Plan Your Weekend: March 9 to 12, 2023

Things to Do
All Weekend Long

• 2023 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo at NRG Park | Daily | Ongoing – The Rodeo fun rolls on with another week of carnival fun, festival eats, livestock and petting zoos, a vendor marketplace, and a nightly main event of bronco bustin’ and headlining concerts. This week’s concert highlights include New Kids on the Block on Tuesday, the Chainsmokers on Friday, Turnpike Troubadours on Saturday and La Fiera de Ojinaga on Go Tejano Day. NRG Park admission is $20 for ages 13 and up; $10 for ages 3 to 12; free for ages 2 and under. Carnival rides, rodeo and concert admission is an additional cost. 10am to midnight; rodeo and concert performances begin at 6:45pm; 3:45pm on weekends.
• Curiosity Lab & Theater presents Now That You’ve Seen Me Naked: Relationships Uncovered at MATCH | Daily – This weekend only, MATCH hosts this original comedy musical about two doctors trying to discover a formula that cracks the mysterious love code, exploring how we deal with love, sex and relationships along the way. $35. Showtimes vary.
• Houston Grand Opera presents Another City at Ecclesia Houston | Thursday to Saturday – In HGO’s 74th world premiere, this work explores the experience of homelessness, created in response to in-depth interviews and conversations with Houston’s community of unhoused people. $25. Times vary.
• Group Acorde presents adaptar: stories of adaptation at the DeLuxe Theater | Thursday to Saturday – This multi-disciplinary showcase features two premiere works of contemporary dance and live music performances, highlighting the work of Roberta Paixao Cortes and guest choreographers Jennifer Mabus and Spencer Gavin Hering. $30. Times vary.
• Just Trippin’ Car Show at Southern Star Brewery | Friday & Saturday | FREE – On back-to-back afternoons, the Conroe brewery lines up a slate of hot rods, choppers and vintage cars for a weekend car show with food and drinks on site. $20 to enter your car into the show; free to spectate. 4pm to 10pm.

Brahms & Dvořák
Jones Hall
^{Friday to Sunday}

Jonathon Heyward conducts the Houston Symphony, joined by virtuoso pianist Sir Stephen Hough, through the uplifting Symphony No. 8 from Dvořák, and Brahm’s Piano Concerto No. 1.

$29 and up | Times vary

• The Riot Comedy Club presents Monroe Martin at Rudyard’s Pub | Friday & Saturday – The Philly comic has been seen on Last Comic Standing and spots on Comedy Central, as well as Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Now, he’ll be heading upstairs at the Montrose pub for back-to-back nights of new material. $17 and up. Times vary.
• Comic Conroe at Lone Star Convention Center | Friday to Sunday – This three-day convention in Conroe highlights the worlds of comics and pop culture, offering autograph sessions with anime voice actors and artists, local vendors, a cosplay costume contest, and more. $10 and up. Times vary.
• Comedian Tony Roberts at Houston Improv | Friday to Sunday – The Spring Branch club hosts Def Jam comic Tony Roberts for a weekend of high energy comedy that fans of BET’s Comicview and It’s Showtime at the Apollo know him for. $44 for 2, and up. Times vary.
• Houston Symphony presents Brahms & Dvořák at Jones Hall | Friday to Sunday – Jonathon Heyward conducts the Symphony, joined by virtuoso pianist Sir Stephen Hough, through the uplifting Symphony No. 8 from Dvořák, and Brahm’s Piano Concerto No. 1. $29 and up. Times vary.
• Moon 2 Mars Festival at Space Center Houston | Saturday & Sunday – This week-long festival at Johnson Space Center celebrates the innovations that power space exploration with looks at cutting-edge space tech, immersive experiences and astronaut appearances, plus four days of live concerts to round out the festivities, including sets from Sister Hazel, Rick Springfield and Bidi Bidi Banda, the Selena tribute band. $44.95 and up; $39.95 for ages 4 to 11; free for ages 3 and under. 9am to 5pm.
• Spring Break at Lone Star Flight Museum | Saturday & Sunday – Take flight all week long with daily activities at the aviation museum that include aircraft displays, talks with pilots and mechanics, hands-on demonstrations, NASA Day on Thursday, drones, and more. $18; $15 for ages 12 to 17; $12 for ages 4 to 11; free for ages 3 and under. 10am to 5pm; Sunday noon to 5pm.

Ongoing Live Theater & Performing Arts in Houston

• Houston Ballet presents Summer & Smoke at Wortham Center | Thursday, Saturday & Sunday | Opening Weekend – In this first of two weekends, Houston Ballet offers a trio of works, including Stanton Welch’s Clear and Concerto Barocco—both set to the sounds of Bach—plus a world premiere co-production with American Ballet Theatre, Cathy Marston’s Summer and Smoke. $25 and up. Showtimes vary.
• Stages presents The Bride Or: Does This Dress Make Me Look Married? at the Gordy | Friday to Sunday | Opening Weekend – Beloved to Houston audiences for her role as Sister in Late Night Catechism, Denise Fennell offers her unique perspective on the institution of marriage. Mere hours before her wedding, a bride of a certain age questions everything, including whether she should get married at all. This production runs through Sunday, May 14. $30 and up. Showtimes vary.
• Cowboy Bob at Alley Theatre | Daily | Ongoing – Loosely based on the story of Texas bankrobber Peggy Jo, this world premiere explores a Texas legend with genre-bending music. $40 and up. Showtimes vary.
• Dirt Dogs Theatre presents Misery at MATCH | Daily | Ongoing – Based on the Stephen King novel, this play follows the story of a romance novelist rescued by his “number-one fan.” When she finds out he’s about to kill off her favorite character, she holds him hostage. $30. Showtimes vary.
• Stages presents cullud wattah at the Gordy | Daily | Ongoing – This multi-generational saga unfolds against the backdrop of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. The New York Times called it “haunting and eye-opening.” It follows a family’s quest for justice, going up against powerful entities, and how that quest could be its undoing. $30 and up. Showtimes vary.
• Moulin Rouge! The Musical at Hobby Center | Daily | Final Weekend – 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.

Spring Break, Lazybrook & More Destinations

• Spring Break Things to Do for Kids & Families in Greater Houston – Get a head start on planning your Spring Break activities with our picks for things to do with kids and families in Houston.
• Holi Celebrations & Festival of Colors Events in Houston – Party in vibrant powders at Festival of Colors celebrations and Holi festivals in Greater Houston all month long.
• Things to Do in Lazybrook & Timbergrove – The Heights-adjacent communities are explored in our series that hand-picks 5 must do things in Houston neighborhoods.
• Where to Eat Crawfish in Greater Houston – Make your shucking plans for mudbug season with our guide to more than 60 restaurants, bars and breweries that boil down throughout the season.
• 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.

• Investor Studio Series: Energizing Latino/a Investors at the Ion | FREE – Join with Dream Big Venture Founder and CEO Staci LaToison in conversation with David Olivencia, Angeles Investors Board President, to discuss trends in venture capital and increasing access for underrepresented founders. 5pm to 7pm.
• The Meteors in Concert at Rise Rooftop – The ’80s psychobilly band from across the pond makes an evening stop at the Midtown rooftop. $12 and up. 6pm.
• Wild Romance Happy Hour at Houston Arboretum & Nature Center – Grab a friend or partner, a Saint Arnold brew and get ready for a fun night of games and activities inspired by real animal courtship. $20. 6pm to 8pm.
• By the Book with Shana Ross & Dr. Laura Murillo at Discovery Green | FREE – Join three dynamic Houstonians and celebrate women’s stories as Houston Chronicle Culture Columnist Joy Sewing interviews two authors, Dr. Laura Murillo of Lead in Life and Shana Ross of Tribeless: Discovering the Truth about Nature vs. Nurture. 7pm to 8pm.
• Devin T. Mays: The Day I Met the Sun Performance at Moody Center for the Arts | FREE – The Rice University gallery hosts an improvised and interactive art performance by Devin T. Mays inspired by the late musician Alice Coltrane. 7pm to 8:30pm.
• Samba Dance Class at Midtown Park | FREE – All skill levels are welcome to learn the popular Brazilian dance style in an exciting class from the Brazilian Cultural Institute. 7pm to 9pm.

Comedian Darren Fleet
Houston Improv
^{Thursday, March 9}

Cultivating an online following that numbers in the millions, the headlining comedian muses on many aspects of daily life through social media and is a frequent guest at comedy clubs across the country.

$50 for 2, and up | 7:30pm

• Comedian Darren Fleet at Houston Improv – Cultivating an online following that numbers in the millions, the headlining comedian muses on many aspects of daily life through social media and is a frequent guest at comedy clubs across the country. $50 for 2, and up. 7:30pm.
• Crystalline Resonance: Final Fantasy Piano Concert at Hobby Center – Celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Final Fantasy video game series, this concert brings some of the acclaimed piano works to the Downtown stage, synced with video game footage and memorable moments of the franchise. $58 and up. 8pm.
• Freddie Dredd in Concert at Warehouse Live – The Canadian rapper finds his way to the East Downtown stage, performing records from his 2022 album, Freddie’s Inferno. $26 and up. 8pm.
• OV7 in Concert at Bayou Music Center – The Latin pop seven-piece from Mexico head to Downtown, performing fan favorite hits and classic from their storied career that dates back to the late ’80s. $38.25 and up. 8:30pm.
• RodeoHouston: Ashley McBryde in Concert at NRG Stadium – The four-time Grammy nominee offers her brand of honky tonk soul when she debuts on the Rodeo stage. Tickets are $20 and up, but you may find better, cheaper or hard-to-get seats using the TicketNetwork online marketplace. 9pm.
• Mando Saenz in Concert at McGonigel’s Mucky Duck – The singer-songwriter that has lent tunes to signature country artists like Miranda Lambert, Whiskey Myers and Stoney LaRue, arrives in Upper Kirby for an intimate performance. $30 and up. 9:30pm.

• 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 explore events and shows spanning multiple days, or browse Houston Experiences to save on museum and brewery passes, tours, and more.