Plan Your Weekend: July 27 to 30, 2023

Things to Do
All Weekend Long

• 42nd Annual Great Texas Mosquito Festival in Clute | Daily – From a family 5K to cornhole tournaments, there’s plenty of fun for all ages at this celebration. Expect live music, food, rides, games and more. $10; $5 for ages 6 to 12. Times vary.
• Tequila Toast: A Weeklong Casamigos Celebration at Casamigos at Laura Hotel | Thursday & Friday | No Cover – The final two days of this week-long tasting celebration offers guests a specially curated menu that showcases the rich flavors and craftsmanship of Casamigos tequila. No cover, but drink prices vary. 3pm to 10pm.
• Houston Shakespeare Festival presents Macbeth & Much Ado About Nothing at Miller Outdoor Theatre | Thursday to Saturday | FREE – This annual celebration of the Bard’s greatest works is back in Hermann Park. Macbeth is a story of madness, murder and power, while Much Ado About Nothing is a battle-of-the-sexes comedy. The shows are presented in repertory on alternating nights, with Macbeth running Thursday and Saturday, and Much Ado About Nothing on Friday. 8:15pm.
• Potterfest at Urban South HTX Brewery | Friday & Saturday | No Cover – Capping off a month of Harry Potter celebration, Urban South hosts a night of trivia on Friday, followed by a Saturday filled with Hogwarts magic, including themed drinks, live entertainment, a Diagon Alley vendor market and more. Friday 7pm; Saturday 1pm to 6pm.
• The Riot Comedy Club presents Andy Woodhull at Rudyard’s Pub | Friday & Saturday – With appearances on Conan and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, the stand-up comedian comes to Houston for two nights upstairs at Rudyard’s. $20 and up. Times vary.  

Houston Shakespeare Festival
Miller Outdoor Theatre
^{Thursday to Saturday}

This annual celebration of the Bard’s greatest works is back in Hermann Park. Macbeth is a story of madness, murder and power, while Much Ado About Nothing is a battle-of-the-sexes comedy. The shows are presented in repertory on alternating nights, with Macbeth running Thursday and Saturday, and Much Ado About Nothing on Friday.

FREE | 8:15pm

• Houston Symphony presents Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert at Hobby Center | Friday & Saturday – While the classic sci-fi film from 1977 plays on the big screen, the Symphony performs the iconic John Williams score, from the 20th Century Fox fanfare to the closing credits. $61 and up. Friday at 7:30pm; Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm.
• Houston Astros vs Tampa Bay Rays at Minute Maid Park | Friday to Sunday – There are giveaways and specials all weekend as the Florida team rolls into H-Town. Arrive early to take home a Lance McCullers Jr. jersey on Friday, a Yordan Alvarez Silver Slugger bobblehead on Saturday, and a special Sunday offering of a No-Hitter Pitching Rubber that commemorates World Series Game 4, the second no-hitter in World Series history. $24 and up. Times vary. 
• Comedian Frankie Quiñones at Houston Improv | Friday to Sunday – The comedian known for his roles in the Hulu series, The Fool, and his cholo-turned-fitness guru character, Creeper, brings his comedy to Houston for five shows in Spring Branch. $50 for 2, and up. Times vary.
• Houston Texans Training Camp at NRG Stadium | Friday & Sunday | FREE – The Texans open a new chapter in the NFL with open practices available to the public with a free advance ticket. Across eight days, fans can get their first look at the new team with morning sessions rolling through mid-August. Free with advance ticket. 9am.
• Performing Arts Houston presents Bluey’s Big Play at Wortham Center | Saturday & Sunday – This brand-new, theatrical adaptation of the popular children’s show features brilliantly crafted puppets that help bring the story to life. Dad wants a relaxing Sunday afternoon, but Bluey, Bingo and his friends have other plans. $35 and up. Times vary.

Ongoing Live Theater & Performing Arts in Houston

• The Octarine Accord presents The Honeycomb Trilogy at MATCH | Saturday & Sunday | Opening Weekend – These three, two-hour plays tell the story of an alien invasion of the planet Earth over 20 years, chronicling how Ronnie Cook and her younger brother Abbie meet its challenges. $40 and up. Times vary.
• The Murder of Roger Ackroyd at Alley Theatre | Daily | Ongoing – The Alley’s popular Summer Chills series is back with this Agatha Christie story that finds detective Hercule Poirot investigating secrets and blackmail to solve a murder. This production runs through Sunday, August 27. $46 and up. Showtimes vary.
• Present Laughter at Main Street Theater | Daily | Ongoing – Noel Coward’s sparkling comedy about a self-obsessed actor going through a midlife crisis draws on the playwright’s own life. This production runs through Sunday, August 13. $39 and up. Showtimes vary.
• Catastrophic Theatre presents Tamarie’s Totally True Revue (Plus Lies, Too) at MATCH | Daily | Ongoing – The irrepressible Tamarie Cooper is back for this year’s summer revue spectacular. Cooper and her band of misfits explore twisted encounters with Tinkerbell, Ben Franklin, Pinocchio, Kenny Rogers and more on this epic, all-musical journey. Tickets are pay-what-you-can; suggested $35. Showtimes vary.
• Stages presents Thunder Knocking on the Door at the Gordy | Daily | Ongoing – This musical fable explores what happens to a small Alabama town when a blues guitar-playing stranger arrives, with a challenge that will pit family members against each other. $30 and up. Showtimes vary.
• Stages presents Always…Patsy Cline at the Gordy | Friday to Sunday | 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.
• Phenomenal Woman, Maya Angelou at Ensemble Theatre | Daily | Final Weekend – This musical showcases the remarkable life of the iconic writer and activist Maya Angelou, and demonstrates why her life and words continue to inspire. $53 and up. Showtimes vary.
• NobleMotion Dance presents Power Play at MATCH | Friday to Sunday | Final Weekend – The acclaimed dance company kicks off its 15th season with this performance featuring three world premieres that blend artificial intelligence and multimedia design, built on NobleMotion’s signature physicality. Tickets are pay-what-you-can (suggested prices of $20 and up). 8pm.
• Main Street Theater for Youth presents Junie B. Jones: Toothless Wonder at MATCH | Saturday & Sunday | Final Weekend – The irrepressible Junie B. has a loose tooth and it’s freaking her out. Suppose she looks like her toothless uncle? Her existential struggles don’t end there—she’s the only one in class not invited to a birthday party. How will she cope? With hilarity and heart, of course. $20 and up. Saturday at 10:30am and 1:30pm; Sunday at 12:30pm and 3:30pm.
• Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Houston presents The Pirates of Penzance at Hobby Center | Saturday & Sunday | Final Weekend – This sparkling gem of an operetta explores the story of Frederic, apprenticed to a band of pirates. He’s expecting to be released from his obligation on his 21st birthday—but, because he’s born on February 29, his birthday only comes every four years. With another 63 years left to serve, will his love wait for him? $44.85 and up. Saturday 7pm; Sunday 2:30pm.

Nerdy Fun, Shady Acres & Other Destinations

• The Best Nerdy Things in Houston | Daily – Discover a world of comics, board games, arcades and more with our 20 picks for the best nerdy things to do in Houston.
• Must Do Things in Shady Acres | Daily – Explore the Heights-adjacent neighborhood and discover just some of the must-do things in the Shady Acres area.
• Classic Houston Restaurants | Daily – Take a tasting tour of Houston’s oldest restaurants with 15 of our picks for places that have been serving up delicious dishes for more than 50 years.
• Things to Do in Houston When It’s Too Hot | Daily – Summer has firmly arrived in Houston, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of it. Check out our guide to more than 150 things to do and places to go when the temps top out in H-Town.
• Things to Do this Summer for Kids & Families in Houston | Daily – Enjoy the latest museum exhibits, head out on an outdoor adventure, make a splash, and savor much more that will make this summer one to remember with our guide to keep families entertained and cool this summer.
• Day Passes for Pools in Greater Houston | Daily – Pool weather is officially here and we have 10+ of the best hotel pools where you can spend a day making a splash.

• Cocktails & Conversation at the Health Museum – Scotty Sheridan of Scotty’s Fermented Foods will be creating craft cocktails for guests to enjoy while they learn about the human microbiome and how to maintain a healthy gut. $15. 5pm.
• The MBA Tour at JW Marriott Downtown | FREE – Prospective and aspiring MBA candidates are welcome at this event, where admissions officers and recruiters of top programs from around the country will be on hand to answer questions and offer tips on applications, the GMAT exam and more. Plus, one lucky attendee will be awarded a $250 GMAT exam voucher. RSVP required. 5:30pm to 9:30pm.
• Jordan Strafer: Trilogy Opening Reception at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston | FREE – The artist’s first solo exhibition presents three videos that explore the concepts of power and the uniquely human capacity to inflict violence. Be the first to see this intriguing meditation in the Museum District. 6pm to 8pm.
• Dem Roots Music with Shame on Me in Concert at Menard Park | FREE – The final show in the Save the Locals Summer Concert Series, Dem Roots brings their original reggae tunes to the Galveston park space. Guests are welcome to pack a picnic and enjoy the show. 6pm to 9pm.
• Nerdy Night Market at Neil’s Bahr | No Cover – Nerdy treasures, unique collectibles and more will surely delight pop culture enthusiasts and geek culture lovers alike at this shopping adventure at the EaDo bar. 6pm to midnight.
• Author Chandler Baker at Murder by the Book | FREE – Crime by the Book’s Abby Endler interviews the Austin-based author about her new novel, Cutting Teeth. Baker’s adult debut, Whisper Network, was a New York Times bestseller and Reese’s Book Club pick. Copies of Baker’s book will be available at the signing, and must be purchased from the bookstore in order to be signed. 6:30pm.
• Disturbed, with Breaking Benjamin & Jinjer at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion – Heavy metal group Disturbed headlines in the Woodlands while on the Take Back Your Life Tour, joined by rockers Breaking Benjamin and Ukrainian group Jinjer. $22 and up. 6:30pm.

The MBA Tour
J.W. Marriott
^{Thursday, July 27}

At this free networking event, aspiring future MBA students can meet with representatives from notable business schools—including Harvard, Columbia, Rice, University of Houston, University of Chicago, Yale, UCLA, Darden, Oxford, Carnegie-Mellon, MIT, SMU, Texas A&M, and more—and explore ways to take their careers to the next level.

FREE with RSVP | 5:30pm to 9:30pm

• Blue Velvet Movie Screening & Raquel Cepeda in Concert at MATCH – Presented by the Friends of River Oaks Theatre, this doubleheader opens with a live performance from Houston jazz singer Raquel Cepeda, followed by a 4K restoration of David Lynch’s 1986 mystery thriller masterpiece, Blue Velvet. $17. 7pm.
• Brazos Music presents Invoke at MATCH – This string quartet uses bowed and fretted instruments to deliver a concert that offers an array of musical traditions, from bluegrass to jazz and more. $30. 7pm.
• Indiana Jones & the Temple of the Last Crusade Wine Dinner at Max’s Wine Dive – This five-course dinner features dishes inspired by the iconic archeologist’s greatest adventures, each paired with a different wine. $99 per person. 7pm.
• Strictly Street Salsa Dance Class at Discovery Green | FREE – Part of the Park After Dark series this summer, guests can come out and enjoy free dance lessons, along with lawn games, food trucks, vendors, and special lighting effects. 7pm.
• Buscabulla in Concert at White Oak Music Hall – The Latin synth pop duo from Puerto Rico grace the downstairs stage at White Oak, performing music from their breakout 2020 debut, Regresa. $25. 7pm.
• Young the Giant in Concert at 713 Music Hall – Indie rockers Young the Giant take over 713 Music Hall with songs from their most recent release, American Bollywood. $40.50 and up. 7pm.
• Game Night at Ingenious Brewing Company | No Cover – Bring friends and family to the taproom for an evening of board games. Players receive 15%-off their tab while playing. A variety of board games, dominoes and cards are available, and attendees are welcome to bring their own. 7pm to 9pm.
• Jesse Daniel in Concert at Dosey Doe: the Big Barn – The California native brings his special brand of country music to the Woodlands. Fans will recognize the influences of Merle Haggard and Buck Owens in his music, described as “nostalgic, stylish and country to the core” by Sound & Soul. $15 and up. 8:30pm.
• Ayra Starr in Concert at Rise Rooftop – Nigerian Afropop R&B singer Ayra Starr takes to the Midtown rooftop with songs from her 2021 debut, 19 & Dangerous, as well as new tunes. $50 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.