Top 15 Festivals & Events This Week in Houston: February 20 to 26, 2023

Make the most of your week with our top festivals, events, and things to do this week in Houston from Monday, February 20 to Sunday, February 26, 2023.

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, February 20 to Sunday, February 26, 2023.

Top 15 Festivals, Events & Things to Do This Week in Houston

• Fat Tuesday Mardi Craw at the Rustic Downtown | Fat Tuesday, February 21 | No Cover – The brunch spot and music hall goes all out with an all-day crawfish boil, drink features from Bacardi, Lone Star beer buckets and live music from Bayou Roux starting at 7pm. 11am to 11pm.
• Moulin Rouge! The Musical at Hobby Center | Wednesday, February 22 | Ongoing – Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage in this Tony Award–winning Best Musical, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza, a theatrical celebration of “Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and—above all—Love!” $35 and up. Showtimes vary.
• World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest at NRG Park | Thursday, February 23 to Saturday, February 25 – Kicking off the rodeo every year is an epic bbq weekend—the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest. More than 250 teams of barbecue enthusiasts will compete for the title, and while most team tents are invitation-only, visitors can join in on the fun at several public venues, including the carnival, the Garden, Rockin’ Bar-B-Que Saloon and the Chuckwagon. $20; $10 for ages 3 to 12, includes a complimentary sliced brisket plate with chips and beans. Times vary.
• 15th Indian Film Festival of Houston at Asia Society Texas Center | Thursday, February 23 to Saturday, February 25 – The cinematic voices of India and the Diaspora are on display with a fresh lineup of several feature films, documentaries and shorts, screening into the weekend at Asia Society Texas. Single screenings are $19; full festival passes are $85. 4pm to 9pm.
• Art of Fufu Cookbook Experience at Multiple Locations | Thursday, February 23 to Saturday, February 25 – Food ambassador Kavachi Ukegbu features in a weekend of events highlighting the rich heritage of West African cuisine, drawing from The Art of Fufu cookbook. Take part in a two-hour live, hands-on cooking class on Thursday ($75); snap into a creative flow with a two-hour paint class while enjoying bite-size fufu samples, light refreshments and Afrobeats on Friday ($75); and go all-out with a three-hour, five-course Nigerian “Belle-full” dining experience in Southwest Houston on Saturday ($125). Locations vary. 7pm.
• Go Texan Day around Houston | Friday, February 24 | FREE – The annual city-wide celebration returns to H-Town, inviting all Houstonians to don their best cowboy, western and Texan duds for the unofficial kickoff to Rodeo season—all day long.
• The Beat Goes On with Grace Potter & Charlie Mars at White Oak Music Hall | Friday, February 24 – Benefiting the American Heart Association, this fundraiser concert features the vocal stylings of singer-songwriter Charlie Mars, as well as Grammy-nominated artist Grace Potter. $60 and up. 7pm.
• Houston Grand Opera presents Giving Voice! at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church | Friday, February 24 | FREE – The opera partners with Houston Ebony Opera Guild, Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern University for this epic concert that blends opera, gospel and spirituals. Hosted by KHOU’s Len Cannon, it features renowned tenors Lawrence Brownlee and George Shirley, soprano Nicole Heaston—who the New York Times praised for her “radiant voice,”—and more. Free with registration. 7:30pm.
• Witness: Two-Eyed Seeing at Houston Botanic Garden | Saturday, February 25 – Local Native American leaders, scientists and historians join in a dialogue that explores how Houston’s Indigenous knowledge and worldviews can work alongside science and historical traditions to co-create a healthier, more meaningful place to live. $15; $10 for ages 3 to 15 and students with ID. 9am to 11am.
• Houston Rodeo: Rodeo Parade in Downtown | Saturday, February 25 | FREE – Though the Trail Riders mosey in on Friday, you can be sure to catch the decorative floats, and men and women on horseback that fill the Downtown streets for the unofficial start of Rodeo season. The parade route begins at Bagby and Walker Streets, before traveling down stretches of Travis, Bell, Louisiana and Lamar. 10am to 2pm.
• Black History Month Celebration at Avenida Houston | Saturday, February 25 | FREE – Catch the final concert of Avenida Houston’s Downtown Black History Month series, alongside an outdoor market of local Black-owned businesses and free family activities. Catch concerts on the live stage with performances from the worlds of Zydeco, R&B and neo soul. 2pm to 6pm.
• Houston SabreCats vs. NOLA Gold at Aveva Stadium | Saturday, February 25 – After making it to a franchise-best Western Conference Final last season, the SabreCats will look to continue their push to another year of playoffs with a home opener against New Orleans. $15 and up. 8pm.
• Paperbag’s Free Man at Arcadia Lighting Studios | Saturday, February 25 & Sunday, February 26 | FREE – Houston artist Paperbag (Dominique Silva) features in this exhibition just west of the Galleria. The works on display highlight the Black experience through the artist’s eyes and feature other local African American artists in Michael Temple, Akaimi Davis, Morgan Newton, Amir Glover and Miles Payne. An artist talk will take place on Sunday afternoon from 2pm to 3pm. Times vary.
• Tour De Houston at Hermann Square at City Hall | Sunday, February 26 – The annual Tour De Houston offers Houstonians and visitors a unique way to view the city with bike routes winding through Houston’s historic neighborhoods, scenic districts, and parks, all to benefit Houston’s reforestation program. Registration starts at $45; $25 for ages 12 and under. 6:30am.
• Performing Arts Houston presents Mnzoli Brass: Gold at Wortham Center | Sunday, February 26 – Called the Monty Python of the music world, this Austrian band performs a concert that includes selections as varied as the Green Hornet theme and the overture to Die Fledermaus. $29 and up. 7:30pm.

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.