weekend event planner

Here are the top 8 things to do in Houston this weekend

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents "Electrifying Design: A Century of Lighting"

"Electrifying Design: A Century of Lighting" opens at the MFAH this weekend.

Photo courtesy of Drift

Houston has endured a grueling week and temps not seen in decades. Thousands are without power, water — or in many cases, both. Some areas present challenges such as no electricity and iced-over roads and could be that way for days.

Yet, as the city slowly — very slowly — begins to thaw and reopen, some weekend events are still on for those looking for ways to (understandably) de-stress.

We send our very best wishes to those who are struggling and as a reminder, here are restaurants serving food for dine-in and takeway, grocery stores open, and warming stations ready to help.

And for those willing to venture out, here is some weekend fun that awaits.

Thursday, February 18

UH2U: Exclusively for Everyone - Public Art of the University of Houston System
Join Maria C. Gaztambide, PhD, director and chief curator of Public Art of the University of Houston System, as she discusses one of UH’s and the City of Houston’s most unique, cultural gems. She’ll touch upon Public Art UHS’s storied history, the evolution of its collection and recent projects, including the temporary exhibition Color Field. On view through May 31, the exhibition is the first curated exhibition of outdoor sculptures at UH and among the largest ever presented in Houston. 6:30 pm.

Walter Mosley in conversation with Oline H. Cogdill
This weekend, the beloved mystery bookstore Murder by The Book will have something for all those Easy Rawlins fans out there. Famed novelist Walter Mosley will be discussing Blood Grove, his latest book starring his beloved detective protagonist, for a virtual event. He’ll be in conversation with mystery-fiction reviewer Oline H. Cogdill. You can access the event over at Murder by The Book’s YouTube or Facebook page. 7:30 pm.

Friday, February 19

Youth America Grand Prix 22nd Season 2021 Regional Semi-Finals
As the global pandemic has put the performing arts world largely on pause, Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) – the world’s largest student ballet competition – is moving forward with safely conducting large-scale, live and virtual scholarship auditions to ensure the future of dance. From Friday to Sunday, hundreds of aspiring ballet dancers — ages 9 to 19 — from all over Texas will be at the YAGP ballet scholarship auditions, dancing to win. 9 am.

Foltz Fine Art presents Susu Meyer: "Contemporary Texas Landscapes" opening weekend
On Friday and Saturday, Foltz Fine Art will present the first solo exhibition at the gallery for this Houston-based artist. Meyer captures the beauty and serenity found across the state, from Hill Country rippling waters to West Texas expanses; from lonely country roads to the lush Japanese Gardens at Hermann Park. The exhibition will remain on view by appointment only through March 20. 11 am.

The Garden Theatre presents New Beginnings
New Beginnings, the inaugural cabaret of The Garden Theatre, will feature an eclectic mix of musical theatre and pop music. It will include Houston favorites Seth Cunningham, Daniel Edwards, Natalie Nassar, and Courtlin Parisher. Featured in the piece will be Austin Colburn (on Friday night) and Lauren Salazar (on Saturday night). The cabaret will have extremely limited seating, and will also be presented virtually. 7:30 pm.

Saturday, February 20

Dive Pirates Foundation presents Dive Pirates Ball
Now in its 17th year, the Dive Pirates Ball will be going virtual this time around. Apparently, nothing can stop these folks from getting together with injured veterans, law enforcement, emergency first responders, and others who are medically qualified and physically disabled and celebrating the freedom of adaptive scuba diving. This event will include a keynote speaker, live auction, donations games and a giveaway chance for everyone who registers for the event. 8 pm.

Sunday, February 21

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents "Electrifying Design: A Century of Lighting" opening day
Look for a celebration of lighting devices — innovative, practical, delightful, and fun. The exhibition examines lighting as a transforming force in daily life and in major design movements. Rare and limited-production examples by the world’s leading designers are presented in three sections, organized by theme rather than chronologically. Amplifying the works on view are three large-scale immersive experiences. On display through Sunday, May 16. 12:30 pm.

Girl Scout Cookies and Wine Pairing at the 19th Street Wine Garden
Here’s something you wouldn’t expect would go together nicely. Come and indulge in these timeless cookies, paired with artisan wines from We Olive in the adjacent 19th Street Wine Garden, at this outdoor event. For $25 a pop, you’ll get five different cookies with five, 2-ounce wine tastes. In case of inclement weather, this event will be moved indoors, inside We Olive, while maintaining six feet between tables and other COVID procedures. 1 pm.

event-planner

Concert News

Jack Johnson rides into Houston on surf-themed 2026 tour

Photo by Tahnei Roy

Jack Johnson will play at Dos Equis Pavilion in Dallas on August 30, 2026.

Singer-songwriter Jack Johnson, known his for laidback surf-rock music, will embark on the SURFILMUSIC Tour in 2026, which will include a stop at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands on Friday, August 28.

The expansive 43-date North American tour, which starts on June 19 in Gilford, New Hampshire, will have three separate legs.

The three Texas dates — The Woodlands on August 28, Austin on August 29, and Dallas on August 30 — will be part of the second leg, where Johnson will be joined by Lake Street Dive.

The tour is Johnson’s first since 2022 and will celebrate a new era of music, film, and environmental connection rooted in his 20+ year career.

Johnson is touring in support of a forthcoming soundtrack, scored by Johnson and Hermanos Gutiérrez for a new documentary, SURFILMUSIC, that chronicles Johnson’s evolution from surfer to filmmaker to musician.

The film, which will be released in 2026, weaves through the making of his iconic surf films Thicker Than Water (1999) and The September Sessions (2000), which paved the way for his music career.

It celebrates the lifelong friendships and ocean-driven community that shaped Johnson’s path, and features many of the surfers who appeared in the original films, including Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, and the Malloy Brothers.

Johnson released his first album, Brushfire Fairytales, in 2001, and he has gone on to put out eight other albums, most recently Meet the Moonlight in 2022.

Fans can register for the Jack Johnson presale at jackjohnsonmusic.com, now through Sunday, November 9. The presale begins Monday, November 10, 2025 at 10 am local time and runs through general on-sale date of Friday, November 14.

Jack Johnson SURFILMUSIC 2026 Tour Dates

June 19 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
June 20 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
June 21 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
June 24 – Saratoga, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
June 26 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
June 27 – Philadelphia, PA – Highmark Mann Center
June 28 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
June 30 – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre
July 1 – Canandaigua, NY – CMAC
July 3 – Burgettstown, PA – Pavilion at Star Lake
July 4 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
July 5 – Grand Rapids, MI – Acrisure Amphitheater
July 7 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
July 8 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
July 10 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
July 11 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
July 12 – Shakopee, MN – Minnesota Quarry Amphitheater
August 18 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
August 19 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
August 21 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
August 22 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park
August 23 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
August 25 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater
August 26 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater
August 28 – The Woodlands, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
August 29 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
August 30 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
September 1 – Riverside, MO – MORTON Amphitheater
September 2 – Greenwood Village, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
September 3 – Greenwood Village, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
September 4 – West Valley City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
September 6 – Stateline, NV – Lake Tahoe Amphitheatre at Caesars Republic
September 26 – George, WA – The Gorge Amphitheatre
September 27 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater
September 28 – Troutdale, OR – McMenamins Edgefield Amphitheater
September 30–October 1 – Berkeley, CA – The Greek Theatre
October 3 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl
October 4 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl
October 6 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
October 9 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
October 10– Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
October 11– Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl

concerts music