Top 15 Festivals & Events in Houston This Month: November 2022

Make the most of your month with our list of the 15 biggest and most notable festivals and events in Houston in November 2022.

This month’s highlights in Houston include the return of the Thanksgiving Day parade, plus Nutcracker festivities, the Cinema Arts Festival, and a weekend of laughs at an annual comedy fest.

Events are listed chronologically by week, and are not in a ranked order. Events that span multiple weeks are carried over into the following week where appropriate.

Top 15 Festivals & Events in Houston This Month: November 2022

• Houston Fringe Festival at MATCH | Tuesday, November 1 to Sunday, November 6 – Back after a two-year pandemic hiatus, this multi-day exploration of plays and performing arts offers world premieres of cutting-edge pieces by emerging and established artists. Also back is the festival-favorite closing night showcase, “Anything Goes.” $15. Showtimes vary.
• International Quilt Festival Houston at George R. Brown Convention Center | Thursday, November 3 to Sunday, November 6 – Join more than 55,000 quilting enthusiasts for a full week of classes, exhibits, networking, shopping, guest speakers and more at the International Quilt Festival in Downtown Houston. $15. Thursday to Saturday 10am to 7pm; Sunday 10am to 4pm.
• Night Market at Asia Society Texas | Friday, November 4 | FREE – This always-popular annual market returns to Asia Society, filling the indoor and outdoor spaces with local vendors, Bollywood and K-pop performances, a Diwali-inspired funfair, an Otaku Alley, a beer garden and food trucks, and more. 6pm to 10pm.
• 2nd Annual Houston Día de los Muertos Parade & Festival at Sam Houston Park in Downtown | Saturday, November 5 – After a successful inaugural parade in 2021, the Día de los Muertos festival returns to Downtown, offering an evening of live music, a parade procession from 7pm to 8pm, delicious concessions, arts and crafts, and more. Free to participate in the parade, but traditional attire—full of pageantry and beauty—is recommended. 2pm to 10pm.
• 2022 Wild West Brew Fest at Typhoon Texas Waterpark in Katy | Saturday, November 5 – More than 600 styles of beers from over 80 brewers will be on hand at this one-day festival that also offers live bands and an array of food trucks. $50 and up. 3pm to 9pm.
• Dream with Alebrijes Fall Festival at MFAH | Sunday, November 6 | FREE – This family-friendly event features the unveiling of six temporary statues by Latine artists, who’ve created the artworks inspired by Mexican folk art. You’ll also have the chance to participate in art-making activities, enjoy music and dance performances, and pick up food and baked goods from local vendors. 1pm to 6pm.

• Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market at NRG Center | Thursday, November 10 to Sunday, November 13 – Knock out your holiday shopping at one of Houston’s largest shopping events. Stroll through the endless aisles filled with merchants selling goodies and gifts for the holiday season. $20. Times vary.
• 14th Annual Houston Cinema Arts Festival at Multiple Venues | Thursday, November 10 to Thursday, November 17 | Some FREE – The city’s annual festival celebrating the silver screen returns to theater spaces across Houston, screening and premiering short films and feature lengths from Houston and around the world, as well as providing special guest panels and workshop opportunities. Screenings are typically individually ticketed and sometimes free, but all-access passes start at $225. Times, locations and prices vary.
• Tokyo Night Festival at Texas Festival Grounds | Friday, November 11 & Saturday, November 12 – Celebrate modern and traditional Japanese culture with back-to-back days of performances, cosplay, and Japanese food–themed vendors, plus take in a merch market, a sumo tournament, car exhibits and more. $25 and up. 3pm to 10pm.
• 2022 Houston Food Fest at Midtown Park | Saturday, November 12 – Dozens of local food vendors line up for a day of delicious eats to suit any appetite. $8 and up. 2pm to 10pm.
• 32nd Annual Native American Championship Pow Wow at Traders Village | Saturday, November 12 & Sunday, November 13 – This annual event draws Native and Indigenous people from across the country for back-to-back days of tribal dance displays, art, crafts, fry bread, and more. Free, but parking is $5. 10am to 5pm.

• Come & Take It Comedy Festival at the Secret Group | Thursday, November 17 to Sunday, November 20 – The EaDo venue celebrates the return of the weekend-long comedy festival that spans multiple indoor and outdoor stages, graced by some of the country’s funniest upcoming and established comics. Individual show prices vary; $140 for a weekend pass. Times vary.
• 73rd Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade in Downtown | Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 24 | FREE – Get into the holiday spirit at the 70th Annual H-E-B Houston Thanksgiving Day Parade, a showcase of sensational floats, high-flying balloons, marching bands, artistic entries, and live entertainment through the streets of Downtown. 9am to 11am.
• 34th Annual Uptown Holiday Lighting on Post Oak Boulevard | Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 24 | FREE – The annual Uptown Holiday Lighting kicks off the holiday season with the illumination of Uptown’s 300 custom, 20-foot tall holiday trees along Post Oak Boulevard with live fireworks, holiday shopping, street entertainment, and appearance by Santa Claus, and more. 4pm to 7pm.
• Houston Ballet presents The Nutcracker at Wortham Center | Friday, November 25 | Ongoing – The annual holiday tradition from Houston Ballet returns for yet another year, delivering Stanton Welch’s The Nutcracker with grand sets, stunning costumes, an iconic score and impressive choreography. The production runs through Tuesday, December 27, 2022. $30 and up. Showtimes vary.