Many branches host an open house in December, inviting the community to come together and celebrate.

For the Barbara Bush Branch Library, 2018 was a particularly special year. After being closed for nine months due to extensive damage from Hurricane Harvey, the library reopened in May. That December, the branch held a festive open house featuring food, crafts, photos with Santa, and plenty of books.

The Evelyn Meador Branch Library held the Jolly Jamboree in 2024. The holiday open house featured appearances from Santa Claus and the Grinch, a Clear Creek High School choir performance, storytime, arts and crafts, and a book sale.

Santa Claus often visits the library in December to lead a storytime. Here he is at the High Meadows Branch Library in 2018.  

And while it’s a bit hard to see under that beard, Library Director Edward Melton led a storytime in 2017!

In these 1970s photos, the staff at the Tomball Library can be seen having a blast getting dressed for a holiday party. Children's Librarian Mickey Davis dressed as an angel for the program.  

Edible arts and crafts? Yes, please! The Gingerbread House Decorating program at the Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library was a smashing success in 2014. Using milk cartons donated by Oak Farms Dairy as a base, along with graham crackers, frosting, and a variety of treats funded by the Friends of Freeman Library, participants crafted over 150 gingerbread houses across three fun-filled days. It was a sweet celebration of creativity and community!

In 2016, the Fairbanks Branch Library offered a special holiday "drive-in" movie storytime for children. After reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss, the children watched the movie in cardboard "cars" crafted by staff.  

In 2013, patrons of all ages painted pine cones and created wire ornaments at the Parker Williams Branch Library.

In 2007 and 2008, the West University Branch Library was graced by the magic of The Nutcracker as ballerinas from the Houston Ballet brought its enchanting highlights to life for delighted audiences.

The library also offers more serious programming during December. In 2011, the non-profit organization Bonding Against Adversity presented a program at the Aldine Branch Library about the religious festival Las Posadas. The festival commemorates Joseph and Mary's journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of a safe place to rest so Mary could give birth to Jesus. During Las Posadas, a small child dressed as an angel leads a procession of other children through the town's streets. The procession visits several pre-selected homes to request lodging for Mary and Joseph, but each home refuses them lodging.

Music plays a central role in celebrating Christmas and the holiday season, filling the air with joyful melodies that bring warmth and cheer.  In 1948, the Highlands Garden Club organized a week of carol singing at the Highlands Library, with a different church choir performing each night.

This tradition of community music continues, as seen in this photo of the Kingwood High School Madrigals Choir performing at the Kingwood Branch Library in 2008.

The Crosby High School Encore Choral Group charmed visitors at the Crosby Branch Library in 2014.

In 2019, the Apollo Chamber Players teamed up with Emmy-winning performer and composer Jovino Santos Neto for a vibrant musical journey, bringing to life Brazil’s rich and diverse Christmas traditions.

Animal visitors at the library can also participate in the holiday fun. In 2022, as part of Jul Fest at the Maud Smith Marks Branch Library, patrons could take a picture with reindeer.

Children can improve their reading skills by participating in programs where they read to therapy dogs. This photo, taken on New Year's Eve 2004 at the Katy Branch Library, captures a young girl reading The Christmas Puppy. A holiday-dressed therapy dog listens attentively.

The library is a resource for book recommendations and holiday advice.  Back in 1936, County Librarian Elnora Edgar took to the newspaper to share that the library would offer a list of children's books, perfect for parents seeking Christmas gift ideas for their little ones.

Nearly three decades later, in 1965, Jacinto City Branch Librarian Dorothy Bowyer offered her holiday tips, promoting magazines and books filled with creative gift-wrapping and decorating ideas. She encouraged families to get hands-on: "You can make your whole house, inside and out, express the joy of the Christmas season; and what better way is there to develop that Christmas spirit than for you and your family to create these things yourselves."

Check out the displays at your local branch for a good book to read this December!  This display from the Octavia Fields Branch Library in 2016 featured trains and holiday toys.

Decorating the library is a wonderful way to bring holiday cheer to the community. Many branches put up a Christmas tree adorned with ornaments crafted by patrons of all ages.

The tree on the left was at the South Houston Branch Library in 1991; the tree on the right was at the North Channel Branch Library in 2019.

A child adds an ornament to a Christmas tree at the Northwest Branch Library in 1984.

Who needs pine needles when you have pages?  The creative staff at the Lone Star College-CyFair Library stacked up some literary magic by building a Christmas tree entirely out of books!

In 2019, the grand open hall at the Lone Star College-Creekside Center library became a merry wonderland complete with twinkling lights, lush garlands, and a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, just in time for a special visit from Santa Claus.

Even our bookmobiles join in the holiday fun! The Curiosity Cruiser dazzled with snowflakes and garlands, spreading cheer as it rolled through the Jacinto City Christmas Parade in 2018.

Each year, branch staff design holiday cards to share with the entire library system. In 2019, the team at the Lone Star College-Tomball Community Library created this charming card.

This staff holiday card from the Galena Park Branch Library is from 2022.

Check out more staff-created holiday cards here. 

Sometimes the library gets a Christmas card from our customers!  In 2019, a young patron named Jax sent the Baldwin Boettcher Branch Library library staff a card.  

There’s something magical about seeing libraries blanketed in snow—it’s like they’re wrapped up for the season, ready to share stories and holiday cheer. A snowy library is the perfect backdrop to get you in the mood for cozy reads and winter festivities!

Click here to see more pictures of libraries blanketed in snow.

Every year, the Atascocita Branch Library hosts a Teen Winter Wonderland program, complete with an epic snowball fight. Teens gear up and line up, ready to claim victory in the ultimate winter battle

The holidays don’t stop at Christmas—New Year’s Eve is the perfect chance to gather and celebrate the end of one year and the start of the next. Back in 2016, the Katherine Tyra Branch Library @ Bear Creek threw a fun-filled New Year’s Eve party where families danced, played games, and enjoyed a festive balloon drop—at 2:30 in the afternoon, making it a celebration everyone could enjoy!

The library is the perfect place to say goodbye to one year and welcome the next.  Whether you're reflecting on the past or setting goals for the future, libraries offer a space to celebrate new beginnings with books, programs, and resources to inspire a bright year ahead. 

Happy holidays from the HCPL Digital Archive!