Saturday, May 18, 2024
- 2024 Back Garden Tour on Galveston Island – This one-day self-guided tour allows guests to explore private oasis, elegant retreats, inspiring yards and shared garden spaces. Visit at your own pace and gain inspiration for your own garden and backyard endeavors. $20. 9am to 4pm.
- Outdoor Wellness Day at Houston Arboretum & Nature Center | FREE – In celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Houston Arboretum invites you to explore the benefits of spending time in natural spaces. Walk the trails, see exhibits and more. 10am to noon.
- Market Square Park Farmers Market in Downtown | FREE – Shop for produce, baked goods, artisan-made products and more in the heart of Downtown at this market that brings vendors from around the region to the Bayou City. Family- and pet-friendly, the market also offers live music performances by local artists on the Turnip the Beet stage. 10am to 2pm.
- 2nd Annual Salsa de Mayo in Second Ward | FREE – This neighborhood celebration near Finca Tres Robles invites the community to come sample the taste of salsa and vote your favorite alongside a panel of celebrity judges. Kicking off the event is a bike ride through points of interest in the East End, celebrating the flavors of the neighborhood. 10am to 3pm.
- Houston Swim Club presents Howey’s Water Safety Festival at Pearland Town Center | FREE – Promoting year-round water safety and drowning prevention, this family event offers water safety presentations by the US Coast Guard and others, group CPR demos, crafts, games, and prizes, music, dancing, and more. Expect more than 30 vendors with a wide range of activities. 10am to 4pm.
- Grail Foundation Press: Live in the Present! Book Reading in Westchase | FREE – Oluwafemi Badaki hosts two sessions with book readings that discuss how the book, In the Light of Truth helps support conscious efforts to live in the present. Badaki is a student of human organization who supports governments and international institutions as they go through change and transformation. 10:30am and 2:30pm.
- Pride of America Car, Truck & Bike Show at B-52 Brewing Co. – The Conroe brewery hosts a sprawling car show of American-made muscle cars, vintage vehicles and more. $20 per person. Noon to 4pm.
- 5th Annual Flamingo Fest Golf Cart Parade & Pub Crawl in Downtown Galveston | FREE – Head to the Island for this fun display of decorated golf carts, scooters, and bicycles. The parade begins at noon at 24th and Post Office streets. A pub crawl follows, allowing you to check out some of Galveston’s unique venues. Noon to 6pm.
- Third Saturday Open Art Studios at the Silos at Sawyer Yards | FREE – Meet dynamic Houston artists in their studios and galleries, talk with the artists and creators about their latest projects, and take advantage of a unique opportunity to shop for art for yourself or loved ones. Noon to 5pm.
- Galveston’s Tremont House Hotel: A History Book Signing with Kathleen Maca at Galveston Bookshop | FREE – Author Kathleen Maca signs copies of her latest book, Galveston’s Tremont House Hotel: A History at the bookshop. The author of several books about Galveston history, Maca’s latest offers a glimpse into one of the Island’s most-loved historic hotels. 1pm to 3pm.
- Heads & Tails Festival at 8th Wonder Brewery | No Cover – Grab a bunch of friends and come out to this annual all-ages crawfish festival. Enjoy mudbugs from Clutch City Crawfish and live music on the brewery’s spacious back patio. 2pm to 5pm.
- Author Harlan Coben at Murder by the Book | FREE – The New York Times bestselling author arrives for a book signing of his latest, Think Twice. Books for signing must be purchased from the bookstore. 3pm.
- Stefanie Eskander at Houston Toy Museum – The renowned toy designer comes to Houston for a meet and greet, and to share stories about her nearly four decades in the industry. Eskander has worked on many beloved toy lines including Rainbow Brite, Popples, Jem, Cabbage Patch Kids, Sky Dancers, WWF Wrestling Buddies, and more. $14; includes admission to the museum. 3pm.
- iFest USA 2024 at Discovery Green | FREE – Explore the cultures of the world as the largest and most prominent global project for promoting world geography, traditions and cultures comes to downtown Houston for a day of live entertainment, international cuisine, and cultural booths. 3:30pm to 9pm.
- Bazaar Food & Wine Festival at Sugar Land Town Square – This new festival celebrates Houston’s diverse culture and culinary tapestry, created in partnership with the James Beard Foundation. Expect an all-star lineup of Houston’s most prominent chefs, dynamic performances, music and Lee’s Golden Dragon performing a lion and dragon dance. $150 and up. 5pm to 8pm.
- Houston SaberCats vs. Chicago Hounds at SaberCats Stadium – Houston’s rugby team has had its best start in franchise history, currently hovering near the top of the league standings with only a handful of matches remaining. They’ll invite a tough opponent from Chicago in a bid to keep their place among the league’s best. $15 and up. 6pm.
- Strand Summer Series presents Mamma Mia! at Hendley Green | FREE – Grab your blanket, lawn chairs and friends and family and come out for this screening of the 2008 hit movie musical featuring the songs of ABBA. On-site beer and wine and select vendors will offer refreshments for purchase. Boas optional. 6:30pm to 9pm.
- Comedian Michelle Wolf at House of Blues – The comedian, who’s been a writer for Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah comes to Houston as part of her It’s Great to Be Here tour. She’s been praised for her ability to mine her life experiences and find both absurdity and hilarity in them, and for her physical comedy. $29 and up. 7pm.
- Houston Dynamo vs FC Dallas at Shell Energy Stadium – The Dynamo welcome longtime rivals and celebrate AAPI Night at the home stadium in EaDo. $25 and up. 7:30pm.
- Music Box Theater presents The ‘90s Experience at Queensbury Theatre – The cabaret ensemble offers a performance of ‘90s nostalgia. Look for all your favorites, including selections by REM, Nirvana, Mariah Carey and more. $38 and up. 7:30pm.
- Mariachi Herencia De Mexico in Concert at the Grand 1894 Opera House – The Galveston venue welcomes this energetic, virtuosic Latin Grammy–nominated group that has issued chart-topping albums and performed across the North American continent. Get ready for an evening of music performed in their incomparable style. $25 and up. 8pm.
- Mercury presents Brahms Fourth at Wortham Center – The orchestra performs one of classical music’s greatest masterpieces, with all its stirring passion. The program begins with Schumann’s Symphony No. 1. $25 and up. 8pm.
- Piano Men: An Elton John & Billy Joel Tribute at Marriott Marquis Houston – Experience the music of the legendary pop stars against the backdrop of downtown Houston. The hotel’s rooftop pool deck is party central for this evening of hits, drinks and bites. $45 and up. 8pm.
- More Great Things to Do All Weekend Long – Some of the biggest things to do in Houston are happening all weekend long. Check out this week’s list, local attractions and destinations, or browse Houston Experiences to save on museum and brewery passes, tours, and more.
Sunday, May 19, 2024
- Galveston’s Own Farmers Market at the Depot on Market | FREE – Shoppers can mingle and find fresh local produce, croissants, coffee, spices, meat, eggs, and more. Taking place rain or shine, this is a chance to meet the growers and producers who bring their wares to this bustling market every week. 9am to 1pm.
- Rumble in the Village 2024 at Traders Village | FREE – Get ready to witness the ultimate wrestling showdown. Expect high-flying action, jaw-dropping moves, and unforgettable moments. Arrive early or stay afterwards to experience shopping, rides and more. Free to attend; $6 for parking. 1pm.
- The Play That Goes Wrong at Baytown Little Theater – Part Monty Python, part Sherlock Holmes, this Olivier Award–winning comedy is a global phenomenon that’s guaranteed to leave you aching with laughter. Set in the 1920s, the whodunit is a play-within-a-play where a group of college thespians battle against all odds to get from the show’s opening to the curtain call. $20. 2:30pm.
- Archaeology Now presents In Baba’s Kitchen at Foreign Grill – This unique cooking class and tasting, led by Ukrainian husband-and-wife chefs Bek Mamat and Irina Mamataliyev with noted Houston and Czechoslovakian-born chef Monica Pope, teaches you how to make borscht and pierogi, and the proper way to drink vodka. $65. 3pm to 6pm.
- Love Street Music Fest ’24 at Karbach Brewing Company – Get your groove on and enjoy live performances from St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Moon Taxi, and Night Cap at the Love Music Fest in the Karbach Biergarten. $50. 4pm.
- Vaqueros Cup at Houston Polo Club – Experience a world class polo match, player parade, live music, expert announcing, Champagne divot stomp at halftime and special trophy presentation. The Lymbar is the onsite concession serving delicious Argentine- and Brazilian-inspired menu choices and a premium bar menu. $18 and up. 5pm.
- Author Damascus James at Brazos Bookstore | FREE – The bookstore presents this event in partnership with the Texas Civil Rights Project. The author discusses his book, Texas Letters, an ongoing anthological work revolving around lives spent in solitary confinement in Texas. Members of the Texas Civil Rights Project will also speak about this important concern. 6:30pm.
- Musica Tra Amici presents Brahms Piano Trio No. 1 at MATCH – The ensemble welcomes back Ayke Agus for this performance. A former child prodigy originally from Indonesia with Chinese, Dutch and Javanese ancestry, Agus will share stories of her life among legendary musicians, as well as her study of her art. $35. 7pm.
- Pepe Aguilar in Concert at Toyota Center – The singer, known for songs like “No Me Hablan de Amor” and “Corazón a Medio Día” brings a spectacle of a show to Houston. The concert traces the Aguilar dynasty through classic ranchera hits spanning several decades and generations. $38 and up. 8pm.
- Pony Bradshaw in Concert at the Heights Theater – The folk singer-songwriter, known for songs in the vein of Hank Williams and Merle Haggard, comes to Houston for a live performance. Americana Highways called his 2023 album North Georgia Rounder “a fantastic piece of work.” $22. 8pm.
- Suzy Bogguss in Concert at Main Street Crossing – The American singer-songwriter with eight top 10 country hits in the 1990s performs a live set. The show explores all of her music influences including jazz, western swing and Bakersfield sound. $66 and up. 7pm.
- More Great Things to Do All Weekend Long – Some of the biggest things to do in Houston are happening all weekend long. Check out this week’s list, local attractions and destinations, or browse Houston Experiences to save on museum passes, tours, and more.
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