Top 22 Festivals & Events This Week in Houston: May 13 to 19, 2024

Make the most of your week with our top festivals, events, and things to do this week in Houston from Monday, May 13 to Sunday, May 19, 2024.

The annual celebration of strawberries returns this weekend to Pasadena, plus you can raise a toast to Greek culture in West Houston, bring your pup to the Dash game, peel some pounds of crawfish, and much more.

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

Top 22 Festivals, Events & Things to Do This Week in Houston

• Kamasi Washington in Concert at House of Blues | Tuesday, May 14 – The Grammy-nominated powerhouse jazz artist returns to Houston with a night of new music from his early May release, Fearless Movement. $35 and up. 8pm.
• Theaster Gates: The Gift and The Renege Opening Reception at CAMH | Thursday, May 16 | FREE – The latest CAMH exhibition featuring celebrated contemporary artist Theaster Gates is unveiled at a reception for his series of large-scale paintings, sculptures and installations. Together, they reckon with histories of labor, material legacies, and the sociopolitical architecture of the built environment. Drinks and food will be available for purchase, and DJ Flash Gordon Parks will provide the vibes. 7pm to 9pm.
• 25th Houston Greek Fest at St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church | Thursday, May 16 to Saturday, May 18 – This annual Greek fest on the west side of Houston returns for a 25th anniversary celebration, where guests can dig into Greek foods and pastries, shop local vendors, try their feet at traditional dancing and have plenty of family-friendly fun. $10; free for ages 10 and under. Adult admission is free with a donation of three canned goods. Times vary.
• A Friendly Game of Basketball at Lawndale Art Center | Thursday, May 16 to Saturday, May 18 | FREE – It’s closing weekend for this solo exhibition of multimedia works by Tay Butler, which explore racial history and contemporary anti-Black issues. Through various media—including installation, painting, drawing, photography, collage, music, and performance—Butler creates a multi-sensory environment which mirrors basketball’s pre-, post-, and in-game play. 11am to 5pm.
• 51st Annual Pasadena Strawberry Festival at Pasadena Fairgrounds | Thursday, May 16 to Sunday, May 19 – The annual strawberry fest returns to Pasadena, featuring a weekend of barbecue, carnival rides, a car show, mutton bustin’, a kids zone, and more. $15; $5 for ages 6 to 10; free for ages 5 and under. Times vary.

• Houston Dash vs. Portland Thorns at Shell Energy Stadium | Friday, May 17 – Come out to EaDo and cheer on Houston’s major league women’s soccer team as they welcome visitors from Oregon. It’s also Pups on the Pitch night, where you can bring your furry friends to the match, and enjoy pregame entertainment like pet caricatures, foster opportunies, photo shoots and more. $12 and up; special ticket purchases required to bring your pet. 5pm.
• Brooks & Dunn in Concert at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion | Friday, May 17 – The legendary boot scootin’ duo head to the Woodlands for a night of beloved fan favorites and tried-and-true country tunes. $45 and up. 7pm.
• Homegrown Houston: All Asian, No Fusion at Asia Society Texas Center | Friday, May 17 – Chef G and Graham Painter of Street to Kitchen lead a tasting tour of Houston cuisine at this special curated night featuring stand-out chefs from across the city. Tickets include one dish from each chef, plus drinks. Featured restaurants include Burmalicious, Koffeteria, Musaafer, Xin Chào, and more. $120; $210 for two. 7pm to 10pm.
• Houston Grand Opera presents Madame Butterfly at Miller Outdoor Theatre | Friday, May 17 & Saturday, May 18 | FREE – HGO adapts its stunning production of the classic Puccini opera for the Hermann Hill stage. Hear the story of Cio-Cio-San, a young Japanese woman called Butterfly who enters an arranged marriage with the American naval lieutenant Pinkerton, and the heartbreaking tragedy that ensues. 8pm.
• Houston Symphony presents The Music of Star Wars at Jones Hall | Friday, May 17 to Sunday, May 19 – Conductor Steven Reineke leads the orchestra in a concert of favorites from the Star Wars universe. Audiences will be transported to a galaxy far, far away with pieces from all nine films, including selections like “Rey’s Theme,” “The Imperial March” and more, presented in chronological order. $54.88 and up. Times vary.
• Houston Astros vs Milwaukee Brewers at Minute Maid Park | Friday, May 17 to Sunday, May 19 – Come downtown to cheer on the ‘Stros as they welcome visitors from Wisconsin for a three-game series. Early arrivers can take advantage of giveaways through the weekend like an Orbit bobblehead, a Justin Verlander jersey, and the Bayou Bash Street Fest before Saturday’s game. $29 and up. Times vary.

• 2nd Annual Salsa de Mayo in Second Ward | Saturday, May 18 | 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.
• Heads & Tails Festival at 8th Wonder Brewery | Saturday, May 18 | No Cover – The annual all-ages crawfish festival hits the spacious back patio of 8th Wonder in East Downtown, offering mudbugs from Clutch City Crawfish and live music. Noon to 5pm.
• 5th Annual Flamingo Fest Golf Cart Parade & Pub Crawl in Downtown Galveston | Saturday, May 18 | 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.
• Stefanie Eskander at Houston Toy Museum | Saturday, May 18 – 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 | Saturday, May 18 | FREE – The Downtown park space hosts another year of iFest, celebrating cultures from around the world with live entertainment, international cuisine and cultural booths that promote learning and exchange in support of peace, love and friendship. 3:30pm to 9pm.
• Bazaar Food & Wine Festival at Sugar Land Town Square | Saturday, May 18 – 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 | Saturday, May 18 – 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 | Saturday, May 18 | 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.
• Houston Dynamo FC vs. FC Dallas at Shell Energy Stadium | Saturday, May 18 – The classic MLS rivalry renews when Dallas heads to town to face off on the Dynamo’s home pitch, where the club will also celebrate AAPI Night. $25 and up. 7:30pm.
• Mariachi Herencia De Mexico in Concert at the Grand 1894 Opera House | Saturday, May 18 – 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.
• Vaqueros Cup at Houston Polo Club | Sunday, May 19 – 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.

Don’t Miss Out on Tomorrow’s Fun!