weekend event planner
Here are the top 14 things to do in Houston this weekend
Chris Rock will talk, well, you know...
This weekend, the Houston Astros will — hopefully — be back in town battling the Philadelphia Phillies for the World Series title. In between, a massive quilt festival will blanket town, fashion shows rock the runway, and Chris Rock is here to about, well, we know.
Rubber ducks take over the bayou, a halal feast serves up tasty eats, and the Second Ward rocks a block party.
Enjoy; here are your best bets for the weekend.
Thursday, November 3
The International Quilt Festival, one of Houston’s largest annual shows, will be going down all this weekend. This four-day event will feature more than 1,300 quilts, textiles, and wearable art on display; more than 350 classes, lectures, and special events; and shopping in more than 600 booths for quilts, fabrics, books, notions, crafts, patterns, machines, and sewing supplies. And, for all the parents out there, children 10 and under can get in free with a paying adult. 10 am.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and Houston Community College present Fashion Fusion
The MFAH and Houston Community College team up for a design competition and professional fashion show inspired by art on view at the museum. This event challenges students and alumni from the award-winning fashion design program at HCC to create original designs. Modern art meets contemporary couture in this year’s edition. The aspiring designers showcase garments addressing the theme Mode de Demain—Fashion of Tomorrow, based on modern and contemporary art from the MFAH collections in the Kinder Building. 7 pm.
Jazz Houston presents The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
Jazz Houston is proud to present The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO) with Wynton Marsalis in concert. The JLCO – 15 of the finest jazz soloists and ensemble players working today – has been the Jazz at Lincoln Center resident orchestra since 1988 and spends over a third of the year on tour across the world. Under music director Marsalis, the JLCO performs a vast repertoire, including music by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Thelonious Monk and others, along with those by current and former JLCO members. 7:30 pm.
Friday, November 4
Off The Wall Gallery presents Bernie Taupin: "Reflections"
Even though Elton John canceled his Minute Maid Park show, you can still check out the artwork of his longtime musical collaborator Bernie Taupin. Taupin (who will be in attendance Thursday at 5 pm and Saturday at 4 pm) brings the same passion for art as he brings to songwriting. His original paintings are thought-provoking and authentic to his patriotic views, and his collection of hand-signed, limited edition prints are inspired by words from iconic and cherished hit songs created by the two remarkable musicians. Through Sunday, November 19. 11 am (Noon Sunday).
City of Houston & Alyssa Benjamin presents "Black Lady: A Celebration of Black Womanhood"
“Pretty Pictures Of Black Ladies Being Happy” is how photographer Alyssa Benjamin describes her debut portrait exhibition. Guests will get to spend an evening with the photographer as she grants an insider access to a world of black women rediscovering themselves. “Black Lady: A Celebration of Black Womanhood” is the first in her series “Forward,” which aims to create positive images of black people that are not centered in struggle or lack. The show, which will run for one night only, is an amazing opportunity to not only meet Benjamin in person, but also to purchase fine art prints from the collection. 6 pm.
The Shepherd School of Music presents Street Scene by Kurt Weill
It’s a typical, scorching summer day outside a New York City tenement – neighbors gossip and go about their business as usual – but inside, tensions are escalating. When a shocking secret is revealed, the tension explodes into violence. Featuring music by Kurt Weill and lyrics by Langston Hughes, this work won the 1947 Tony Award for Best Original Score, blending European opera and American musical theater. Steven Osgood will be the guest conductor and Pat Diamond will be the stage director. 7:30 pm (2 pm Sunday)
DACAMERA presents Branford Marsalis Quartet
Another member of the Marsalis fam will be joining us this weekend. After four decades in the international spotlight, the achievements of saxophonist Branford Marsalis continue to grow. He is an instrumentalist, composer and bandleader to be reckoned with, crossing stylistic boundaries while maintaining an unwavering creative integrity. With three Grammys and a citation by the National Endowment for the Arts as a Jazz Master, he is an avatar of contemporary artistic excellence. 8 pm.
Saturday, November 5
AFA (American Festival for the Arts) presents Bayou City Duck Race
This free, family-friendly, fourth-annual celebration, taking place at Allen’s Landing Park, will have guests cheering on 9,000 rubber ducks that will be launched into the bayou and race to the finish line. Participants can adopt single or multiple ducks for $5 a duck on the website, as well as at the race. The first ten ducks to cross the finish line will win top prizes such as $2,500, Raising Cane's for a year, restaurant gift cards, performing arts tickets, and more. 10 am.
Hands-on Houston Family Festival
Join HCCC for the return of this free community event for families and visitors of all ages. This year, the festival celebrates recycling and the fall exhibition, CraftTexas 2022, with hands-on making and food and refreshments from Moon Rooster food truck. Visitors can also explore family-friendly events at neighboring arts organizations, Lawndale Art Center and Houston Met Dance Festival goers are encouraged to triple their fun with free events at neighboring arts organizations, Lawndale Art Center and Houston Met Dance. 11 am.
This weekend, creatives, retailers and restaurants in Houston’s Second Ward are hosting a block party like you’ve never seen before. More than 35 hyperlocal studios, warehouses and small businesses will be open, and guests will have the opportunity to meet the owners, peruse goods, and sample foods. For the first time in its 59-year history, Champ Burger, the beloved, old-school burger shack, will be open on a Saturday. In addition, guests can enjoy live musical performances throughout the corridor. 3 pm.
Chris Rock: Ego Death World Tour
Okay, let’s pretend that thing didn’t happen. Let’s pretend that an international movie star didn’t lose his mind at a globally televised event by assaulting a comedian for making a quick crack about his old lady and made the entire world talk about it for a week straight. Let’s forget about that and rejoice that the comedian – still one of the most celebrated funnymen on the planet – is coming to town for two nights and will most likely have a nice chunk of material about the time he went to the Oscars and things went very south. 8 pm.
Sunday, November 6
The Halal Guys presents Houston Halal Food Fest
With a population of over 250,000 Muslims residing in the Greater Houston area, the halal food scene has grown tremendously in the last decade. Our event will feature an extensive and diverse line-up of halal food, drinks, desserts and other local vendors. In addition to the many food vendors, this fest is also bringing in the Houston Muslim Market to showcase the several local talents in the art, decor, clothing, jewelry, and much more. Noon.
Garage Arts Project presents Bridges Collaboration Festival
Garage Arts Project will present the second edition of this event, which will feature four performances, each a commissioned, multidisciplinary collaboration between Texas-based artists. The lineup includes a dance and visual art collaboration, a cross-genre dance collaboration, a strings and percussion collaboration, and an Indian Dhol and Japanese Taiko drum ensemble. A social mixer will precede the show where the audience will get to meet with artists and other art-supporters in the community. 3 pm.
Inprint Cool Brains! Series presents Tae Keller
The 2022/2023 Inprint Cool Brains! Series welcomes Tae Keller, 2021 Newbery Medal winner of When You Trap a Tiger, for a special get-together. Tae comes to Houston to share her new middle-grade novel Mihi Ever After, an enchanting read that explores themes of friendship, imagination, and identity. The program will include an interactive presentation, Q&A, and book signing. Inprint will provide free signed books to the first 100 families and free bus scholarships to school groups. 3 pm.
