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

Latin superstar Karol G brings global tour to Houston in September

Photo by Chris Cornejo

Karol G will perform at AT&T Stadium in Houston on September 27.

Colombian singer Karol G, fresh off a headlining performance at Coachella, will capitalize on that exposure with a world tour that will come to the newly renamed Reliant Stadium on September 27, 2026.

Starting on July 24 in Chicago, Illinois, the “Viajando Por El Mundo Tropitour" - which literally means "traveling around the world" - will stop in 39 cities around the globe over the course of exactly one year, ending in Milan, Italy on July 24, 2027.

In addition to Houston, Karol G will play Texas shows in San Antonio on September 2, El Paso on September 6, and Arlington on October 15.

The tour will see the singer become the first Latina artist to headline stadiums across Europe as part of a global tour.

The first Latina artist to headline Coachella, Karol G has slowly but surely made her way into superstar status.

After appearing on the Colombian music competition show El Factor X at age 14, she released multiple songs independently before putting out her debut album, Unstoppable, in 2017.

That album went to No. 2 on Billboard's Top Latin Albums chart, and each of her subsequent four albums has gone to No. 2 or No. 1 there. Each of her last two albums, most recently Tropicoqueta in 2025, made the top 3 on the overall Billboard 200.

Karol G has also collaborated with many other big Latin stars, including fellow Colombian Shakira, Becky G, Peso Pluma, Anuel AA, J Balvin, and more.

Tickets for the tour, promoted by Live Nation, will be available starting on Monday, April 27 through various presales.

To be eligible for the artist presale in the USA, Canada, and Europe, fans must register at karolgmusic.com by Friday, April 24 at 9 am.

General on-sale timing will vary by market. Fans should check karolgmusic.com for specific details regarding their city.

VIAJANDO POR EL MUNDO TROPITOUR TOUR DATES

Fri, Jul 24 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field Stadium
Wed, Jul 29 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Stadium
Sun, Aug 2 – Landover, MD – Northwest Stadium
Fri, Aug 7 – Las Vegas, NV – Allegiant Stadium
Fri, Aug 14 – Inglewood, CA – SoFi Stadium
Fri, Aug 21 – Santa Clara, CA – Levi's Stadium
Wed, Aug 26 – Seattle, WA – Lumen Field
Sat, Aug 29 – Glendale, AZ – State Farm Stadium
Wed, Sep 2 – San Antonio, TX – Alamodome
Sun, Sep 6 – El Paso, TX – Sun Bowl Stadium
Sat, Sep 12 – Foxborough, MA – Gillette Stadium
Thu, Sep 17 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium
Thu, Sep 24 – Atlanta, GA – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Sun, Sep 27 – Houston, TX – Reliant Stadium
Fri, Oct 2 – Miami, FL – Hard Rock Stadium
Fri, Oct 9 – Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium
Thu, Oct 15 – Arlington, TX – AT&T Stadium
Fri, Nov 6 – Monterrey, MX – Estadio BBVA
Fri, Nov 13 – Mexico City, MX – Estadio GNP Seguros
Fri, Nov 27 – San José, CR – Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica
Fri, Dec 4 – Bogotá, CO – Nemesio Camacho El Campín Stadium
Fri, Jan 15 – Quito, EC – Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa
Fri, Jan 22 – Lima, PE – Estadio Nacional
Thu, Jan 28 – Santiago, CL – Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos
Fri, Feb 5 – Buenos Aires, AR – Estadio River Plate
Fri, Feb 12 – São Paulo, BR – Mercado Livre Arena Pacaembu
Fri, Feb 19 – Santo Domingo, DO – Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez
Fri, Feb 26 – San Juan, PR – Estadio Hiram Bithorn Sosa
Thu, Jun 3 – Barcelona, ES – Estadi Olímpic
Fri, Jun 11 – Sevilla, ES – Estadio Olímpico La Cartuja
Fri, Jun 18 – Lisbon, PT – Estádio da Luz
Thu, Jun 24 – Madrid, ES – Riyadh Air Metropolitano
Thu, Jul 1 – Paris, FR – Paris La Défense Arena
Tue, Jul 6 – London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Sat, Jul 10 – Amsterdam, NL – Johan Cruijff ArenA
Wed, Jul 14 – Warsaw, PL – PGE Narodowy
Sat, Jul 17 – Düsseldorf, DE – Merkur Spiel-Arena
Wed, Jul 21 – Lyon, FR – Groupama Stadium
Sat, Jul 24 – Milan, IT – San Siro

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