Seasonal Events
January | |
| HP Houston Marathon 713-957-3453 | Combined with the Halliburton International Half Marathon and Houston Press/METRO 5K, this event attracts on average more than 15,000 participants, 200,000 spectators and 5,000 volunteers. |
February | |
| Houston Antique Dealers Association 713-524-4246 | Annual show/sale. Held in the George R. Brown Convention Center. Admission fee. |
| Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Reliant Stadium 832-667-1000 | The world's largest livestock show and rodeo offers experiences for families and spectators of all ages. General admission includes rodeo performance, concert, livestock and commercial exhibits. |
| Chinese New Year Festival George R. Brown Convention Center 1001 Avenue of the Americas 713-853-8000 | Food, fireworks, entertainment. Last two weeks in February. |
| Mardi Gras in Galveston 1-888-GALISLE | Parades and celebration along the Strand in Galveston. Sponsored by the Galveston Historical Foundation. Date varies annually, begins the Lenten celebration 40 days before Easter. |
March | |
| Houston Azalea Trail 713-523-2483 | Sponsored by the River Oaks Garden Club. A pilgrimage through selected gardens and homes of River Oaks. Admission fee. |
| St. Patrick's Day Parade Downtown Houston | Houston's tribute to the Irish. |
April | |
| Houston International Festival 713-654-8808 | Booths, exhibits, performances, food, music and dance contribute to an exciting city-wide celebration. Admission fee. Discounts available for tickets purchased in advance. Children under 12 free. |
| Japan Festival Hermann Park 713-963-0121 | The Japanese Gardens draw 22,000 people annually to a weekend celebration of Japanese culture. Folk and traditional dancers, music performers and displays of the martial arts, Ikeban flower design and origami. |
| Annual River Oaks International Tennis Tournament River Oaks Country Club 1600 River Oaks Boulevard 713-529-4321 | The oldest professional clay-court tournament in the country still playing on its original site. |
| Arabia Shrine Circus Ft. Bend County Fairgrounds 713-664-7210 | Nationally known circus troupe. Benefits Shriners' Hospital in the Medical Center and other Shriner projects. Admission fee. |
| Bluebonnet Festival Chappell Hill Historical Society 9220 Poplar St. Chappell Hill, TX 77426 979-836-6033 | Festival honoring the bluebonnet, the state flower of Texas, held the first weekend in April. The wild flowers that adorn the Texas highways between Houston & Brenham are well worth a visit during March & April. The drive from Houston to Austin is one of the most glorious sights during the spring. There are no admission fees. There is a $5.00 parking fee. |
| WorldFest:Houston International Film Festival 713-965-9955 | Entries from all over the world. Directors, stars and producers appear throughout the festival. |
| Shell Houston Open Golf Tournament Redstone Golf Club 281-454-7000 | Prestigious nationally known tournament on a beautiful course. Benefiting Houston area charities, the tournament is one of the biggest events on the PGA Tour. |
| San Jacinto Day (April 21) San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site 3523 Battleground Road LaPorte TX 77571 281-479-2431 | Celebrates General Sam Houston's defeat of the Mexican Army. |
May | |
| Cinco de Mayo Celebration (May 5) 713-865-4500 | Large celebration normally held at Hermann Park, beginning with a downtown parade, commemorating Mexico's independence from Spain. It includes dancing, food and entertainment. Admission free. |
| The Art Car Parade 713-926-6368 | Parade of outlandishly decorated cars, bicycles, lawnmowers and just about anything on wheels is the oldest and largest of its kind. Part of related art car events produced by the Orange Show Foundation. |
| Mediterranean Festival 3505 Bissonnet 713-665-5252 | Sponsored by the St. George Orthodox Church. Great food, pastries and wine from the Mediterranean area. Music, folk dancing and donkey rides. Admission fee. |
| Pin Oak Charity Horse Show Pin Oak Charity Horse Show Assn 713-621-6290 | All-breed championship horses and performers from across the country. |
June | |
| Houston International Boat, Sport & Travel Show Reliant Center | Sponsored by the Boating Trade Assoc. of Greater Houston. The entire marine Astrohall industry is represented on one floor, 125 acres of boats, as well as campers, motor homes, entire spectrum of sports equipment, travel information. |
| Juneteenth Festival (June 19) | Sponsored by the National Emancipation Association. Various festivals around town. Commemorates the day it was announced in Galveston to Texas slaves that President Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation two years before. |
July | |
| Chevy's Freedom Over Texas with Fireworks Presented by Shell Eleanor Tinsley Park at Buffalo Bayou 713-522-9723 | Houston's official July 4th celebration provides the largest fireworks spectacular in the metropolitan area. Admission fee. |
| Houston Shakespeare Festival 713-743-3003 | Performance of famous Shakespearean plays by the University of Houston Theatre Department at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park. |
| Sharpstown Fireworks Show Sharpstown Center 7500 Bellaire Blvd. 713-777-5391 | 4th of July event; heavy traffic, but worth the effort. |
| 4th of July Fireworks Over Clear Lake "Salute to America" 281-488-7676 | Lights up the sky over Clear Lake. Best view from Clear Lake Park on NASA Rd. 1. |
| International Gem & Jewelry Show Reliant Center 832-667-1400 | Huge collection of sparkling jewels and natural ore samples. Admission fee. |
August | |
| Blessing of the Shrimp Fleet Kemah Boardwalk 409-763-4311 | Two-day event includes street dance, shrimp boil and carnival. The Bay Shrimp Fleet puts on its finest for this annual occasion. |
| Houston International Jazz Festival Verizon Wireless Theater and Bayou Place 713-839-7000 | The largest jazz festival in the Southwest, benefiting Jazz Education, Inc. |
September | |
| Fiestas Patrias 713-926-2636 | Hispanic heritage celebration parade. |
| Houston Industries Power of Houston Celebration | A week-long celebration of Houston's power of diversity and spirit of volunteerism. |
October | |
| Bayou City Art Festival Downtown 1001 Westheimer 713-521-0133 | Arts, crafts, food and entertainment near City Hall and Hermann Square, as well as Sam Houston Park. Weekends only. |
| Houston Gun Collectors Show Reliant Center 713-981-6463 | Antique and modern firearms exhibition. Admission fee. |
| Houston in-the-Water Boat Show Watergate Yachting Center Clear Lake Shores, TX 281-334-1511 | End of September or first of October. |
| Greek Festival 3511 Yoakum Blvd. 713-526-5377 | Sponsored by the Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Authentic Greek food, pastries, music and folk dancing. Admission fee. |
| Heritage Days/The Long Horn Rod Run Old Town Spring 1-800-653-8696 | About 20 miles from Houston via I 45 North to Spring/Cypress exit #70A, turn right and go east one mile to Main St. Restored homes and businesses dating back to early 1900s come to life with a parade, band music, old west gunfights, outdoor food booths, children's petting zoo and many specialty shops and boutiques selling arts and crafts, antiques. |
| Texas Renaissance Festival 1-800-458-3435 281-356-2178 | A look back at the 16th Century with excellent food, games, art and performers. |
| International Quilt Festival George R. Brown Convention Center 713-781-6864 | A week-long event, the largest quilt show in the world, exhibiting more than 1000 antique and contemporary quilts, cloth dolls and wearable art, and offering classes taught by world famous fiber artists. Admission fee. |
November | |
| Martyn Farm Armand Bayou Fall Festival 8500 Bay Area Blvd. 281-474-2551 | Step back in time to the early 1900s and celebrate old-fashioned farm life with music, crafts, demonstrations, wagon rides, food and great fun! Learn basket weaving, candle making, rope making and other early farm skills. Paddle a canoe in the pond and taste sugar cane or cane syrup. Admission fee. |
| Mayor's Downtown Houston Holiday Celebration | The Mayor kicks off the holiday season with a festive family celebration. |
| Miracle on Main Street | Ice skating amid downtown's skyscrapers. |
| Thanksgiving Day Parade Downtown Houston | A theme parade with special salute to the Christmas season. |
December | |
| Dickens on the Strand 2016 Strand Galveston 409-765-7834 | Re-creation of the Dickens London of the 1800s. Authentic costumes and performances of A Christmas Carol. (Usually the first Friday, Saturday and Sunday of December). Admission fee. |
| Annual Candlelight Tours Allen Parkway at 1100 Bagby 713-655-1912 | Sponsored by the Harris County Heritage Society. Tour the historic structures in Sam Houston Park which are decorated for Christmas reflecting each home's era. Admission fee. |
| Yuletide at Bayou Bend #1 Westcott St. (off Memorial) 713-639-7750 | Featuring carolers and fine collections of early American furnishings and art decorated for the season. Admission fee. |