Top 20 Festivals & Events in Houston This Month: September 2023

Make the most of your month with our list of the 20 biggest and most notable festivals and events in Houston in September 2023.

Events are listed chronologically by week, and are not in a ranked order. Events that span multiple weeks are carried over into the following week where appropriate.

Top 20 Festivals & Events in Houston This Month: September 2023

• Mexico en el Corazón at Discovery Green | Friday, September 8 | FREE – More than 50 performers come together at the Downtown park for a night rich with the sounds and sights of Mexico. Take in music from touring mariachis and ballet folklorico dances at this popular annual event. 7pm to 10pm.
• Market Square Park Farmers Market in Historic Market Square | Saturday, September 9 | FREE – A brand new market opens for the fall, right in the historic heart of Downtown at Market Square Park. Calling back to the markets held here over a century ago, this market spotlights local growers and makers, offering access to seasonal fruits and veggies, as well as meats and prepared goods. Enjoy live music and other entertainment as you stroll the market. 9am to 1pm.
• Native American Heritage Day Festival at Jesse H Jones Park & Nature Center | Saturday, September 9 | FREE – In Humble, celebrate Indigenous culture at the Akokisa Village where you can see the Chikawa Aztec Dancers perform, and hear about the Karankawa people and the history of Indigenous groups that lived along the coastal bend. 9am to 3pm.
• El Grito with Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán at Miller Outdoor Theatre | Friday, September 15 | FREE – Miller’s annual kickoff for Mexican Independence Day and Hispanic Heritage Month returns with a free night of classic Mexican music from Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán, a 15-member group with a rich legacy of more than 50 years of mariachi music. 7:30pm.
• Viet Cultural Fest at NRG Center | Saturday, September 16 – Immerse yourself in a full day of Vietnamese culture at this festival celebrating Houston’s Viet community with traditional dance and music performances, Vietnamese games and trivia, pageants, a phở-eating contest, and plenty of delicious dishes. $10 for ages 3 and up; $15 at the door. 10am to 7pm.

• Houston Creole Festival at Emancipation Park | Saturday, September 16 – The ninth annual festival celebrating Houston’s Creole heritage returns to Emancipation Park in Third Ward with a family-friendly day of Zydeco and dancing, plus a local vendor market, kids zone and flavorful foods like cookies, barbecue, brisket, gumbo and more. $10 and up; free for ages 11 and under. 11am to 10pm.
• Football: UH Cougars vs. TCU at TDECU Stadium | Saturday, September 16 – The Coogs host their first Big 12 opponent of the season when the nationally-ranked TCU comes to town. $50 and up. 7pm.
• Comedian Mo Amer at Bayou Music Center | Saturday, September 16 – Born in Kuwait and raised in H-Town, the comic most recently made his mark with the successful first season of his Houston-shot Netflix comedy, Mo, which loosely follows his life growing up as a Palestinian refugee in the Alief area. The comedian returns for his biggest performance yet in Houston on the officially recognized Mo Amer Day, and you’ll need to act quickly to secure solid seats before they’re gone. $38 and up. 8pm.
• Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium | Sunday, September 17 – The Texans hit the field for their home opener in the 2023 NFL season, hosting division rivals in the Colts. $60 and up. Noon.
• Drake & 21 Savage in Concert at Toyota Center | Sunday, September 17 & Monday, September 18 – Rescheduled from original dates in June, the multiple-platinum recording artist Drake teams up with 21 Savage for a co-headlining tour that promotes their collab album, Her Loss. The It’s All a Blur Tour also marks Drake’s first tour through the States in five years. $74.50 and up. 8pm.

• Houston Astros vs. Baltimore Orioles at Minute Maid Park | Monday, September 18 to Wednesday, September 20 – In their second-to-last home series of the season, the Astros face a stiff test against the high-flying Orioles, who own one of the best records in baseball. $15 and up. Times vary.
• Comedian Ilana Glazer at Cullen Performance Hall | Friday, September 22 – The Broad City comedian and writer heads to the University of Houston campus for a rare stand-up performance. $35 and up. 8pm.
• Galveston Island Shrimp Festival in Downtown Galveston | Friday, September 22 & Saturday, September 23 – The annual shrimp fest starts with the Friday Kick Off Party ($65) featuring a fried shrimp dinner, open bar, and live entertainment from Brandon McDermott Band. Then, the Shrimp Gumbo Cook-Off takes over the Historic Strand District beginning at 10am on Saturday. Other festivities include the Shrimp Scamper 5K Fun Run, Ron Hoover Boat Show, vendor exhibits, the Lil’ Shrimps Parade, and live music, plus the Gumbo Stroll from noon to 4pm. Sampling cups can be pre-purchased for $13. Friday 7:30pm to 10pm; Saturday 10am to 6pm.
• 27th Houston Turkish Festival at the Water Works at Buffalo Bayou | Saturday, September 23 & Sunday, September 24 – Take part in a two-day celebration of Turkish culture at Buffalo Bayou Park, where guests can dive into delicious foods like simit sandwiches and falafel wraps, shop a local bazaar of art and unique finds, enjoy folk dancing and music performances, and more. $10; free for ages 12 and under. Times vary.
• Beyoncé in Concert at NRG Stadium | Saturday, September 23 & Sunday, September 24 – Already making waves with her Renaissance World Tour, Third Ward-native superstar Beyoncé returns home for back-to-back nights at the biggest venue in town. In a year of Houston concerts that already includes three nights of Taylor Swift, the double dose of Beyoncé in September marks one of the most anticipated performances of the year, and will also be the global icon’s first Houston concert appearance in exactly 7 years. $230 and up. 8pm.

• Table to Stage with Chris Shepherd at Stages | Monday, September 25 – Kicking off in September and held on select dates through June 2024, Chef Chris Shepherd hosts a one-on-one conversation with celebrated names in the food and beverage industry. Each evening is held within the intimate Stages theater and includes an audience Q&A afterward. The first guest is Johnny Carrabba of Houston restaurants Carrabba’s, Mia’s Table and Grace’s. $150; $1,000 for the full series. 7:30pm.
• Catastrophic Theatre presents Waiting for Godot at MATCH | Friday, September 29 | Ongoing – In Samuel Beckett’s absurdist masterpiece, two penniless tramps wait on a road for Mr. Godot to show up, only to find out that he won’t come today, but surely tomorrow. As they wait, they pass the time in every way imaginable. Greg Dean, Charlie Scott, Kyle Sturdivant and Troy Schulze reprise their roles from Catastrophic’s 2013 production, which was hailed by critics across the city for its brilliance. Pay-what-you-can; suggested price of $35. Times vary.
• Chopd & Stewed Festival at Post Houston | Saturday, September 30 – ChòpnBlọk is putting on this inaugural fest to showcase West African food and culture. The exciting new event will feature appearances by top culinary talent, including Dawn Burrell and Eric Adjepong of Top Chef fame, local stars Ope Amosu and Greg Gatlin, and a whole lot more. Plus, get access to the Culinary Village on the Skylawn, Òrékê Artisan Market, and an evening Sounds of the Motherland Independence Celebration on the eve of Nigerian Independence Day. $45 and up. 9am.
• Mid-Autumn Festival at Asia Society Texas Center | Saturday, September 30 | FREE – Welcome the autumn harvest and full moon at Asia Society’s all-ages fall festival that will spotlight Taiwan this year with Taiwanese artists, storytelling, parades, and art activities like lantern making, paper cutting and faux mooncakes. Registration is required for one of two festival time slots. 10am to noon, and noon to 2pm.
• Houston Dynamo FC vs. FC Dallas at Shell Energy Stadium | Saturday, September 30 – Just three days after facing Lionel Messi in the US Open Cup Final (alas, held in Florida), the Dynamo will seek to secure a coveted playoff spot over their rivals from Dallas in the second-to-last home game of the season. $20 and up. 7:30pm.

Don’t Miss Out on Tomorrow’s Fun!