weekend event planner

Here are the top 12 things to do in Houston this weekend

Butcher's Ball Ashley Tyler Horne CROPPED

Feeling peckish? Don't miss the Butcher's Ball.

Photo by Emily Jaschke

The big show this week is Kevin Hart's Irresponsible Tour performance, which will be happening at Toyota Center on Saturday night. (He was scheduled to do a show the night before, but that had to be cancelled.) As a movie-star comedian who can officially fill stadiums, it's very possible that everyone and their momma will be at this show.

But there is plenty more happening around town this weekend.

Thursday, October 18

Get your thrills at The Haunted Penthouse
They call it The Haunted Penthouse, which makes it sound like one of those late '80s, softcore thrillers that used to come on Showtime at two-three o'clock in the morning. Nevertheless, the University of Houston's annual haunted attraction returns to the third floor of the Campus Recreation building. So, get ready for some freshmen to pop up in front of you and try to make scream bloody murder. 5-8 pm.

Have a mad time with hilarious comic Anjelah Johnson
Anjelah Johnson is one of the first comics who got famous thanks to the Internet. When she briefly was a cast member on Mad TV in the mid-aughts, she did a sketch where she played a ghetto, fast-food employee named Bon Qui Qui. When the sketch hit YouTube in 2007, it became a viral sensation. (As of this writing, it has amassed 75 million views.) See her do more urban, working-class shtick for the next two weekends. 7 and 9:30 pm.

Friday, October 19

Take in amazing sculptures at Arts District Month
Since kicking off two weekends ago, several art spots have been making sure people know about their visual attractions. And since we're also in the middle of Sculpture Month Houston, such places as SITE Gallery, Art Inside Out at Meek Studio and TANK Space at Spring Street Studios have some fascinating sculptures to show off. 6 pm.

Shop 'til you drop at the Asia Society Texas Center's Night Market
If you enjoy looking for some good deals after dark, the Asia Society Texas Center has got its annual Night Market all ready for you to browse and peruse. This market will include two new exhibitions, live music, a Japanese-style carnival, a curated selection of food, goods, art, and a lot of other, exotic stuff. So, get your reusable shopping bag and go nuts. 6 pm.

Laugh it up with Chappelle comic Neal Brennan
Most people know Neal Brennan as that white dude who co-wrote and co-created Chappelle's Show with Dave Chappelle. But Brennan has became an impressive comic in his own right. Last year, he dropped the Netflix special Neal Brennan: 3 Mics, where he was bouncing between a trio of microphones telling topical material, quick one-liners and truly revealing anecdotes. Let's see if he rocks more than one mike at this show. 6:30 pm.

Saturday, October 20

Nurture your future scientists at the Energy Day Festival
After bringing in more than 30,000 people last year, the Energy Day Festival — now in its eighth year — is back to give people a fun, free fest filled with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This year, over $22,000 in academic awards will be given as part of the Energy Day Academic Program (EDAP). Overall, this event is out to motivate young minds into getting their STEM on. 11 am-4 pm.

Carve some time to find the perfect Halloween pumpkin
Halloween is fast approaching, which means some of y'all need to go and find the right pumpkin to make a jack-o-lantern out of. But picking a pumpkin isn't just something you can do all willy-nilly. Just like when Lucy went pumpkin-selecting in It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, it takes time, skill and patience. For all those Lucys out there, Memorial City will have a benefit pumpkin patch for your picking pleasure. 11 am-3pm.

Fight breast cancer at not one but two brunch parties
There appears to be two Pink Party Brunches this weekend, both serving as fundraisers for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The first one is over at Oakmont Beer Garden, where the brunch is a benefit for local community leader Lucia Cordua, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. The other one is a Mean Girls-themed brunch put on by The Brunch Society. No matter which one you go to, it'll be for a good cause. 11 am.

Halloween and fall fun await at the Downtown Aquarium
It's the fall, and Downtown Aquarium wants to make sure that you're having some fun this season. And this is why the aquarium will be having a bunch of fun activities for people to do on Saturday and Sunday. There will be fall-themed activities, pumpkin picking, pumpkin decorating and photo opportunities with an "ambassador animal." 11:30 am-3 pm.

Sunday, October 21

Bosscat and 8th Wonder host a bourbon and beer soiree
Are there two more wonderful things in this world besides bourbon and beer? When Bosscat announced a bourbon and beer function would be at its establishment, we got a little giddy. Then, we learned that 8th Wonder Brewery, home to many fine ales inspired by local rappers (what up, People's Champ!), will provide the suds and we damn near got moist. This will definitely be a great day. Noon.

Join Houston's top chefs at The Butcher's Ball
Feel like a little road trip? Head to Brenham, where over 50 of Texas's top chefs, butchers, and ranchers will gather to celebrate sustainable ranching practices with a day of demonstrations, discussions, food, drinks, and music. Participants include Graham Laborde (Killen's Restaurants), Ryan Lachaine (Riel), Dallas' John Tesar (Knife), Bobby Matos (State of Grace), Erin Smith and Patrick Feges (Feges BBQ), and more. Did we mention Kinky Freedman is the emcee? No wonder CultureMap food editor Eric Sandler calls it "one of fall's can't-miss food events. (Be sure to say hi to Sandler.) 1 pm

Mick Garris stars at this year's Horrorthon 4
Horrorthon 4 is happening this weekend, a chance to check out some campy, scary movies and also donating food, toys, or even blood for a good cause. This year, the annual fright fest will bring in special guest Mick Garris, who has written and directed many works of terror, including several Stephen King adaptations. He will screen three episodes of his Masters of Horror anthology show, along with his cult flick Critters 2. 4 pm.

Sing along with America's Got Talent semifinalist Christina Wells
Christina Wells is a local singer who came with the fury when she performed on America's Got Talent this past season. Even though she was eliminated during the semifinals, this shapely songstress was an inspiration to those who thought they couldn't achieve their dreams of performing because they didn't have the ideal look. This weekend, she's heading back to her hometown for a homecoming concert. 5:30 pm.

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Movie Review

Shaun the Sheep welcomes spooky season with PG-scary new movie

Photo courtesy of Aardman / Sky UK LTD / StudioCanal 2026

Shaun the Sheep in Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom.

Since his introduction over 30 years ago, the Aardman Animations character Shaun the Sheep has been almost as popular as the studio’s flagship characters, Wallace and Gromit. There is never a shortage of trouble Shaun can get into as he leads his flock and proves to be a thorn in the side of his farmer and Bitzer, the farmer’s loyal sheepdog.

His antics lead everyone down some slightly spooky roads in the new film, Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom. At first, things are only slightly awry as Shaun and the flock are growing a secret pumpkin patch to have their own jack-o-lanterns. But when the farmer accidentally destroys the pumpkin patch, Shaun tries to regrow it quickly with a Frankenstein-esque experiment.

However, disaster looms when Shaun uses an old bottle of Hair-Gro as the container for the serum he creates. Naturally, the balding farmer uses it on his head, and everyone soon discovers how truly successful it is, with pumpkins growing out of control and the farmer sprouting hair all over his body. Through a series of mishaps, the farmer becomes the titular beast, creating mayhem while Shaun and others try to stop him.

Directed by Steve Cox and Matthew Walker, and written by Mark Burton and Giles Pilbrow, the film goes down just as easy as every other Aardman project has. They get the Halloween vibes started from the opening credits, with things like the sheep doing the “Thriller” dance, and continue the fun throughout, referencing everything from Psycho to Friday the 13th in a nice, PG way.

With no script — every character is mute save for reaction noises — the movie relies on sight gags for its humor, and the Aardman team is endlessly inventive in that respect. Sometimes it’s small things like a sheep using toilet paper rolls as binoculars, and sometimes it’s something like forcing the Bigfoot-like farmer to be shaped into a rectangle as he escapes through a window. But there’s a never-ending stream of such moments, so even if one doesn’t tickle your funny bone, chances are the next one will.

The biggest benefit of the characters not talking is that there’s no need for deep character development. The filmmakers do a great job of giving the basic traits of each character, and then use those attributes to color everyone’s actions for the rest of the film. Shaun is the troublemaker, the farmer is a bumbling fool, Bitzer is preternaturally smart, and the town’s vet is empathetic, and the combination of those characters and others makes for a highly entertaining blend.

Like all Aardman creations, Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom is a fun lark that doesn’t make its audience think too hard. With just enough references to keep viewers engaged but not so many as to be overbearing, the film puts its well-worn characters to good use once again, delivering a Halloween season story that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

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Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom is now playing in theaters.

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