I visited Coca-Cola’s Classic Christmas experience in Houston—here are the best parts
Katy Mills is hosting the Houston edition of Classic Christmas, complete with ice skating, slides, ornament-making, Santa visits, and more.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. That’s doubly true at Coca-Cola’s Classic Christmas adventure. The pop-up Christmas village is outside Katy Mills, running from now through Dec. 28. And it’s got a bounty of activities to deliver all the holiday cheer you can handle.
Excited to dive in, I donned one of my favorite Christmas shirts—Snoopy and a gaggle of Woodstocks trying to untangle Christmas lights—and visited Classic Christmas. Here are the best parts.
Slip ‘N Slide Summit
This was my favorite activity by far. The mission: Grab an intertube, head up some stairs, and then slide down a surprisingly speedy slope of slick ice.
The Slip ‘N Slide Summit requires an additional fee, but I found it worthwhile. For starters, you get to ride it multiple times. Attendants offered a push down the slide, so I asked them to mix it up by spinning me as I started my descent. With six slides, there’s an opportunity to race against friends and family. Feeling the breeze going through your hair is an extra bonus.
Before running to the slide, take a moment to pause by the top of the stairs. It offers the best view of the entire Classic Christmas.
Home Depot’s Craft Corner
I am not an artist by any means, but I still enjoy drawing from time to time. That made Home Depot’s Craft Corner the perfect setup to unwind from some of the more rambunctious activities.
You’ve got two options for unleashing your inner artist. First, grab a sheet and a few markers to color in some holiday settings. Perhaps you’ll be so wowed you’ll ask for a frame as a gift to frame your masterpiece.
The other option is to create your own wooden ornament. This was the route I went. I popped open a picture of Ed Emberley’s “Drawing Book of Animals” on my phone and designed a festive frog. Personally, I think I nailed it.
You can decide to add your ornament to the tree or a wreath lining the wall of the cozy cabin. But if you put the time and effort into such a pristine drawing like my frog, wouldn’t you want to see it hanging from your tree every year? It’s a lovely little souvenir.
Ice skating and dance parties
Your enjoyment level of both of these activities will likely depend on whether you have children with you at Classic Christmas. The Après Ski Dance Party happens on a light-up floor. That’s objectively a cool thing, whether you’re participating or not. And kids tend to embrace the “dance like no one’s watching” mantra, which is the ideal vibe for this activity.
Nearby, I took a spin around the ice rink beneath a canopy of sparkling lights. I have attempted ice skating approximately four times in my life. The most recent was over a decade ago. Every single time has resulted in me falling to the ground with minimal grace.
So, when I completed a full lap without faceplanting (though I did come close a couple of times), I was ecstatic. Did I have a hand holding onto the edge of the rink almost the entire way? Sure, but let’s not get into semantics. Those who are good at skating will enjoy this attraction. Otherwise, you can probably skip the rink, since it’s also an additional cost. On the plus side, they do have a large range of skate sizes, a nice perk if you have big clompers like me.
Visits from Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the Coca-Cola Polar Bear
Celebrity sightings are always exciting, and you can’t do much better than Santa and Mrs. Claus. The former makes his rounds and mingles with guests in between making his list and checking it twice. The latter does hourly readings of “‘Twas The Night Before Christmas” with an oversized book in the cozy mountain lodge. Grab a cup of cocoa, curl up around the fireplace, and enjoy.
Meanwhile, the famous Coca-Cola mascot hosts meet-and-greets at the Polar Bear Retreat igloo. There’s a professional photographer inside taking pictures to purchase later. You could also probably ask for a photo on your phone. I was too eager to meet the Polar Bear, so I missed out on that chance.
Strolling through holiday lights
You’ll end up doing this whether you want to or not, because Classic Christmas goes hard with the holiday decor. I saw Coca-Cola classics like a bottle or the polar bears in impressive lighting. Massive light displays of presents and ornaments make for great photo opportunities.
My personal favorite was the Coca-Cola Christmas truck that also doubles as a drink station. If you’re feeling chilly, a cup of piping hot cocoa will perk you right up. And if you’re feeling a bit more aglitter, a glass of strawberry margarita will perk you right up in another way. I opted for that. The cocktail and corresponding blueberry lemonade mocktail come in delightfully fun lightbulbs with different flickering settings. It’s a marvelous drink vessel that can also become another souvenir. Bring it to your next holiday party and make the other guests jealous.
All the while, an endless stream of holiday classics tickled my ears, either via the DJ or the carolers that travel throughout the wonderland. I heard Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me” twice over the course of my visit, so I was as thrilled as a kid on Christmas morning. In fact, let’s all jam to it now.
Classic Christmas need-to-know info
- Location: Katy Mills, 5000 Katy Mills Cir, Katy, TX 77494
- Hours: 5:30–9:30 p.m. through Dec. 28
- Tickets are $21 to $34 per person. Weekends and peak hours have higher pricing.
- Other activities, including the slide and skating, cost extra.
- Premier Pass options are available, allowing you to bypass the lines. The passes also include a free Coca-Cola drink and $5 off any merchandise.
Get your tickets and see more at the Classic Christmas website.
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