weekend event planner

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

It looks like we have another jam-packed weekend. The options include a pickleball tournament, a sangria throwdown, a Japanese festival for all the local weebs, a Juneteenth festival, a Barbie Dreamhouse truck, the return of a ‘90s rock icon, and some lovely events for dads on Father’s Day.

But, if you really want to make the old man happy, get him some tickets to see Megan Thee Stallion. He’s your dad, but he’s still a man!

Thursday, June 13

Bisong Art Gallery presents "Jubilee" opening reception
The concept of freedom has been a fundamental aspect of human existence since the beginning of time. "Jubilee" is a weekend-long art exhibition representing the meaning of freedom as an opportunity to explore the many different ways in which this concept can be expressed and interpreted. The D.R.E.A.M Affect Foundation’s mission is raising awareness of the underrepresentation of art students of color and assisting emerging artists. Keeping in step with their mission, the foundation will donate a portion of all art sales to scholarships. 5 pm.

Skylab Social presents Wild Sol Pickleball Tournament
NBA star P.J. Tucker’s lifestyle boutique The Better Generation and Astros star Alex Bregman’s salsa brand Wild Sol have partnered to throw the ultimate summer kick-off. Skylab Social will be featuring $2 and $3 margaritas with Wild Sol’s partner, Flecha Azul Tequila, street tacos, and, of course, salsa tastings. Additional entertainment includes a DJ, photo booth, carnival games, and a pickleball tournament awarding the first place winner with Astros tickets. The event is free to attend and will happen rain or shine. 6 pm.

Women of WIne Charities presents Sangria Throwdown
Join Women of Wine Charities for this unique competition where sommeliers and mixologists compete to create the best and most creative versions of this happy drink. A panel of media judges (including our own Eric Sandler!) will select their top picks for the Judges’ Choice and Most Creative Sangria awards, while attendees will vote for the People’s Choice Award. There will be entertainment, as well as games, raffles, and snacks. 6:30 pm.

Friday, June 14

The Shop Club Houston and Derby Restaurant presents Father’s Day Weekend
The Shop Club Houston and Derby Restaurant will have some nice events for Father’s Day Weekend. It starts on Friday with the Glen Grant Scotch X The Shop Club Happy Hour. Enjoy scotch from Glen Grant Scotch and let dad unwind with a local cigar vendor on-site for added relaxation. On Saturday and Sunday, bring dad out to enjoy all his favorite things from Derby Restaurant, from the wagyu beef burger, chicken wings, and venison corn dogs to Matt’s Bad Ass Bacon and more. 4 pm (10 am Saturday and Sunday).

Houston Ballet presents Four Seasons
The Houston Ballet's season comes to a close with Four Seasons, featuring works from four choreographers, each with their own distinct style. Stanton Welch's The Four Seasons dramatizes the stages of a woman's life, from the vigor of youth in spring to the introspection of old age in winter. Set to Antonio Vivaldi's beloved score of the same name, the large ensemble work returns for the first time since its premiere in 2007. 7:30 pm (2 pm Sunday).

Celeste Barber: Backup Dancer Tour
Actress, writer, and comedian Celeste Barber, known as the "Australian Queen of Comedy," comes to Houston as part of her Backup Dancer Tour. Barber's original, celebrity-parody Instagram account has attracted over 9.5 million followers, including Reese Witherspoon, Amy Schumer, Chelsea Handler, Cindy Crawford, and Tom Ford, whom she collaborated with in 2018 on his Boys and Girls beauty campaign. 8 pm.

Megan Thee Stallion in concert
This weekend, the hottest of hot girls comes back home. Megan Thee Stallion comes to Houston for two nights, as part of her Hot Girl Summer Tour, her first-ever headlining tour in arenas. The “Savage” rapper has released two albums in her career, most recently Traumazine in 2022. At the end of the month, she’ll release her latest opus, simply titled Megan. GloRilla (who collaborated with Megan on the new hit single “Wanna Be”) will serve as a special guest. 8 pm.

Saturday, June 15

The Barbie Truck Dreamhouse Living Tour
The Barbie Truck is bringing exclusive merchandise to Houston as part of the continuing celebration of the 60th Anniversary of Barbie moving into her very first Dreamhouse. The Barbie Dreamhouse truck, which will be at Memorial City Mall near California Pizza Kitchen, will offer an array of apparel, along with home goods and accessories inspired by a day in the life of Barbie in her Dreamhouse. 10 am.

The Health Museum presents "MindWorks" opening day
The Health Museum will debut the U.S. premiere of "MindWorks," a hands-on, bodies-on psychology exhibition on loan from the Ontario Science Centre. "MindWorks” brings ideas like decision-making, memory, and emotions to life through interactive exhibits based on cognitive psychology. The exhibition will encourage visitors to step into their own mind and explore how they think, feel, and react in a new way. Through Saturday, September 29. 10 am.

Tokyo Night Fest presents Tokyo X
Tokyo X, the largest, two-day indoor Japanese festival and the premier destination for Japanese culture enthusiasts in Houston, is bringing a slice of Japan to Texas. With over 370 booths of Japanese-inspired vendors and performers from all over the world, including forty-plus food vendors, 140 artists, 160 merchandise vendors, seven cosplay guests, seven performers, eight voice actors, more than 38 cars, and festival games, this is a unique opportunity to learn and experience the richness of Japanese culture. 11 am.

The Locker Room Sports Bar & Grill presents Fight Night Watch Party
The Locker Room Sports Bar & Grill is hosting a big Fight Night Watch Party to watch Gervonta “Tank” Davis, one of boxing's biggest stars, defend his WBA lightweight title against Frank “The Ghost” Martin live. The party will offer fans an exhilarating night of boxing action with food and drink specials, and all the excitement of the main event across 20 TV screens both indoors and outdoors, with patio seating, and full broadcast audio throughout the venue. 7 pm.

Sunday, June 16

Gas Gods presents All Gas No Smoke Car Meet
Gas Gods is hosting this season’s final All Gas No Smoke Car Meet this weekend at Bayou City Event Center. Enjoy a spectacular display of exotic cars, a delicious selection of food vendors, live performances and a freestyle rap battle judged by an exciting line-up of celebrities including Killa Kyleon, Slim Thug, Le$, and Lil KeKe. Gas Gods will also set up a Kid Zone, featuring amusement rides, face painting, and more, all overseen by licensed childcare providers. Noon.

Avenida Houston presents Juneteenth Culture Fest & Celebration of Freedom
Both Avenida Houston and Discovery Green will activate with a series of events commemorating Juneteenth and the end of slavery. The family-friendly event will offer multiple genres of live music, top DJs, art, games, BLCK Market vendors, health and fitness activations, food trucks, fireworks, and more. Participants can enjoy some of Houston’s top entertainment, while also supporting local artists and businesses. For a full schedule of events, go to the festival website. 4 pm.

Alanis Morissette in concert
At the top of this month, Alanis Morissette turned 50 years old. If that doesn’t make you feel old as hell, you obviously weren’t here when this Canadian-born, former child star became the voice for scorned-yet-sensitive ladies all through the ‘90s with songs like “You Oughta Know” and “Ironic.” She’ll most likely perform those classics when she comes to The Woodlands as part of The Triple Moon Tour. She'll be joined by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and Morgan Wade. 7 pm.

Photo by Visual Influence

Head to the Locker Room to watch this weekend's boxing match.

event-planner

where to party on NYE

Close out 2025 with a bang at these Houston New Year's Eve parties

Photo by Cathlin McCullough

Experience sets by four DJs at Meow Wolf.

Whether 2025 has been good or bad, you owe it to yourself to end this year with a bang. And that’s why your friends at CultureMap have laid out more than 20 places – bars, pubs, nightclubs, even a children’s museum – that’ll be closing out 2025 in a grand, festive manner.

Happy New Year, and drink as much bubbly as you can reasonably consume — just leave the driving to someone else:

Art Club’s first NYE will feature one of their favorite artists from this year: Neon Indian. Expect an unpredictable sonic journey with an artist who crafts immersive DJ sets that weave deep cuts, vintage textures, and dancefloor energy. 10 pm.

Axelrad will have a free NYE bash with a champagne toast, a midnight cash ball drop, and live music from bands Azul and Rupert & Friends, as well as DJ sets from Rikkiton, Eleven Toes Down, and IYKYK. Shop Local Market will also be there with vendors. 7 pm.

Bar Boheme will get the New Year started with Rudy Rincon & GRUPO KACHE, delivering infectious rhythms that'll have people dancing all night long. They’ll also have an all-you-can-eat buffet until 10 pm, a champagne toast with grapes, and more. 7 pm.

Best Regards will transform into a full winter wonderland/Alps-inspired Après-Ski lounge for “An Après Affair.” For this champagne-forward celebration (complete with DJ-led energy building to a midnight toast), faux fur, metallics, and "Alpine-chic" attire are encouraged. 8 pm.

Children’s Museum Houston will throw its annual NYE-during-the-day bash for kids, where they’ll be counting down until the clock strikes noon. The first 200 children will receive “Happy New Year” necklaces to kick off the celebration. 9 am.

Constellation Field in Sugar Land will host a midnight fireworks display as part of its Sugar Land Holiday Lights display. Adults (21-plus) can upgrade to the New Year's Eve Ball in the Regions Bank Club that includes an open bar, DJ, a champagne toast, and premium seating for the fireworks. 6 pm.

Dan Electro’s will be mixing vibes, funk, world reggae, and rock & roll for a New Year's concert in the Heights. Bayou City Funk, demrootsmusic, and Charlie Danger’s Jet Set will play the music, while champagne will be available for purchase. 8:30 pm.

The Flat will be opening its doors to partygoers looking to ring in the New Year with Jamaican grooves. For this NYE edition of “Reggae Wednesday,” Flabba Dabba and KingFari will be spinning tunes while Caribbean food will be available on the patio. 9 pm.

Flying Saucer Draught Emporium will have its third annual, interactive murder-mystery event on NYE. Ticket holders get access to the mystery and a complimentary welcome beer or cocktail, as well as private dining and access to their cocktail and reserve beer menu. 7 pm.

The Foundation Room at House of Blues will get real soulful with “If It Don't Feel Like 90s RnB: New Year's Eve Edition.” Host/local R&B vocalist Keith Jacobs will be providing the vocals, while The Ken Chatham Project serves up the sounds. 9 pm.

Grooves of Houston will throw a “Tux & Tennies” party, where dressing up in your finest evening wear (complete with fresh fly kicks) is a requirement. There will be a midnight cash balloon drop, a champagne toast, a brunch buffet, and much more. 8 pm.

Heights Social will be the starting point for the Heights NYE celebration on W. 20th St. For $60 (and two drinks), you can skip the line and check out the parties at Heights Social, BLVD Park, Say No Mas, and Cattlemen’s Country Club. 8 pm.

Hotel Saint Augustine will be throwing a free soiree in their listening lounge. Described as an evening “filled with elegance and indulgence,” with a complimentary midnight toast. But, to be honest, they had us at “music, decadent caviar, and truffles.” 9 pm.

Hotel ZaZa Memorial City will roll out the red carpet for a Hollywood-style NYE, so dress to impress. Wine, beer and cocktails will be flowing, with a bubbly toast popping off at midnight. There will also be live entertainment and a hors d'oeuvres station. 10 pm.

Houston Museum of Natural Science will ring in the New Year with “Mixers and Elixirs: New Year's Eve.” Enjoy live music from Danny Ray and the Atlantic Street Band, and catch a screening of Ocean’s Eleven (2001) in the Wortham Giant Screen Theatre. 9 pm.

McGonigel’s Mucky Duck continues its tradition of celebrating Irish New Year’s Eve, where they get their “Auld Lang Syne” on at 6 pm. Pat Byrne, Kristopher Wade, EJ Jones, and Frances Cunningham will be around with some fiddle music. 4:30 pm.

Meow Wolf Houston will have its first-ever NYE celebration inside Radio Tave, giving guests full access to explore the worlds while moving through distinct DJ-driven zones. The lineup features Houston artists Machine Elves, IMAX713, PHARAX, and KINOTE. 8 pm.

Neil’s Bahr will be adding something new to their annual NYE rager – karaoke! At their new location, partygoers will get the chance to sing their heads off. The party will also offer cheap champagne, classic cocktails, silly hats, and all the free hors d'oeuvres you can handle. 8 pm.

Numbers will serve up another NYE spectacular, which includes a $2,026 balloon drop at midnight, along with a champagne toast, and complimentary party favors. Longtime Numbers DJ Wes Wallace will be in the booth spinning. 9 pm.

Off the Record Listening Bar is planning a big New Year's bash with live sets from Keith Jacobs (again) & the B-Sides Band, DJ Ortiz, DJ Youngstreetz, and FlemmDoggyDogg. A welcome cocktail is given to the first 50 RSVPs. 8 pm.

Pimlico Irish Pub will continue its tradition of celebrating NYE on Ireland time, when the clock strikes midnight at 6 pm. They will have complimentary swag, a champagne toast, and a livestream of the Ireland NYE celebration. 2 pm.

POST’s New Year's Eve Celebration features a Great Gatsby-inspired celebration of glitz, glamour and over-the-top excitement. The grand finale will be a midnight fireworks spectacle orchestrated by pyrotechnic artists Celestial Displays. 9 pm.

Shoeshine Charley’s Big Top Lounge will have a NYE bash with performances by rockabilly group Shame on Me, synth-punk rockers TV Dolls, and Americana band Brightwire. There will also be a free champagne toast at midnight. 8 pm.

The Spot Lounge & Bar will celebrate NYE with its signature welcoming energy, music, handcrafted cocktails, and bubbly. A limited-edition, holiday cocktail lineup features festive twists on classics, blending bold seasonal flavors with approachable comfort. 2 pm.

Tejas Brewery will be celebrating the New Year with a rooftop shindig. Your ticket includes a free first beer and a champagne toast at midnight, as well as live music (from brotherly rock trio Wolf Moon) all night and a great view of the downtown fireworks. 8 pm.

Velocity - Sim Racing Lounge will have a special, family-friendly celebration. They’ll be hosting an exclusive ticketed event featuring unlimited sim racing, a live DJ, goodies throughout the night, light bites and, of course, that midnight champagne toast. 7 pm.

houston new year's eve entertainment