the drones at night...

RodeoHouston's lit drone shows return for buzzy weekend performances

The rodeo's high-flying drone shows are back.

Photo courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo concerts generate plenty of buzz, and now, one literally buzzy, non-concert performance is back for 2024.

RodeoHouston’s popular drone shows will return for the new season. The next-gen light shows will run each Saturday and Sunday night during the Rodeo’s three-week event, scheduled for February 27-March 17, 2024 at NRG Stadium.

A fast-paced display, the RodeoHouston drone show is a colorful spectacle. Crowds oooh and ahhh over the speedy transitions of familiar rodeo imagery like bull riders immediately transitioning to kids with cows, a pair of boots, to riders on horseback, and more.

“The drone show was a new favorite during the 2023 Rodeo, and we’re excited to bring it back even larger this year, with the help of ExxonMobil,” said Chris Boleman, Rodeo president and CEO, in a statement.

Given its high technical demands (think hundreds of flashing drones spinning and soaring in unison), the rodeo has sought a capable STEM partner. To that end, ExxonMobil will be the new drone show sponsor for the 2024 event, the rodeo announced.

“We take pride in showing up in the communities where we live and work. What better place to do that than at one of the most exciting events in the city — the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo,” said Alvin Abraham, ExxonMobil Global Manager of Corporate Giving, in press materials. “We’ve recently relocated our company headquarters to the Houston area and are thrilled to be a part of this year’s event. ExxonMobil is also providing Rodeo tickets to 3,000 students. We hope Houstonians create unforgettable memories at this year’s festivities.”

Stay up to date on drone shows, concerts, and all RodeoHouston events at the official site.

This week's hot headlines

Houston ramen shop's shutter leads our most-read stories of the week

Courtesy of Ninja Ramen

Ninja Ramen will close at the end of December.

Editor's note: The long Thanksgiving weekend is a perfect time to catch up on the week's headlines. Our most-read stories include news of a popular ramen shop's shutter, a Netflix foodie star coming to town, a roundup of holiday pop-up bars, and more. Need weekend plans? Our Weekend Event Planner can help.

1. Houston ramen shop known for Asian whisky will shutter after 11 years. A ramen shop that’s been a favorite of Houston hospitality workers will soon serve its final bowl of noodles. Ninja Ramen will close at the end of December, owners Christopher Huang tells CultureMap.

2. Beard Award-winning chef and family dish on their new Houston restaurant. On this week’s episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” James Beard Award-winning chef Hugo Ortega, his wife and business partner Tracy Vaught, and their daughter Sophia Ortega join CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss H-Town Restaurant Group.

3. Netflix foodie Phil Rosenthal brings tasty Texas tour to Houston. Somebody give Phil Rosenthal a few Houston lunch suggestions. The sitcom writer-turned-food personality just announced a whirlwind tour through Texas, including a stop at Houston's 713 Music Hall on January 24, 2026.

emilia's havana holiday pop-up bar Emilia's Havana offers a retro spin on the holiday bar, with the 1950s-inspired speakeasy decked out in tinsel and trees. Photo by Hasan Yousef

4. 14 holiday pop-up bars serving over-the-top festive cheer in Houston. There’s so much more to a holiday bar pop-up than tossing a candy cane in a cocktail. We want shimmer, we want lights, we want tinsel — and Houston’s restaurants and bars are more than happy to impress. Here’s where to find the city’s most joyful holiday transformations.

5. Emotional night uplifts mental health at UTHealth Houston's $1.8M gala. At a time when mental health is finally getting its long-overdue moment in the spotlight, more than 200 supporters gathered at the Thompson Hotel for UTHealth Houston’s 2025 Mission in Action gala — an evening as elegant as it was emotionally resonant.

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