• Home
  • popular
  • EVENTS
  • submit-new-event
  • CHARITY GUIDE
  • Children
  • Education
  • Health
  • Veterans
  • Social Services
  • Arts + Culture
  • Animals
  • LGBTQ
  • New Charity
  • TRENDING NEWS
  • News
  • City Life
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Home + Design
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Restaurants + Bars
  • Arts
  • Society
  • Innovation
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • subscribe
  • about
  • series
  • Embracing Your Inner Cowboy
  • Green Living
  • Summer Fun
  • Real Estate Confidential
  • RX In the City
  • State of the Arts
  • Fall For Fashion
  • Cai's Odyssey
  • Comforts of Home
  • Good Eats
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2010
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2
  • Good Eats 2
  • HMNS Pirates
  • The Future of Houston
  • We Heart Hou 2
  • Music Inspires
  • True Grit
  • Hoops City
  • Green Living 2011
  • Cruizin for a Cure
  • Summer Fun 2011
  • Just Beat It
  • Real Estate 2011
  • Shelby on the Seine
  • Rx in the City 2011
  • Entrepreneur Video Series
  • Going Wild Zoo
  • State of the Arts 2011
  • Fall for Fashion 2011
  • Elaine Turner 2011
  • Comforts of Home 2011
  • King Tut
  • Chevy Girls
  • Good Eats 2011
  • Ready to Jingle
  • Houston at 175
  • The Love Month
  • Clifford on The Catwalk Htx
  • Let's Go Rodeo 2012
  • King's Harbor
  • FotoFest 2012
  • City Centre
  • Hidden Houston
  • Green Living 2012
  • Summer Fun 2012
  • Bookmark
  • 1987: The year that changed Houston
  • Best of Everything 2012
  • Real Estate 2012
  • Rx in the City 2012
  • Lost Pines Road Trip Houston
  • London Dreams
  • State of the Arts 2012
  • HTX Fall For Fashion 2012
  • HTX Good Eats 2012
  • HTX Contemporary Arts 2012
  • HCC 2012
  • Dine to Donate
  • Tasting Room
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2012
  • Charming Charlie
  • Asia Society
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2012
  • HTX Mistletoe on the go
  • HTX Sun and Ski
  • HTX Cars in Lifestyle
  • HTX New Beginnings
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013
  • Zadok Sparkle into Spring
  • HTX Let's Go Rodeo 2013
  • HCC Passion for Fashion
  • BCAF 2013
  • HTX Best of 2013
  • HTX City Centre 2013
  • HTX Real Estate 2013
  • HTX France 2013
  • Driving in Style
  • HTX Island Time
  • HTX Super Season 2013
  • HTX Music Scene 2013
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013 2
  • HTX Baker Institute
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2013
  • Mothers Day Gift Guide 2021 Houston
  • Staying Ahead of the Game
  • Wrangler Houston
  • First-time Homebuyers Guide Houston 2021
  • Visit Frisco Houston
  • promoted
  • eventdetail
  • Greystar Novel River Oaks
  • Thirdhome Go Houston
  • Dogfish Head Houston
  • LovBe Houston
  • Claire St Amant podcast Houston
  • The Listing Firm Houston
  • South Padre Houston
  • NextGen Real Estate Houston
  • Pioneer Houston
  • Collaborative for Children
  • Decorum
  • Bold Rock Cider
  • Nasher Houston
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2021
  • CityNorth
  • Urban Office
  • Villa Cotton
  • Luck Springs Houston
  • EightyTwo
  • Rectanglo.com
  • Silver Eagle Karbach
  • Mirador Group
  • Nirmanz
  • Bandera Houston
  • Milan Laser
  • Lafayette Travel
  • Highland Park Village Houston
  • Proximo Spirits
  • Douglas Elliman Harris Benson
  • Original ChopShop
  • Bordeaux Houston
  • Strike Marketing
  • Rice Village Gift Guide 2021
  • Downtown District
  • Broadstone Memorial Park
  • Gift Guide
  • Music Lane
  • Blue Circle Foods
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2022
  • True Rest
  • Lone Star Sports
  • Silver Eagle Hard Soda
  • Modelo recipes
  • Modelo Fighting Spirit
  • Athletic Brewing
  • Rodeo Houston
  • Silver Eagle Bud Light Next
  • Waco CVB
  • EnerGenie
  • HLSR Wine Committee
  • All Hands
  • El Paso
  • Avenida Houston
  • Visit Lubbock Houston
  • JW Marriott San Antonio
  • Silver Eagle Tupps
  • Space Center Houston
  • Central Market Houston
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Travel Texas Houston
  • Alliantgroup
  • Golf Live
  • DC Partners
  • Under the Influencer
  • Blossom Hotel
  • San Marcos Houston
  • Photo Essay: Holiday Gift Guide 2009
  • We Heart Hou
  • Walker House
  • HTX Good Eats 2013
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2013
  • HTX Culture Motive
  • HTX Auto Awards
  • HTX Ski Magic
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2014
  • HTX Texas Traveler
  • HTX Cifford on the Catwalk 2014
  • HTX United Way 2014
  • HTX Up to Speed
  • HTX Rodeo 2014
  • HTX City Centre 2014
  • HTX Dos Equis
  • HTX Tastemakers 2014
  • HTX Reliant
  • HTX Houston Symphony
  • HTX Trailblazers
  • HTX_RealEstateConfidential_2014
  • HTX_IW_Marks_FashionSeries
  • HTX_Green_Street
  • Dating 101
  • HTX_Clifford_on_the_Catwalk_2014
  • FIVE CultureMap 5th Birthday Bash
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2014 TEST
  • HTX Texans
  • Bergner and Johnson
  • HTX Good Eats 2014
  • United Way 2014-15_Single Promoted Articles
  • Holiday Pop Up Shop Houston
  • Where to Eat Houston
  • Copious Row Single Promoted Articles
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2014
  • htx woodford reserve manhattans
  • Zadok Swiss Watches
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2015
  • HTX Charity Challenge 2015
  • United Way Helpline Promoted Article
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Fusion Academy Promoted Article
  • Clifford on the Catwalk Fall 2015
  • United Way Book Power Promoted Article
  • Jameson HTX
  • Primavera 2015
  • Promenade Place
  • Hotel Galvez
  • Tremont House
  • HTX Tastemakers 2015
  • HTX Digital Graffiti/Alys Beach
  • MD Anderson Breast Cancer Promoted Article
  • HTX RealEstateConfidential 2015
  • HTX Vargos on the Lake
  • Omni Hotel HTX
  • Undies for Everyone
  • Reliant Bright Ideas Houston
  • 2015 Houston Stylemaker
  • HTX Renewable You
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • HTX New York Fashion Week spring 2016
  • Kyrie Massage
  • Red Bull Flying Bach
  • Hotze Health and Wellness
  • ReadFest 2015
  • Alzheimer's Promoted Article
  • Formula 1 Giveaway
  • Professional Skin Treatments by NuMe Express

    The Big Event

    Updated with more listings: The procrastinator's guide to New Year's Eve inHouston

    Sarah Rufca
    Dec 31, 2009 | 1:49 pm
    • Pierre Peters Cuvée de Réserve Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
      Photo courtesy of Pierre Peters
    • Bocelli Prosecco
      Photo courtesy of Bocelli Wines
    • Fratelli Berlucchi Rose
      Photo courtesy of Fratelli Berlucchi
    • Whether with Champagne or another sparkling wine, New Year's Eve calls for atoast.
      Toni Blay/Flickr

    UPDATE: We can never include every NYE event around town, but we've been adding as new spots hit our radar. Keep checking back for the latest.

    Whether you're just looking for a great meal before heading to a house party (or to ring in the year with someone special and Ryan Seacrest), or searching for an all-out, all-night shindig, we've wrapped up some great options for bringing in a memorable 2010.

     Restaurant Specials

       
    • Whether you are planning to party downtown or just finished watching the Rockets take on the Mavs, enjoy a dinner in the park with The Grove's a la carte menu or special 3-course dinner.
    •  
    • Foodie fave Catalan and lively Ibiza are ringing in the new year with none of the assigned seating times or prix fixe menus, just the same great food and wine as the rest of the year.
    •  
    • Popular new kid on the block Yelapa Playa Mexicana is pulling out all the stops with a six-course dinner of south of the border seafood-heavy faves (think gazpacho, bolinhos, and spiced guava pork) in two seatings for $78 ($108 with wine pairings).
    •  
    • Wine lovers won't want to miss the four-course Texas-Provence dinner at Mockingbird Bistro to be paired with the award-winning wine list. $75/person
    •  
    • Can't decide between dining and clubbing? Hit up Straits for a retro Singaporean five-course meal, a DJ, drink specials from Belvedere Vodka and Veuve Clicquot, plus a front row seat for the CityCentre entertainment featuring The Texas Blues Brothers tribute band and fireworks at midnight. $75/person plus $20 cover after 11 p.m.
    •  
    • Start out an evening in Midtown with a five- or six-course meal at t'afia with plenty of options to choose from. $65-$75/person
    •  
    • For a break from prix fixe rules, hit the ever-fabulous RDG + Bar Annie for open seating and the full bar and grill menus, plus a special burgers and breakfast menu starting at 11 p.m.
    •  
    • Enjoy a continental New Year with a sumptuous three-course classic French feast and live music at Humble's Chez Nous. $75-$125/person
    •  
    • Whether spent on the patio (decked out with space heaters in chilly weather) or the cozy upstairs annex, finish out 2009 with the four-course meal at Backstreet Café. $69/person
    •  
    • It's hard to pick the high point of New Year's Eve at Hugo's, between the four-course dinner, live music by Viento and the special after-dinner coffee concoction of espresso, steamed milk, piloncillo, cinnamon and brandy called, ironically, The Drowsy Chaperone. $69/person
    •  
    • The world's a cabaret at SoVino, with a cabaret-style performance by Bubba and Greg, plus a four-course prix fixe menu offered in addition to the a la carte menu. Prix fixe dinner, $45-$55/person
    •  
    •  Bistro Provence has something for everyone, three-course dinners served in an abbreviated early bird seating and three more leisurely seatings. $48-$70/person
    •  
    • Ring in the new year Italian-style at Valentino, with two dinner menu options ($80 or $110) alongside Valentino's famous wine list.
    •  
    • Celebrate New Year's Eve in style by the bay in Seabrook at Bailey's American Grille. Enjoy a five-course meal of mouthwatering upscale American favorites, dancing in the private event room to jazz and funk by the Grady Gaines band, a midnight breakfast buffet and a shuttle to local hotels. $115/person, $200/couple

       Parties/Events

         
      • The St. Regis lets you pick your party, choosing between an early 5-course dinner at The Remington with live entertainment and dancing ($95/person), a later 4-course meal that adds a bottle of champagne ($185/person) or simply hors d'oeuvres, dancing and a midnight toast in the Remington Bar ($20/person)
      •  
      •  The Hobby Center is throwing a "Dance in the Decade" shindig at Artista, with a 4-course dinner, champagne, raffles and music by Mango Punch. $135/person
      •  
      • Have a thoroughly modern new year at Hotel ZaZa's "Bubbles and Babes" roaring '20s-themed bash, featuring flappers, surprise performances, silent movie screenings, a five-course dinner at Monarch and plenty of booze. From $350 per couple
      •  
      • Ladies, time to practice bowling in that miniskirt: New Year's Eve at Lucky Strike Lanes includes call bar, appetizer and dessert buffets, champagne toast, and DJ for $60/person and $100/couple, plus bowling and shoe rental.
      •  
      • The PYTs will be partying at Vintage Lounge with an open bar and tunes by The Handsomes and DJ Melodic and Young $quaddy. $75 for advance tickets and $100 at the door, plus groups can pay $300 for a table with unlimited non-super-premium bottle service.
      •  
      • Get the best of everything with Hotel Icon NYE packages, including a 5-course meal at Voice, a luxe overnight stay, champagne delivered to your room and a swinging lobby party. Starting at $220 per room.
      •  
      • Assuming a flight to Monte Carlo is not in the cards, find all the same perks in the La Torretta Lake Resort New Year's Celebration, with hors d'oeuvres, gourmet dinner stations, a casino, live music, a DJ and karaoke, plus reasonable room deals. And forget the babysitter: for $20 per child, kids can enjoy their own party with a buffet, guitar hero contest, movies and games. Party $90/person, rooms from $309 per couple including two party tickets.
      •  
      • Keep it chic with NYE at the Red Room, with fierce DJs spinning, drink specials, and a champagne toast, of course. $100/person
      •  
      • Have a killer New Year's at Keith and Margo's Third Annual New Year's Celebration at the Renaissance Houston Hotel. After the modern, interactive whodunit, enjoy a gourmet dinner, reception, dancing to DJ-spun tunes, and an optional room to crash in. From $139/person
      •  
      • The Black Carpet NYE Party at The Tasting Room in Uptown Park combines wine lovers, hors d'oeuvres, live music, and, of course, champagne. $50/person
      •  
      • There's something for everyone at Warehouse Live and Sportsmonkey's BLT party—that's black tie, lingerie and togas—with multiple DJs and live music from Adrenaline and The Spicolis. $89/person
      •  
      • Party on the wild Veranda at Alden-Houston Hotel with an open bar, a Times Square simulcast and breakfast bites and coffee from *17, and you can start the evening with a five-course dinner at *17, and end it at a+ or in one of Alden's guest suite. From $100/person
      •  
      • For a more chill Eve, hit 13 Celsius, celebrating its third anniversary with its signature understated cool, including a birthday cake, champagne and a new art installation by Jonathan Leach. $15/person
      •  
      • Houston's largest NYE party is at the Hyatt Regency Houston, with three floors of festivities including tunes by Mary's Band, The Argyles, DJ 33 1/3, a special VIP room and a 50,000 balloon cascade at midnight. From $299 per room.

      And don't forget to get the party started early with the Culturemap-sponsored Eve of New Year's Eve party at House of Blues on Dec. 30, featuring a disco frenzy in the Foundation Room after a HOB concert by Le Freak. Get free admission with a concert ticket stub or by emailing julialarson@livenation.com and mentioning Culturemap.

      Looking to listen to music to bring in the New Year? Click here for our New Year's Eve concert picks.

      unspecified
      news/entertainment
      CULTUREMAP EMAILS ARE AWESOME
      Get Houston intel delivered daily.

      weekend event planner

      Here are the 15 best things to do in Houston this 4th of July weekend

      Craig D. Lindsey
      Jul 2, 2025 | 6:30 pm
      Shell Freedom Over Texas
      Courtesy of Shell Freedom Over Texas
      The city has revealed the performers for its July 4 celebration.

      The 4th of July lands on a Friday this year, which means things will get especially patriotic this weekend.

      We’ve already listed all the fireworks celebrations and restaurant specials that’ll be popping off on Friday. (Don’t forget about the screenings of Independence Day at River Oaks Theatre, Rooftop Cinema Club and Marriott Marquis Houston.) But there are also other must-see events happening this weekend, including a LEGO convention, the second anniversary of a Third Ward eatery, the return of a Stanley Kubrick classic, and an outlaw music festival featuring Willie Freakin’ Nelson and Bob Freakin’ Dylan!

      Thursday, July 3

      Brick Rodeo
      Brick Rodeo is a family-friendly event that features hundreds of custom models and displays made from LEGO bricks. Creators from Texas and around the country will be available to talk about their creations. Fans who want to display their own creations, attend workshops, and participate in all the activities should purchase an All Access Pass. Families and individuals who want to spend a day viewing incredible custom creations, talking with builders, and shopping with vendors should purchase a public exhibition ticket. 9 am (8:30 am Friday-Sunday).

      City Place presents Young Audiences of Houston: Painting with Watercolor Pencils Art Workshop
      This free art workshop, hosted by Young Audiences of Houston teaching artist Judy Malone Stein, transforms City Place’s central waterfront plaza into a classical art studio with easels and other essential supplies. Participants are introduced to the medium of watercolor pencils and will learn basic color theory which includes the color wheel and primary and secondary colors, along with complimentary colors. They will also focus on creating compositions, using traditional visions (portraits, landscapes, still life) as their subject matter. 9:30 am.

      Improv Houston presents Dustin Ross
      Dustin Ross is a NAACP Image Award-winning host, writer, and producer. Fans of The Read podcast may know him as a longtime guest/friend to the show. These days, you can hear him on two pods: The Friend Zone, with co-hosts Hey Fran Hey and Assante; and Holding Court, with Eboni K. Williams. He has also hosted seasons of Bet on Black, REVOLT TV’s competition series, Bet On Black. As an on-air contributor, Ross has appeared on multiple platforms, including MTV, BET, Bravo TV, HBO, FUSE TV, GLAAD, Fox Soul, and more. 7:30 pm.

      Friday, July 4

      Freedom Over Texas
      With an average of 50,000 people in attendance, Freedom Over Texas has become Houston’s annual, signature July 4th celebration. The live, televised event will feature local, regional, and national entertainment, headlined by Ashley McBryde and Lee Brice, and will be capped off with a musically choreographed, “Texas-sized” fireworks finale. It also features a unique non-profit component, as the event will donate a percentage of food and beverage sales to the Houston Food Bank. 4 pm.

      Ensemble Theatre presents The Tap Dance Kid
      Over at The Ensemble Theatre, The Tap Dance Kid is about a 10-year-old African-American kid named Willie who doesn’t want to be a lawyer like his well-to-do strict father, and dreams of becoming a dancer like his talented Uncle Dipsey, an aspiring Broadway choreographer. The final production in the theater’s 2024-25 season, this musical is filled with imaginations of stardom that keep us tapping along. Through Sunday, July 27. 7:30 pm (2 and 7:30 pm Saturday; 3 pm Sunday).

      Dan Electro’s presents The Broken Spokes & Oliver Penn 4th of July Party
      Freedom, music, and a 4th of July Party will be going down at Dan Electros. The show will feature a performance from traditional Texas country band The Broken Spokes, a well-seasoned outfit that’s put in the time honing their craft in honky tonks across Texas,. Also performing will be Rhode Island-born, Houston-based country singer Oliver Penn, who has shared the stage with Charley Crockett, Shakey Graves, Randall King, The California Honeydrops, and Shinyribs. 9 pm.

      Alamo Drafthouse LaCenterra presents Graveyard Shift: Attack the Block
      Guy Fawkes Night in London is a time for fireworks, fooling around, and an occasional surprise or two. But when vicious extraterrestrials decide to crash the hellraisers’ holiday, a time for making merry quickly turns scary. Writer-director Joe Cornish also ensures it’s frequently humorous as well. This frisky, vigorous 2011 spoof — propelled by an insistent electronic score by Steven Price & Basement Jaxx and a star-making lead turn from John Boyega — shows a similar sensibility in its breezy blending of goofiness and gruesomeness. 10 pm.

      Saturday, July 5

      Rado Market 2 Year Anniversary Celebration
      Chef Chris Williams’ market and cafe at the historic Eldorado Ballroom will celebrate its two-year anniversary with a celebration that’s free and open to the public. The event will include complimentary champagne during the first hour, food specials from chef Jaden Gaines, and live music from a DJ for the first two hours. Guests can also browse and shop from a curated lineup of local vendors offering various products for sale, including Posh Body, Ambrosia Nectar, 77 Stash, and Juxx. Patrons can also enter two raffles featuring Radiant Aura samples and other giveaways. Noon.


        
       
       
       
       
       
       
      View this post on Instagram
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
      A post shared by Winnie's Real Deal (@winnieshouston)


      Winnie’s presents Labubu Face Tattoo Korean Corn Dog Karaoke Party
      Never has an event’s name been a more complete description of what’s happening at the Midtown sandwich shop/cocktail bar on Saturday. Artists from Rodeo Tiger will be tattooing Labubu, the must-have accessory that feels destined to become the Beanie Babies of 2025 ($25 minimum, $50 for both sides, and $100 for full face custom work). While you wait, snack on a Korean corn dog created by chef Jennifer Hoffman. Karaoke starts at 8 pm. 1 pm.

      The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Barry Lyndon
      This weekend, catch the 50th anniversary screening (in glorious 35mm!) of Stanley Kubrick’s lavish, Oscar-winning 1975 adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray’s 18th-century novel. Forced to leave Ireland after killing an English officer in a duel, young Redmond Barry (Ryan O’Neal) seeks his fortune as a soldier in Prussia, as a spy, and then as a gambler living among the elite of Europe. He changes his name and marries an aristocrat (Marisa Berenson) for her wealth, but will he finally gain the acceptance he seeks? 5 pm (2 pm Sunday).

      Kings Harbor Waterfront Village presents “Fireworks on the Pier”
      Looking for a post-4th of July throwdown this weekend? Kings Harbor Waterfront Village in Kingwood will have its annual “Fireworks on the Pier” celebration, a patriotic evening of family fun, live entertainment and a spectacular fireworks display. Festivities include family-friendly games like Connect Four, a balloon artist, face painting and bubble stations for kids. Local restaurants will be serving up a variety of delicious food and drink options throughout the evening. A dazzling fireworks show over the pier will begin around 10 pm. 7 pm.

      Movies at Miller: Wicked
      We know there is a lot of y’all who can’t wait for Wicked: For Good to drop in multiplexes this winter. Before that happens, head over to Miller Outdoor Theatre and revisit the Oscar-winning Broadway musical adaptation that set it all off. In the magical Land of Oz, Wicked covers the first act, following Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), the future Wicked Witch of the West, and her friendship with Galinda (Ariana Grande), the future Glinda the Good Witch. The audience is encouraged to come in costume. 8:30 pm.

      Sunday, July 6

      Eldorado Ballroom presents Ball N’ Parlay
      Dubbed “A 1st Sunday Vibeout,” Ball N’ Parlay is a vibrant, Third Ward day party that’s going to be held outside the legendary Eldorado Ballroom. They’re really hyping this one up, calling it “the Sunday you’ve been waiting for, where music, community, and culture meet.” We’re just psyched that some of our favorite DJs will be doing live sets, including DJ Elevated, Maiya Papaya, Alist, and DJ Bloom. 3 pm.

      Outlaw Music Festival
      If you grew up going to Cactus Music and picking up the latest issue of No Depression, looking for the latest in outlaw country releases to scoop up, a fest full of iconic, guitar-strumming banditos will be making a stop at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion this weekend. The 10th anniversary tour of the Outlaw Music Festival will feature an unparalleled lineup of legends and superstars, including Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, The Avett Brothers, The Mavericks, and Tami Neilson. 4:05 pm.

      CONCACAF Gold Cup Final
      As of this writing, we don’t know who will be playing in the final match of the soccer championship known as the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, going down this weekend at NRG Stadium. What we do now is that the winners will be determined on Wednesday night, when the semifinal matchups – the USMNT vs. Guatemala and Mexico vs. Honduras – will take place. This also marks the first time the Gold Cup Final will be held in the state of Texas. 6 pm.

      Freedom Over Texas
        
      Courtesy of Freedom Over Texas
      The Freedom Over Texas celebration takes place on the Fourth of July.
      event-plannerweekend events
      news/entertainment
      Loading...