There's a little something for everybody this weekend in Houston, with great events planned for lovers of theater, music, film, dance and food. But biggest of all will be a festival full of acts ranging across the musical spectrum.
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, June 4
Society for the Performing Arts presents The Illusionists
For its latest show, the Society of Performing Arts welcomes The Illusionists, a show that might be as entertaining as anything else you'd see on the Jones Hall stage. Featuring seven illusionists wowing the audience with dazzling magic, it's a production that's not to be missed. The show runs through June 6.
Vince Gill in concert
Even if he never makes another album, Vince Gill will still be considered country music royalty for the rest of his life thanks to an illustrious career that has included more than 20 Top 10 hits, not to mention a marriage to another popular singer, Amy Grant. Gill will perform a retrospective of his career at this concert at theArena Theatre.
Friday, June 5
Maravilloso! 2015: The Water Festival
With all the havoc that water has caused in Houston the past month, it'll be nice to see it put to a more uplifting use. Maravilloso! 2015: The Water Festival at Discovery Green will feature two nights of performances using the park's water, including dancers performing on glowing flowers floating on Kinder Lake and "Drench" from Karen Stokes Dance.
METdance presents Sizzling Summer Dance
It'll be a dance-off Friday, as METdance will kick off their summer programming with Sizzling Summer Dance, a night of dance under the stars at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Among the performances will be two world premieres and one of METdance company's most celebrated works — "Consumed" by Kate Skarpetowska.
Saturday, June 6
Free Press Summer Fest 2015
We named the Free Press Summer Fest as one of the 12 best summer concerts in Houston, and it's not hard to see why: With nearly 80 different acts, including big names like Skrillex, R. Kelly, Weezer, St. Vincent, Tove Lo, Lecrae and Belle and Sebastian, it would be a big draw no matter where it was held. Speaking of, make sure you go to NRG Park instead of Eleanor Tinsley Park, as recent flooding forced the move of the two-day festival.
Texas Folklife presents Accordion Kings and Queens Festival
On the opposite end of the musical spectrum from the goings-on at the Free Press Summer Fest will be this festival celebrating the accordion and genres that use it well, like Cajun, zydeco and polka. The 26th annual free festival at Miller Outdoor Theatre will feature performances from Debra Peters and the Love Saints, Jerome Batiste and the Zydeko Players, and Los Texmaniacs, who will use the festival as an album release party.
Sunday, June 7
Film screening: MFAH presents The Apu Trilogy
If you missed the first two screenings of The Apu Trilogy at the Museum Fine Arts, Houston, you're in luck: Weather issues forced the museum to push back its schedule, meaning that the final two films, Aparajito and Apu Sansar, will both screen on Sunday. Considered the greatest movies in Indian history and some of best films in movie history period, this is an opportunity cinephiles rarely get.
Straits presents the Fourth Annual Curry Crawl
Twelve of Houston's top chefs will square off in the Fourth Annual Curry Crawl at Straits, serving tasty bites inspired by the spice curry. Among the chefs who will be participating will be Michael Sanguinetti of Commonwealth, Kevin Naderi of Lilo & Ella, Brittany Eaden of The Tasting Room and Omar Pereany of Peska Seafood Culture. The event will serve as a fundraiser for Spaulding for Children.
The Illusionists will be at Jones Hall through June 6.
