Top 18 Festivals & Events in Houston This Month: September 2024

Make the most of your month with our list of the 18 biggest and most notable festivals and events in Houston in September 2024.

In the waning weeks of summer, Houston will see the return of a new-look Texans, the 50th edition of the Houston Shakespeare Festival, a weekend of mariachi performances, White Linen Night in the Heights, and a month-long celebration of the city’s diverse cuisine.

The Top 18 Festivals & Events in Houston in September 2024

• The Tunnel Opening Night at Discovery Green | Thursday, September 5 | FREE – Discovery Green debuts its new interactive fall nighttime art installation while its creator Paul Magnuson of Big Art discusses its installation’s origin and other exciting art projects. The evening begins with drinks and mingling, followed by the discussion. RSVP required. The Tunnel will be on view nightly through Sunday, October 6, 2024. 6pm to 8pm. 
• DaCamera presents Endea Owens & The Cookout in Concert at Miller Outdoor Theatre | Friday, September 6 | FREE – One of jazz’s most vibrant emerging artists, Owens graduated from Julliard and immediately became part of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert house band, Stay Human. Her work has been featured in Judas and the Black Messiah, and she’s the winner of Emmy, Grammy and George Foster Peabody awards. 8pm.
• Red Bull Showrun at Discovery Green | Saturday, September 7 | FREE – Oracle Red Bull Racing make its Houston debut when its award-winning race car, RB7, pulls off flawless donuts and roaring burnouts on a custom-built temporary track surrounding the park. Fan zone from 10am to 3pm; Red Bull Showrun from noon to 2pm.
• Katy Home Improvement Expo at the Merrell Center | Saturday, September 7 & Sunday, September 8 | FREE – Get inspo for everything from kitchen and bathroom remodels to outdoor living spaces, with curated exhibitors bringing the tools and inspiration to transform your house into the home of your dreams. Times vary.
• Houston Japan Festival at Hermann Park | Saturday, September 7 & Sunday, September 8 | FREE – The popular annual festival returns, bringing with it the culture and history of Japan. This year’s festival coincides with MFAH’s Meiji Modern: Fifty Years of New Japan, celebrating the four remarkable Meiji decades that propelled Japan into the modern era. 10am to 6pm.

• Strand Summer Series: Movie & Music in Historic Downtown Galveston | Saturday, September 7 & Saturday, September 14 | FREE – Galveston’s Strand Summer Series wraps up this month with a screening of last year’s mega-hit Barbie at Hendley Green on the 7th, followed by a local music showcase featuring Galvezton, India Tigers in Texas, and Kevin Anthony & G-Town performing live at at Saengerfest Park on the 14th. 6:30pm to 9pm.
• 17th Annual Galveston Women’s Conference at Moody Gardens Convention Center | Friday, September 13 – Actress and author Jennifer Grey, best known as Dirty’s Dancing‘s Baby, keynotes at a day full of empowerment, inspiration, and retail therapy. $225; $175 for Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce members. 9am to 5pm.
• Brew at the Zoo at Houston Zoo | Friday, September 13 – The zoo’s fall favorite event returns, offering beer tastings from several local breweries and gluten-free options like hard seltzers, ciders, and canned cocktails while helping save animals in the wild. $45 for a beer pass; $35 for event only pass. 6pm to 10pm.
• Viet Cultural Fest 2024 at NRG Center | Saturday, September 14 – Folks are invited to immerse themselves in Vietnamese culture at the largest Vietnamese festival in Texas, with traditional games, exciting competitions like a blind boba tasting contest and pho eating contest, tasty food and drink, rich cultural entertainment, and more. $10. 10am to 7pm.
• El Grito at Miller with Caña Dulce y Caña Brava at Miller Outdoor Theatre | Sunday, September 15 | FREE – Kick off Mexican Independence Day weekend with the traditional grito followed by a show from Caña Dulce y Caña Brava filled with music, poetry, dance and traditional attire of Veracruz. 7:30pm. 

• México en el Corazón at Discovery Green | Friday, September 20 | FREE – Just in time for Hispanic Heritage Month, Downtown’s officially unofficial front yard hosts a celebration of Mexico, complete with 50 mariachis and folklorico dancers in vivid costumes and compelling performers. 7pm.
• Shop Local Market 1 Year Anniversary at Houston Farmers Market | Saturday, September 21 | FREE – Shop Local Market’s headquarters store celebrates its first year with tasty bites and sips, music spun by live DJs, raffles for prizes throughout the day, fun activities, and more. 10am to 6pm.
• AIA & La Izquierda Galveston Sandcastle Festival at East Beach | Saturday, September 21 & Sunday, September 22 – The island’s annual sandcastle competition expands this year into a two-day festival, adding live music from local and regional bands, local vendors, family-friendly activities, and foodie events to complement the 40 teams of sandcastle builders. $10 for both days. 10am to 6pm both days.

• Manhattan Short Film Festival 2024 at MFAH | Friday, September 27 to October, 6 – The popular international film fest returns with 10 short pieces from the next generation of filmmakers from the U.S., U.K., Ukraine, Croatia, Italy, and more. Houston audiences can join with their peers in six continents this weekend, voting for their favorites. Tickets are likely to sell out in advance. $10; $8 for members. Times vary.
• ROCO in Concert: Remarkable Around Houston | Friday, September 27 & Saturday, September 28 | One FREE – ROCO presents a journey from Houston to space and back, combining stunning visuals and classical music in two performances in landmark Houston venues. The world premiere, led by Vietnamese-American composer Viet Cuong, is a free performance at Miller Outdoor Theatre, followed by a pay-what-you-wish show at the intimate Church of St. John the Divine in River Oaks. Times vary.
• 15th Annual Galveston Island Wild Texas Shrimp Festival in Downtown Galveston | Friday, September 27 and Saturday, September 28 – The annual Galveston Island Shrimp Festival offers a seafood lover’s paradise, kicking off with the—sure to sell out—Friday Kick-Off Party featuring a fried shrimp dinner, open bar, and live entertainment for $65; and followed by Saturday afternoon’s main event, the Shrimp Gumbo Cook-Off and Gumbo Stroll on the island’s Historic Strand, with sampling cups available for pre-purchase for $13 and shrimp dinner plates for $20. Other festivities include the Shrimp Scamper 5K Fun Run, Ron Hoover Boat Show, Strand Merchant Walkabout, the Lil’ Shrimps Parade, and live music. Times and prices vary.
• 3rd Annual Northside Festival at University of Houston Downtown | Saturday, September 28 | FREE – The Latin-infused celebration of Houston’s Northside neighborhood will showcase local artists and vendors, a salsa tasting contest, local artists, live music and performances. 11am to 6pm.
• Chefs For Farmers at Autry Park | Saturday, September 28 & Sunday, September 29 – The all-inclusive tasting event in River Oaks has curated a lineup of top culinary talent to showcase family farms throughout Texas. Expect immersive activations and live entertainment, wines from the top vineyards, craft cocktails and excellent farm-fresh eats with 2 separately ticketed events. $125 earlybird price and up for each event. 2pm to 5pm for both events.

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