Plan Your Weekend: April 27 to 30, 2023

Things to Do
All Weekend Long

• 56th WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival in Memorial City | Daily – Explore more than 30 independent international films and over 60 short films at this annual six-day film festival that also features opening and closing bashes, and other special events. $10 for individual screenings; all-film passes available. Times vary.
• Not Another Conspiracy: Market & Performance at Post Houston’s X- Atrium | Thursday & Friday – More than 50 Houston artists come together for a two-night collaborative art experience in Downtown. Each night features a 1-hour, 8-act original show featuring artists from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, followed by an artist market, art installations and DJs. $15 and up. 7pm to 11pm.
• The Riot Comedy Club presents Sam Jay at Rudyard’s Pub | Thursday to Saturday – The Emmy-nominated Saturday Night Live writer and comedian known for her recent Peacock series, Bust Down, Sam Jay churns out the laughs across five sets at Rudz. $17 and up. Times vary.
• Houston Symphony presents Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Part Two at Jones Hall | Thursday to Sunday – Watch the thrilling climax of the Harry Potter story as the orchestra plays the score live as the film screens above the orchestra. $65 and up. Thursday and Saturday at 7:30pm; Sunday at 2:30pm.
• HTX Whiskey Weekend at City Place | Friday & Saturday – The shopping and dining hub in Spring hosts back-to-back nights of whiskey celebration, kicking off with a Chef’s Table event on Friday night. Then, on Saturday, claim your place at lectures, tastings, cocktail classes and more. Tickets are sold per event; $35 and up. Times vary.
• Houston Astros vs. Philadelphia Phillies at Minute Maid Park | Friday to Sunday – It’s a World Series rematch to end the month of April when the Phillies come to town as the ‘Stros offer a Jeremy Peña jersey giveaway, plus World Series bobbleheads and more through the weekend. $33 and up. Times vary.

Houston Astros vs. Philadelphia
Minute Maid Park
^{Friday to Sunday}

It’s a World Series rematch to end the month of April when the Phillies come to town as the ‘Stros offer a Jeremy Peña jersey giveaway, plus World Series bobbleheads and more through the weekend.

$33 and up | Times vary

• Comedian Ralph Barbosa at Houston Improv | Friday to Sunday – Fresh off debuts on HBO and Comedy Central, the Dallas-native comedian is on a roll and headed to the Spring Branch comedy club for a series of nearly-sold out shows. Very limited seats remaining; $128 for 4, and up. Times vary.
• Houston Grand Opera presents Salome at Wortham Center | Friday & Sunday – Strauss’s erotic psychodrama comes to the HGO stage, based on the scandalous play by Oscar Wilde. $20 and up. Times vary.
• RailFest: All Aboard Model Train Rally at Galveston Railroad Museum | Saturday & Sunday – Take a deep dive into the world of locomotives with this celebration of all things trains, including large-sized model trains, entertainment, rides, vendors and more. $20; $15 for ages 16 and under; free for ages 4 and under. 10am to 5pm.
• Wild She Dances presents Mill: An Immersive Performance at The Silo | Saturday & Sunday – Inspired by and performed at the abandoned Comet Rice Mill in Fifth Ward, this performance relives historic moments of the 1950s. Throughout the evening, audience members are led through the mill, where they will be immersed in scenes of laborious factory work, lessons on how women should act at work, and more. $35 and up. Times vary.
• 1DayHouston: Tobe Nwigwe, Tim McGraw & more in Concert at Toyota Center | Saturday & Sunday | FREE – Across two days, this concert series is headlined by Tobe Nwigwe, Tim McGraw, Parker McCollum, Tori Kelly and more, but only open to those who register and volunteer prior to the event, in the spirit of giving back to the community. Volunteering opportunities are available the day of the event. Free, but registration is required. 6:30pm.
• Musiqa presents New Dimensions in Sight and Sound at MATCH | Saturday & Sunday – New works by emerging composers from Houston and beyond highlight this concert that accompanies a new video installation by Carrie Marie Schnieder. Pay-what-you-can. Saturday 7:30pm; Sunday 4pm.
• 3rd Annual Houston Underwater Film Festival at MATCH | Saturday & Sunday – Drawing submissions from 24 countries around the world, this two-day fest screens dozens of short films created underwater, with some filmmakers in attendance. Each day’s screening is $15; Sunday reception is free, with an optional $10 buffet. Times vary.

Ongoing Live Theater & Performing Arts in Houston

• 9 to 5: The Musical at Art Factory | Friday to Sunday | Opening Weekend – Hear the hits of beloved country music icon Dolly Parton when Art Factory’s revival of this bombastic Broadway musical hits the Docks near Downtown. $30. Showtimes vary.
• Music Box Theater presents The Greatest Hits Album Side B: Moving Boxes at Queensbury Theatre | Saturday | Opening Weekend – The cabaret troupe celebrates the move to its new home in CityCentre with an evening of jazz, pop, rock and Broadway tunes from the 1960s through the ‘90s. $38 and up. Times vary.
• A.D. Players presents The Play That Goes Wrong at the George Theater | Daily | Ongoing – If Monty Python and Sherlock Holmes combined forces to write a play, it might well be this one, where a band of thespians attempt to get through a performance in the face of calamities. This production runs through Sunday, May 14. $30 and up. Showtimes vary.
• Wolf Play at the Rec Room | Daily | Ongoing –In this wildly theatrical play, desires and decisions collide in unexpected ways and a child finds himself on a lone wolf’s quest to discover who he is meant to be. $10 and up. Times vary.
• Sherlock Holmes & the Case of the Jersey Lily at Alley Theatre | Daily | Ongoing – 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.
• Broadway Across America presents To Kill A Mockingbird at Hobby Center | Daily | Final Weekend – Aaron Sorkin’s adaption of the international bestseller and beloved story by Harper Lee explores the explosive tensions in small town Alabama in the 1930s when white lawyer Atticus Finch agrees to defend Tom Robinson, a Black man at the center of a trial with his life on the line. $40 and up. Showtimes vary.
• The Garden Theatre presents Steel Magnolias at MATCH | Daily | Final Weekend – This enduring story of female friendship in triumph and sadness explores the intertwined lives of six Southern women who gather in Truvy’s beauty shop. $25. Showtimes vary.
• Evelyn R. Rubenstein JCC presents Photograph 51 at Joe Frank Theatre of the Arts | Thursday, Saturday & Sunday | Final Weekend – Directed by Mildred’s Umbrella Theatre founder Jennifer Decker, this moving play tells the story of scientist Rosalind Franklin and her contributions to the discovery of the DNA molecule. $25. Showtimes vary.

KBBQ, Spring Markets & More Destinations

• Top Korean BBQ Restaurants in Greater Houston – Grill delicious meats to your heart’s content at our picks for the top Korean BBQ restaurants in Asiatown, Spring Branch and beyond.
• 2023 Spring Markets in Greater Houston – Shop local vendors, craftmakers and more at over 20 spring markets across the Houston region.
• 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.
• 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.

• Spring Cell-ebration at the Health Museum | FREE – During a period of free admission on Thursday afternoon and evening, the Health Museum teaches about genetics and the ways we use biotechnology in our everyday lives, in conjunction with the Primordial Shift exhibition. 2pm to 7pm.
• Classical Theatre Company’s 15th Anniversary Celebration & Performance at the Briar Club – The Houston performing arts company celebrates its anniversary with a night of highlights from the first 15 seasons of fan-favorite plays. $85. 6pm to 8pm.
• Geomet-Rumi: Love is the Light in the Heart Reception at Silver Street Studios | FREE – In Sawyer Yards, this solo exhibition of works from artist Fariba Abedin is celebrated with a night that features recitation of Rumi’s poems in connection to the art, as well as Persian Sufi music, dance and light bites. 6pm to 8:30pm.
• Law Rocks Houston at White Oak Music Hall – Aspiring rock stars of the legal profession come together for an evening of fundraising for local charities. $35 and up. 6:30pm.
• Sunset Yoga at the Water Works at Buffalo Bayou Park – Yogis of all ages and levels are welcome to enjoy this 45-minute session along with golden-hour views of Downtown from the Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park. $10 suggested donation. 6:30pm to 7:15pm.
• 100 Days of Sorrow Talk at Holocaust Museum Houston | FREE – Henriette Mutegwaraba and Provie Umugwaneza, survivors of the Rwandan Genocide of 1994, share their personal stories of survival as well as the wisdom and lessons learned firsthand about the dangers of hate and extremism in the modern era. 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

Houston Texans Draft Party
Miller Outdoor Theatre
^{Thursday, April 27}

Head to Hermann Park for the official NFL draft party to see who the Texans bring home with picks 2 and 12 of the first round. The night will also include a fan fest, special appearances by Texans players, draft merch, food trucks and concessions, and more.

FREE | 7pm

• Houston Texans Draft Party at Miller Outdoor Theatre | FREE – Head to Hermann Park for the official NFL draft party to see who the Texans bring home with picks 2 and 12 of the first round. The night will also include a fan fest, special appearances by Texans players, draft merch, food trucks and concessions, and more. 7pm.
• Candlelight Concert: Favorite Anime Themes at Lone Star Flight Museum – A collection of local musicians take to Lone Star’s hangar for a night of themes from classic anime series like Cowboy Bebop, Dragon Ball Z, Pokemon and more. $45 and up. 7pm.
• Anvil in Concert at the Secret Group – Longtime Canadian heavy metal rockers Anvil arrive in EaDo for a night of hits, including songs from their latest release, Impact is Imminent. $20 and up. 7pm.
• An Evening with the Experts at National Museum of Funeral History – Ahead of a forthcoming exhibit, NMFH visits with Col. Rudy Dichtl and photographer Barrie Schwortz as they discuss their time in researching and performing scientific studies on the Shroud of Turin. $11. 7pm to 9pm.
• Comedian Rosebud Baker at Houston Improv – After releasing her first hour-long special, Whiskey Fists, the stand-up comedian, actor and writer brings her insights on everything from relationships to her love of dogs over humans, for a one-night performance at the Improv. $40 for 2, and up. 7:30pm.
• Windsync presents Rhapsody in Blue at MATCH – The chamber orchestra is joined by David Conner and Rainel Joubert for a pop and Latin jazz–infused duet. The evening also includes a performance of George Gershwin’s signature composition. $35. 7:30pm. 
• Yves Tumor in Concert at Warehouse Live – The Milan-based multi-talented artist is bringing his signature style of eccentric high-energy electro-indie pop to EaDo in celebration of his most recent album, Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds). $34.50 and up. 8pm.

• 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.