Plan Your Weekend: October 19 to 22, 2023

Things to Do
All Weekend Long

• 2023 ALCS: Official Houston Astros Watch Party at Minute Maid Park | Thursday & Friday – Throughout the road games of the ALCS, taking place in Arlington, fans can come to Minute Maid Park and watch the game on the big screen in center field, El Grande, as well as enjoy festivities around the park. You must claim a voucher to attend, available for $2. Times vary.
• The Riot Comedy Club presents Hans Kim at Rudyard’s Pub | Friday & Saturday – A regular on the Kill Tony podcast, the LA-based comedian stops by Rudyard’s upstairs stage for back-to-back nights. $20 and up. 7pm and 9pm.
• Comedian Fahim Anwar at Houston Improv | Friday & Saturday – The LA-based comedian and writer, who came up as a member of sketch comedy group Goatface alongside Hasan Minaj, Asif Ali and Aristotle Athiras, headlines back-to-back nights at the Improv. $40 for 2, and up. Times vary.
• Houston Home & Garden Show at NRG Center | Friday to Sunday – Get inspo for your DIY projects, learn about gardening techniques for fall and winter, check out the Made in Texas Marketplace brimming with unique works and items made by Lone Star artists and producers, and more at the annual Home & Garden Show. $10; free for ages 16 and under. Times vary.
• Genteel Junque at The Depot on Market in Galveston | Friday to Sunday | No Cover – Unique items abound at this annual event, which brings high-quality antiques, furniture and art—from Victorian to Mid-Century Modern—to the city by the sea for an afternoon of shopping. Friday is open to Galveston Historical Foundation members only; Saturday and Sunday are free and open to the public. Times vary.

ALCS Watch Parties
Minute Maid Park
^{Thursday & Friday}

Throughout the road games of the ALCS, taking place in Arlington, fans can come to Minute Maid Park and watch the game on the big screen in center field, El Grande, as well as enjoy festivities around the park.

$2 | Times Vary

Learn More

• Petco Love Mega-Adoption Event at George R. Brown Convention Center | Saturday & Sunday – More than 1,000 furry friends are waiting for you to take them to their new forever home. Come out and meet these wonderful big dogs, small dogs, senior animals, puppies and kittens. All are spayed, neutered, microchipped and up to date on their vaccinations. The event is free to attend, but adoptions are $35. A fast pass for early entry is available for $75. 10am to 5pm.
• ArtoberFest in Downtown Galveston | Saturday & Sunday – This two-day fine arts festival in Galveston’s historic downtown cultural arts district showcases the works of more than 120 of the finest artists in the United States, giving visitors the chance to meet with exhibiting artists, hear live music, see artist demonstrations, and enjoy food and entertainment in the historic setting. $5; free for ages 11 and under. Saturday 10am to 6pm; Sunday 10am to 5pm.
• Vibe Artisan Market at Post Houston | Saturday & Sunday | No Cover – Head to the X-Atrium inside Post for a vast fall market that features more than 200 local artists, creatives and makers doling out their wares, plus DJ Lifted will be spinning tunes and you can sip complimentary cocktails on the SkyLawn. 11am to 6pm.
• AIA Houston Home Tour | Saturday & Sunday  – Check out some of Houston’s finest architecture as you tour homes throughout the city. The self-guided tour takes you to eight different homes, each exhibiting distinct architectural details and the personalities of their owners. Tickets may be purchased in person at any home on the tour. $40. Noon to 6pm.
• Starry Nite Arts Festival in Bellaire | Saturday & Sunday | FREE – Experience a traditional Asian night market with authentic street food, bingo, art, and live entertainment at the return of the in-person, family-friendly Starry Nite Festival in Houston’s Asiatown. Saturday 3pm to 9pm; Sunday 2pm to 7pm.
• Ivan Cornejo in Concert at 713 Music Hall | Saturday & Sunday – The rising sensation in regional Mexican music comes to Houston for back-to-back concerts in Downtown. $86 and up. 8pm.

Ongoing Live Theater & Performing Arts in Houston

• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at Hobby Center | Daily | Opening Weekend – The Tony Award–winning musical from the mind of Stephen Sondheim returns to Houston just in time for spooky season. Set in the corners of London in the Industrial Age, a vengeful barber fatefully meets an all-too-eager pie shop owner and together, they go into a murderous business. $40 and up. Showtimes vary.
• On the Exhale at Unity Theatre | Daily | Opening Weekend – Head to Brenham to catch this riveting play about a liberal college professor who finds herself inexplicably drawn to guns and gun ownership following a harrowing event. Recommended for mature audiences. $27. Showtimes vary.
• Dirt Dogs Theatre presents The Birds at MATCH | Friday to Sunday | Opening Weekend – Based on the Daphne DuMaurier short story, which also inspired the classic Hitchcock film, this thriller finds two strangers trying to survive as a deadly slew of birds attacks humanity. The show opens Dirt Dogs’ 8th season. This production runs through Saturday, November 4. $30. Showtimes vary.
• Garden Theatre Company presents The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) at MATCH | Friday to Sunday | Opening Weekend – This rollicking romp through the Bard’s work takes on Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, King Lear and more. No need to be a Shakespeare scholar to find the fun behind this laugh-out-loud play that’s been called “wacky” by the Los Angeles Times and “two hours of laughter” by the New York Times. $23 and up. Showtimes vary.
• Houston Grand Opera presents Intelligence at Wortham Center | Friday & Sunday | Opening Weekend – The Opera’s 75th world premiere opens the new season, based on a true story set during the Civil War. Prominent Confederate Elizabeth Van Lew runs a Union spy ring, working with her enslaved servant Mary Jane Bowser. With choreography from Urban Bush Women, a score by Jake Heggie, and libretto by Gene Scheer, this groundbreaking work shows how one of the city’s finest arts companies continues to push the envelope and embrace new works. This production runs through Friday, November 3. $25 and up. Showtimes vary.

• Heroes of the Fourth Turning at Rec Room Arts | Thursday to Saturday | Ongoing – When four friends gather on the edge of the wilderness to honor their mentor, recently named president of a deeply conservative Catholic college, they find their sensibilities and values challenged amid a changing world. Are they really who they thought they were? Find out in this play about grace and redemption. $15 and up. 7:30pm.
• Switzerland at Stages | Daily | Ongoing – In this taut, psychological thriller, Texas murder mystery writer Patricia Highsmith gets a strange visitor to her remote Swiss Alps home. A stranger, a fan of her work, turns up urging her to write another installment of her Tom Ripley series. Will she? Or will something worse happen? Stages favorite Sally Edmunson stars as Patricia. This production runs through Sunday, November 12. $50 and up. Showtimes vary.
• Stages presents Always…Patsy Cline at the Gordy | Daily | Ongoing – Celebrating its 35th anniversary, this musical biography features 27 of the iconic country singer’s hits, while showcasing her rise to stardom in the 1960s. It’s also the story of the friendship between Cline and Houston native Louise Seger, who met the singer in a Bayou City honky tonk. $48 and up. Showtimes vary.
• American Mariachi at Alley Theatre | Friday to Sunday | Final Weekend – In this play about dreaming big, it’s the 1970s, and Lucha wants to form a mariachi band. But girls don’t do that. Or can they? This heartwarming clash of cultures showcases what it means to embrace all of your heritage. This production runs through Sunday, October 22. $35 and up. Showtimes vary.
• Main Street Theater for Youth presents Carmela Full of Wishes at MATCH | Saturday | Final Weekend – This touching tale is the story of Carmela, who has a very special wish to help keep her family together. Based on the children’s book by Matt de la Peña, it’s a family-friendly production that explores hope in the migrant community. This production runs through Saturday, October 21. $20 and up. Showtimes vary.

Astros Watch Parties, Halloween Events & Other Destinations

• Astros Drink Specials & Watch Parties in Houston – Swing by bars, restaurants and Minute Maid itself to party it up with ‘Stros diehards for every game of the 2023 MLB postseason.
• 50+ Houston Halloween Parties, Crawls & More for Adults – Get ready for spooky season with more than 50 Halloween costume parties, concerts, pub crawls and more in October.
• 20+ of Houston’s Best Patios – It’s patio weather in Houston—at long last—and we’ve gathered more than 20 spots across town where you can post up and enjoy a breeze, a beer or a meal.
• Best Bars in Rice Village – Check out our rundown of 10 signature cocktail bars, dives, and more that can be found throughout the lively neighborhood of Rice Village and West University.
• Must Do Things in Buffalo Bayou Park – Find your way underground, bring your pup to one of the city’s best dog parks, take to twilight viewing of bat colonies, and more with our 5 ways to explore Buffalo Bayou Park.
• 75+ Fall Festivals in Houston | Ongoing – Explore our guide to a supersized festival season coming to Houston, showcasing the city’s culture, music, arts, food scenes, and more.
• Fall Markets in Greater Houston | Ongoing – From spooky evenings on the bayou to annual nutcracker extravaganzas, we’ve gathered 25 fall markets to put on your radar.

• Walk with Amal at Multiple Locations | FREE – Join others as you walk through three areas of Houston with Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee. Part of an 11,000-mile journey across the United States and Mexico, Walk with Amal raises awareness about the Syrian refugee crisis and the struggles of a broader population of global refugees. Locations include Downtown Houston at 1pm; Burnett Bayland Park in Gulfton at 3:30pm; and Project Row Houses in Third Ward at 6:30pm.
• 7th Annual Hess Houston Corporate 5K at Memorial Park – Houston’s largest office party wraps up its third day of bringing offices and coworkers together for a 5K fun run/walk and after work outdoor happy hour event with refreshments, live entertainment, and more. Corporations are invited to bulk-register teams of 10, 20, or 50 entries; individual entries are $50. Daily 4pm to 6:30pm.
• Baby Bump Social at Motherhood Center | FREE – Expectant moms and dads are welcome at this event, featuring light bites, chats with experts about childbearing and child care, and tours of the organization’s center. You’ll meet other parents-to-be, and there are prize drawings and other fun. 6pm to 7:30pm.
• 2nd Annual Skyfarm Harvest Feast Gala at Post Houston – This farm-to-table dining experience features a five-course meal showcasing Re-Up Juice and food from four remarkable female chefs including Evelyn Garcia, Sasha Grumman, Suu Khin, and Michelle Wallace. $325 and up. 6pm to 9pm.
• Fotofest: 20 Days in Mariupol Movie Screening & Panel at Holocaust Museum Houston | FREE – The Texas premiere of this documentary follows an Associated Press team of Ukrainian journalists trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol as they struggle to document atrocities during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The film is held in conjuction with FotoFest’s Fighting: Ukrainian War Photographers exhibition on display at Silver Street Studios. 6:30pm.
• Throwback Thursday Workout at Midtown Park | FREE – Get in shape while grooving out to hits from the 1980s, ‘90s and early 2000s. This adrenaline-raising good time is appropriate for all ages of fitness, and an excellent way to be outside in Houston’s cooler weather. 6:30pm to 7:30pm.
• L’Ors Movie Screening at Italian Cultural & Community Center | FREE – Part of World Week of Italian Language, this movie traces the story of bear M13 and its relationship with the people of Valposchiavo. When the bear was killed in Valposchiavo, it divided the community. Five narrative threads inspired by the news are woven together in this film. Registration required. 7pm.
• Museum After Dark: Paint & Sip at Buffalo Soldiers National Museum – The popular event returns to this Museum District spot. Brings your friends and create your own masterpiece. Light bites are provided, and wine and cocktails are available for $5 each. $15. 7pm.

Walk with Amal
Multiple Locations
^{Thursday, October 19}

Join others as you walk through three areas of Houston with Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee. Part of an 11,000-mile journey across the United States and Mexico, Walk with Amal raises awareness about the Syrian refugee crisis and the struggles of a broader population of global refugees.

Locations include Downtown Houston at 1pm; Burnett Bayland Park in Gulfton at 3:30pm; and Project Row Houses in Third Ward at 6:30pm.

Free | 7:30pm

Learn More

• Monster Movie Trivia at Houston Toy Museum – Celebrate the spooky season by testing your knowledge of iconic monster movies, from the classic to the contemporary. Teams are encouraged to dress in costume; prizes for the best will be awarded. $10. 7pm.
• The Riot Comedy Club presents Alec Flynn at Rudyard’s Pub – The comedian, known for his comedy special, Alpha Male Content is Insane, comes to the upstairs stage at the Montrose pub for one night of stand-up. $15 and up. 7pm.
• Summerhouse Houston’s Masquerade Carnival at Red Oak Ballroom – Spend the evening in Town and Country, at this benefit to support adults with intellectual development disabilities. There will be live music, performances, a silent auction and more. $200. 7pm to 10pm.
• Comedian Eric D’Alessandro at Houston Improv – The viral video comedian is known for his celebrity impressions and parody covers, launching himself to a worldwide audience with “Mask Off Remix (Walmart Diss).” Now, you can catch him for one night–only at the Improv. $40 for 2, and up. 7:30pm.
• Performing Arts Houston presents Lila Downs: Dia de los Muertos at Jones Hall – The Grammy and Latin Grammy–winning singer brings an immersive evening of music to Jones Hall, celebrating Día de los Muertos, featuring Folklorico dancing, a mariachi band, visual projections and more. $29 and up. 7:30pm.
• An Exchange of Noiz at Sound Exchange | FREE – This iconic Houston music store in Second Ward hosts its special Halloween edition of the bi-monthly experimental music showcase. Come out to hear new sounds, arrangements and more. 7:30pm.
• Child’s Play Movie Screening at Daiquiri Time Out | No Cover – Martini Theater’s third annual Halloween movie fest features a series of 1980s scary classics. Head to Galveston to catch this 1988 slasher flick that introduced the world to Chucky. 7:30pm to 10:30pm.
• Tim Burton Burlesque at Rise Rooftop – The Aphrodisi-Acts offer a mesmerizing mashup of Tim Burton’s iconic aesthetics and sultry burlesque in this unforgettable evening. See the Midtown venue come alive with creative expression. $24. 8pm.
• Turtle Racing: Barbie Edition at Little Woodrow’s Midtown – Cheer for your favorite reptile and donate to a good cause in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. All proceeds from the evening benefit The Rose, a Houston nonprofit dedicated to breast care and health. Wearing pink is encouraged. Photo ops, a live Dj, and drink specials run all night long. 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.