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    weekend event planner

    14 best things to do in Houston this weekend: illusions, silent disco, and more

    Craig D. Lindsey
    Aug 31, 2023 | 5:55 am
    Museum of Illusions

    Your partner will loom large at the new Museum of Illusions.

    Photo via Museum of Illusions

    Plenty of fun events await this Labor Day weekend (check out our Labor Day events list here). A mind-bending museum is all an illusion, while a gripping art exhibit on the sad reality Black Americans used to face while traveling.

    Things get loud — and quiet — with silent disco in River Oaks, bird watching soars at Houston Audubon, and a smooth, soulful singer comes to town on Sunday.

    Enjoy; here are your best bets for Labor Day weekend.

    `Thursday, August 31

    Black Restaurant Week presents Nosh: Houston Culinary Showcase

    Black Restaurant Week presents their sixth annual culinary showcase, featuring Houston's premier Black chefs, caterers, and bartenders. Guests can dive into the African diaspora and tantalize taste buds with flavors of African, African-American, and Caribbean cuisine. From spicy and savory, to sweet and subtle, there will be an array of options suited for every taste. 6 pm.

    Sicardi | Ayers | Bacino presents Carlos Cruz-Diez: "A Legacy in Color" opening reception

    Sicardi | Ayers | Bacino will present its seventh solo exhibition of the master artist, featuring three large-scale Physichromies, each from different periods, representing Carlos Cruz-Diez’s ever-expanding investigation of color. Cruz-Diez set out to challenge viewers’ traditional understanding of fine art. He searched for what he called “a new starting point” and to create work that had never been seen before. Through Thursday, October 12. 6 pm.

    Houston Museum of African American Culture presents The First Rainbow Coalition

    Chicago, 1969: Activists from the Black Panthers, Young Lords, and Young Patriots united African Americans, Latinos, and poor whites to confront police brutality and unfair housing practices. A timely story of collective action, this documentary tells this little-known chronicle of political struggle with insight and urgency, using archival footage and interviews with those who lived it. The screening will be followed by a conversation with Black Panther Party member Henry "Poison" Gaddis, director Ray Santisteban, and artist El Franco Lee. 6:30 pm.

    Friday, September 1

    Museum of Illusions Grand Opening

    Museum of Illusions will celebrate its grand opening this weekend. This is a unique and exciting museum dedicated to providing visitors with a fun, interactive and educational experience that challenges perception and inspires creativity. The museum features 60 interactive exhibits that combine entertainment and education into an “edutainment” amalgamation, using optical illusions, visual tricks, and hands-on interactive displays to create a playful environment that engages visitors of all ages. 10 am.

    The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service presents "The Negro Motorist Green Book"

    The Green Book provided life-saving information on restaurants, gas stations, department stores and other businesses that welcomed African American travelers during an era of segregation and Jim Crow laws. The exhibition will offer an immersive look at the reality of safe travel for African Americans during the mid-century, including artifacts like business signs and postcards to historic footage, images, and firsthand accounts to convey the apprehension felt by Black travelers. Through Sunday, November 26. 10 am (Noon Sunday).

    Stages presents POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive

    One four-letter word is about to rock 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. When the President unwittingly spins a PR nightmare into a global crisis, the seven brilliant and beleaguered women he most relies upon risk life, liberty, and the pursuit of sanity to keep the commander-in-chief out of trouble. This uproarious, all-female farce took Broadway by storm in 2022. After all, behind every great man is a great woman — or seven of them. Through Sunday, October 8. 7:30 pm (2 pm Sunday).

    Home Run Dugout presents Legends

    Starting this weekend, Home Run Dugout is launching a concert series, with the inaugural concert featuring some of Houston's favorite home-grown talent. The venue's Biergarten Baseball Field will be transformed into a concert venue, giving concert-goers a unique “field of dreams” live music experience. The series kicks off with a concert featuring H-Town rap icons Lil' Keke, Slim Thug and Paul Wall. Proceeds from the show will go to benefit Spring Spirit Foundation. 9 pm.

    Saturday, September 2

    Conroe Sports Cards & Collectibles Show

    The two-day Conroe Sports Cards & Collectibles Show will include cards, toys, memorabilia, art, comics, board games, video games, Funko pops and more. Guests can expect chances to win prizes through giveaways and raffles. There will be 200+ tables of collectibles set up and admission is free for all ages. Houston Astros legend Larry Dierker will also be making an autograph appearance on Saturday at 11 am. FCG card grading will be available onsite. 9 am (10 am Sunday).

    Agora Haus presents Grapes & Grooves Festival

    There will be a fusion of wine, music, and sophistication at the Grapes & Grooves Festival. General admission tickets let guests savor wine tastings and indulge in lite bites at the Haus Patio. VIP admission guests will gain exclusive access to Agora Haus and discover a selection of wines during a private tasting session, as well as a dinner reception at B&B Butchers, curated by chefs. VIP+ guests will also enjoy all the benefits of VIP admission, including exclusive wine tastings and lite bites. 11 am.

    Redbud Arts Center presents Wayne Goodman: "Storyville" and Daniel Anguilu: "Memories from the Future" opening reception

    71-year-old Wayne Goodman has masterfully harnessed his lifetime of experiences to produce “Storyville,” a body of work that reflects on past and present narratives. (Through Saturday, September 30.) Also, Redbud presents the opening of Daniel Anguilu’s show, “Memories from the Future.” Anguilu is an acclaimed artist renowned for his compelling journey to creating monumental murals that engage with social and political issues, while paying homage to the symbolism of his ancestors. (Through Saturday, October 28.) 6 pm.

    River Oaks District presents Silent Disco in the Park

    As the finale to its summer series of monthly activations, Houston’s River Oaks District presents its first-ever silent disco event. Open to the public and free of charge, this alfresco silent disco welcomes guests of all ages to grab a wireless headset and groove to a selection presented by two live DJ’s. Adding to the festivities, The Traveling Spirit Bar will also be serving complimentary disco-themed cocktails and mocktails, while Wonder Pops will showcase complimentary boozy and kid-friendly popsicles. 8 pm.

    Sunday, September 3

    Wine VIbes Micro Winery and Bistro End of Summer Celebration

    Wine Vibes Micro Winery closes out the summer and frosé season with a family-friendly luau celebration. Slip into your best Hawaiian or vacation outfits (or come as you are), enjoy wine and frosé, a DJ, photo ops, and free popsicles for the kids. Each person who purchases a glass of frosé will be entered into a drawing to win a Wine Vibes t-shirt. As they celebrate with Hawaiian vibes, they will be raising money to support the victims of the Maui wildfires. A QR code will be available to directly donate to the impacted Hawaiian communities. 3 pm.

    Houston Audubon presents Purple Martin Watch Parties

    Houston Audubon will give visitors a chance to experience the spectacle of the migration of thousands of purple martins. There will be an info table for guests to chat with the Houston Audubon staff and volunteers about purple martins and their amazing migration. Guests must bring their own lawn chairs and water. Registration is highly encouraged. The event will take place in the Willowbrook Plaza parking lot near the At Home store. 7:45 pm.

    Anthony Hamilton in concert with The Ton3s and TMF

    R&B singer Anthony Hamilton will be in town this weekend, which means a lot of sistas will be heading up to Smart Financial Centre – probably with a flask of Hennessy on them – ready and willing to sing along with the North Carolina native and his smooth, soulful love songs. The man has released seven albums in his career, most recently 2021's Love is the New Black, which actually includes a song called “White Hennessy.” He'll be joined by The Ton3s and TMF. 7 pm.

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    Weekend event planner

    Here are the 14 best things to do in Houston this Christmas weekend

    Craig D. Lindsey
    Dec 24, 2025 | 4:30 pm
    Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet
    Photo courtesy of Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet
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    So, Thursday is the big day, when many Houstonians will get together with family and/or friends to celebrate Christmas with presents, egg nog, and a festive meal.

    But that doesn’t mean there still won’t be events popping off this weekend. Some are holiday-related (like Stages’ staging of The Twelve Dates of Christmas and the Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet going down in Sugar Land), while others are just some fun things to do (like watching some college football at NRG Stadium or attending the birthday bash of a local punk legend at Dan Electro’s).

    Whatever you do, just have a holly, jolly time this weekend.

    Thursday, December 25

    Toro Toro presents Christmas Brunch
    Embark on a brunch journey over at Toro Toro this Christmas. Executive chef Jonathan Esparza and his team have prepared an extensive, Christmas brunch buffet menu, featuring a selection of traditional holiday dishes and interactive stations. Brunch is priced at $145 per adult and $65 per child (11 and under; children 5 and under eat free). Dinner will also be served a la carte from 5:30 to 10 pm. 10 am.

    Juliet Steakhouse & Fine Dining presents Holiday Buffet Feast
    Juliet will be serving up a fabulous Christmas Day buffet, priced at $59 for adults and $28 for kids 12 and under (children under 5 dine free). The buffet includes carved-to-order turkey and filet mignon, plus sides such as mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, candied yams, cornbread dressing, mac and cheese, collard greens, dinner rolls, Caesar salad, and lobster bisque. Desserts include peach cobbler, sweet potato pie, and assorted cookies. Noon.

    The Flat presents DJ Sun’s A James Brown Christmas Tribute
    DJ Sun will be giving the gift of funk, with The Flat’s annual James Brown musical tribute. Flash Gordon Parks will also be spinning some cuts written, produced, and/or performed by the hardest-working man in show business. Special holiday cocktails will also be served, so pull up and close out Christmas night the right way: by getting funky with it! 8 pm.

    Friday, December 26

    The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Little Kid Flicks and Big Kid Flicks
    A holiday season favorite at the MFAH, Kid Flicks is a compilation of fun, artful, inspired, and thought-provoking short film compilations presented in partnership with the New York International Children’s Film Festival. These award-winning short films offer a chance to explore new frontiers from around the world, across the street, and the ever-expanding boundaries of our own perspectives. Little Kid Flicks is designed for ages 5 and up. Big Kid Flicks is designed for ages 8 and up. 11:30 am and 2 pm.

    Downtown Houston+ presents Movies Under the Stars: The Fighting Temptations
    As part of their Movies Under the Stars series, Downtown Houston+ will present a screening of the 2003 comedy The Fighting Temptations, where our own Beyoncé Knowles-Carter stars as a talented young singer who helps a childhood friend (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) revive a struggling church choir, at Trebly Park. Visitors are encouraged to grab takeout from a surrounding restaurant and bring their own lawn blanket to enjoy the screening. 6:30 pm.

    Improv Houston presents Marcus D. Wiley
    The son of a preacher, Christian comedian (and former Texas Southern University professor) Marcus D. Wiley's charismatic style of delivery is clean, captivating, funny, and knowledgeable. He provides lots of laughter along with a guaranteed message on being a better you. Earlier this year, Wiley released his third, hour-long special Marriage Is Major Surgery (executive-produced by Houston stand-up star Ali Siddiq) on YouTube. 7:30 and 9:45 pm (7 pm Saturday).

    Stages presents The Twelve Dates of Christmas
    After seeing her fiance kiss another woman at the televised Thanksgiving Day Parade, Mary’s life falls apart — just in time for the holidays. Over the next year, she stumbles back into the dating world. It seems nothing can help Mary’s growing cynicism, until the charm and innocence of a five-year-old boy unexpectedly brings a new outlook on life and love. This heartwarming one-woman play offers a hilarious and modern alternative to the old standards of the holiday season. 7:30 pm (3 and 7:30 pm Saturday; 3 pm Sunday).

    Saturday, December 27

    Wonky Power presents Jazz & Jokes
    A new night of stand-up, cocktails, and live jazz will debut inside one of Houston’s most intimate creative rooms. Jazz & Jokes brings together two of the best live experiences — laughter and live music — curated for a cozy, seated evening at Wonky Power. Featuring a rotating cast of special stand-up comedians from Houston and beyond, paired with a live jazz band setting the mood all night, this night will offer a warm, relaxed atmosphere, great drinks, and a room built for performance. 7 pm.

    Kinder's Texas Bowl: Houston vs. LSU
    The 2025 Kinder's Texas Bowl will feature a matchup between the Houston Cougars of the Big 12 Conference, making its 31st all-time bowl appearance, and the LSU Tigers of the Southeastern Conference. Houston enters the Texas Bowl ranked No. 21 in the College Football Playoff rankings with a 9-3 overall record, its best record since 2021. This will mark the first time the Cougars have played in the Bowl since 2007. 8:15 pm.

    The Garden Theatre presents Cruel Intentions
    Based on the 1999 teen flick, Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical pulls audiences into the manipulative world of Manhattan’s most dangerous liaisons: Sebastian Valmont and Kathryn Merteuil. Fueled by revenge and passion, the diabolically charming step-siblings place a bet on whether or not Sebastian can deflower their incoming headmaster’s daughter, Annette Hargrove. The musical features throwback hits by artists like Christina Aguilera, 'NSYNC, and Britney Spears. Through Sunday, January 11. 8 pm (2 and 8 pm Saturday; 2 pm Sunday).

    Goode Co. Armadillo Palace presents Roger Creager Piano Bar
    Award-winning country singer/Texas native Roger Creager will be in town to do a post-Xmas set at Goode Co. Armadillo Palace. With more than a dozen No. 1 singles on the Texas Music Chart and Entertainer of the Year honors from both CMA Texas and the Texas Music Awards, Creager brings a mix of road-tested songwriting and bold melodies. Dine on authentic Texas fare, including signature house favorites the Damn Goode Burger and the Damn Goode Margarita. 9 pm.

    Sunday, December 28

    Dan Electro’s presents J.R.’s Birthday Bash
    Houston punk pioneer (and all-around good guy) J.R. Delgado has been a member of multiple punk, hardcore and garage rock bands. He was also the owner of the legendary rock club The Axiom in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. This weekend, he’lll be celebrating his 70th birthday at Dan Electro’s, and he’ll be having a free throwdown everyone is invited to. Hickoids, Jane Woe, and Bastard Union will be providing the live jams, while DJ LP will be spinning music all day. 1 pm.

    Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet
    |Over at Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land, Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet will highlight an international cast and Ukrainian principal artists performing at the peak of classical European ballet. Audiences will be transported by the magic of jaw-dropping acrobatics, larger-than-life puppets, and hand-crafted sets and costumes. Share the tradition of pure holiday magic and Tchaikovsky’s timeless score with friends and family of all ages. 3 pm.

    Arthouse Houston presents Hedwig and the Angry Inch with John Cameron Mitchell
    Arthouse Houston will present a one-night-only event of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, with star/creator John Cameron Mitchell. The 2001 indie musical classic (based on Mitchell’s off-Broadway play) follows Hedwig, an East Berliner transplant and lead singer in a band, who is chasing down his ex for stealing his songs. The screening will be accompanied by a live director's commentary by Mitchell, and followed by a live music set led by Mitchell, with band members Amber Martin and Chapman Welch. (Read CultureMap’s exclusive interview with Mitchell here.) 7:30 pm.

    Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet
    Photo courtesy of Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet

    Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet will perform in Sugar Land this weekend.

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