The beginning of May in Houston brings an eclectic weekend full of events, including a bingo fundraiser, dragon boat races, a historic home tour and a visit from the Rocket Man himself.
Below are the best options for your precious free time Thursday through Sunday. Don't like what you see? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.
Thursday, April 30
Scrubs Young Supporters' Fifth Annual "Cinco de Bingo"
You can celebrate Cinco de Mayo a few days early and do some good at this event hosted by Scrubs, the young supporters group of The Harris County Hospital District Foundation. Bring your bingo "A" game to Jackson's Watering Hole for this fun event that will raise money for Adolescents in Motion, a mental/emotional health program for adolescents.
Latin Wave 10: New Films from Latin America
The 10th edition of fascinating films from Latin America kicks off with a happy hour party at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and a screening of two films. The four-day festival, April 30 - May 3, features screenings, discussions, and special appearances by filmmakers, including actress Geraldine Chaplin.
Friday, May 1
Frame Dance Productions presents Framed in Five
The dance troupe Frame Dance Productions has now been around for five years, and this event will celebrate how far they've come in such a short time. Taking place at the Houston Ballet Center for Dance, it'll feature new dance and live music, including winners from the Frame Dance Music Competition. They'll put on three performances through Saturday.
Elton John in concert
It's not every day, or even every year, that you get a visit from a music legend like Elton John, so it's best to take advantage when the opportunity comes around. You won't have to worry about missing out on your favorite song, as this concert at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is part of a tour called "All the Hits." So whether you like "Rocket Man" or "Your Song" or "Candle in the Wind," you're going to go home happy.
Saturday, May 2
2015 Houston Dragon Boat Festival
Buffalo Bayou will be alive with a platoon of Hong Kong-style boats on Saturday as the annual Dragon Boat Festival takes place. Stationed across the street from Tony Marron Park, the festival will feature not only a series of races between 25-member teams, but also cultural performances, educational booths, cuisine and fun games.
Preservation Houston's 2015 Good Brick Tour
We're all curious what the insides of all those old, great homes around Houston look like, and you can finally get a peek at some of them at this event. Six homes and buildings that have won Good Brick Awards for excellence in historic preservation will throw open their doors, starting with a Tudor Revival home in the Boulevard Oaks Historic District.
ZZ Top and Jeff Beck in concert
It's always good to see Houston originals ZZ Top back in their hometown, and this concert at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion promises to be extra memorable. That's because the classic rockers are bringing in a fellow legend, guitarist Jeff Beck, as a special guest. Neither has put out any new music in a while, but with catalogs as rich as theirs, nobody will be complaining.
Sunday, May 3
Houston Grand Crit & Taco Fun Run
Allen Parkway will once again be taken over by bikers and runners on Sunday as the Houston Grand Crit celebrates its 10th anniversary. New this year, runners will get first crack at the course early in the morning, and then they get to nosh on breakfast tacos as bikers of multiple ages and skill levels show their stuff.
Elton John will play at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on May 1.
