has worked really hard this year decorating the town with spiral Christmas trees, twinkling lights and a holiday atmosphere. They would like to invite you to come and enjoy a fun-filled day. Stroll through the quaint shops, have dinner on the Boardwalk, or stay the night at one of the luxurious Bed & Breakfasts as you shop for those perfect Christmas gifts.

The Kemah Merchants Association would like to thank the Kemah City Council for graciously donating funds again this year to help ensure this event will be “another Kemah success.”

Shop hours:
Saturday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sunday 12 - 7 p.m.