weekend event planner

Here are the top 15 things to do in Houston this weekend

Enjoy Puppies for Breakfast this weekend.

This weekend offers a chance to go wild at the Houston Zoo's 100th birthday celebration. Speaking of animals, folks will gather for the annual tribute to furbabies: Puppies for Breakfast (read on).

One of America's wittiest and most sardonic humorists comes to town, while a local artist makes a splash at a beloved brewery. And Tuesdays may be for tacos, but this Sunday offers an ultimate taco cookoff.

Feast on the fun: here are your best bets for the weekend.

Thursday, April 28

Holocaust Museum Houston and Kenny and Ziggy's present Chef Supreme Tasting Party
Holocaust Museum Houston and Kenny and Ziggy's will host this tasting party, which will honor Marty Ginsburg, Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s husband. Their marriage defied gender expectations of the period. Marty was a passionate supporter of RBG’s legal career and shared in child-rearing and household responsibilities long before men were expected to do so. This unique event will feature recipes from the book Chef Supreme: Martin Ginsburg. 5:30 pm.

Moody Center for the Arts presents Hilma
This multi-part opera by Daniel Zlatkin is an invitation to step into the world of Hilma af Klint, the occultist Swedish painter, considered by many as the first modern abstract artist. Through Zlatkin's original music and libretto, Hilma goes on a spiritual journey, aided by her living friends and astral guardians. Through five scenes, supported by an all-student cast and orchestra, the realization of Hilma's artistic vision unfolds. The two-night performances will take place in Lois Chiles Studio Theater. 7 pm.

Performing Arts Houston presents David Sedaris
With sardonic wit and incisive social critiques, David Sedaris (author of such books as Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk and Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls) has become one of America’s preeminent humor writers. The great skill with which he slices through cultural euphemisms and political correctness proves that Sedaris is a master of satire and one of the most observant writers addressing the human condition today. 7:30 pm.

Friday, May 29

The Donkeeboy & Friends Art Show at 8th Wonder Brewery
Join Donkeeboy and some of his friends for a night of local H-town art. Patrons will enjoy art by Donkeeboy and Donkeemom, Noke, David "Skeez181" Flores, Hop Muncher, M.Clark, Andrea Celeste, L'Eau, and Sir Los. DJ Jerry Gshock will be spinning for the duration of the art show, and Los Jefes Market will be on-site presenting handmade products that tell the unique story of the individuals who have created them. Top food trucks Blk Mkt Birria and Seoulside Wings will also be parked and ready to serve. 6 pm.

HTX Whiskey Weekend
City Place in Spring will host its first weekend full of wonderful food, fitness, and fermented fun. First up is the East Meets West Dinner, a ticketed dinner featuring a curated, four-course dinner in partnership with sustainability-focused food group,The Butcher’s Ball. Saturday will have A Taste of City Place, featuring a whiskey sampling area with a variety of distillers. And the outdoor brunch known as Waffles & Wheels will close things out. 6 pm.

Houston Cinema Arts Society presents Great Freedom
Houston Cinema Arts Society partners with Goethe Pop Up, Houston MFAH Films, and The Big Queer Picture Show to present the Houston premiere of this Cannes winner. In post-war Germany, Hans has been found guilty for his homosexuality, deemed grounds for imprisonment under Paragraph 175. As Hans returns to prison again and again, he develops an unlikely bond with his cellmate Viktor, a convicted murderer. What begins as revulsion blossoms over time into something far more tender. 7 pm.

Houston Symphony presents Andrés’ Farewell: Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony
For his final concert as Houston Symphony music director, Andrés Orozco-Estrada leads Mahler’s monumental Symphony No. 2, Resurrection. Contemplating the meaning of life and the mystery of death and culminating in a blaze of transcendence that shakes the rafters and soars to the heavens above, it is a concert experience unmatched in all of music. More than 200 orchestra and chorus members will fill the stage for this must-see event. The Saturday performance will be available to livestream. 8 pm (2:30 pm Sunday).

Saturday, April 30

Puppies for Breakfast at Market Square Park
Celebrating 11 years as Houston's original, one-of-a-kind dog festival, Puppies for Breakfast returns after a two-year hiatus — the biggest pup party of the year. The event features dog costume contests, 40 vendors, dog-centric brands, and the largest piñata in the world! The event is free and open to the public (and the public's furry friends, of course), but a $5 donation is encouraged to help local rescue. 10 am.

The Texas Beer Experience and Pop Fizz Click present Puro Pinche Podcasts
Come hang out at Big Owl Craft Brew House as several podcasts — Pop Fizz Click, Nerd Alert with Marty McGeek, Nothing Matters, TX Beer Experience, and Cold Beer Conversations — will record live for a special beer podcast collab. Turkey Forrest Brewing Co. will be showing off new brews, while Blank Flag FP will be serving food and Space City Snax will be coming with the micheladas. Noon.

Menil Collection Neighborhood Community Day
Enjoy an afternoon of art, music, poetry, and family activities in celebration of the museum’s vibrant neighborhood. Participating organizations include: DACAMERA, Houston Center for Photography, Inprint, The Menil Collection, Pride Chorus Houston, Rothko Chapel, Watercolor Art Society, and Writers in the Schools (WITS). Food and beverage vendors will be on site: 93’Til (non-alcoholic cocktails), Dibi Rapide (West African cuisine), Houston Sauce Co. (vegan comfort food), and Popston (popsicles). Noon-5 pm. Free.

Mont Art House & Bisong Art Gallery present "In Color"
Mont Art House and Bisong Art Gallery invite you to an open house event as they join in on the fun at the Sawyer Yards Spring Showcase. This event will feature artwork from Jason DeMeo, a contemporary artist working out of Central Florida creating art that instigates transformation & connection, and Wayne J. Bell, a local visual artist known for abstract expressionism with oil paint and unique knife-cut brushstrokes on canvas. 4 pm.

Free Radicals Record Release Backyard Bash
Free Radicals, a musical, political, and cultural force in Houston for over two decades, released their new album White Power Outage Vol. II earlier this month. This 25-track project is the follow-up to their critically acclaimed first volume, which was named Local Album of the Year by the Houston Chronicle. Continuing their quest to put an end to white supremacy, the Radicals will be celebrating the album's release with a show at the Continental Club. 7 pm.

Sunday, May 1

Houston Area Parkinson Society presents Blues, Brews and Barbecue
Blues, Brews and Barbecue will feature multiple blues bands (including Trudy Lynn, Steve Krase Band and Mean .44s), barbecue from 2 Guys 1 Pit BBQ & Catering, sweet treats from Tete Treats, games, and more. Proceeds from this event go toward funding the therapeutic exercise and support groups, social services, and educational programs that Houston Area Parkinson Society (HAPS) provides to those affected by Parkinson’s disease in eight Houston-area counties. Noon.

Bobcat Teddy's Taco Cook-off
Bobcat Teddy's will commemorate Cinco De Mayo festivities with a special Taco Cook-Off sponsored by Modelo Especial. For $20, guests can sample and vote for their favorite taco while relaxing with a cerveza or margaritas on the Bobcat Teddy’s patio. Live music will be playing throughout the day. 1 pm.

The Fish 20th Year Anniversary Celebration
The Fish Sushi Restaurant and Bar will be celebrating its 20-year anniversary with a party giving thanks to the City of Houston and Midtown, its original and current home for the past twenty years. The waitstaff will be serving complimentary samples of some of the Fish's most innovative, Japanese-inspired dishes. There will also be indoor and outdoor activities throughout the day including a celebratory lion dance, giveaways, raffles and more. 4 pm.

event-planner

Hottest Headlines of 2025

Ren Fest drama tops Houston's hottest entertainment headlines of 2025

Texas Renaissance Festival/ Facebook

The Texas Renaissance Festival returns October 11.

Editor's note: This year was a busy one for CultureMap's Entertainment section. A lawsuit brought changes to the Texas Renaissance Festival, country star Post Malone left a life-changing tip, and one of Houston's most respected pitmasters came up a little short on the national stage. Houston’s entertainment news proves the diversity of our city.

Read on for the 10 top Houston entertainment headlines of 2025:

1. Winner of Ren Fest lawsuit plans to keep the event mostly unchanged. The Texas Renaissance Festival got a new owner this year, following a contentious court battle. But what would that mean for the beloved fall festival that generations have come to love? Surprisingly little for attendees. The new owner vowed to keep RenFest mostly the same. “...We're sticking with what works,” said Anthony Laporte, the attorney representing the new owner. “...Both the old owners and the new ones are planning to give visitors a great time.”

Texas Renaissance Festival/ Facebook

The Texas Renaissance Festival has a new owner.

2. Judge rules Texas Renaissance Festival owner must sell his kingdom. For more than half a century, George Coulam reigned as king of the Texas Renaissance Festival in Todd Mission. In 2023, he agreed to sell the beloved festival, then reneged on the deal. In May, a Grimes County judge ordered the sale to go through in the culmination of a long legal battle. The drama behind the festival was depicted in the HBO docuseries Ren Faire.

3. Star Houston pitmaster flames out on Food Network barbecue competition. On July 20, Houston pitmaster Greg Gatlin’s run on the Food Network show BBQ Brawl came to an end. Judges criticized his preparation of New York strip with grilled broccolini with Calabrian chili. The owner of Gatlin’s BBQ and Gatlin’s Fins & Feathers, took the disappointing news in stride. “It hurts, but I think I did my family’s name proud,” he said.

4. Premier Houston nightclub group reopening iconic strip club this month. This summer, the Colorado Club became part of The Clé Group’s portfolio. The strip club was a magnet for A-listers in the 1990s and early ‘00s. Following the death of founder Dallas Fontenot in September 2021, the venue passed to his son Dakota, who ultimately decided to sell the club. The new owners upgraded the food and implemented a host of other improvements like state-of-the-art lighting and sound, an updated design, and multiple stages.

5. Bun B, Ludacris, Keith Sweat, and more throw epic birthday bonanza at RodeoHouston. Houston hip-hop legend Bun B threw himself a birthday party on March 7, in his appearance at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s Black Heritage Day. TSU’s Ocean of Soul and Prairie View A&M’s Marching Storm bands performed sets, and video greetings from celebs were part of the pre-concert festivities. The concert had strong performances but some unfortunate technical glitches.

6. All the White Linen Night parties happening in the Heights and beyond. From its beginnings in the Heights, White Linen Night has spread across the Bayou City. This list gave readers a guide to 25 of the summer tradition’s parties and specials, from a build-your-own succulent bar to band performances.

7. Post Malone shocks Houston bartender with 'life-changing' $20,000 tip. When the music superstar stopped in to visit The Railyard on Christmas Eve 2024, bar regulars picked up his tab. But that didn’t stop him from leaving a $20,000 tip for bartender Renee Brown. "His generosity … blew me away,” she said. “This definitely wasn't the Christmas Eve I was expecting, but one I'm forever thankful to have had."

8. RodeoHouston taps Post Malone, Bun B, Reba McEntire, and more for 2025 concerts. One of Houston’s most anticipated lineups was announced in January, at a media event at NRG Center. Performers for the March 4-23 event represented a variety of genres, heavily focused on country, but also including pop, rock, hip-hop, R&B, regional Mexican, and Christian music.

9. Nine Inch Nails hammers Houston at career-spanning Toyota Center concert. Rock And Roll Hall of Fame inductees Nine Inch Nails returned to Houston and the Toyota Center on September 12, opening the show with the industrial ballad “Right Where It Belongs.” “NIN has always had a forward propulsion,” wrote our reviewer Craig Hlavaty. “There’s no concept of nostalgia, just raw nerves endlessly being rediscovered by fresh ears.”

10. Post Malone's road show lifts up RodeoHouston with heart and soul. Months after headlining the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Post Malone was back in the Houston spotlight in a show that “was easily the hottest ticket of the season.” He used the evening to share his latest album F-1 Trillion, “a collection of expertly crafted pop-country.”

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