weekend event planner

Here are the top 7 things to do in Houston this weekend

Join the party animals at Houston Zoo's After Dark.

Photo courtesy of Houston Zoo

On Sunday, May 19, the final episode of Game of Thrones will air, which means, come Monday morning, a lot of people will have to find a new show to obsess and complain about. But something else is also wrapping up on that day — the spring season of Cigna Sunday Streets. The monthly bike tour/walking tour/outdoor extravaganza will close things out at the neighborhood of Alief, on Beechnut between Dairy Ashford and Kirkwood. So, before you get all angry about how the dragon show will end, maybe head over to this event and get some good exercise and fresh air.

Be sure to check out these other fun events:

Thursday, May 16

Collected Stories at Spring Street Studios
4th Wall Theatre Company is coming to a close this season, and the final play its putting on just happens to be a Pulitzer Prize nominee. Donald Marguiles' Collected Stories is a drama (inspired by a real-life literary scandal involving novelists David Leavitt and Stephen Spender) about the lives of two writers — a respected short-story writer and her young protegee — and their friendship, ambitions, rivalries, and betrayals. It will run through Saturday, June 8. 7:30 pm.

After Dark at Houston Zoo
For the second year in a row, Houston Zoo will keep its gates open during the evening with After Dark, a monthly series of events geared towards the 21-and-up crowd. The first event up is the '90s-celebrating #Throwback Thursday. Guests can sing and dance to a '90s cover band, play vintage arcade games or challenge their friends to giant yard games. Guests are also encouraged to wear their '90s duds (break out those Cross Colours!) to celebrate the decade. 8 pm.

Friday, May 17

Silent Film/Live Music at Discovery Green
We all know about the ol' days of early 20th-century moviegoing, when silent movies were the rage and a piano player was always there to score the proceedings. Discovery Green will be taking people back to that time with an outdoor showing of the 1924 Harold Lloyd comedy Girl Shy, complete with musical accompaniment by Two Star Symphony. There will also be a 1920s costume contest, with the chance to win gift cards to The Grove, and dance lessons with Dance Houston. 9 pm.

Saturday, May 18

Otto Records! Showcase at Cactus Music
Based in San Antonio, Otto Records! is a rock-and-roll label that prides itself on 1) promoting small indie bands from around the world and 2) giving all the money to the artists. To show what kind of hellraisers they have in their stable, the label will bring three bands — Tex-Mex surf band Nuclear Juarez, San Antonio rock band The Walk Offs and Boston alt-blues duo 61 Ghosts — to Cactus Music to rock out all Saturday afternoon. 1-3 pm.

Tony Buzbee for Mayor Pet Rally
Mayoral candidate Tony Buzbee really wants the pet-owner vote. That would explain why he's telling folk to bring their pets to this rally over at Nett Bar, which will also raise awareness for the major homeless-animal issue in Houston. This is a free event with Taco Deli tacos, drinks, pet photos, gourmet dog treats, pup swag, rescue dogs, and a meet-and-greet with Buzbee and Munchi, the miniature dwarf rescue horse from Habitat for Horses. 1-3 pm.

Sunday, May 19

Houston Café Bustelo Café MECA Charitable Event
Cafe Bustelo, the pop-up coffee shop that has been a very popular place of business since opening in Montrose last March, will be shutting down at the end of the month. Before they go, they’re hosting an a event with MECA Houston (Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts). Ten percent of all proceeds from sales will be donated to MECA. Visitors can also win free coffee and Café Bustelo merchandise while supporting the local community. 10 am-3 pm.

Tacos Over Texas at the Original Ninfa's on Navigation
Who doesn't love a good ol' taco competition, especially one that honors the legacy of Mama Ninfa Laurenzo? The second annual Tacos Over Texas competition is back to benefit The Ninfa Laurenzo Scholarship Fund, which was created to assist students who demonstrate economic need and a desire to positively impact their community through education. More than 15 of Houston's best restaurants will be competing. Plus, there will be live music, a raffle, and a silent auction. 12pm-4 pm.

event-planner

Chicago Greats

Classic rock bands Chicago and Styx team up for tour coming to Houston

Chicago/Facebook

Chicago and Styx are co-headlining for the first time on this tour.

Two classic rock icons from the Windy City are hitting the road together next year. Chicago and Styx will bring the wordy tour, called The Windy Cities Tour - All The Hits…Your Kind of Tour, to the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands on August 20, 2026.

The tour starts in West Palm Beach in July and ends in Los Angeles in September. In addition to Houston, it'll stop in at the Moody Center in Austin on August 19.

This is the first time these multi-Platinum bands have co-headlined a tour together. Aside from being from the same city, they share a reputation for a slick sound and a certain theatricality, whether that's from musical theater or jazz influences.

“We are excited about the summer tour,” said Chicago trumpeter Lee Loughnane in a press release. “Chicago has never toured with Styx before so it's going to be a lot of fun, we're looking forward to it.”

Chicago was the highest-charting American band in Billboard Magazine's Top 125 Artists of All Time in 2019 (where it was No. 10 overall, beat by Brits and solo artists). They've toured every single year, making this their 59th year on the road. In 2025, Chicago released a deluxe version of 2005's Love Songs.

Styx, known for dramatic hits like “Come Sail Away” and “Renegade,” debuted in 1972 and is still making new music, including the 2025 album Circling From Above. The group has had eight songs that reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, led by 1979's "Babe" at No. 1.

“In my early days of live performing I had several mentors who were kind enough to let me join in and play with them despite not being able to read charts,” said Styx singer/guitarist Tommy Shaw. “Rod Henley, Ricky Parsons, Bobby and Larry Moore, Eddie Wohlford, Wimpy Jones, Country Boy Eddie and others gave me a shot. And I am thankful for that. By the time Chicago released their first album, I had enough experience to begin learning their amazing music on my own. Now, the idea of Styx touring with Chicago is a major thrill all on its own. We can’t wait to spend the summer with them!”

Both artists will offer artist pre-sales and VIP packages beginning Tuesday, December 2, at 10 am. Citi cardmembers can access a presale beginning the same day at 12 pm. After some additional presales, the general starts Friday, December 5, at 10 am at livenation.com.

The Windy Cities Tour - All The Hits…Your Kind of Tour Dates

Mon 7/13 West Palm Beach, FL iThink Financial Amphitheatre
Wed 7/15 Tampa, FL MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Fri 7/17 Alpharetta, GA Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Sat 7/18 Charlotte, NC PNC Music Pavilion
Mon 7/20 Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live
Tue 7/21 Camden, NJ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Thu 7/23 Wantagh, NY Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
Sat 7/25 Gilford, NH BankNH Pavilion
Sun 7/26 Mansfield, MA Xfinity Center
Tue 7/28 Toronto, ONT. RBC Amphitheatre
Thu 7/30 Grand Rapids, MI Acrisure Amphitheatre
Sat 8/1 Rosemont, IL Allstate Arena
Sun 8/2 Noblesville, IN Ruoff Music Center
Wed 8/5 Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center
Thu 8/6 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
Wed 8/19 Austin, TX Moody Center
Thu 8/20 The Woodlands, TX The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Sponsored by Huntsman
Mon 8/24 St. Louis, MO Hollywood Casino Amphitheatreh
Tue 8/25 Kansas City, MO MORTON Amphitheater
Fri 8/28 Denver, CO Ball Arena
Sun 8/30 Salt Lake City, UT Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
Tue 9/1 Phoenix, AZ Mortgage Matchup Center
Wed 9/2 Palm Desert, CA Acrisure Arena
Fri 9/4 Concord, CA Toyota Pavilion at Concord
Sun 9/6 Los Angeles, CA Kia Forum

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