Get a Nightlife This Week: October 9 to 15, 2023

A view at night looking down Main Street with people outside of bars and at food trucks
Little Dipper in Downtown hosts a night of vampire trivia on Monday | Courtesy of Market Square Park

Updated Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at 6am

Find the can’t-miss events in Houston with our Day + Nightlife Guide from Monday, October 9 to Sunday, October 15, 2023.

Your favorite nightlife guide is back to cure your weekly FOMO. We’ve got you covered with our in-the-know list of art, music, and nightlife events happening all week long around Houston, from Monday through Sunday.

Day + Nightlife Guide in Houston This Week: October 9 to 15, 2023

Ongoing

  • King’s Oktoberfest 2023 at King’s Bierhaus Heights | Friday to Sunday – The Bavarian BierHaus in the Heights hosts a weekend of Oktoberfest fun with a wide selection of German beer and authentic German plates, costume contests, mug lifting competitions, live music and carnival games. One-day passes are $20 and up, $59 including drinks. VIP passes are $120 and includes food and more. Times vary.
  • Comedian Craig Ferguson at Houston Improv | Friday to Sunday – Best known for his role on The Drew Carey Show and as host of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, the Scottish comedian spends a weekend in Spring Branch, delivering his observations on the world around him. $60 for 2, and up. Times vary.
  • Galveston Greek Festival at Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church | Saturday & Sunday | FREE – Galveston’s Greek fest returns with two days of Greek food, drinks, pastries, souvenirs, and more. There will be live Bouzouki by Dimitri Karageorgo, traditional Greek Dancers, church tours, imported merchandise and food products in the Greek market. Times vary.
  • Bayou City Art Festival in Sam Houston Park | Saturday & Sunday – The Bayou City Art Festival returns to Sam Houston Park in Downtown for two days of art shopping and showcases by more than 220 national and international artists. Plus, you can stroll the craft beer and boutique wine gardens, participate in a community art project and take in live performances. Tickets are $18 and up; free for ages 12 and under. 10am to 6pm.

Monday, October 9, 2023

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

  • Pink Shop & Stroll at Kings Harbor | No Cover – The Kingwood shopping destination hosts a night of big giveaways with exclusive shopping, fabulous swag, pink champagne and cotton candy. 4:30pm.
  • Poolside, with Neil Frances in Concert at White Oak Music Hall – Vibe out to the nu-disco and chillwave tunes of Poolside when they land at White Oak, with support from indie duo Neil Frances. $35 and up. 7pm.
  • Team Trivia at Big Owl Craft Brew House | FREE – Join Liveplay Games at the Airline Drive taproom for their every-other-Wednesday trivia sesh with questions ranging from general knowledge to pop culture and creative thinking. 7pm to 9pm.
  • Morgan Jay at Houston Improv – For one night, the Spring Branch comedy club hosts musician and comedian Morgan Jay who brings his guitar on stage for a set of laugh-out-loud songwriting. $80 for 4, and up. 7:30pm.

Thursday, October 12, 2023

  • John Waters Trash-A-Thon at Numbers Nightclub – Hosted by the Friends of River Oaks Theatre, this night of John Waters classics features three of his films, each representing the three decades of his career. Head to the iconic Montrose nightclub to catch screenings of Serial Mom, Polyester, and Pink Flamingos, with drag artist Sauvignon Blanca performing and leading activities between films. $20. 7pm.
  • Man on Man in Concert at White Oak Music Hall – The boyfriend duo of Roddy Bottum and Joey Holman stop by White Oak for a night of their songs brimming with indie rock influences and gay pop confidence. $20. 7pm.
  • Friday the 13th Movie Screening at Daiquiri Time Out | FREE – The Galveston hot spot for frozens continues their Halloween movie series with a screening of Friday the 13th, held on the eve of the spooky calendar date. Expect trivia, prizes and themed cocktails that go with the film. 7:30pm to 10:30pm.
  • El Alfa in Concert at Smart Financial Centre – The Dominican rapper takes over the Sugar Land arena for a night of songs from his recent summer release, Dembow Worldwide Hits Teteo 42. $54 and up. 8pm.
  • Frenship in Concert at the Secret Group – The LA-based electrpop duo stop by the EaDo venue on the eve of the their EP release, Base Camp. $20 and up. 8pm.

Friday, October 13, 2023 

Saturday, October 14, 2023 

  • Sweet like Pan Dulce Pop-Up at the Esplanade on Navigation | FREE – The Second Ward esplanade celebrates the tastiest pan dulce with sweets vendors, local artisans and craftspeople, live music, food, drinks and more. 10am to 3pm.
  • Second Saturday Open Studios at Sawyer Yards | FREE – Tour through more than 350 artist studios, shop an outdoor makers market and wander through Sawyer Yard’s six buildings to discover a wide selection of painting, sculpture, jewelry, photography and more. Noon to 5pm.
  • WALKtoberFest 2023: Pub Crawl & Poker Hand in Downtown Galveston – Try your luck at a poker-themed pub crawl in downtown Galveston’s Postoffice District and you could win a $1500 travel voucher, dinners, and more. $30 includes a t-shirt. Noon to 6pm.
  • Oktoberfest at Galveston Island Brewing | FREE – Toast to the island life at the expanded Galveston Island Brewing, featuring a full day of food and dance, with commemorative steins up for grabs, competitions, fun activities and live music. Noon to 8pm.
  • Oktoberfest at Southern Star Brewing Co. | FREE – In Conroe, the Bombshell Blonde brewery kicks off a family-friendly Oktoberfest celebration, with special brews, tasty foods, live music by the Homebrewed Brass Ensemble, games and more. Noon to 10pm.
  • PRH Block Party at Project Row Houses | FREE – Celebrate the 30-year legacy of Project Row Houses in Third Ward with an all-day bash with food trucks and live performances, kids activities, local vendors and more. Enjoy music from Yung Joc, Devin the Dude, Lil Keke, Marium Echo, and others at this celebration of PRH and its founders. 1pm to 9pm.
  • Barktoberfest 2023 at Powder Keg | No Cover – The West Houston drinkery again hosts this pup-centered event with plenty of local beer and food trucks, a vendors market, on-site adoptions and a doggy costume contest, benefiting the local animal rescue organization, Houston Pets Alive! 2pm to 6pm.
  • Southern Smoke Festival 2023 at Discovery Green – Southern Smoke Foundation’s big bash returns for 2023, raising funds for the nonprofit’s efforts to help food and beverage industry folks nationwide. Joined by a stellar lineup of chefs from Houston and around the country, this year’s events include the chef-fueled Throwdown at Discovery Green. Tickets are $175; VIP available for $500. 3pm to 8pm.
  • An Evening with Los Lobos at Miller Outdoor Theatre | FREE – The Chicano rockers are celebrating a prolific 50 years in the biz with a night of their many hits. One of Miller Outdoor’s signature shows of their 100th anniversary, Los Lobos will help close out Hispanic Heritage Month festivities. 6:30pm.
  • The Riot Comedy Club’s YouTube Special Taping—Saturday at Rudyard’s Pub – Jesse Peyton, Rich Williams, Nathaniel Amador, and Canice take the stage as The Riot presents its second night of live tapings of short comic stories for YouTube. The two tapings on Saturday night feature a different lineup from the Friday night tapings on the previous evening. $20 and up. 7pm and 9pm.
  • SZA in Concert at Toyota Center – The Grammy Award–winning icon finally lands in H-Town, touting her fire sophomore album SOS with a dramatic show in Downtown. D4VID will be supporting. $173 and up, but you may find hard-to-get, better, or cheaper seats on the online ticket resale market. 8pm.
  • Spooky Rave at Rise Rooftop – From the minds behind the Shrek Rave comes this night of horror-themed revelry at Rise in Midtown. $15. 9pm.

Sunday, October 15, 2023 

  • Bazaar on the Bayou at White Oak Music Hall | No Cover – The fall edition of this popular market in Northside sees more than 75 local vendors setting up shop at the Houston music venue, with DJs spinning throughout the day and Raven Tower open for drinks. 11am to 5pm.
  • Sazon Latin Food Festival at Karbach Brewing | FREE – Taste all the best flavors from the Caribbean, Central, and South America as more than 20 different Latin food vendors set up at the Spring Branch brewery. 11am to 6pm.
  • Gayish Podcast Live at KIKI Houston – Stopping by the heart of Montrose, this award-nominated podcast hosted by Mike Johnson and Kyle Getz spends each episode tackling a different gay stereotype. Stop by and watch them at a live taping of the show. $18 and up. Noon.
  • Fall Artisan Vibe Market at Megaton Brewery | No Cover – The Kingwood brewery feels like fall with a supersized market held mostly indoors, featuring more than 80 artists, creatives and makers. Swing by to enjoy tasty craft brews, music across two stages, multiple food trucks, and more. Kids and dogs are welcome. Noon to 5pm.
  • Punk Rock Garage Sale: Halloween at Bad Astronaut Brewing | No Cover – The monthly market returns to the Northside brewery with a Halloween theme, offering dozens of vendors selling music gear, art, collectibles, books, comics and much more. 1pm to 5pm.
  • The Burly Soirée at 8th Wonder Distillery – Watch the sultry sirens of the Divine Darlings Burlesque Troupe when they take the stage for an afternoon of performances at the EaDo distillery. $20 and up. 2pm to 4pm.
  • Zenteno Spirit in Concert at the Continental Club – The Mid-Main club hosts an afternoon show by Zenteno Spirit, bringing the sounds of salsa, cumbia and rock ‘n’ roll to the backyard. $10; free for kids. 2pm to 6pm.
  • Zine Fest Houston: 2023 Compilation Release at Axelrad | No Cover – Zine Fest releases their new publication, featuring a compilation of work by vendors from past Zine Fest Houston festivals. Expect a blend of writing, photography, collage, drawings and more. Free to attend; $5 to purchase the zine. 4pm to 7pm.
  • DocFest 2023 Gala at Eldorado Ballroom – The DocFest Jazz Festival hosts their annual gala in the recently renovated historic Eldorado Ballroom. Dine on a three-course meal and enjoy live music and comedy from Bobby Lyle, Tommy Davidson and Andre Hayward. $150 and up. 4pm to 8:30pm.
  • Aaron Watson in Concert at Smart Financial Centre – Sugar Land plays hots to the Texas-based country singer who brings a night of traditional country tunes to the stage. $45 and up, but you may find cheaper, better or hard-to-get seats on the online ticket marketplace. 8pm.

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Justin Jerkins
A longtime Houstonian, Justin Jerkins always keeps an eye out for what's ahead on Houston's horizon while serving as Editor-in-Chief of 365 Things to Do in Houston. When he's not passing along the latest events, destinations and hidden treasures in H-Town, he loves diving into the city's food scene, shopping local and learning about Houston's rich history.