Weekend events planner

Here are the top 8 things to do in Houston this weekend

Whether you want to listen to live music, hit up an art fest, or catch a world premiere space exhibit, there’s plenty to do in Houston this weekend. Check out what's going on, and take your pick from all of the terrific choices. Read on for the top eight things to do in Houston this weekend. For more options, check out the full CultureMap Events Calendar.

Life's a garden
Thursday, October 12-Saturday, October 14
Top-quality bulbs, from amaryllis to daffodils, and a collection of hard-to-find crinums, daylilies, gingers, perennials, trees, and more, are on tap at the Garden Club of Houston's 75th Annual Bulb and Plant Mart at The Church of St. John the Divine. Special exhibits include a live butterfly tent from The Museum of Natural Science Cockrell Butterfly Center and a conservation booth with native and drought plants curated by experts in ecological conservation and education. Thursday, enjoy early-bird shopping and a party on the patio with live music and light bites. (Thursday from 4:30-7 pm and Friday-Saturday from 9am-2 pm; tickets: $20 per person Thursday and free admission Friday-Saturday)
2450 River Oaks Blvd.

Now that's Italian
Thursday, October 12-Sunday, October 15
Head to the University of St. Thomas for the Italian Cultural and Community Center’s 39th Houston Italian Festival complete with performances from DJ Italia, the Fab 5 (Beatles Tribute Band), local international folk dancing group The Tarantellas, and Italian tenor Aaron Caruso. Other activities include film screenings, cooking classes for kids, wine and beer tastings, Italian language classes, and puppet shows. (Various times; tickets: free admission Thursday, otherwise $8 per person with additional costs for food and activities)
3800 Montrose Blvd.; 713-522-7911

Honky tonk man
Thursday, October 12
Country music singer-songwriter Dwight Yoakam hits the stage at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land in support of his first-ever bluegrass album, Swimmin’ Pools, Movie Stars. Yoakam has released 46 singles, including two Billboard Hot Country Songs No. 1 hits. (8 pm; tickets: $49.50-$79.50 per person)
18111 Lexington Blvd., Sugar Land; 281-207-6278

Scary fun
Friday, October 13-Sunday, October 15
The family-friendly Zoo Boo event at the Houston Zoo offers a DJ, Fiesta Mart Pumpkin Patch, Festival of Fun, and lots of delicious Halloween candy. Kids are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes. Zoo Boo takes place the last three weekends of October. (9 am; tickets: $14-$18 per person for zoo entry)
6200 Hermann Park Dr.; 713-533-6500

Ren Fest
Friday, October 13-Sunday, October 15
The Texas Renaissance Festival transports patrons to the 16th century, offering live entertainment, works by master artists and craftspeople, food and drink, hand-powered rides and games, and over 100 interactive characters. The festival takes place weekends through November 26. (Hours vary; tickets: $11.95-$23.95 per person)
21778 FM 1774, Todd Mission

Art fun
Saturday, October 14-Sunday, October 15
The Bayou City Art Festival in downtown Houston presents the opportunity to see and purchase unique custom art, plus listen to live music and nosh on food truck fare. There’s also a children's creative zone. (10 am-6 pm; tickets: $12 per person online and $15 per person at the gate.
901 Bagby; 713-521-0133

Welcome aboard
Saturday, October 14
World premiere exhibit Destination Moon: The Apollo 11 Mission at Space Center Houston launches Saturday, featuring the Apollo 11 command module and more than 20 one-of-a-kind Apollo 11 mission artifacts (think astronaut Buzz Aldrin’s extravehicular visor and astronaut Michael Collins’ Omega Speedmaster Chronograph). The exhibition, a partnership of the National Air and Space Museum and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, commemorates the 50th anniversary of the achievement of man’s first step on the moon. (10 am-5 pm; tickets: $29.95 per person)
1601 E. NASA Pkwy.

Country music
Saturday, October 14
The 15th annual ZiegenBock Music Festival boasts performances by Josh Abbott Band, Aaron Lewis, Blackberry Smoke, and Whiskey Myers, along with Shooter Jennings, Jamestown Revival, Lukas Nelson, and lots more. (11:30 am; tickets: $29.50 per person)
7575 N. Sam Houston Pkwy. W.; 281-807-8700

World premiere exhibit “Destination Moon: The Apollo 11 Mission” at Space Center Houston launches Saturday featuring the Apollo 11 command module.

Houston, NASA, Destination Moon, Apollo 17 shuttle

Courtesy photo

World premiere exhibit “Destination Moon: The Apollo 11 Mission” at Space Center Houston launches Saturday featuring the Apollo 11 command module.

event-planner

no more mills?

New legislation would let Texas say no to puppy mill sales statewide

Photo courtesy Ryan Rice

The bill would protect both animals and pet owners.

A Texas legislator has introduced a bill to help animals: On December 2, Representative Jared Patterson (R-Frisco) filed HB 870, which would help put an end to puppy mill practices by requiring that pet stores can sell only healthy animals from shelters or rescues.

Pet stores across Texas would no longer be allowed to sell puppies or kittens from unscrupulous, out-of-state puppy mills, protecting pets and consumers -- similar to laws that have already been enacted in a number of cities across Texas.

Patterson previously filed a similar bill, HB 1818, in 2021. And as he notes in a statement, the law would affect only one major retailer: Petland.

"Out-of-state puppy mills store puppies in poor conditions, take them away from their moms too soon, and truck them hundreds or thousands of miles across the country to be sold in retail pet stores,” Patterson says. “There’s a reason why only one of the top 25 retailers still sells dogs from these conditions. I’m proud to once again file HB 870 to provide the necessary restrictions to protect pets and their owners."

If passed, HB 870 would not preempt local ordinances. Instead, the law brings consistency across Texas’ largest counties – those with a population of 200,000 or more – primarily suburban and urban areas.

In 2022, Dallas, Houston, and New Braunfels all passed ordinances like HB 870, demonstrating the need and support for a statewide law, says Stacy Sutton Kerby, Director of Government Relations at Texas Humane Legislation Network, a nonprofit group that advocates for animals and has been involved in prior efforts.

“While 14 cities across Texas have passed retail pet store ordinances, millions of Texans are still vulnerable to the deceptive business practices used to sell puppies sourced from inhumane puppy mills. All Texans deserve to be protected from buying sick, defective puppies,” she says.

During the 87th legislative session in 2021, HB 1818 received huge bipartisan support but couldn’t get past the finish line before the session ended.

“There is widespread support and momentum for this policy," Kerby says. “We are excited to work with Representative Patterson again on this issue. His early filing of the bill shows his dedication to halting the puppy mill pipeline into Texas and alleviating the burden on shelters of having an overwhelming number of healthy, adoptable pets in need of loving homes."

animals