Top 15 Festivals, Events & Things to Do This Week in Houston: January 16 to 22, 2023

Make the most of your week with our top festivals, events, and things to do this week in Houston from Monday, January 16 to Sunday, January 22, 2023.

We’ve whittled down all the happenings in H-Town to our 15 picks for the week, but you can always check out the extended calendar for more things to do in Houston.

Scroll below to find great things happening in Houston from Monday, January 16 to Sunday, January 22, 2023.

Top 15 Festivals, Events & Things to Do This Week in Houston

• 45th Annual Original MLK Jr. Parade in Downtown Houston | MLK Day, Monday, January 16 | FREE – Black Heritage Society’s 45th edition of the original Downtown parade will be led by City of Houston dignitaries, marching bands, floats, peaceful marches and more. The procession begins at Lamar and Smith Streets, and the annual MLK Festival will take place at Houston City Hall, following the parade. 10am to 5pm.
• 2nd Annual Betty White Bash at Angel Share | Tuesday, January 17 – Stop by a post-work celebration in Downtown for the late, great Betty White with drink specials on her 101st birthday. 4pm to midnight.
• The Perfect 10 Gala at Brennan’s of Houston | Tuesday, January 17 – Houston Food Finder curates a special dining event that pairs the creations of 10 of Houston’s best and emerging chefs—including Hugo Ortega, Alex Au-Yeung of Phat Eatery, Niki Vongthong of Hidden Omakase, Chris Roy of Winnie’s and more—with libations from five local sommeliers and five mixologists for a Mardi Gras–themed celebration of the city’s culinary talent. $185 for dinner; $245 for the cocktail hour and dinner. 5:30pm to 10pm; dinner at 7pm.
• Broadway Across America presents Jesus Christ Superstar at Hobby Center | Tuesday, January 17 to Sunday, January 22 – The Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice megahit comes to Houston in its 50th anniversary production. Telling the story of the last weeks of Jesus’ life, this musical created a smash when it debuted in 1971, and forever cemented the rock musical as a force to be reckoned with. $40 and up. Showtimes vary.
• Authors De’Shawn Charles Winslow & Kiese Laymon in Conversation at Kindred Stories | Wednesday, January 18 | FREE with RSVP – On the day after releasing Decent People, prize-winning author De’Shawn Charles Winslow stops by the Third Ward bookshop to talk about his mystery thriller with fellow author and Rice professor Kiese Laymon. Free to attend, and both authors’ books will be available for purchase. A ticket that includes a copy of Decent People is $28. 7pm.
• Comedian Russell Peters at Houston Improv | Thursday, January 19 to Sunday, January 22 – Seen in his Netflix specials, Notorious and Almost Famous, as well as the 2020 Amazon special, Deported, Russell Peters brings brand new material to the Houston Improv stage for four straight nights. Tickets are sold by the table; $110 for 2, and up. Times vary.
• Cambodian Rock Band at Alley Theatre | Friday, January 20 | Opening Night – In this play that blends storytelling with music, we follow a Khmer Rouge survivor who travels back to Cambodia for the first time in decades, as his daughter is about to prosecute an infamous war criminal. Pulsing with music from Dengue Fever and Cambodian oldies, it takes audiences on a journey to a dark time in history to explore the triumph of the human spirit. Please note: this play contains violence, language, and descriptions and depictions of genocide. This production runs through Sunday, February 12. $26 and up. Showtimes vary.
• Arbor Day Celebration at Houston Arboretum & Nature Center | Saturday, January 21 | FREE – Study up with the family on the importance of trees at the Arbor Day celebration at the Arboretum, where you can also try your hand at lumberjack games, set out on a tree hike, watch tree-climbing demonstrations, and enjoy other family-friendly booths and activities. Plus, you can even bring a tree home from the on-site sale. 10am to 2pm.
• 2023 Lunar New Year Festival at Chinese Community Center | Saturday, January 21 | FREE – Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit with the return of CCC’s annual Lunar New Year Festival, featuring a full day of family-friendly activities, dragon and lion dances, local vendors, merch, foods and live cultural performances. 10am to 4pm.
• Houston Astros FanFest at Minute Maid Park | Saturday, January 21 | FREE – Gather with fellow fanatics celebrating the Astros’ second World Series win at the annual FanFest held at Minute Maid. You’ll have the chance to meet favorite players, alumni and broadcasters, plus take advantage of photo ops with the World Series trophy, play games and more. Though free to attend, you must claim a voucher online to enter. 11am to 4pm.
• Australia Day Party at Platypus Brewing | Saturday, January 21 | No Cover – The Washington Avenue brewery commemorates Aussie Day with a bash highlighted by special beer and cocktail releases, Aussie dishes, live music, contests and a climbing wall for kiddos. Noon to midnight.
• 14th Annual Yaga’s Chili Quest & Beer Fest at the Galveston Island Strand | Saturday, January 21 – The 14th Annual Chili Quest & Beer Fest returns to Galveston’s Historic Downtown Strand District for a day full of, you guessed it, chili and beer. Eat your weight in chili samples from the best cookoff teams around, then sip and stroll through 70+ brews and spirits from 1pm to 4pm. Chili tasting is $13; Beer tasting tickets are $35 and include 24 2-ounce samples and 4 spirit samples. Noon to 4pm.
• Unspeakable Live at Toyota Center | Saturday, January 21 – Have some fun with Nathan, James, and Gabe from the popular YouTube channel, Unspeakable, as they bring their high energy antics live to the stage, along with special guest Prestonplayz, and chances to win cool prizes. $39.99 and up. 5pm.
• The Bridal Extravaganza Show at George R. Brown | Saturday, January 21 & Sunday, January 22 – The largest wedding planning show in the U.S. returns to Downtown for two days of tastings, fashion shows, vendors of every discipline, goodies, photos ops, and everything needed for every bride-to-be and her bride squad. $1.99 for a single day; $49 for VIP packages. Times vary.
• Otaku Lunar New Year Food Festival at Karbach Brewing Co. | Saturday, January 21 & Sunday, January 22 | FREE – More than 50 vendors will set up for two days at the Spring Branch brewery, offering up all manner of goods and gourmet foods, along with lion dances, anime cosplay and artists, a limited car show, and more. Saturday noon to 10pm; Sunday noon to 7pm.

Many More Things to Do in Houston

• Top Concerts & Live Shows This Week – Check out our top picks for local and touring musicians, stars, and personalities hitting the stage in H-Town this week.
• Top Games & Sports Events This Week – Scope out professional and select college sports games, touring athletic competitions, local fitness and participatory events, and more.
• Top Things to Do For Kids & Families This Week – Zero in on the best option for families and the junior set around Greater Houston.
• Current Temporary Museum Exhibits & Art Installations in Greater Houston – Explore the newest installations and exhibits on short term display at museums and locations around Houston, with a focus on art, history, and science.
• More Options on Our Calendar – Explore more live entertainment, events, pop-ups, markets, and other options around Houston.