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, May 14 to Sunday, May 16, 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 10 Best Things to Do in Houston This Weekend
- Comedian Whitney Cummings at Houston Improv | Thursday, May 13 to Saturday, May 15 – Laugh all through the weekend when Whitney Cummings—star of NBC series Whitney, and co-creator of the Emmy-nominated 2 Broke Girls—hits the stage at the Houston Improv for six socially distanced shows. $50 for two people; $100 for four people; $150 for six people. Preferred tables range from $70 to $210, based on the number of people. These shows were originally scheduled for early January 2021. Showtimes vary.
- Houston Art Car Experience by Day at The Orange Show | Friday, May 14 to Sunday, May 16 – Hit the five-acre campus of The Orange Show to explore 80 art cars, including both annual faves and some never-before-seen, while on a digital audio/visual tour using your smartphone. Stick around and enjoy crafts for kids, food and drink vendors, and more. Learn more about the special nighttime experience, which is a separate ticket. $10. 10am to 5pm daily.
- 2021 Pasadena Strawberry Festival at Pasadena Fairgrounds | Friday, May 14 to Sunday, May 16 – The massive annual celebration of strawberries returns to Pasadena, complete with three days of live music, entertainment, the world’s largest strawberry shortcake, a mud volleyball tournament, a car show, carnival rides, a kids zone, a BBQ cook-off, a kids zone, and more. Tickets are $10; $5 for ages 5 to 12 and for ages 65+. $30 for a three-day weekend pass. Times vary.
- MATCH presents All the Devils are Here: A Tempest in the Galapagos livestream | Friday, May 14 & Saturday, May 15 | Virtual – Jump into an immersive dance theater production when Open Dance Project and DiverseWorks collaborate for this tale that merges Shakespeare’s The Tempest with the true story of an unsolved murder in the Galapagos in 1929. Tickets are $35; $15 for students, artists, and ages 65 and up. Friday 8pm; Saturday 5pm.
- Houston Grand Opera presents Marian’s Song at Miller Outdoor Theatre | Friday, May 14 & Saturday, May 15 | FREE | Virtual Option – HGO continues its return to live shows with two performances of its original, family-friendly commission based on the life of Marian Anderson, one of the most celebrated singers of the 20th century who broke racial barriers throughout her storied career and became the first Black singer to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in 1955. Free covered seating requires tickets, which can be reserved online. Seating on the hill is open and does not require tickets. 8pm both nights.
- Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Clippers at Toyota Center | Friday, May 14 – The Rockets’ final home game of the season arrives and the visiting Clippers, led by Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, will make for a difficult send-off to a tumultuous year. Tickets range from $29 to over $450, but you may find better or cheaper seats on the TicketNetwork marketplace. 8pm.
- First Saturday Arts Market in The Heights | Saturday, May 15 | No Cover – On 19th Street, this market normally held on the first Saturday of each month invites visitors to shop artisan goods and artworks from local artists and vendors. Due to projected rain the first weekend of the month, it was bumped back to its rain date in mid-May. There will be free live music, plus food truck bites, beer and vino available for purchase. 11am to 6pm.
- Closing Exhibition: Artists & the Rothko Chapel: 50 Years of Inspiration at Moody Center for the Arts | Closes Saturday, May 15 | FREE | Virtual Option – The Rice University gallery brings their special group exhibition to a close, highlighting the impact that the nearby Rothko Chapel has had on artists and the public since its opening 50 years ago. A virtual tour is also available through the Moody Center website. Noon to 5pm.
- 13th Annual Galveston Island Beach Revue | Saturday, May 15 – Hit the island for a sunny day filled with breath-taking beach views, cool hot rods, vendors, vintage dress, and more flashback celebrations when Galveston Historical Foundation presents their 13th Annual Galveston Island Beach Revue at Beach Central on Galveston Island. $5 for standing room only; $20 for a pod for two people; $40 for a pod for four. Tickets include access to the classic car show, food and vintage vendors, concessions, and more located throughout Beach Central. Noon to 7pm.
- UFC 262 at Toyota Center | Saturday, May 15 – Ranked contenders fight for the vacant UFC world lightweight championship belt when No. 3 Charles Oliveira and No. 4 Michael Chandler head to the octagon in Downtown. Tickets range from $200 to over $6,000 but you may find cheaper, better, or hard-to-get seats on TicketNetwork’s resale marketplace. 5:30pm.
Find More Things to Do in Houston All Year Long
You can find more fun in our interactive event calendar and 365 Weekend Guides.
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