weekend event planner

Top things to do in Houston this weekend: downtown skating, Latin music heartthrobs, and more

Hit the ice at Discovery Green.

Photo courtesy of Discovery Green

This weekend, we usher the holiday in with the Frostival party in Discovery Green — think ice skating, music, and more. Some big movies get their due — hometown hero Wes Anderson gets the scholarly treatment at his alma mater — and heartthrobs Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, and Pitbull take over Toyota Center.

Thursday, November 16

Rooftop Cinema Club Uptown presents Barbie vs. Ken Movie + Silent Disco

Rooftop CInema Club Uptown is celebrating the biggest movie of 2023 in the best way with a Barbie vs. Ken Movie + Silent Disco. Guests can arrive when doors open to enjoy all the rooftop offers with a bar, games, and stunning views. Capture the moment with your favorite Barbies and Kens, then sit back, relax and watch Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster hit Barbie. After the film, experience the Kenergy and bop along to dueling DJs: one Barbie-themed set with pop princess hits and the other a Ken-inspired set with rocking boy bands. 6:30 pm.

Miller Theatre Advisory Board presents Les Grandes Dames: A Centennial Celebration

Miller Theatre Advisory Board will host Les Grandes Dames: A Centennial Celebration with special guest Rita Moreno, in celebration of Miller Outdoor Theatre’s Centennial Celebration and honoring outgoing managing director Cissy Segall Davis. Funds raised from the gala will contribute to the current $12.5 capital campaign underway to provide renovations and improvements that will greet future Miller visitors, providing the next generation of theatergoers with an incredible, more-modern, and state-of-the art theater experience. 8 pm.

Friday, November 17

Frostival at Discovery Green

Sharpen those skating skills and head to Discovery Green’s 12-acre park to ice skate outdoors at Green Mountain Energy Ice. Make snow angels in the Snow Zone, take pictures with Santa Claus, Houston’s own Pancho Claus, and Black Santa, enjoy hip-hop dance performances from J-Dance Company, and check out spectacular art cars from The Orange Show. The evening continues through 10 pm with a chill DJ set from DJ Mohawk Steve featuring nostalgic hip-hop and H-Town favorites. The fun kicks off at 5 pm, with free ice skating for the first 50 people and Forever Green Members (Discovery Green) until 7 pm. Performances begin at 6 pm. Ice skating continues throughout the season. Tickets start at $15.

Foto Relevance presents David Reinfeld: "Composite Realities" opening reception

Foto Relevance presents "Composite Realities," a solo show by gallery artist David Reinfeld. Known in Houston for his quantum-physics inspired images of the natural world, Reinfeld presents new work exploring the urban dimension of life, traversing the architectural monuments of mankind and the moments of connection which lie within. This exhibit takes us on a tour through shadows and structures, archaeological strata embedded in paper, and visions of wind dancing through the streets. Through Friday, December 22. 6 pm.

Houston Cinema Arts Festival presents Rushmore 25th Anniversary Screening

In partnership with Friends of River Oaks Theatre, the Houston Cinema Arts Festival will have a 25th anniversary screening of Wes Anderson’s 1998 classic Rushmore as a centerpiece selection this weekend. To celebrate this milestone and its connection to Houston, the event will be held at the Lowe Theater in St. John's school – the main shooting location for Rushmore. The audience will enjoy a special video introduction from Anderson and a post-show panel sharing stories on the making of the film. 7:30 pm.

Memorial Hermann Broadway at Hobby Center presents MJ the Musical

The music. The moves. The icon. Now, the unparalleled artistry of the greatest entertainer of all time is featured in MJ, the Tony-winning new musical centered around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour. The production goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star, offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status. 8 pm (2 and 8 pm Saturday; 1:30 and 7 pm Sunday).

Saturday, November 18

Le Diner en Blanc Houston All-White Luxury Dinner Party

Le Diner en Blanc is so much more than an event. It’s a unique cultural movement that empowers friends of friends to gather and celebrate their shared passions for life, food, fashion, and community. Elegantly dressed all in white, guests arrive at a secret location for a chic picnic en masse. Over the course of the evening, guests from all backgrounds eat, dance, reconnect with the finer things in life, and make new traditions, as they appreciate their city’s beauty and the night’s magical experience. 6 pm.

Chris Dave and the Drumhedz with special guest The Hamiltones

The historic Eldorado Ballroom proudly presents two-time Grammy winner Chris Dave and the Drumhedz, featuring a special performance by North Carolina’s Grammy-nominated R&B duo The Hamiltones. General Admission tickets start at $35 and include access to the event and a cash bar. VIP tickets are on sale for $150, which provide private seating, early access to the Highway Vodka VIP bar, dinner by Lucille's, an open Highway Vodka bar, entry to the Hogan Brown Gallery meet and greet afterparty, and bottle service after 8 pm. 7 pm.

Ms. Pat: Ya Girl Done Made It

Patricia Williams (aka Ms. Pat) is a comedian, author, podcaster, and actress who brings a raw, in-your-face, hilarious perspective to her work. She has appeared on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central’s This Is Not Happening, Netflix’s Larry Charles’ Dangerous World of Comedy, TV Guide Network’s Standup in Stilettos, Nickelodeon’s Mom’s Night Out, and was featured in the second season of the Netflix stand-up series The Degenerates. She even has her own sitcom, The Ms. Pat Show, on BET+. 7 pm.

Enhrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, and Pitbull in concert

Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, and Pitbull take over Toyota Center.Photo courtesy of Enrique Iglesias

Who’s ready to go back to 1999 this weekend? All those gals who went ga-ga over Latin-music heartthrobs Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin back in the day will be happy to know that they will be in Houston, performing as part of The Trilogy Tour. They will also be joined by reggaeton rap god Pitbull. The megastars will deliver a mix of their biggest career-spanning hits with influences of reggaeton, salsa pop, dance, and electronic music. 7 pm.

Sunday, November 19

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents "Kehinde Wiley: An Archaeology of Silence" opening day

"Kehinde Wiley: An Archaeology of Silence" showcases Wiley’s new, monumental body of work created against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the murder of George Floyd, and the global rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. The works in "Silence" stand as elegies and monuments, underscoring the fraught terms in which Black people are rendered visible, especially at the hands of systemic violence. Through Monday, May 27. 12:30 pm.

Kirk Franklin presents The Reunion Tour

Who’s ready to make a joyful noise this weekend? Fort Worth’s very own gospel superstar Kirk Franklin will bring The Reunion Tour to Houston. After collaborating with Maverick City Music on 2022’s Kingdom Book One. he’s hitting the road with former gospel crews The Family and God’s Property. (We’re assuming the One Nation Crew couldn’t make this tour due to prior plans.) Christian Latin rap duo New Breed are also scheduled to perform. 7 pm.

weekend event planner

Here are the top 14 things to do in Houston this weekend

Steve Aoki/Facebook

See Steve Aoki in concert at NOHO in EaDo.

This weekend, it’ll be a brand new year. Although some may be partied out after New Year's Eve, some cool stuff will be happening.

Welcome 2026 with a festive brunch. Music from Nat King Cole and Steve Aoki will be played on Friday night. Saturday begins with a matcha pop-up and ends with a salute to goth/darkwave at Wonky Power. And, on Sunday, you can get in a fun run/walk and see the Thin White Duke on the big screen.

Thursday, January 1

The Union Kitchen presents New Year’s Day Brunch
The Union Kitchen is kicking off 2026 with a celebratory New Year’s Day brunch at all Houston-area locations. Customers will enjoy festive brunch sips, including $2.50 mimosas, $4 Bloody Marys, and $4 bellinis. Additionally, in true Southern tradition, the restaurant will offer cabbage, black-eyed peas, and cornbread — the classic good-luck trio for prosperity in the year ahead. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are encouraged. 10 am.

EZ’s Liquor Lounge presents New Year’s Day Hangover Brunch
For those who know they’ll be party-hopping this New Year’s Eve, here's a place to go and deal with that gnarly hangover the day after. The annual Hangover Brunch will feature fried chicken, biscuits, champagne specials, and caviar at cost. 11 am.

MKT Bar presents New Year's Day Brunch
While some people are known to eat black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day – for good luck and prosperity for the year ahead – head over to MKT Bar (located inside Phoenicia Specialty Foods' location downtown) and get their famous chicken and waffles for half-off. The Danielle Reich and Bruce Saunders Quintet will also be on the premises, performing some eclectic, jazz/pop numbers. Noon.

Friday, January 2

Punch Line Houston presents Sam Jay
Stand-up comic Sam Jay will be doing a two-night stint at Punch Line Houston this weekend. The Emmy-nominated former Saturday Night Live writer has been seen on HBO’s Pause with Sam Jay, a weekly late-night series on which she served as host and executive producer, as well as Bust Down, the Peacock sitcom she co-created and co-starred in. Recently, she did her solo show Sam Jay: We the People at the Edinburgh Festival and New York’s Lincoln Center Theater. 7 and 9:15 pm.

Houston Symphony presents "A Nat King Cole New Year"
The Jones Center for the Performing Arts will have an “Unforgettable” start to 2026 as Byron Stripling, Denzal Sinclaire, and the Houston Symphony Big Band perform the timeless hits of Nat King Cole, along with well-known songs by other jazz legends. The program will include songs like “Mona Lisa,” “Nature Boy,” “When I Fall in Love,” “Just One of Those Things,” and more. (We wonder if we’ll get Cole’s “The Christmas Song” one last time.) 7:30 pm (2 pm Sunday).

Theatre Southwest presents Murder on the Orient Express
Agatha Christie’s legendary, literary masterwork will be brought to the stage at Theatre Southwest. On a train traveling through Europe, a wealthy American tycoon is found dead in his compartment, the door locked from the inside. Enter world-famous detective Hercule Poirot, who must navigate a train full of suspects and solve the murder before the killer strikes again. Through Saturday, January 17. 8 pm (3 pm Sunday).

NOTO Houston presents Steve Aoki
Did you know that DJ/producer Steve Aoki invented the trend known as “caking”? That’s when he throws a huge cake out into the crowd while playing Autoerotique’s “Turn Up the Volume,” a song whose video features people getting splattered by exploding cakes. We bring this up because Aoki will be doing a late-night DJ set at NOTO Houston, and there’s a very good chance people in the crowd will get hit with a very delicious dessert. Stay in the back to avoid getting icing on your outfit. 10 pm.

Saturday, January 3

Kazzan Ramen & Bar and Tomo Matcha Pop-Up
Houston’s ramen scene is getting a green tea glow-up. Kazzan Ramen & Bar is teaming up with Tomo Matcha for a one-day pop-up this weekend. For the collaboration, guests who dine in at Kazzan Ramen will receive 20% off Tomo matcha, and customers who purchase a matcha drink will enjoy 20% off their meal. If you can’t make it, Tomo will also do a Sunday-afternoon pop-up at GLO Pilates. 11 am.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Resurrection
Bi Gan (whose Long Day’s Journey into Night screened at MFAH in 2018) directs this ambitious, 160-minute, sci-fi detective movie starring Chinese superstar Jackson Yee (Better Days) and actress Shu Qi (The Assassin). In a future where humanity has surrendered its ability to dream in exchange for immortality, an outcast finds illusion, nightmarish visions, and beauty in an intoxicating world of his own making. 2 pm.

Archway Gallery presents June Woest: "Weather Inside Out" opening reception
Archway Gallery will present an exhibit of new work by June Woest that captures the interplay between photography, sculpture, and AI. "Weather Inside Out" explores Woest’s experiences with the unpredictable nature of the weather by challenging the notion that we are helpless against it. Her works are an invitation to embrace change and find comfort in the unpredictable.Through Thursday, February 5. 5 pm.

Wonky Power presents Dia de los Darks
The first Dia de los Darks of the year kicks off this weekend, bringing a night powered by darkwave, goth, rock en español, and cumbia. Scheduled to perform are El Turko Sonidero, DJ Fredster and guitar-playing masked man Orpheus Von Doom. Expect haunting beats, immersive visual installations lighting up the night. A night market will be open late with art, fashion, and local vendors — giving attendees that dark underground vibe. 8 pm.

Sunday, January 4

Flying Saucer Draught Emporium presents Saint Arnold Social Fun Walk/Run
Saint Arnold Fun Runs are back for 2026. Close out the first weekend of 2026 by getting some exercise, taking a social run/walk, and purging yourself of everything 2025-related. Participants get a guided and marked, 3.5(ish)-mile run/walk with beer pacers, three tasty brews from Saint Arnold, a Saint Arnold pint glass, and a Texas tamale breakfast. Rain or shine. 8 am.

Cousins Maine Lobster at Car Spa
Get your car shining and your cravings satisfied all in one stop as Cousins Maine Lobster rolls its truck over to Car Spa this weekend. Whether you're cleaning up your ride or just passing through, swing by and sample such delicacies as Maine, Connecticut, and garlic butter lobster rolls, lobster tacos and quesadillas, lobster tots and lobster tails, lobster grilled cheese, creamy lobster bisque, clam chowder, whoopie pies, and more. 11 am.

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema LaCenterra presents The Man Who Fell to Earth
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema’s “Art Decade: Films of David Bowie 1973-1983” series begins with this 1976 sci-fi curio. The story of an alien (Bowie, of course) on an elaborate rescue mission provides the launching pad for Nicolas Roeg’s examination of alienation in contemporary life. The film’s hallucinatory vision was obscured in the American theatrical release, which deleted nearly 20 minutes of crucial scenes and details. This screening is of Roeg’s full, uncut version. Noon.

Steve Aoki in concert

Steve Aoki/Facebook

See Steve Aoki in concert at NOHO in EaDo.

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