Top 18 Festivals, Events & Things to Do This Week in Houston: September 19 to 25, 2022

Updated Friday, September 16 at 1:45pm

Make the most of your week with our top festivals, events, and things to do this week in Houston from Monday, September 19 to Sunday, September 25, 2022.

We’ve whittled down all the happenings in H-Town to our 15 picks for the week, but you can always check out the extended calendar for more things to do in Houston.

Scroll below to find great things happening in Houston from Monday, September 19 to Sunday, September 25, 2022.

Top 18 Festivals, Events & Things to Do This Week in Houston

• Mary Beth Rogers in Conversation with Joe Holley at Brazos Bookstore | Tuesday, September 20 | FREE – Columnist Joe Holley of Houston Chronicle is joined by Mary Beth Rogers, who managed Ann Richards’ successful campaign for governor of Texas, and is in town to discuss her latest book, Hope and Hard Truth: A Life in Texas Politics. 6:30pm.
• TUTS presents Ain’t Misbehavin’ at Hobby Center | Tuesday, September 20 to Sunday, September 25 | Opening Week – The music of Fats Waller and the energy of the Harlem Renaissance combine in this Tony Award–winning musical that returns in a brand-new production from Theatre Under the Stars. $40 and up. Showtimes vary.
• Thundercat in Concert at House of Blues | Thursday, September 22 – Fresh off a tour with Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Strokes, your fave’s fave, Thundercat moseys over to House of Blues with tunes from his latest release, What It Is. $35 and up. 7pm.
• What’s Growing On? Bike Tour at the Water Works at Buffalo Bayou | Friday, September 23 – Hop on two wheels for a nature-focused bike tour through Buffalo Bayou Park, exploring birding in the area that includes the Waugh Bridge bat colony, egrets, hawks and herons. $10. 6pm to 8:30pm.
• Billy Joel in Concert at Minute Maid Park | Friday, September 23 – The legendary piano man heads Downtown for a highly anticipated concert in the Minute Maid outfield. $35 and up, but you may find hard-to-get, better, or cheaper seats on the online resale marketplace. 8pm.
• The Rocky Horror Picture Show at White Oak Music Hall | Friday, September 23 – Do the time warp and catch a live performance of the cult musical classic, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which helps to raise funds that benefit the River Oaks Theater preservation. $18. 9pm.
• Galveston Island Shrimp Festival at Saengerfest Park | Friday, September 23 & Saturday, September 24 – Fill up on gumbo, shrimp and Gulf Coast eats at this annual festival that kicks off with a Friday night party, followed by a Saturday morning 5K, cook-off competition, a rum punch contest, vendors along the Strand, and more. Prices for events vary, but Saturday’s popular Gumbo Stroll tasting event starts at $13 in advance; $16 day of. Times vary.
• World Premiere: or/and at Asia Society Texas Center | Friday, September 23 & Saturday, September 24 – On two nights this weekend, Asia Society Texas hosts performances of this multimedia chamber operatic poem centered on composer Shih-Hui Chen exploring the contradictions of her immigrant identity. A panel discussion will follow each performance. $35. 7:30pm.
• Tuner Evolution at NRG Park | Saturday, September 24 – Car enthusiasts are welcome to gather at this NRG Park exhibition of tuned-up automobiles, with appearances by influencers, live music and DJs, a B-Boy contest and a judged car show. $30 and up. Noon to 7pm.
• Houston Cougars vs. Rice Owls at TDECU Stadium | Saturday, September 24 – The Bayou Bucket is up for grabs when these two historic rivals clash on the gridiron at the University of Houston campus. $15 and up. 5pm.
• Plumshuga and Fame! Movie Screenings at Discovery Green | Saturday, September 24 | FREE – Catch a screening of the short documentary, Plumshuga, about Houston’s own Lauren Anderson—who is the first Black lead ballerina in a major U.S. company—followed by a Q&A panel with Stages Theater director Eboni Bell Darcy and former Houston poet laureate, Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton. The musical movie, Fame!, will follow. 6pm to 10pm.
• Wu-Tang Clan & Nas in Concert at Toyota Center | Saturday, September 24 – Hip-hop prophets Wu-Tang Clan are bringing Nas, Busta Rhymes and big apple vibes to the H on their New York State of Mind Tour. $39.50 and up. 7pm.
• Houston Dash vs. OL Reign at PNC Stadium | Saturday, September 24 – The Dash’s final home game of the regular season arrives in late September, just as the squad gears up for its first ever playoff push. $12 and up. 7:30pm.
• Manhattan Short Film Festival at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston | Saturday, September 24 & Sunday, September 25 – This popular film gathering returns for two weekends, offering moviegoers a chance to view and vote on the finalists of the Manhattan Short Film Festival, also taking place at theaters around the globe. $10. Times vary.
• Houston Jazz Festival: Diunna Greenleaf & Eric Gales at the Rustic Downtown | Sunday, September 25 – The fourth and final night of Houston Jazz Festival wraps up with Houston-native Diunna Greenleaf and Eric Gales taking the stage at the Downtown outpost of the Rustic. The Mighty Orq and Mathias Lattin open. $35. 6pm.
• ZZ Top in Concert at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion | Sunday, September 25 – Houston’s own true southern rock band, ZZ Top, is coming home on their Raw Whisky Tour in support of their unique newest release, Raw: ‘That Lil Ol’ Band from Texas’, that also serves as tribute to the late vocalist and bassist, Dusty Hill. $22 and up. 6:30pm.
• Comedian Wanda Sykes at Bayou Music Center | Sunday, September 25 – The iconic comic most recently dropped her full-length stand-up special, Not Normal on Netflix, and now heads through the Downtown stage for a night of new material. $39 and up. 7pm.
• Sunday Supper Pop-Up Series at Sunday Press Cafe & Coffee | Sunday, September 25 – Continuing its Sunday Supper pop-up series, which highlights female chefs and hopes to bridge the gap between women in hospitality and women’s healthcare, Sunday Press will welcome Chef Linda Nguyen of Roostar and Chef Thy Mitchell of Traveler’s Table, who will collaborate to present a Vietnamese menu. Proceeds from the event will benefit I’ll Have What She’s Having, the Houston-based non-profit aiming to improve health in the hospitality industry and support women’s entrepreneurship in the food and beverage industry. $150. 7pm to 9pm.

Many More Things to Do in Houston

• Top Concerts & Live Shows This Week – Check out our top picks for local and touring musicians, stars, and personalities hitting the stage in H-Town this week.
• Top Games & Sports Events This Week – Scope out professional and select college sports games, touring athletic competitions, local fitness and participatory events, and more.
• Top Things to Do For Kids & Families This Week – Zero in on the best option for families and the junior set around Greater Houston.
• Current Temporary Museum Exhibits & Art Installations in Greater Houston – Explore the newest installations and exhibits on short term display at museums and locations around Houston, with a focus on art, history, and science.
• More Options on Our Calendar – Explore more live entertainment, events, pop-ups, markets, and other options around Houston.