weekend event planner

These are the top 15 things to do in Houston this weekend

Since we’re officially in the holiday season (or “Mariah season,” as we like to call it), several seasonal, holiday-themed events will be popping off this weekend. Houston Ballet will have its annual Nutcracker Market. Discovery Green will open up its Green Mountain Holiday Ice rink. Coca-Cola will even bring us a new, immersive light experience.

But we’ll also have live music from Jelly Roll and Cyndi Lauper, delicious art openings at CAMH, Mitochondria Gallery, and Archway Gallery, and legendary cult filmmaker John Waters providing live commentary for one of his most beloved films.

Thursday, November 14

44th Annual Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market
The 44th annual Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market is a four-day shopper’s paradise filled with larger-than-life nutcrackers and ornament-adorned trees. It features curated collections with holiday items, gourmet food, apparel, jewelry, gifts, and more from over 270 merchants from across the country. Highly sought-after merchant Paul Michael returns to the market this year after a two-year hiatus with his signature décor pieces, including ornaments and décor, topiaries, snow globes, nativity scenes, Christmas trees, and garlands. 10 am.

Contemporary Arts Museum presents Vincent Valdez: Just a Dream… public opening
CAMH will present Vincent Valdez’s new exhibition this weekend. This exhibition is the artist’s first major museum survey, spanning over two decades of work. This unique lineup and show will include a mix of singer-songwriter Nick Gaitan’s original “Tejas Roots” music along with a curated set of covers, paying tribute to legends and cultivators from Houston, San Antonio and further down the Gulf Coast, that have had an influence on his work and sound. Chicano Boulevard will close things out with a DJ set. Through Sunday, March 23. 7 pm.

The Hobby Center presents Hairspray with John Waters
As part of this year’s Houston Cinema Arts Festival, John Waters (aka The Pope of Trash) comes to Houston for his first-ever live and in-person director's commentary of his original Hairspray. A special pre-show trailer reel will kick things off, followed by the main event, the screening with live commentary by Waters, followed by a Q&A. VIP ticket holders will join in a Group Therapy Experience, which includes preferred seating, an autographed show poster, and a socially distanced selfie with Waters, on stage with you in the foreground. 7:30 pm.

Friday, November 15

Discovery Green presents Green Mountain Energy Ice
Kick off the holiday season at Green Mountain Energy Ice at Discovery Green. Visitors can glide beneath the glittering lights of downtown Houston and discover the holiday magic at Discovery Green. The first 50 people in line at 5 pm skate for free, and Forever Green members skate for free from 5-7 pm. Entertainment is provided by the winners of the Discover Houston Music showcase on the Anheuser-Busch stage. And the Lake House will be serving classic American fare such as burgers, salads, and tacos. Through Sunday, February 2. 7 pm.

Disney On Ice presents Frozen & Encanto
Disney On Ice will present the magical adventures of Frozen and Encanto as they come to life like never before. This adventure on ice transports fans into two of the most popular Disney films, as audiences can sing-along to their favorite songs while embracing world-class ice skating, aerial acrobatics, and more. Audiences will see Anna, Elsa, Mirabel, and the Madrigal family live, as well as fan favorites Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald, Goofy, and many more. 7 pm (10:30 am and 7 pm Friday; 11 am, 3 and 7 pm Saturday; 1 and 5 pm Sunday).

Mitochondria Gallery presents "Place of Repose II" opening reception
Mitochondria Gallery will present “Place of Repose II,” their culminating group exhibition of 2024. The exhibition completes the year with a thoughtfully curated space where viewers can find a sense of tranquility and restoration. It serves as both an invitation and a gentle reminder: first, to live mindfully, with gratitude for the present; and second, to intentionally embrace rest - reclaiming time to renew both mind and body. Through sculptures and paintings, this exhibition explores facets of the human experience. Through Saturday, December 14. 7:30 pm.

Chelsea Handler: Little Big Bitch Tour
You gotta love it when a comic goes on tour, complete with a take-no-prisoners title. Comedian Chelsea Handler comes to Sugar Land as part of her Little Big Bitch Tour, which will give fans a retrospective look (including her years as host of E!’s Chelsea Lately and Netflix’s Chelsea) at what made her the person, comedian, and New York Times best-selling author she is today. Let’s hope that former boyfriend/Houston resident Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson will make an appearance from the stands. 8 pm.

Saturday, November 16

Hogan Brown Gallery presents “Take Me As I Am: Redemption and Grace for the Discarded” opening reception
Hogan Brown Gallery will be showing off a new solo exhibition from artist Lance Flowers. This showcase highlights Flowers’ collage work, a reflection on the cultural preservation of Houston’s Third Ward in the face of growing gentrification pressures. A multimedia video installation will complement the exhibition, featuring interviews and statistical data on Third Ward’s highs and lows. The exhibition will also engage Third Ward businesses and cultural spaces, creating a rich and immersive experience across the neighborhood. Through Thursday, December 5. 6 pm

Archway Gallery presents A Native Feast
Archway Gallery and Ishtia chef David Skinner will present a food journey through Indigenous culture in conjunction with Harold Joiner’s "Homeland: Random Musings of a Native Son," an exhibition of paintings and mixed media works inspired by his Southwestern homeland. The five-course tasting dinner created by Skinner, a Choctaw tribal member, is inspired by his ancestors' stories and will include the Indigenous ingredients gifted to the world by Native Americans. 6:30 pm.

Coca-Cola's Classic Christmas
Coca-Cola’s Classic Christmas is a festive, new, immersive holiday light experience that will transport guests to a world of Christmas magic. The event will feature larger-than-life light sculptures, ice skating, a snow slide, shopping, live entertainment, visits with Santa, hot cocoa, and more. There will also be a variety of theme nights, where visitors can dress up or enjoy special events. Go to the event website for more information. Through Sunday, December 29. 6:30 pm (5:30 pm Sunday).

Cyndi Lauper in concert
All the girlie-pop divas of today – Charli, Chappell, Billie, Sabrina – owe a debt of gratitude to girlie-pop icon Cyndi Lauper, who dropped such ‘80s classics as “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and “Time After Time.” Lauper comes to Houston as part of her Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour. The Grammy, Emmy, and Tony-winning singer-songwriter has released 12 albums in her career, most recently Detour in 2016. 8 pm.

Sunday, November 17

Handies Douzo/Ensō Pop-Up + Giveaway
Handies Douzo, the hand roll and sushi bar in Montrose, is hosting a handcrafted matcha pop-up in collaboration with Ensō, a local, Asian-owned matcha and tea company. Guests can experience the unique pop-up where matcha meets temaki. Guests can enter an Instagram giveaway for a chance to win a $100 Himari gift card. The contest is open now, and the winner will be announced on Tuesday, November 19. The event is open to the public, and no reservation is necessary. 11 am.

Long Way Home presents Honky Tonk For Hope
Honky Tonk For Hope is an all-day festival helping those in need in the community. It will feature performances by Hayes Carll and Band of Heathens, Jason Boland and The Stragglers, Eddie 9V, John Evans Band, and Two Tons of Steel. The afternoon of independent Texas music artists and a few of their friends will raise funds for Long Way Home to assist in meeting the needs of pediatric transplant patients and their families. Children 12 years and under are free with adults. 2 pm.

Chris Shepherd’s Table to Stage: A Conversation with Tom Colicchio
The Houston chef and media personality sits down with Top Chef head judge Tom Colicchio for a conversation centered about Colicchio’s new book Why I Cook. “He kind of scares the shit out of me,” Shepherd told CultureMap last month. Expect a lively look at Colicchio’s career that has included winning eight James Beard Awards as well as serving as an advocate for the restaurant industry. 6 pm.

Jelly Roll in concert
Tennessee rapper-turned-country rocker Jelly Roll has been having a very wonderful year. He was nominated for a Best New Artist Grammy. Beautifully Broken, his latest album, was number one on the Billboard 200 and country charts. He even appeared on an episode of that gangstalicious Sylvester Stallone show Tulsa King. This weekend, he’ll be in Houston along with special guests ERNEST, Shaboozey, and Allie Colleen. 7 pm.

Photo courtesy of Nutcracker Market

The Nutcracker Market is one of Houston's most beloved shopping events.

event-planner

Weekend Event Planner

These are the top 15 things to do in Houston this weekend

Photo by Matthew Murphy

Broadway at the Hobby Center presents Water for Elephants.

Now that the arctic blast has finished with us, several events that were cancelled last weekend – Gallery Sonja Roesch’s 35th anniversary show, a dual opening at Foltz Fine Art, Asia Society Texas’s Kawaii Market – have been rescheduled for this weekend.

As for the scheduled events this weekend, there’s an “autoboative” show, a screening of a sci-fi classic with live musical accompaniment, an all-star show for autograph collectors, a fashion competition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the return of Houston's noisiest music festival.

Thursday, January 29

Houston Autoboative Show
It’s the 42nd Houston Auto Show at NRG Park this weekend, which is also combined (for its third year) with the Houston Boat Show. The event showcases a diverse array of vehicles, from electric cars to trucks and sedans. It also offers a fantastic opportunity to get up close and personal with the hottest models on the market and learn from brand experts about each vehicle/vessel without the pressure of being sold to. 11 am (10 am Saturday and Sunday).

Asia Society Texas presents Offside
Asia Society Texas will kick off the World Cup with Offside, a 2006 dramedy from Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi. (It’s also part of this year’s Festival of Films from Iran.) Set during a World Cup qualifying match between Iran and Bahrain, the film follows a group of young women who attempt to circumvent a ban on women attending sporting events by disguising themselves as men to enter the stadium and watch the game, leading to a series of increasingly absurd situations. 7 pm.

Performing Arts Houston presents Blade Runner Live
Ridley Scott’s stylish, 1982 noir classic Blade Runner (aka the 2007 Final Cut) will screen while Vangelis’ synthesizer-led cult score is performed live by The Avex Ensemble. In this futuristic hriller, detective Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) must continue as Replicant Hunter following the escape of four Replicants (including main baddie Rutger Hauer – RIP) from colonies who’ve returned to earth. His mission, however, is complicated when he falls for Rachel (Sean Young), a Replicant based at the Tyrell Corporation. 7:30 pm.

Friday, January 30

TRISTAR Houston Collectors Show
For three days, a lot of stars will be flocking to the NRG Arena in order to give Houstonians their signature. Along with lots of sports memorabilia for sale, the 40th Annual TRISTAR Houston Collectors Show will have tons of celebs signing autographs. Just on Saturday alone, we’ll get Karate Kid/Cobra Kai castmates Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, and Martin Kove; the cast of The Sandlot, Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Dennis Rodman, former Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich, former Rockets player Elvin Hayes, and Houston’s own Randy Quaid. 2 pm (10 am Saturday and Sunday).

The Hobby Center presents Houston Is Inspired - [Jk]creativ: Our Road Home
Multidisciplinary company [Jk]creativ gives us Our Road Home, an interactive rhythmic production created and directed by native Houston artist Jakari Sherman. Through layered rhythmic storytelling - spoken, rapped, preached, and sung - the work honors the communal labor and ingenuity that built spaces of freedom across time. Inspired by the legacy of Houston’s Freedmen’s Town, the work asks: Once freedom is gained, how do we live in it, preserve it, and pass it on when the pull of bondage lingers near?

MFAH and HCC present Fashion Fusion X
Frida Kahlo meets contemporary couture in Fashion Fusion, the 10th edition of the annual fashion competition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Open to aspiring designers in the Fashion Design program at Houston City College, Fusion challenges students to create original garments in response to art on display in the museum’s galleries. This year, the aspiring designers will showcase garments addressing the exhibition, "Frida: The Making of an Icon." 7 pm.

Memorial Hermann Broadway at the Hobby Center presents Water for Elephants
After losing what matters most, a young man jumps a moving train, unsure of where the road will take him. He finds a new home with the remarkable crew of a traveling circus, and a life - and love - beyond his wildest dreams. Seen through the eyes of his older self, his adventure becomes a poignant reminder that if you choose the ride, life can begin again at any age. 7:30 pm (2 and 7:30 pm Saturday; 1:30 and 7 pm Sunday).

Saturday, January 31

The List One Year Anniversary
East End creative space The List will be celebrating its first anniversary with a bevy of weekend events, with two going down on Saturday. The day starts off with the return of the Vinyl & Furniture Garden Market, curated by local DJ vet Malcolm Bravo, over at the List Cafe. Bravo and other DJs will be spinning tunes as stores and vendors will be open for business. Later that evening, DJ/TikToker Sheri Koko will be working the turntables, along with some special-guest pals, at Room808. 11 am and 9 pm.

Burger Bodega present For the Culture
Chef and restaurateur Abbas Dhanani is taking a break from burgers to pay homage to his Pakistani heritage by partnering with the PX Project for a one-day only pop-up. Working with his mother and his aunt, the four-item menu showcases some favorite childhood dishes, including Nihari, slow-braised, spiced beef stew with naan; Hina Khala's Chicken Biryani, fragrant basmati rice layered with boneless chicken; the Chicken Sixty-Five Po' Boy; and a mango lassi sundae with a cardamom snickerdoodle cookie.

$\u200bBroadway at the Hobby Center presents Water for Elephants$

Photo by Matthew Murphy

Broadway at the Hobby Center presents Water for Elephants.

Seven Sisters presents Ping Zheng: Soft Interference opening reception
Soft Interference presents a new series of oil-stick works on paper by Ping Zheng, following her 2024 exhibition Nature’s Canopy at Seven Sisters. In these works, Zheng continues her investigation of landscape as a site of perception and interiority. Through repeated mark-making and shifting chromatic fields, she constructs images that hover between observed nature and remembered experience. Through Saturday, February 28. 2 pm.

MGEntertainment presents The 5th Annual Harsh Noise Houston
Believe it or not, there’s a heavy experimental-music scene here in H-Town. This weekend, you have the opportunity to see a lot of the scene’s most valuable players over at Super Happy Fun Land, where the fifth annual Harsh Noise Houston fest will be going down. 13 acts, representing some of the best experimental music, performance art, and noise that Texas has to offer, will be performing, including HauntedPixel, Ether Research, Astrogenic Hallucinating, and Psychosomatic’s sister project Del Norte. 7 pm.

Rice Cinema presents American Sons
Film producer and Rice alum Elizabeth Avellán presents American Sons, a documentary using first-hand footage captured by fallen Marine Cpl. Jorge “JV” Villarreal, a native of San Antonio. The film focuses on a brotherhood of U.S. Marines a decade after their Afghanistan deployment, focusing on their struggle with combat trauma, PTSD, and reintegration, especially after losing their friend Villarreal. Avellan and director Andrew James Gonzales will be around for a post-screening Q&A. 7 pm.

Sunday, February 1

ReelAbilities Houston presents ReelArt For All
The ReelAbilities Houston Film & Arts Festival’s ReelArt For All program will feature art and interactive activities, brunchy bites, and more. Guests can see the world through the eyes of artists from Celebration Company, an entrepreneurial employment program for adults with disabilities, and explore the works of featured artist Emmett Kyoshi Wilson. A Chicago-based artist living with Down syndrome, Wilson has created over 150 works, exhibited in five galleries, and even painted the American Flag for the U.S. Embassy in Croatia. 10:30 am.

Shepherd School of Music presents Inside Look: Modern American Operas
The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University will present a deconstructed look at two full-length American comic operas: Karim Al-Zand’s 50th anniversary commission A Joint Interest and William Bolcom’s Lucrezia. Aleko Endowed Artist Paul Curran guides audiences through these mischievous and delightfully theatrical worlds. Shepherd School Chamber Players will accompany both contemporary operas from the pit, led by Miguel Harth-Bedoya. Bolcom's Lucrezia contains adult content and is not suitable for all audiences. 2 pm.

Cultural Center Our Texas presents Popovich Comedy Pet Theater
The World Famous Popovich Comedy Pet Theater is a family-oriented blend of the unique comedy and juggling skills of Gregory Popovich, and the talents of his furry costars. There are more than 30 pets (dogs, cats, horses, birds, etc.) in the show, and each one has been rescued from animal shelters and given a new leash on life. Bad pun aside, this show will be a joy for viewers of all ages. 4 pm.

things to do weekend events event-planner