weekend event planner

Here are the top 10 things to do in Houston this weekend

The holidays are over, the weather is agreeable, and if traffic is any indicator, Houston is back in the swing of things. That means a slew of events for you to enjoy this weekend. Look for artful affairs, a rockin' Texas band, a food fest, and a fab dance party.

Thursday, January 10

Trans Film Series presents The Music Man
The Station Museum of Contemporary Art and Gender Reel Houston are in the middle of their Trans Film Series, a three-part series of films selected and presented by local trans individuals. This month's selection is the 1962 film adaptation of the Broadway musical The Music Man, selected and presented by Alexis Melvin. Melvin is president of the Transgender Foundation of America (TFA) and has been active in equality and transgender activism since the mid '60s. 7 pm.

Friday, January 11

Tapestry Players presents Little Women: The Broadway Musical
Written some 150 years ago, Louisa May Alcott's semi-autobiographical novel, Little Women, is a pioneering, feminist classic. The Civil War story of love and family deftly and subtly presents ambitious women in a way that's charmingly relatable more than a century later — to wit, a movie version starring Greta Gerwig is slated for next year. Alcott's tale has seen myriad adaptions on screen and stage, including a popular Broadway musical. Local fans can delight in Tapestry Players' presentation of the musical, which starts Friday and runs through Sunday. Directed by David Gow, with musical direction by Sid Davis. 7:30 pm Friday and Saturday; 2:30 pm Sunday, January 13.

Judy Ledgerwood: Power Pose at Barbara Davis Gallery
It's the third solo exhibition at Barbara Davis Gallery for Midwestern artist Judy Ledgerwood. Her latest collection features paintings that, while small to monumental in scale, are still vigorous, richly layered and fiercely colorful. While her painted shapes reference tapestries or quilts, she also exploits the unique material qualities of paint to position questions of value in the painterly tradition. It will be on display through February 9. 6-8:30 pm.

Rebecca Morris: The Ache of Bright at Blaffer Art Museum
With a title coming from a poem by Martha Ronk, in which she describes the affective qualities of sunlight in Los Angeles, abstract-painting Angeleno Rebecca Morris will give spectators 10 large-scale paintings, made by the Guggenheim Fellow over the last four years. This will be Morris’ first solo U.S. museum presentation since 2005 and the first time her work has ever been exhibited in Texas. It will be on display through March 16. 6 pm.

Rainbow on ICE at Discovery Green
Expect a very flamboyant — but still eco-friendly — evening with this annual LGBTQ celebration/ultimate dance party. DJ Joe Ross will be providing the music, while Drag Houston will come with some hellafied entertainment. (They are scheduled to reenact the music video for Ariana Grande's "thank u, next.") There will also be a mini-fashion show featuring costumes by Yahaira Dehill, made from recycled materials. 7-10 pm.

Culture Wars at Warehouse Live
Culture Wars isn't the current state of our country, but rather, an edgy, electro-rock trio from Austin that's poised to hit the big time. That should be enough for curious, local music geeks to step away from their burgeoning vinyl album collections and check them out live. Speaking of albums, serious music fans should check out the band's self-titled, debut EP, produced by longtime collaborator Robert Sewell and mixed by Manny Marroquin (Kanye West, Imagine Dragons) and Alan Moulder (The Killers, Nine Inch Nails).

Expect a raucous show and songs with an '80s new wave twist — like the catchy single “Money (Gimmie, Gimmie)” — that will get into your head and stay there. SWELLS and No Rehearsal will also be on the bill. 8 pm.

Stacyfest: a benefit for our friend Punk Rock Stacy at Rudyard's
For three nights straight, Rudyard's will be holding a series of benefit shows for a good friend of theirs. Stacy Hartoon, better known as Punk Rock Stacy, has been a fixture in Houston's punk rock scene for years. Last November, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor and, now, several bands in and around H-Town (The Beaumonts, Denim Demons, Project Grimm, etc.) will be performing to raise money for her medical bills. And if you can't turn up at any of the shows, there is also a GoFundMe page. 8 pm (5 pm Sunday).

Saturday, January 12

Hops n' Hot Sauce Festival at SpindleTap Brewery
When you partake in something very spicy, don't you feel the first thing that will, if not alleviate the pain, then make things slightly buzzed is a nice, cold beer? Well, this fest will offer both piping-hot delicacies from food vendors as well as foamy, satisfying ale from SpindleTap Brewery. There is also a hot pepper eating contest, a spicy food challenge, and a silent auction. And don't forget that a portion of ticket sales go to Addi's Faith Foundation. 11 am.

Le Jardin de Nicole presents The Mad Hatter's Luncheon
Le Jardin de Nicole (aka Nicole's Garden) is organized exclusively for charitable purposes. So, here we go with this luncheon, which will be a grand affair as ladies and gentlemen showcase fancy, creative hats that are as big as Texas. The luncheon will also honor some cutting edge change-makers, whose impact have positively affected the lives of Houstonians and exemplified healthy living. All proceeds will help Nicole’s Garden underwrite Health Fest Houston. 11 am.

"Sharon Kopriva: Meditations, Migrations and Muses" at Deborah Colton Gallery
Yet another female artist will be showing off a solo exhibition for the third time this weekend. This multimedia production is the work of Houston artist Sharon Kopriva. Her career has taken her through investigations of Pre-Columbian cultures in Peru, exclamations of her Catholic faith, inspirations from the spiritual forest of the Pacific Northwest and, most recently, an exploration of Muses of the Visual Arts. It will be on display through February 23. 6-8 pm.

Sunday, January 13

Senso at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
The MFAH's "Discovering the Passionate Films of Luchino Visconti" film series will be closing up shop this weekend. There will be screenings of essential Visconti films Death in Venice (Morte a Venezia) on Friday and Il Gattopardo (The Leopard) on Saturday. On Sunday, there's a last-chance screening of his 1954 period costume drama Senso, about a married Venetian countess (Alida Valli) whose allegiance to her Italian people during wartime gets sidetracked when she has an affair with a caddish Austrian officer (Farley Granger). 5 pm.

Austin act Culture Wars will rock Warehouse Live.

Photo courtesy of Culture Wars

Austin act Culture Wars will rock Warehouse Live.

event-planner

where to party on NYE

Close out 2025 with a bang at these Houston New Year's Eve parties

Photo by Cathlin McCullough

Experience sets by four DJs at Meow Wolf.

Whether 2025 has been good or bad, you owe it to yourself to end this year with a bang. And that’s why your friends at CultureMap have laid out more than 20 places – bars, pubs, nightclubs, even a children’s museum – that’ll be closing out 2025 in a grand, festive manner.

Happy New Year, and drink as much bubbly as you can reasonably consume — just leave the driving to someone else:

Art Club’s first NYE will feature one of their favorite artists from this year: Neon Indian. Expect an unpredictable sonic journey with an artist who crafts immersive DJ sets that weave deep cuts, vintage textures, and dancefloor energy. 10 pm.

Axelrad will have a free NYE bash with a champagne toast, a midnight cash ball drop, and live music from bands Azul and Rupert & Friends, as well as DJ sets from Rikkiton, Eleven Toes Down, and IYKYK. Shop Local Market will also be there with vendors. 7 pm.

Bar Boheme will get the New Year started with Rudy Rincon & GRUPO KACHE, delivering infectious rhythms that'll have people dancing all night long. They’ll also have an all-you-can-eat buffet until 10 pm, a champagne toast with grapes, and more. 7 pm.

Best Regards will transform into a full winter wonderland/Alps-inspired Après-Ski lounge for “An Après Affair.” For this champagne-forward celebration (complete with DJ-led energy building to a midnight toast), faux fur, metallics, and "Alpine-chic" attire are encouraged. 8 pm.

Children’s Museum Houston will throw its annual NYE-during-the-day bash for kids, where they’ll be counting down until the clock strikes noon. The first 200 children will receive “Happy New Year” necklaces to kick off the celebration. 9 am.

Constellation Field in Sugar Land will host a midnight fireworks display as part of its Sugar Land Holiday Lights display. Adults (21-plus) can upgrade to the New Year's Eve Ball in the Regions Bank Club that includes an open bar, DJ, a champagne toast, and premium seating for the fireworks. 6 pm.

Dan Electro’s will be mixing vibes, funk, world reggae, and rock & roll for a New Year's concert in the Heights. Bayou City Funk, demrootsmusic, and Charlie Danger’s Jet Set will play the music, while champagne will be available for purchase. 8:30 pm.

The Flat will be opening its doors to partygoers looking to ring in the New Year with Jamaican grooves. For this NYE edition of “Reggae Wednesday,” Flabba Dabba and KingFari will be spinning tunes while Caribbean food will be available on the patio. 9 pm.

Flying Saucer Draught Emporium will have its third annual, interactive murder-mystery event on NYE. Ticket holders get access to the mystery and a complimentary welcome beer or cocktail, as well as private dining and access to their cocktail and reserve beer menu. 7 pm.

The Foundation Room at House of Blues will get real soulful with “If It Don't Feel Like 90s RnB: New Year's Eve Edition.” Host/local R&B vocalist Keith Jacobs will be providing the vocals, while The Ken Chatham Project serves up the sounds. 9 pm.

Grooves of Houston will throw a “Tux & Tennies” party, where dressing up in your finest evening wear (complete with fresh fly kicks) is a requirement. There will be a midnight cash balloon drop, a champagne toast, a brunch buffet, and much more. 8 pm.

Heights Social will be the starting point for the Heights NYE celebration on W. 20th St. For $60 (and two drinks), you can skip the line and check out the parties at Heights Social, BLVD Park, Say No Mas, and Cattlemen’s Country Club. 8 pm.

Hotel Saint Augustine will be throwing a free soiree in their listening lounge. Described as an evening “filled with elegance and indulgence,” with a complimentary midnight toast. But, to be honest, they had us at “music, decadent caviar, and truffles.” 9 pm.

Hotel ZaZa Memorial City will roll out the red carpet for a Hollywood-style NYE, so dress to impress. Wine, beer and cocktails will be flowing, with a bubbly toast popping off at midnight. There will also be live entertainment and a hors d'oeuvres station. 10 pm.

Houston Museum of Natural Science will ring in the New Year with “Mixers and Elixirs: New Year's Eve.” Enjoy live music from Danny Ray and the Atlantic Street Band, and catch a screening of Ocean’s Eleven (2001) in the Wortham Giant Screen Theatre. 9 pm.

McGonigel’s Mucky Duck continues its tradition of celebrating Irish New Year’s Eve, where they get their “Auld Lang Syne” on at 6 pm. Pat Byrne, Kristopher Wade, EJ Jones, and Frances Cunningham will be around with some fiddle music. 4:30 pm.

Meow Wolf Houston will have its first-ever NYE celebration inside Radio Tave, giving guests full access to explore the worlds while moving through distinct DJ-driven zones. The lineup features Houston artists Machine Elves, IMAX713, PHARAX, and KINOTE. 8 pm.

Neil’s Bahr will be adding something new to their annual NYE rager – karaoke! At their new location, partygoers will get the chance to sing their heads off. The party will also offer cheap champagne, classic cocktails, silly hats, and all the free hors d'oeuvres you can handle. 8 pm.

Numbers will serve up another NYE spectacular, which includes a $2,026 balloon drop at midnight, along with a champagne toast, and complimentary party favors. Longtime Numbers DJ Wes Wallace will be in the booth spinning. 9 pm.

Off the Record Listening Bar is planning a big New Year's bash with live sets from Keith Jacobs (again) & the B-Sides Band, DJ Ortiz, DJ Youngstreetz, and FlemmDoggyDogg. A welcome cocktail is given to the first 50 RSVPs. 8 pm.

Pimlico Irish Pub will continue its tradition of celebrating NYE on Ireland time, when the clock strikes midnight at 6 pm. They will have complimentary swag, a champagne toast, and a livestream of the Ireland NYE celebration. 2 pm.

POST’s New Year's Eve Celebration features a Great Gatsby-inspired celebration of glitz, glamour and over-the-top excitement. The grand finale will be a midnight fireworks spectacle orchestrated by pyrotechnic artists Celestial Displays. 9 pm.

Shoeshine Charley’s Big Top Lounge will have a NYE bash with performances by rockabilly group Shame on Me, synth-punk rockers TV Dolls, and Americana band Brightwire. There will also be a free champagne toast at midnight. 8 pm.

The Spot Lounge & Bar will celebrate NYE with its signature welcoming energy, music, handcrafted cocktails, and bubbly. A limited-edition, holiday cocktail lineup features festive twists on classics, blending bold seasonal flavors with approachable comfort. 2 pm.

Tejas Brewery will be celebrating the New Year with a rooftop shindig. Your ticket includes a free first beer and a champagne toast at midnight, as well as live music (from brotherly rock trio Wolf Moon) all night and a great view of the downtown fireworks. 8 pm.

Velocity - Sim Racing Lounge will have a special, family-friendly celebration. They’ll be hosting an exclusive ticketed event featuring unlimited sim racing, a live DJ, goodies throughout the night, light bites and, of course, that midnight champagne toast. 7 pm.

houston new year's eve entertainment