Plan Your Weekend: April 13 to 16, 2023

A brightly lit concert stage with performers under bulb lights that spell "Avenida"
Avenida Houston gets the Party on the Plaza concert series rolling this weekend | Courtesy of Avenida Houston

Updated Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at 6:15pm

Find the perfect things to do in Houston this weekend with our Weekend Guide for Thursday, April 13 to Sunday, April 16, 2023.

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Things to Do
All Weekend Long

  • ERYD’s Downtown & EaDo Scooter Rentals | Daily – If you’re planning to spend time in the area around Downtown and EaDo, then consider a scooter rental from ERYD, which offers solo scooters, trikes and two-person vehicles so that you can get around town with ease. Rates start at $20 for 1 hour.
  • 2023 Tall Ships Festival in Galveston | Daily See these maritime beauties in all their full-sail splendor. The weekend commemorates the historic ships with a series of events, sailing opportunities, tours, food and drink, family fun and more. Festival admission is $15; $10 for ages 7 to 12; free for ages 6 and under. Admission that includes boarding of boats is $25; $15 for ages 7 to 12; free for ages 6 and under. 10am to 6pm.
  • Black Restaurant Weeks at Multiple Locations | Daily | Final Weekend – The 8th annual culinary showcase at nearly 150 participating Black-owned restaurants, food trucks and eateries comes to a close with your final chance to sample menu offerings at can’t-miss price points. Menu prices and hours vary.
  • Disney on Ice presents Frozen & Encanto at NRG Stadium | Daily The beloved Disney stories take on a new life in this show that sets their tales and music to spectacular ice skating, joined by Mickey and Minnie. $25 and up. Times vary.
  • UH Moores School of Music presents Ainadamar at Moores Opera House | Daily Students in the highly-ranked opera program perform this work about the tragic life of poet and Spanish icon Federico Garcia Lorca, assassinated by fascists during the Spanish Civil War. $20 and up. Times vary
  • Comedian Billy Wayne Davis at the Secret Group | Thursday to Saturday – A finalist on Last Comic Standing, and seen on specials like Comedy Central’s Tales From the Trip, the Tennessee comedian swings through EaDo for a weekend of side-splitting sets. $20 and up. 8pm.
  • The Riot Comedy Club presents Rich Vos at Rudyard’s Pub | Friday & Saturday – The popular comic, writer and podcaster Rich Vos returns to Rudyard’s upstairs stage for four shows of live comedy in the heart of Montrose. $20 and up. Times vary.
  • 4th Annual Crawfish Critic Cook Off at 3 Palms Action Sports Park | Friday & Saturday Head to Conroe for this crawfish celebration, where teams compete to be the best mudbug chefs. There are also kids’ activities, music and more. $15 and up. Times vary
  • Comedian Pete Holmes at the Houston Improv | Friday & Saturday –The actor, comedian and podcast host of You Made It Weird, Pete Holmes comes to H-Town for a series of sets on the Spring Branch stage. $60 for 2, and up. Times vary
  • The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival in Town Green Park | Friday to Sunday –The whole family will find something to love at this weekend event, featuring the works of more than 200 artists, live music, food and more. $16 ($11 on Friday); free for ages 12 and under. Times vary.

Tall Ships Festival
Galveston
Daily

See these maritime beauties in all their full-sail splendor. The weekend commemorates the historic ships with a series of events, sailing opportunities, tours, food and drink, family fun and more.

$15 and up | 10am to 6pm

Ongoing Live Theater & Performing Arts in Houston

  • Sherlock Holmes & the Case of the Jersey Lily at Alley Theatre | Friday to Sunday | Opening Weekend – This classic sleuthing caper gets a comic twist when the muse of author Oscar Wilde is caught up in a conspiracy that brings in the famed Sherlock Holmes to solve the case. $34 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.
  • The Oldest Boy: A Play in Three Ceremonies at Main Street Theater | Thursday to Saturday | Ongoing – In this regional premiere of Sarah Ruhl’s drama, an American mother and Tibetan father learn their three-year-old is believed to be the reincarnation of a Buddhist llama. $35 and up. Showtimes vary.
  • TUTS presents Legally Blonde at Hobby Center | Daily | Final Weekend – It’s, like totally happening, you guys! The effervescent musical based on the hit movie starring Reese Witherspoon hits the Hobby Center stage with a message about staying true to yourself and never letting others define who you are. $40 and up. Showtimes vary.
  • Clyde’s at Ensemble Theatre | Daily | Final 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 Book of Mary at MATCH | Daily | Final Weekend – Written by and starring Mary Hooper, this world premiere is the story of the artist’s growing up in Beaumont to deaf parents, being part of Montrose in the ‘70s and ‘80s, and finding a career on stage. By popular demand, the show has been extended, but it closes this weekend. $40. Showtimes vary.
  • 4th Wall Theatre Co. presents Sanctuary City at Spring Street Studios | Thursday to Saturday | Final 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.

KBBQ, Spring Fests & More Destinations

A DJ performs in the middle of a crowded club with beams of light pointed at them

THURSDAY
April 13, 2023

Art Car Sneak Peek
Discovery Green
Thursday, April 13

Head Downtown to see dozens of art cars lined up ahead of the weekend’s parade. Stroll through the elaborately decorated autos, chat with the artists behind them, enjoy music in the park and more.

FREE | 6pm to 10pm

  • 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.

FRIDAY
April 14, 2023

  • Blue Dragon Tai Chi at Levy Park | FREE Begin your day with this guided all-levels meditation through slow movements and stretches. 9am.
  • The Legendary Art Car Ball at the Orange Show World Headquarters – The annual Orange Show celebration kicks off another year of wild partying ahead of the annual art car parade. Expect live music from Boyfriend and Caleb de Casper, as well as interactive and performance art, food and drink, extravagant costumes, and hundreds of illuminated and fire-breathing art cars. 18+ only. $40 and up. 6pm.
  • Duplicity: Shannon Cannings & William Cannings at Anya Tish Gallery | FREE This two-person show brings together the hyper-realistic paintings of Shannon Cannings and the inflated steel sculptures of William Cannings. 6pm to 8pm.
  • Party on the Plaza at Avenida Houston | FREE The annual festival on the Avenida plaza kicks off with The C.I.T.Y., a high-energy seven-piece that blends genres of R&B, soul, funk, hip-hop and more. Expect beverages, a 14-foot selfie display and more in a festive atmosphere. 6pm to 9pm.
  • Feast with the Beasts at Houston Zoo Enjoy live music, food from more than 40 of Houston’s most popular restaurants, and animal experiences at this annual culinary event at the zoo. $149 and up. 6pm to 10pm.

Feasts with the Beasts
Houston Zoo
Friday, April 14

Enjoy live music, food from more than 40 of Houston’s most popular restaurants, and animal experiences at this annual culinary event at the zoo.

$149 and up | 6pm to 10pm

  • Chinese at its Best with Dorothy Huang at Central Market Cooking School – You and a small team will create Chinese classics such as crab rangoon, kung pao chicken, stir-fry beef with asparagus, and more. Though open to ages 18 and up, those that are 21 and older can also enjoy a glass of wine paired with the meal. $80 per person. 6:30pm.
  • Opening Reception: No Place Like Home at Alta Arts | FREE – This photography exhibition at the Gulfton gallery showcases the work of Claudia Chicas, JP Perez, Ylei Gachupin, Alfonso Ochoa, Dranat Vazquez and others, exploring the connections each artist feels with what they consider to be “home.” 6:30pm to 8:30pm.
  • Black Restaurant Week: The Art of Flavor Community Dinner at Finn Hall – Chef Shannen Tune of Craft Burger and Chef Reginald Scott of the Smoke join forces for a four-course dinner with cocktail pairings, helping to raise funds for Feed the Soul Foundation’s Emergency Relief Fund. Enjoy courses like lamb pepper pot soup, sweet beet salad, curry smoked oxtail rendang, and more. $100. 6:30pm to 9:30pm.
  • Griffin House in Concert at McGonigel’s Mucky Duck The folk singer-songwriter brings a raw set to the Upper Kirby stage. $30 and up. 7pm.
  • H-Town Clash of Sound at Rise Rooftop Houston hip-hop legends Lil Keke and Lil Flip co-headline this set of H-Town rap classics at the Midtown rooftop venue. $15 and up. 7pm.
  • Bat Boat Tour at Allen’s Landing Buffalo Bayou Partnership offers this exploration of Buffalo Bayou from Allen’s Landing to the Waugh Avenue Bridge, where you can watch the emergence of more than 250,000 bats that live there. $30. 7pm to 8:30pm.

Legendary Art Car Ball
The Orange Show
Friday, April 14

Expect live music from Boyfriend and Caleb de Casper, as well as interactive and performance art, food and drink, extravagant costumes, and hundreds of illuminated and fire-breathing art cars.

$40 and up | 6pm

  • 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.

Things to Do on Saturday, April 15 & Sunday, April 16, 2023.

Be sure to subscribe to our free Weekend Planner email and receive a round-up of great things to do this weekend in Houston in your inbox every week. Click here to sign up.

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Holly Beretto
Holly Beretto writes about food and wine, the arts and interesting people for a variety of local and regional publications. In addition to 365 Things to Do in Houston, her work has appeared in the Arizona State University Alumni Magazine, Arts + Culture Texas, Bayou City Magazine, Downtown, Galveston Monthly and Houston Woman. She is also a regular contributor to Eater.com's Houston site. She earned her B.A. in mass communication with a minor in professional writing from Franklin Pierce College (now Franklin Pierce University) and her M.A. in communication studies with an emphasis in journalism from St. Louis University. She has worked in television news production, public relations and marketing in Rhode Island, Maine, New York and Texas. A native Rhode Islander, she has lived in Texas since 1997. She is the author of Christ as the Cornerstone: Fifty Years of Worship at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, published by Bright Sky Press.