Weekend events planner

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

UPDATE: The Houston Astros World Championship Parade and Celebration will take place on Friday, November 3, at 2 pm in downtown Houston. The parade will begin on Smith at Lamar, proceed north on Smith, east on Walker, south on Milam, west on Pease, north on Smith, and ending at Lamar Street.

The parade staging area between Smith and Taft on Lamar will close to traffic at noon. The route will close to traffic beginning at 1pm for the parade honoring the players, coaches, staff and their families, culminating in a celebration at Houston City Hall.

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Break out your calendars and start planning for the weekend. From fun-filled festivals to a Broadway-bound musical from a beloved beach paradise singer and a book signing event with a Pulitzer Prize Award-winning novelist, we've got your guide to the city's top events. Here are the top nine things to do in Houston this Thursday through Sunday.

For more options, check out the full CultureMap Events Calendar.

Get inspired
Thursday, November 2
Join members of Houston's startup and creative community at The Founders Festival presented by The Cannon. Lawson Gow, owner and CEO of The Cannon, a new 17-acre coworking campus, hosts the evening, which boasts tunes from DJ Indo, bites by Aces of Taste, Dolce Neve, Peli Peli, Ramen Tatsu-Ya, and The Tasting Room, and sips by Cinco Vodka, No Label Brewery, Seersucker Southern Style Gin, and 9th Hour Coffee. Proceeds benefit the Hurricane Harvey relief fund at nonprofit, Casa de Esperanza. (6-9 pm; tickets: $25 per person)
1336 Brittmoore Rd.

Gear up
Thursday, November 2 and Saturday, November 4
Don your cocktail attire and head to The Dunlavy for an evening of drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and dancing to tunes by Austin-based band The Nightowls hosted by indoor cycling studio RYDE-River Oaks. From fancy duds to spinning gear, on Saturday, take it from the dance floor to the bike at RYDE’s studio for “RYDE for a Reason.” Book a cycle, select your level of charitable donation, and break a sweat for the cause during any of five spin classes. Proceeds from both events benefit the Alzheimer's Association.
(7 pm on Thursday, November 2, tickets: $75 per person; 8 am on Saturday, November 4, tickets: cost of a class and a charitable donation in the amount of your choice)
3422 Allen Pkwy.
2005 W Gray St.

Set the stage
Thursday, November 2-Saturday, November 4
Six of the city’s mid-sized and small theaters join together to present Read Fest, a series of free staged or concert readings of new plays, or plays new to Houston at the midtown destination, the MATCH. (various times; tickets: admission is free)
3400 Main St.; 713-521-4533

Broadway preview
Thursday, November 2-Sunday, November 5
Escape to Margaritaville, a musical comedy featuring both original songs and beloved Jimmy Buffett classics, makes an eight-day stop at Houston’s The Hobby Center before heading to the Marquis Theatre on Broadway in 2018. (various times; tickets: $35-$175 per person)
800 Bagby St.; 713-315-2525

Hit parade
Thursday, November 2
Ringo Starr hits the stage at Smart Financial Centre. The former Beatles drummer is joined by members of His All Starr Band, including Todd Rundgren, Gregg Rolie (Santana, Journey), Steve Lukather (Toto), Richard Page (Mr. Mister), Warren Ham, and Gregg Bissonette. The group will cover songs from the Beatles as well as Toto, Santana, and more. (8 pm; tickets: $49.50 - $199.50 per person)
18111 Lexington Blvd, Sugar Land; 281-207-6278

Meet and greet
Friday, November 3
Jeffrey Eugenides, author of the acclaimed Pulitzer-Prize novel Middlesex, talks about his first short story collection, Fresh Complaint, signs books, and hosts a brief question-and-answer session with the audience at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church. The event is presented by Brazos Bookstore. (7:30 pm; tickets: $27 per person; each ticket comes with a hardcover copy of Fresh Complaint).
6221 Main St.; 713-523-0701

Brews and ‘cue
Saturday, November 4
The Woodlands area eatery Hubbell & Hudson presents its second craft beer and barbecue festival. Sip rare, vintage and one-off specialty beers from five craft breweries. Dig into barbecue, from pork spare ribs to sausage to Akaushi Wagyu brisket and 45-day dry-aged beef ribs from chef Austin Simmons and chef Anthony Compofelice. Proceeds go to proceeds Casa Child Advocates of Montgomery County. (12-4 pm; tickets: $45 per person)
24 Waterway Ave.; 281-203-5641

Song bird
Saturday, November 4
Four-time Grammy winner Renée Fleming performs at Jones Hall. The star soprano has sung at such notable events as the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony and the 2008 Olympic Games in in Beijing. She will be accompanied by Richard Bado, a chorus master in the Houston Grand Opera. (7:30 pm; tickets: $34-$104 per person)
615 Louisiana St.; 713-227-3974

Art fest
Saturday, November 4-Sunday, November 5
Don’t miss the second annual Art at Discovery Green, a fine art and contemporary craft festival featuring more than 75 artists from across the U.S. There will also be a beer garden, live music, craft activities, and multiple vendors selling jewelry, furniture, painting and sculptures. The auctioning of a Houston Strong weaving created by Texas-based artist duo Sunny Sliger and Marianne Newsom of The Color Condition will benefit the Harvey Arts Recovery Fund. (10 am; tickets: admission is free)
1500 McKinney St.; 713-400-7336

The second annual Art at Discovery Green is your last chance to see downtown art installation, Arcade.

Houston, Discovery Green, Arcade art installation, August 2017

Photo by Joel Luks/The CKP Group

The second annual Art at Discovery Green is your last chance to see downtown art installation, Arcade.

event-planner

natural disaster prep

Purchase certain emergency supplies tax-free this weekend in Texas

Generac portable generator, emergency preparation supplies

Generac/Facebook

Portable generators that cost less than $3,000 are eligible for a tax break this weekend.

Texans will be able to purchase critical emergency supplies tax-fee during the statewide Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday from April 26-28. It's not only a good time to prepare for any natural disasters in 2025, but to stock up on household necessities like batteries, fire extinguishers, and carbon monoxide detectors.

Shoppers can purchase certain emergency supplies tax-free starting at 12:01 am on Saturday, April 26, and the "holiday" runs until midnight on Monday, April 28. There is no limit on the number of qualifying items that can be purchased during the weekend. Purchases can be made in store, online, through the mail, and via custom order as long as they take place April 26-28.

Qualifying emergency supplies
The list of qualifying tax-free items is available on The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts' website, but they must be purchased under certain price brackets.

For example, portable generators that cost less than $3,000 qualify for a tax break, as well as ladders and hurricane shutters that cost less than $300.

Delivery, shipping, handling, and transportation charges are included in the sales price, according to the Comptroller. So if a shopper buys a $299 rescue ladder and is charged a $10 delivery fee, the total sales price for the purchase is $309, and tax would need to be paid for that sales price.

Additional items that qualify for a tax break as long as they cost less than $75 include:

Axes
Batteries – single or multipack (AAA cell, AA cell, C cell, D cell, 6 volt or 9 volt)
Carbon monoxide detectors
Fire extinguishers
First aid kits
Fuel containers
Ground anchor systems and tie-down kits
Hatchets
Ice products – including reusable and artificial ice
Light sources – including those that are battery operated or portable self-powered sources, as well as candles, flashlights, and lanterns
Mobile telephone batteries and mobile telephone chargers
Non-electric can openers
Non-electric coolers and ice chests for food storage
Radios – including portable self-powered radios, battery operated radios, two-way radios, and weather band radios
Smoke detectors
Tarps and other plastic sheeting

The Comptroller's website also reminds shoppers that over-the-counter items – like antibacterial hand sanitizer, soap, spray and wipes — are always exempt from sales tax if they are labeled with a "Drug Facts" panel in compliance with Food and Drug Administration regulations.

Non-qualifying items
Medical masks, face masks, and gloves of any kind do not qualify for a tax exemption. Other taxable items including toilet paper, cleaning supplies (such as disinfectants and bleach wipes), vehicle or boat batteries, chainsaws, plywood, extension ladders, and stepladders. Camping equipment and supplies, including stoves and tents, are also not eligible for a tax break.

Additionally, any repair or replacement parts for emergency preparation supplies do not qualify for tax exemptions, and neither do any services that are performed on or related to those supplies.

If customers buy a tax-exempt item between April 26-28 and are still taxed, they may request a refund from the seller on the tax paid for the item. The seller can grant the refund to the buyer, or provide them with Form 00-985, Assignment to Right to Refund, which would allow the customer to file a claim for their refund through the Comptroller's website.

emergency supplies tax free weekend taxfree holiday texas