Updated: Thursday, May 12, 2022 at 4:15pm.
Find the perfect things to do in H-Town with our Houston Weekend Guide for Thursday, May 12 through Sunday, May 15, 2022.
This weekend, Houston is host to a bevy of musicians, comedians, and outdoor festivals.
As always, the culinary and cocktail scenes are lively and your four-legged family members will be happy at events of their own or at beachside happenings.
The sun is out and the weather is warming up, so slather on the sunscreen and have some fun.
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Things to Do All Weekend Long
- Activation Festival at The Ion | Thursday & Friday | FREE – All week long, Houstonians can get their first glimpse at The Ion, a brand new innovation hub in Midtown that offers space for the city’s entrepreneurial, corporate and academic communities. Every day features a new slate of programming, including a silent disco party on Thursday and a block party on Friday night to wrap up the festivities. Free with registration. Times vary.
- Comedian Kate Willet at the Secret Group | Thursday & Friday – Known for her stints on The Late Show, Netflix’s Comedy Lineup, and the comedy festival circuit, Kate Willet brings her raunchy feminist standup routine to Houston for a two-night engagement. $15 and up. Times vary.
- Itzhak Perlman with Houston Symphony at Jones Hall | Thursday, Saturday & Sunday – Listen to one of the best-loved masterpieces of all time, Tchaikovsky’s exciting, fateful Fourth Symphony as legendary violinist and Houston Symphony Artistic Partner Itzhak Perlman leads the orchestra. $29 and up. Times vary.
- For Ellen, a Group Show at Hardy & Nance Studios | Friday & Saturday | FREE – Home to all styles and mediums, Hardy & Nance Studios presents a show featuring 32 local artists, including DUAL, Chris Cascio, Paul Kremer, Emily Peacock, Ellen Brown and many others. 5pm to 11pm.
- Houston Ballet at Miller Outdoor Theatre | Friday & Saturday | FREE – Miller Outdoor Theatre welcomes Houston Ballet for two nights of a free dance showcase, highlighting the company’s internationally recognized company of dancers. 8pm.
- The Riot Comedy Show presents Brian Scolaro at Rudyard’s Pub | Friday & Saturday – Best known for his stints on Comedy Central, Conan, and ABC’s A Million Little Things, the comedian and actor brings the laughs to Montrose for two nights. $15 and up. Times vary.
- Yaga’s Children’s Fund Wild Game Cook-Off at Galveston’s Pier 21 | Friday & Saturday – Yaga’s annual wild game cook-off returns to the island, offering a two-day, family-friendly event with delicious grilled eats, beer tastings, a Saturday morning 5K, and more. $25 and up. Times vary.
- Comedian Affion Crockett at Houston Improv | Friday to Sunday – The multi-talented Def Jam comedian can most recently be seen as a guest star on HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show and as host of the upcoming 30th anniversary Martin reunion special on BET+. He’ll perform six sets across four nights at the West Houston comedy outpost. Tickets are sold by the table; $40 for 2, and up. Times vary.
- College Baseball: Houston Cougars vs. UCF at Schroeder Park | Friday to Sunday – Cheer on the Cougars as they play against UCF at UH’s Schroeder Park in the final three-game series of the season. $10 and up. Times vary.
- Spring Art Gallery Celebration at Multiple Locations | Friday to Sunday | FREE – Explore more than 20 Houston art galleries representing outstanding artists from Texas and worldwide. Times vary.
- Houston Fringe Festival’s Best of Fringe 2022 at MATCH | Saturday & Sunday – This annual showcase brings together the best in dance, spoken word, drag performances, and more for a taste of the fringe. $15 in advance; $20 at the door. 8pm.
Asian Pacific American Heritage Options, Markets & Other Destinations
- Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with Asia Society Texas | Daily | Virtual Options | Many FREE – All month long, explore vibrant cultures and form deeper understandings of local communities with a slate of in-person events at Asia Society Texas Center in the Museum District and on-demand online.
- Outdoor Markets & Pop-Up Shopping Events Around Greater Houston | Daily | Most No Cover – With so many to choose from these days, you can browse, explore, and shop at one or all of Houston’s multiplying outdoor markets, many with live entertainment, food trucks, and other distractions.
- Limited Time Museum Exhibits & Art Installations Around Greater Houston | Daily | Many FREE – Explore the many striking, stunning, and diverse exhibits exploring history, science, art, culture, and creativity around the Greater Houston metro area.
Ongoing Theater Shows & Arts Performances
Many plays, musicals, and other stage shows span multiple weeks. Scroll down to find new shows opening this week, then ongoing performances, followed by shows that are wrapping up this weekend.
- 4th Wall Theatre presents Between Riverside & Crazy at Spring Street Studios | Daily | Opening Weekend – This Pulitzer Prize-winning play is the story of a retired New York City cop and a cast of larger-than-life characters fighting to keep it together in a gritty, changing world. $32 and up. Showtimes vary.
- Aunt Julia & the Scriptwriter at Main Street Theater | Saturday & Sunday | Opening Weekend – From Nobel Prize–winning writer Mario Vargas-Llosa, follow the love story between a young playwright and an older divorcee in 1950s Lima, Peru. $35 and up. Showtimes vary.
- A.D. Players presents Apollo 8 at the George Theater | Daily | Ongoing – Set in a racially and politically divided 1968, this play blends real events with fictional stories to create a piece that merges the themes of the divine and human. $30 and up. Showtimes vary.
- Stages presents You Are Cordially Invited to Sit In at the Gordy | Daily | Ongoing – This world premiere explores the lives of four Black college students from Houston’s segregated Third Ward who join the fight for Civil Rights. Backed by music from the 1960s and ‘70s, this Houston-based story in inspired by the true story of the Bayou City’s first sit-in. $15 and up. Showtimes vary.
- Rec Room Arts presents Hurricane Diane at the Rec Room | Thursday to Saturday | Ongoing – Pulitzer Prize finalist Madeleine George’s play about climate change blends ancient myths with lesbian, suburban housewife, and ecological humor in a tragic comedy. $10. Showtimes vary.
- #1 Hits at Music Box Theater | Friday to Sunday | Ongoing – There’s something for everyone at this live cabaret stage show featuring Billboard No. 1 hits drawing from the past several decades and across every genre of music. $35 and up. 7:30pm.
- Gente de Teatro presents Toc Toc at MATCH | Daily | Final Weekend – Watch the Houston premiere of Julián Quintanilla’s Spanish version of the world-acclaimed comedy, Too Toc, by French playwright Laurent Baffie about six characters dealing with OCD as they find themselves in the waiting room of a renowned psychiatrist, and attempt to help each other with their symptoms. $28. Showtimes vary.
- Born with Teeth at Alley Theatre | Daily | Final Weekend – Watch the world premiere from playwright Liz Duffy Adams about two poets, Kit Marlowe and William Shakespeare, who collaborate in a pub and commiserate about the perils of art under a totalitarian regime. $47 and up. Showtimes vary.
Tickets to Houston Pro Sports Games
- Houston Astros Home Games at Minute Maid Park | 2022 Tickets on Sale | Sponsored − Save on 2022 Astros games with cheaper, better or hard-to-find seats on the online resale market.
- Houston Dynamo Home Games at PNC Stadium | 2022 Tickets on Sale | Sponsored − Save on 2022 Dynamo games with cheaper, better or hard-to-find seats on the online resale market.
Thursday, May 12, 2022
- Sunset Silent Disco at the Ion in Midtown | FREE – Pop on head phones and join the party, dancing while the sun goes down and casts its on Downtown, with live DJs, free drinks, and more evening fun as the brand new Ion in Midtown continues its weeklong Activation Festival. 5pm to 8pm.
- Bludorn & Truth BBQ Live Fire Event at Bludorn – Wear your favorite stretchy pants and enjoy a four-course pre-fixe dinner from Houston favorites Bludorn and Truth BBQ to benefit World Central Kitchen’s work in Ukraine. $195. 5pm to 9pm.
- Apollo Chamber Players present Library Voyage at Barbara Bush Branch Library | FREE – Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage month in Cypress when the Apollo Chamber Players present music from Regan, Komatsu, and Shih-Hui Chen. 6pm.
- Panel Discussion on RBG and Today’s Criminal Justice Challenges at Holocaust Museum Houston | FREE – Join Holocaust Museum Houston for a moderated panel discussion with local criminal justice leaders on the impact of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy on current criminal justice challenges. 6pm.
- Central Market presents David Chang Virtual Cooking Class | Virtual – Central Market hosts a virtual cooking class with Momofuku owner and Ugly Delicious host, Chef David Chang. The menu will feature a roasted mushroom salad and marinated hanger steak. $10 per household. 6pm to 7:30pm.
- Urban Green: Ticket to Ride at Hermann Park – Take a train ride, a pedal boat cruise, and enjoy food and drinks from Raising Cane’s, Saint Arnold Brewery, William Price Distilling, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, and more at this annual fundraising event. $15 and up. 6pm to 8pm.
- Savanna Happy Hour Hike at Houston Arboretum & Nature Center – Join Houston Arboretum & Nature Center for a fun, relaxed stroll through their savanna while you sip on some Saint Arnold brews. $20. 6pm to 8pm.
- Mango Punch at Market Street | FREE – Wrapping up the Spring Concert Series at Market Street in the Woodlands, Mango Punch takes the stage performing everything from Top 40 and country to salsa, merengue, and cumbia music. 6pm to 8:30pm.
- Harry Potter Trivia at Walking Stick Brewing Company – Flex your knowledge of everything Harry Potter at the Heights brewery’s trivia night, including 70 original questions and a final wizard duel. $8 and up. 7pm to 9pm.
- Samba Dance Class at Midtown Park | FREE – Open to dancers of all skill levels, this class walks you through the steps of the fun Brazilian dance style. No partner is necessary. 7pm to 9pm.
- Girl Ultra & Tee Vee in Concert at Discovery Green | FREE – Part of the free Thursday concert series, check out the R&B sounds of Mexico City-based Girl Ultra who will be joined on stage by Houston’s own, Tee Vee. 7pm to 9:30pm.
- Art Benefit & Auction at MFAH’s Glassell School – Sip cocktails and enjoy a dinner as you bid on silent and live auctions at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s annual benefit for the teaching institute on campus. $500 and up. 7:30pm.
- Olivia Rodrigo in Concert at 713 Music Hall – The Grammy-winning pop artist is coming off a big year as Time’s 2021 Entertainer of the Year and Billboard’s 2022 Woman of the Year, not to mention the top honors awarded for her debut studio album, Sour, which brings her to 713 Music Hall in Downtown. Tickets are sold out at the venue, but you may find hard-to-get seats using the TicketNetwork online marketplace. 8pm.
- Mudhoney & Meat Puppets in Concert at the Heights Theater – The grunge legends out of Seattle pass through Houston during the U.S. leg of their 2022 tour, along with the punk rock band, Meat Puppets. $24 and up. 8pm.
- Aaron Lewis at Montgomery County Fairgrounds – Making a name for himself by switching from heavy metal to country music, Aaron Lewis stops by Conroe in support of his latest album, Frayed at Both Ends. $80 and up. 9:30pm.
- More Great Things to Do All Weekend Long – Some of the biggest things to do are happening all weekend long. Scroll up and see our list, or browse Houston Experiences to save on museum passes, tours, and more.
Friday, May 13, 2022
- Disney’s Big Hero 6 Movie Screening at Houston Public Library Downtown | FREE – Bring your blankets and chairs and enjoy an outdoor screening of the 2014 Disney animated film, Big Hero 6, at the Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza in Downtown. Noon to 1:45pm.
- Activation Festival: Ion Block Party in Midtown | FREE – Cap off a weeklong celebration of the newly opened Ion at a big, all-ages block party event, complete with live music from Empire 6, food trucks and vendors, arcade machines and lawn games, a roving photo booth, Houston sports mascots, startup founders and booths, possibly the biggest fireworks spectacular to ever grace Midtown, and more. 5pm to 9:30pm.
- Blippi the Musical at Bayou Music Center – Let your littles learn about the world around them while singing and dancing with the colorful, energetic Blippi on stage. $32 and up. 6pm.
- Party on the Plaza: Reputation at Avenida Houston | FREE – In one of the last Party on the Plaza’s in Downtown, you can singalong to all the hits of Taylor Swift courtesy of the tribute act, Reputation. 6pm to 9pm.
- Citrus with a Texas Twist Cooking Class at Central Market – Get your summer specials straight with this cooking class that will teach you to make a menu of citrusy and delicious dishes filled with the flavors of Texas. $70 per person. 6:30pm to 9pm.
- Noche de Cumbia at Axelrad | No Cover – Shake your hips to the cumbia rhythms when Axelrad’s special guest DJs play the hits on the outdoor stage. 7pm.
- Dave Matthews Band in Concert at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion – One of the best-selling rock bands of all time comes to the outdoor pavilion in the Woodlands for a night of greatest hits and songs from their chart-topping 2018 release, Come Tomorrow. $49.50 and up. 7:30pm.
- Kung Fu Film Nights: The Grandmaster Movie Screening at Asia Society Texas Center – Asia Society Texas’s Kung Fu Film Nights series presents an outdoor screening of The Grandmaster (2013) on the festival lawn, along with a complimentary beer and cocktail, plus free popcorn for the first 20 arrivals. $10. 8pm.
- Maxo Kream in Concert at Warehouse Live – The Houston rapper brings songs from his latest, Weight of the World, and other tracks to the stage in EaDo. $35 in advance; $40 at the door. 8pm.
- Artemis at Wortham Theater Center – Named the Mid-Sized Ensemble of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association, the supergroup of six globally acclaimed modern jazz musicians makes its first Houston appearance. $37.50 and up. 8pm.
- Justin Hayward in Concert at the Heights Theater – Best known as the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for iconic group Moody Blues, the British crooner passes through Houston on a solo tour and will be joined on stage by Mike Dawes. $32 and up. 8pm.
- James Hype in Concert at Stereo Live – The English DJ, producer and remix artist comes to the West Houston nightclub to spin tunes and vibe with the crowd. $15. 10pm to 2am.
- More Great Things to Do All Weekend Long – Some of the biggest things to do in Houston are happening all weekend long. Scroll up to see our list, or browse Houston Experiences to save on museum passes, tours, and more.
Things to Do on Saturday, May 14 and Sunday, May 15, 2022.
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