Plan Your Weekend: March 23 to 26, 2023

Things to Do
All Weekend Long

• The Riot Comedy Festival at Rudyard’s Pub | Daily – More than 60 performers descend on the Montrose pub for a weekend of comedy across three stages, plus a street carnival, beer and cocktails, and tasty eats. Headlining talent includes Billy D. Washington, Gianmarco Soresi, Lara Beitz, Steph Tolev, Cipha Sounds, and Joe Machi—not to mention a slate of Houston’s funniest comics, podcasters, and more. Individual shows start at $25; $160 for all-access, early bird discounts available. Times vary.
• Comedian Michael Blackson at Houston Improv | Daily – The African King of Comedy stakes out a weekend at the Improv, delivering laugh after laugh from fans of the Wild ‘N Out star. $110 for 2, and up. Times vary.
• Performing Arts Houston presents STOMP at Jones Hall | Daily – Unrelenting energy is the hallmark of this wildly popular percussion ensemble, making a stop in Houston to delight audiences with their precision playing, imaginative presentation and sheer joy of performing. $39 and up. Showtimes vary.
• Gente de Teatro presents Plagio (Cheaters) at MATCH | Daily – The theater company celebrates its 28th anniversary with a Spanish-language performance about a novelist whose success story is placed in jeopardy when an unknown woman shows up at his door. $28; Sunday performance is $18. Times vary.

The Riot Comedy Festival
Rudyard’s Pub
^Daily

Riot Comedy spills out from the upstairs stage at Rudz to a street carnival on Waugh, featuring more than 60 comedians on three stages over the weekend.

$25 and up; $160 for all-access | Times vary

• Montgomery County Fair & Rodeo at Montgomery County Fairgrounds | Daily – If you’re still itching for your Rodeo fix, then Montgomery County returns with its annual county fair and rodeo with concerts, a carnival, a bbq cook-off, and livestock contests. Tickets range from $5 to $25. Times vary.
• Spring Plant Sale at Houston Arboretum & Nature Center | Friday & Saturday | No Cover – Get your gardens ready at this annual two-day sale of Texas natives, perennial and annual wildflowers, grasses, shrubs and trees. Arrive early to get your best chance at preferred picks. Prices vary from $4.50 to $30 each. 9am to 4pm.
• Genji at Asia Society Texas Center | Friday & Saturday – This world premiere ballet offers a retelling of the classic novel, The Tale of Genji, about friendship, love and the dynamics of power and social class in Heian-period Japan. $55. 7:30pm.
• Bayou City Art Festival at Memorial Park | Friday to Sunday – Houston’s iconic art festival returns this spring with artwork from more than 300 artists across 19 different categories, all on display for festival goers to oooh and aaah at. The weekend festival will also showcase two entertainment stages, a food truck park, and beverage stations throughout Memorial Park, plus you can get a look at the Park’s latest addition with the brand new land bridge across Memorial Drive. $18; $5 for ages 6 to 12; free for ages 5 and under. 10am to 6pm.
• Tomball German Heritage Festival in Old Town Tomball | Friday to Sunday | FREE – Tomball’s annual German Fest fills the streets with more than 200 vendors rocking antiques, arts and crafts, and more; plus cultural music, street performances, a Heritage Center, and tasty German fare, festival eats, and beer and wine. The weekend-long event is family-friendly and free to attend, with free parking and a shuttle service on Saturday and Sunday as well. Times vary.
• Katy Home & Garden Show at the Katy ISD Ag Center | Saturday & Sunday – The Katy Home & Garden Show is back this month with everything you need for your home improvement plans under one roof. From windows, doors and flooring to landscaping, pools and outdoor living spaces, West Houston’s largest home and garden show has it all. $9; free for ages 12 and under. Times vary.

Ongoing Live Theater & Performing Arts in Houston

• Clyde’s at Ensemble Theatre | Friday to Sunday | Opening Weekend – For the formerly incarcerated employees who work at Clyde’s, the truck stop is a place for them to find purpose. Can they rebuild their lives and dreams of more when a callous owner tries to keep them under her thumb? This production runs through Sunday, April 16. $34 and up. Showtimes vary.
• The Odyssey at Alley Theatre | Friday to Sunday | Opening Weekend – This new take on the epic story of Odysseus rings with Caribbean rhythms. Look for an adventure that includes rivals attempting to take Odysseus’ thrown, a trip to hell, stormy seas and more. This production runs through Sunday, April 16. $51 and up. Showtimes vary.
• 4th Wall Theatre Co. presents Sanctuary City at Spring Street Studios | Friday to Sunday | Opening Weekend – Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Martyne Majok explores the lives of two undocumented friends, trying to find a place for themselves and each other in a world filled with uncertainty. This production runs through Saturday, April 15. $32 and up. Showtimes vary.
• Stages presents The Bride Or: Does This Dress Make Me Look Married? at the Gordy | Daily | Ongoing – 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.
• 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.
• Cowboy Bob at Alley Theatre | Daily | Final Weekend – 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.

March Madness, Spring Festivals & More Destinations

• March Madness Watch Parties in Houston – Catch every minute of March Madness action at our picks for 12 places to join fellow fanatics at watch parties in Houston.
• 2023 Spring Festivals in Greater Houston – Get a head start on your springtime planning with our guide to 50+ spring festivals taking place now through May 2023.
• Plant Nurseries & Garden Centers in Greater Houston – We’ve pegged a dozen of Greater Houston’s top plant nurseries to help you on your gardening journey, from longtime neighborhood staples to tucked away hidden gems where visitors are welcome to wander for hours.
• 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.

• 15th Annual Hats in the Park at Hermann Park – This annual fundraiser sees patrons adorned with fancy hats for a day in Hermann Park, raising money for the Conservancy’s efforts to maintain and improve one of Houston’s signature green spaces. Individual tickets start at $500; tables start at $1,000. 11:30am.
• The Space Between Opening Reception at Laura Rathe Fine Art | FREE – Featuring the work of Gil Bruvel, Caprise Pierucci and Michael Schultheis, this exhibition explores the timeless understanding of art as a universal and transcendent language. 6pm to 9pm.
• Blue Dragon Tai Chi at Levy Park | FREE – Spend an evening in the Greenway park space with a series of slow, low-impact gentle movements and stretches at sunset. 7pm.
• Colony House in Concert at House of Blues – The Tennessee indie rockers head Downtown to perform songs from their latest release, The Cannonballers. $27. 7pm.
• Geeks Who Drink Trivia at City Orchard | No Cover – The Arts District cidery hosts a trivia night from Geeks Who Drink. 7pm.
• Gemini in Concert at Last Concert Café – The South Korean rapper makes an appearance near Downtown on his limited North American tour this spring. $35 and up. 7pm.
• The Tale Behind Genji: A Conversation at Asia Society Texas Center | FREE – Ahead of the ballet’s world premiere on Friday, Asia Society Texas hosts a conversation between Harvard scholar Dr. Melissa McCormick and artistic director Nao Kusuzaki about the classic novel that inspires the ballet. 7pm to 8pm.

Yeat in Concert
713 Music Hall
^{Thursday, March 23}

Slayworld’s hottest mumble trap rapper, the mononymous Yeat, is bringing the Flawless vibes to the party when he stops in Houston to support 2023’s AfterLyfe.

$39 and up | 8pm

• Artist Lecture: Baseera Khan at Glassell School of Art | FREE – The New York–based artist appears at the MFAH school of art to talk materials and their economies, as well as their relationship to labor, family structures, religion and spiritual well-being. 7pm to 9pm.
• DaCamera presents Ensemble Intercontemporain in Concert at Stude Hall – The ensemble, which most recently was awarded the 2022 Polar Music Prize, arrives to Rice University for their Texas debut ahead of the group’s later appearance at Carnegie Hall. $37.50 and up. 7:30pm.
• Yeat in Concert at 713 Music Hall – Slayworld’s hottest mumble trap rapper, the mononymous Yeat, is bringing the Flawless vibes to the party when he stops in Houston to support 2023’s AfterLyfe. $39 and up. 8pm.
• Unwritten Law in Concert at Warehouse Live – The chart-topping rockers known for “Seein’ Red” arrive in East Downtown with tracks from the 2022 release, The Hum, and other fan faves. Authority Zero opens the show. $20 and up. 8pm.
• I Am King: the Michael Jackson Experience at Miller Outdoor Theatre | FREE – The centennial season of Miller Outdoor Theatre’s programming is kicking off in a larger-than-life way with the King of Pop, featuring a real-life concert and dance experience replete with the music, moves, and style created by Michael Jackson. This performance features amazing renditions of Jackson’s biggest hits including “Bad”, “Billie Jean”, “Thriller”, “Man in the Mirror”, “Human Nature” and more. 8pm.
• Kem & Ledisi in Concert at Toyota Center – Two R&B and soul juggernauts, Kem and Ledisi are reuniting for a special co-headlining tour and they’ll be stopping through Houston with special musical guest Musiq Soulchild in tow. $59 and up. 8pm.
• Late Night Drive Home in Concert at the Secret Group – The indie rock four-piece from El Paso wraps up their national tour with a stop at the East Downtown music and comedy venue. $15 and up. 9pm.

• 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.