The 12 Best Things to Do in Houston This Weekend: July 16 to 18, 2021

Take a tour of H-Town’s weekend highlights with the 365 Houston guide to the best things to do in Houston this weekend, from Friday, July 16 to Sunday, July 18, 2021.

Every weekend, Houston has plenty of happenings to be found around town—but which ones are the highlights that can help you plan an enjoyable weekend of outings?

We’ve whittled down our extensive Weekend Guide to offer you some of our favorite things to look forward to from Friday to Sunday.

Looking for more things to do? Dig deeper for all of our weekend picks with the 365 Houston Weekend Guide, or comb through our Calendar for even more events, activities, and things to do this weekend.

The 12 Best Things to Do in Houston This Weekend

• WWE Friday Night Smackdown at Toyota Center | Friday, July 16 – Rey Mysterio, Roman Reigns, Sasha Banks, and other Smackdown superstars return to Houston in a Friday Night event televised live on Fox. Tickets range from $20 to $120, but you may find better, cheaper, or hard-to-get seats using the TicketNetwork online marketplace. 6:45pm.
• Banda MS at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion | Friday, July 16 – The Mexican Banda from Mazatlán smashed through the Billboard charts five years ago, racking up awards for their 2016 release, Qué Bendición, and now find their way back to the stage for a night to celebrate their deep catalog of hits. Tickets range from $39.50 to $299.50, but you may find better or cheaper seats using the TicketNetwork online marketplace. 8pm.
• Stages presents Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill | Friday, July 16 to Sunday, July 18 | Virtual Option – Entering its final weekend, this Tony-winning musical features Billie Holiday at the end of her career, performing at a Philadelphia dive bar and sharing stories about her iconic life. This knock-out includes more than a dozen Billie Holiday hits like “Crazy He Calls Me,” “Easy Living, ” and “Strange Fruit.” Livestream is available via Overture+. Tickets start at $25. Friday 8pm; Saturday 2:30pm and 8pm; Sunday 2:30pm.
• Comedian Nicole Byer at Houston Improv | Friday, July 16 to Sunday, July 18 – Welcome the raunchy and hilarious actress and comedian, Nicole Byer, known for her time hosting Netflix’s baking show, Nailed It, and her podcast called Why Won’t You Date Me, when she stops through the Houston Improv for five shows. $50 for two people; $100 for four people; $150 for six. Showtimes vary.
• Comicpalooza 2021 at George R. Brown Convention Center | Saturday, July 17 & Sunday, July 18 – Get decked out in your favorite hero costume and head Downtown for a weekend of cosplay, autographs, and all-things-comics. Enjoy family-friendly activities, listen in on live panel discussions, shop from local creators, browse pop culture memorabilia, and much more. One-day adult passes are $61 for Saturday; $54 for Sunday. Children’s passes are $5 and good for the whole weekend (ages 12 and under). Saturday 10am to 8pm; Sunday 10am to 5pm.
• Saint Arnold Pub Crawl: Downtown Houston at Market Square Park | Saturday, July 17 | No Cover – Head into Downtown for another of Saint Arnold’s popular pub crawls where you’ll collect your punch card and learn your route at Market Square Park before setting out to visit any of the 13 participating spots. Punch your ticket at 6 of them and you can bring home a commemorative pint glass at the afterparty concert back at Market Square. 2pm to 6pm.
• CONCACAF Gold Cup: Grenada vs. Qatar, Honduras vs. Panama at BBVA Stadium | Saturday, July 17 – The bi-annual regional soccer tournament returns, with group stage action in Houston that includes the national teams of Panama, Honduras, Grenada, and Qatar. This second of three nights of doubleheaders will see a tough match between Honduras and Panama take center stage. Tickets range from $30 to over $200, but you may find better, cheaper, or hard-to-get seats using the TicketNetwork online marketplace. Tickets are good for both games. First match at 6:30pm.
• Family Funk Festival at Miller Outdoor Theatre | Saturday, July 17 | FREE | Virtual Option – Community Music Center of Houston celebrates the popular funk era of the 1970s with hits from Parliament, Funkadelic, George Clinton, and more performed by Vivian Mosley and her band, the Storm. Then Tweed Smith of legendary funk band War will perform some of the band’s greatest hits. A livestream of the performance can be viewed on Miller Outdoor’s YouTube channel. Covered seating requires a free ticket that can be reserved online. Seating on the hill is free and does not require a ticket. 8:30pm.
• Z-Ro, K-Rino, K.O. at Scout Bar in Clear Lake | Saturday, July 17 – The Mo City Don and K-Rino team up for a night of legendary Houston rap at the Clear Lake venue, featuring tracks from Z-Ro’s most recent release, 2 The Hardway. Advance tickets are $25, $30 at the door; $50 for a reserved table. 10pm.
• ThriftCon Houston at NRG Park | Sunday, July 18 – Dig into vintage clothing from more than 100 vendors at this thrifting convention, which also features multiple installations that celebrate vintage and retro culture, as well as sustainability in fashion. $5 to $25; parking fees apply. 10am to 5pm.
• Solar Summer Food Fest at Social Beer Garden HTX | Sunday, July 18 – Close out your weekend treating yourself to a plethora of local eats and sweets for the Solar Summer Food Fest at Social Beer Garden HTX’s patio in Midtown. $20 for adults; $10 for ages 12 and under. 6pm to 10pm.
• Gottmik at ReBar Houston | Sunday, July 18 – Catch a show-stopping performance from drag queen and RuPaul’s Drag Race season 13 contestant, Gottmik, at the LGBTQ-friendly venue, ReBar in Montrose. This event is 21 and up. Cover charge at the door. 11pm.