***Updated 2018***

There is shopping girls, and then there is SHOPPING. The Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker Market has been a holiday tradition for over 35 years. It is held in NRG Center (1 NRG Park, Houston, 77054). There are over 275 vendors from all over the United States.

After going year after year, here are a couple of hints and hacks to get the most out of your shopping experience…

When Is It? How much is a ticket?

It’s an annual event in November that is held over 4 days. Beginning on Thursday and Friday, the hours are 10am-8pm and Saturday and Sunday 10am-6pm. Priority passes are available if you think you will go on multiple days. A priority pass is good for all four days of the market and early admission on Thursday and Friday at 8:30am.

Ticket prices are $20 for a regular-one day admission (CASH ONLY AT THE DOOR) and the priority pass will get you in all four days for $50. This pass is only available with online advance sales and cannot be purchased after the first few days of November. Also, if you are on a budget or only want to see a few booths, half-priced admission starts 3 hours before closing.

Save yourself some time. There are incredibly long lines if you buy your ticket at the door. You can buy discounted tickets in advance ($2 off) at Randalls or online through their website here.

What about the Parking? 

Parking is $12 bucks. If you live close, Uber. But, for the rest of us, you have a few options where to enter the parking area. You can park via the Kirby Drive entrance. This is a great entrance if you don’t mind riding a tram to get into the Market. There is normally less traffic on Kirby, so it’s easier to get into the parking area.

However, if you don’t want to ride a tram and you are either parking early in the morning or midway (3pm or later) in the day, try the Holly Hall entrance. That is near the VIP parking. You can easily just walk instead of having to get on a tram. The drawback? It fills up quickly and a lot of people use that entrance, so there is always traffic trying to get in.

There are also pedicabs available for “tips only” and perfect for those times when your feet just won’t get you back to your car! (A suggested tip of about $5 dollars a person is the going rate).

I have kids, should I bring them?

No strollers or wagons are allowed. I have brought kids on some years and have managed, but the crowds are fierce so you really don’t see too many children. I would not describe it as a kid-friendly event.

How to Dress?

I’m sure I don’t even need to say this… comfortable! Consider layering so you can easily remove clothing when the place heats up with all the crowds or in case you need to try something on. Not every booth has a dressing room so it helps to have “easy clothing” in case you are trying on clothes. I always wear a cross body handbag or backpack to keep my hands free. Of course, having said that, you will see women everywhere carrying around large totes for their packages. The Royal Standard is a great place to pick one up if you didn’t bring one with you. Carts are NOT permitted but they provide a “package check” for a nominal fee (last time I checked it was around $6). That is well worth it when you decide to purchase a handcrafted, life-size teepee for the kiddos! LOL

More Pro Tips

-Always start on one of the back rows and work your way up. People get distracted when they first arrive and cluster around those first few aisles.

-Interested in having a boozy time? Grab your Mimosas and Bloody Mary’s early. Those lines are insane! It’s normally our very first stop.

-How about lunch? It reminds you of the same ‘ole “event food” you always see and everything is crazy expensive and crowded. Instead, we always grab tamales (Texas Tamale Co) from the booth near all the food vendors. Prices start at 1/2 dozen tamales for $5. Four women can easily eat for about $30. Delicious!

-Credit cards are accepted at most of the booths. But, take cash for those exceptions and stores that have purchase minimums. Also, call your credit/debit company and let them know you will be spending money! Because you are in a venue that has vendors from all over the United States, your bank might mistake that for fraud and decline your card. If multiple state transactions show up within a few hours, it will normally lead to a red flag with the bank. We always just call our bank on the way and let them know!

-You may have heard to wait until Sunday to go to the Nutcracker because you may find a bargain.  But in my experience, the merchandise is really picked over or completely gone. The upside? Crowds have thinned out by Sunday.

Don’t Miss…

-If you arrive early, one of the first places to go is The Royal Standard. It’s to your far left of the building and some of their merchandise is sold out by lunch on Thursday. Their prices are reasonable and they have a little something for everyone. I have bought everything from pajamas to jewelry in that booth 🙂

– If you walk all the way to the right and then to the back, you will see Paul Michael. This is Christmas heaven and a huge booth. They have ready made swags, wreaths, trimmings for the tree and ribbons. They also have a large selection of interior design accessories, furniture and home decor. All at a very reasonable price.

The most important thing? Have an awesome time! Even with the huge crowds, it’s the friendliest shopping experience you will find. You will chat, giggle and laugh with complete strangers over. I hope this helps you to shop like a boss during the holiday season!

Until Next Time!