From free photos with Santa to holiday light shows, check out these eight events happening in and around Sugar Land and Missouri City. This list is not comprehensive and events are subject to change.

Menorah Lighting: Guests of all ages can venture to Sugar Land Town Square to celebrate the traditions of light, community and togetherness.

• Dec. 14, 4:30-6:30 p.m. 
• Free (admission)
• 15958 City Walk, Sugar Land

Houston’s Urban Nutcracker: The holiday show follows Clare as she travels through Bayou City with the Nutcracker and emphasizes the rich cultural diversity the city offers.

• Dec. 20-21, times vary
• $50-$109 (per ticket)
• 10505 Cash Road, Stafford

During a Dec. 4 recorded webinar, Fort Bend ISD officials outlined how community input is reshaping the district’s multiyear planning effort to better align enrollment shifts, school capacity and financial resources.

“We are working to balance enrollment across the district, to utilize the available seats so that any cost savings can be used for supporting academic programs and our students,” said Beth Martinez, deputy superintendent and chief of staff for FBISD. “It is important to note that these key milestones and the adjusted timeline are in direct response to stakeholder feedback.”

By the numbers: While 66% of respondents expressed an understanding of the process, only 28% of respondents say they feel ready for attendance boundary changes or possible consolidations, said Stephanie Williams, chief of organizational development for FBISD. Staff and students reported higher readiness levels than parents and community members, she added. Staff highlighted potential staffing changes, integration into new school communities and transportation issues. Meanwhile, students expressed concern about adjusting socially and academically if moved.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County was awarded more than $100 million in federal funding for several low-emission initiatives aimed at significantly improving air quality across METRO’s service area.

“This funding represents a major step in our effort to transition METRO’s fleet to cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles,” interim President Tom Jasien said in a Nov. 24 news release. “These improvements will strengthen our commitment to sustainability while ensuring we continue to deliver reliable service for the Houston region.”

Zooming in: METRO officials said the $100 million grant will allow for the following projects to be completed:

• Replacing at least 100 aging diesel buses with new compressed natural gas buses
• Building a new CNG fueling station
• Upgrading maintenance facilities to support expanded CNG operations

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from last week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from Dec. 1-5.

Activities to do: There are several options to see Christmas lights around the Tomball and Magnolia area, including Magnolia Musical Christmas, Gullo House Christmas Lights and Tomball Methodist Church’s Trail of Lights. 

At a glance: In a Dec. 2 news conference, officials with Airbnb announced that Houston will receive a $1 million investment that will go toward supporting major community initiatives, expanding green infrastructure and increasing youth access to soccer. Airbnb was selected in June to serve as an official partner for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, Community Impact previously reported. 

One more thing: Whataburger officials celebrated a Dec. 1 opening of their new location at 15940 Woodland Hills Drive, Humble. The eatery features a double drive-thru, dining room and digital menu boards, according to a Nov. 28 news release. 

Texas can use its newly redrawn congressional map in the 2026 elections, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Dec. 4.

The background: State lawmakers approved the new congressional boundaries this summer, after President Donald Trump asked them to produce a new map in an attempt to help Republicans maintain a narrow majority in the U.S. House, Community Impact previously reported. Texas Republicans have said they hoped the map would help the GOP secure 30 of Texas’ 38 congressional seats, up from 25 Republican-held seats today.

What's happening: The Supreme Court's ruling overturns a Nov. 18 injunction from an El Paso federal court, which deemed Texas’ redistricting plan "racially gerrymandered” and directed officials to use a 2021 congressional map instead.

“The District Court improperly inserted itself into an active primary campaign, causing much confusion and upsetting the delicate federal-state balance in elections,” the Supreme Court said in the unsigned Dec. 4 order.

The order comes just four days before the Dec. 8 deadline for Texas candidates to file to run in the March primary elections.

The Texas comptroller’s office has released a set of rules to govern the state’s $1 billion education savings account program, or ESAs. Accepted families will receive thousands of dollars in state funds to send their children to a private school or homeschool them.

The overview: Accredited private schools and education vendors can begin applying to join the program as soon as Dec. 9, and applications will open for interested families Feb. 4.

Most families accepted into the program will receive about $10,300 per student, which can be spent on tuition at accredited private prekindergarten or K-12 schools and related expenses. Homeschooled students will receive up to $2,000 per year, while students with disabilities will be eligible for up to $30,000 annually.

Zooming in: Depending on a family’s income, students with disabilities may receive priority acceptance into the ESA program. Families can submit documentation from a physician or the U.S. Social Security Administration to be prioritized, although a detailed evaluation and individualized education plan are required to receive the additional special education funding.