The 15 Best Things to Do in Houston This Weekend: November 19 to 21, 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, November 19 to Sunday, November 21, 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 15 Best Things to Do in Houston This Weekend: November 19 to 21, 2021

• Thundercat at White Oak Music Hall (Lawn) | Friday, November 19 – The genre-blending bassist known as Thundercat is beloved for his cascades of bass notes and cheeky lyrics, and now turns to the lawn at White Oak to perform what many critics herald as one of the best albums of 2020, It Is What It Is. Tickets are $30 in advance, $34 day of the show, but you may find hard-to-get seats using the TicketNetwork online marketplace. 7pm.
• Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at Alley Theatre | Opens Friday, November 19 – The Alley’s holiday tradition returns to the stage with a brand new production of the classic tale featuring Ebenezer Scrooge and his wintry visits from the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. This production will be ongoing through Wednesday, December 29, 2021. Showtimes vary.
• Tootsie at the Hobby Center for Performing Arts | Daily; Ends Sunday, November 21 – Based on the 1982 comedy classic, Tootsie follows a struggling actor who disguises himself as a woman to land a role, but then must deal with all the misfortune that follows. Tickets start at $35. 7:30pm.
• Comedian Jo Koy at Smart Financial Centre | Friday, November 19 – Rescheduled from an earlier date, the chart-topping stand-up comedian returns to touring with all new material after releasing his critically-acclaimed Netflix special, Comin’ In Hot, in 2019. Tickets range from $48.50 to $88.50. 8pm.
• College Football: Houston Cougars vs. Memphis Tigers at TDECU Stadium | Friday, November 19 – The Coogs play their final home game of the regular season before embarking on a potential AAC championship and this winter’s bowl season. Tickets range from $20 to $125, but you may find better or cheaper seats using the TicketNetwork online marketplace. 8pm.
• The Great Houston Pie Run 5K & 10K at King’s BierHaus in the Heights | Saturday, November 20 | Virtual Option – Rise and shine (or sleep in and go virtual) for the Great Houston Pie Run, which sends runners down 5K and 10K courses—or Kids K for the little ones—and enjoy a delicious slice of pie and beer in the post-race party to go with your finisher’s medal. Registration (in-person and virtual) is $40 for the 5K or 10K; $20 for the Kids K. 7:30am.
• Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs at Houston Museum of Natural Science | Opens Saturday, November 20 – Dive into the life of one of ancient Egypt’s most celebrated builders, Ramses II (also known as Ramses the Great), in this world premiere exhibition that also includes more than 180 treasures and one-of-a-kind relics that help visitors to explore life some 3,200 years ago. Tickets are $35; $27 for children and ages 60 and up. 9am to 5pm.
• Tejano Music Festival at Kemah Boardwalk | Saturday, November 20 | FREE – Kemah is bringing it to the boardwalk with their Tejano Music Festival. Take a Tejano two-step dance class in front of the main stage and enjoy artists like the Riffs, Monico Cortez and Chris Q, and Sunny Sauceda. 2pm to 9:30pm.
• Umami Fest & Night Market at Aveva Stadium | Saturday, November 20 | FREE – In South Houston, the rugby stadium gets a new look for a flavorful night of street food that includes boba tea, Korean BBQ, Vietnamese dishes, tacos, sweet treats and more. Plus, browse through dozens of small business tents, enjoy games, win prizes, and check out the show cars on display. 4pm to 11pm.
• Apollo Chamber Players present Piazzolla Centennial at MATCH | Saturday, November 20 – In their second live concert of the season, the quartet will welcome Latin Grammy-winning tango composer and bandoneon performer Hector del Curto to the Bayou City for a program celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Astor Piazzolla. In honor of his 80th birthday, Apollo will also showcase the world premiere of a new commission by award-winning composer Adolphus Hailstork. Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door; $10 for students with valid ID. 7:30pm.
• Comedian Daniel Sloss at Bayou Music Center | Saturday, November 20 – The English stand-up comedian embarks on his Hubris Tour, bringing all-new material to the stage to follow up his most recent Netflix specials, Dark and Jigsaw. Tickets range from $49.50 to $72.50. 7:30pm.
• Memorial City Thanksgiving Fest & Market on Gessner Road | Sunday, November 21 | FREE – Memorial City hosts the free Memorial City Thanksgiving Fest & Market at the corner of Gessner Road and Mathewson Lane, featuring food trucks, kids treats, live music, and more. Memorial City will also be collecting donations for a Thanksgiving Food Drive benefiting Kids’ Meals. Everyone who donates will be entered into a drawing for a take-home Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings from State Fare, and tickets to The Elf on a Shelf – The Christmas Musical at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land on Thursday, December 9, 2021. 10am to 2pm.
• Hustle Houston Festival at Tropidelia Houston | Sunday, November 21 | No Cover – Hustle Houston is back for another all women-owned, small business pop-up shop on their first anniversary. Support the vendors and enjoy the fire spinners, live DJs, vegan food truck and much more. Noon to 6pm.
• Christian Nodal with Gera MX at Smart Financial Centre | Sunday, November 21 – Out of Sonora, Mexico, the multiple Latin Grammy–winning singer charted a global hit this summer with “Botella Tras Botella,” which saw the artist team up with Latin rapper Gera MX—both of whom will arrive in Sugar Land for a night of Latin pop hits. Tickets range from $29.50 to $179.50, but you may find better or cheaper seats using the TicketNetwork online marketplace. 8pm.
• 13th Annual Houston Cinema Arts Festival Around Houston | Virtual Streaming ends Sunday, November 21 – Though in-person screenings end on Wednesday, November 17, this film festival themed to the arts, threats and lives along the Third Coast still offers many of its films online through a streaming window that closes on the weekend. Admission and showtimes vary.