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    weekend event planner

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

    Craig D. Lindsey
    Nov 6, 2024 | 6:30 pm

    This weekend features several festivals happening around town, including a film festival featuring films from all over, a Jewish book and arts festival, an Islamic arts festival, and a fest celebrating countries and cultures in the Americas. As our darling editor Eric says, let’s be ecumenical (translation: promote unity with all religions and races) — which is not a bad idea right now.

    Read on for this weekend’s best bets.

    Thursday, November 7

    Houston Cinema Arts Festival
    The Houston Cinema Arts Festival will feature more than 40 different screenings and programs over 11 days, including feature films, short films, documentaries, and more. The festival will open with Tendaberry, directed by Houston filmmaker Haley Elizabeth Anderson. Other highlights include John Waters doing live commentary during a screening of Hairspray; and a screening of Bambi alongside a book signing for Background Artist: The Life and Work of Tyrus Wong. Through Sunday, November 17. 5 pm (7:30 pm Friday; 10 am Saturday and Sunday).

    Mid Main Houston First Thursday Block Party
    The businesses of Mid Main, together with Mid Main Lofts, will host the First Thursday Block Party. Attendees will get to eat, shop, and rock at the block partners and have beer, sponsored by Saint Arnold Brewing Company. There will also be live music, art shows, special activations, street art, and handmade goodies from local vendors at the Winbern Street Market. This month, the nonprofit you can donate to at this block party will be Fresh Arts. 6 pm.

    La Colombe d'Or Hotel presents Oysters & Champagne
    The Montrose boutique hotel will host its annual party devoted to bivalves and sparkling wine. Attendees will feast on Gulf Coast oyster varieties from Prestige Oysters paired with Savor Caviar and sips from Telmont Champagne. The event also includes champagne-themed cocktails and live music. 6 pm.

    Houston Music Classifieds presents Lungs
    Midtown bar Leon’s Lounge will turn into a theater venue this weekend. Step into the raw and intimate world of Lungs by Duncan MacMillan, where life, love, and the future of our planet are intertwined in a gripping, thought-provoking story. Directed by Madison Elaine and starring the talented duo Eva Olivia Catanzariti and Dillon Dewitt, this play explores the complexities of human connection in an uncertain world. Following the play, there will be a live music set from local Houston musicians. 8 pm.

    Friday, November 8

    Reeves Art + Design presents Rachelle LeBlanc: "No Time for Sorry" opening reception
    In "No Time for Sorry," French American/Canadian artist Rachelle LeBlanc invites viewers into an exploration of alternative realities and identities, delving into the themes of transformation, belonging, and the fluidity of self. Through a fusion of hand-hooked surface embroidery and ceramic sculptures, LeBlanc crafts a narrative transcending traditional boundaries, engaging with the concept that there is no time to apologize for becoming who you were meant to be as a pathway to self-discovery and social change. Through Saturday, November 16. 6 pm.

    Theatre Under the Stars presents Lights Up Gala
    The wintry-themed Lights Up Gala will feature live and silent auction experiences and entertainment by one of Broadway’s greatest leading ladies, Tony Award winner and Emmy nominee Kelli O’Hara, who will perform alongside students from the TUTS Education Pre-Professional and Performance Troupes. All proceeds from this event fuel the magic behind TUTS' mainstage productions, empower education programs, and ignite community engagement initiatives. 7 pm.

    Houston Symphony presents It Don’t Mean a Thing: Swingin’ Uptown Classics with Byron Stripling
    Inspired by legendary musical hot spots like The Cotton Club and The Savoy, It Don’t Mean a Thing: Swingin’ Uptown Classics will transport audiences to Harlem’s hippest nightclub, when Duke Ellington’s orchestra was the house band and Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, and Ethel Waters showcased the biggest jazz hits of the day. The concert will be conducted by Byron Stripling. 7:30 pm (2 pm Sunday).

    Improv Houston presents Dave Attell
    If you grew up watching Insomniac with Dave Attell on Comedy Central back in the day, you’ll be happy to know that the veteran comedian will be in town this weekend. Attell's caustic wit, rapid-fire delivery, and his choice of material that can best be described as "very adult" has earned him the reputation as a "comic's comic." Maybe you’ll also see him hanging out at some Houston nightspots, like he used to do back on Insomniac. 7:30 and 9:45 pm (7 and 9:30 pm Saturday).

    Saturday, November 9

    Nickelodeon and VStar Entertainment Group present PAW Patrol Live! A Mighty Adventure
    This all-new live stage show picks up where PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie left off. Audiences will join the “PAW-some” pack in Adventure City and witness the pups charging up like never before, as they work together to super-save the day. PAW Patrol Live! A Mighty Adventure is based on the Nickelodeon preschool series PAW Patrol, which follows Chase, Marshall, Skye, and the rest of the pack after they save Adventure City with their Mighty Pup Powers. 10 am and 2 pm (11 am and 3 pm Sunday).

    Islamic Arts Society presents 11th Islamic Arts Festival
    The Islamic Arts Society presents the annual, two-day Islamic Arts Festival, featuring artists from across the U.S. It is the largest and oldest festival of Islamic arts in the country. It's a platform for established artists to network, collaborate, and inspire, while also providing a space for emerging and student artists to showcase their talent. There will be a film festival, a comedy show, and a Sufi music entertainment program. 10:30 am.

    The Galleria presents Tree Lighting and Ice Spectacular
    The Galleria will present the 35th Annual Ice Spectacular, which will kick off the holiday season with the lighting of its 55-foot Christmas tree, featuring 450,000 twinkling lights and 5,000 ornaments in a variety of colors and shapes. The 45-minute tree-lighting show will feature a performance by The Voice season 25 contestant Zoe Levert. The event will culminate with the lighting of the tree by Skating Santa and a fireworks display. 6 pm.

    52nd Annual Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Festival
    The Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Festival started last weekend, but you know what? We’re gonna give some love to this fest, which attracts an audience of all ages and is recognized as one of the largest Jewish book & arts festivals in the nation. On Saturday, Mitch Albom will be talking about his book The Little Liar. And, on Sunday, Jason Bell will be there with his book Cracking the Nazi Code: The Untold Story of Agent A12 and the Solving of the Holocaust Code. Through Saturday, November 16. 7:30 pm (7 pm Saturday).

    Sunday, November 10

    Alamo Drafthouse LaCenterra presents World of Animation: Grave of the Fireflies
    Set in Japan during WWII, the 1988 Studio Ghibli film Grave of the Fireflies follows two siblings as they try to survive without their father, who is in the Navy, and their mother, who dies tragically during an air raid. As the oldest of the two, Seita bears a heavy burden, not only ensuring that his little sister has food and shelter, but also doing his best to keep the harsh reality of their lives from robbing her of her childhood. In Japanese with English subtitles. 11:45 am.

    Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Fall Festival: Myths and Leyendas
    The MFAH will host Myths and Leyendas, a family festival celebrating legends and folklore from a variety of countries and cultures in the Americas. Now in its third year, the fest features new, temporary large-scale sculptures by six Houston Latinx artists.This year’s festivities includes food, live music, and dance performances at the Brown Foundation, Inc. Plaza. Visitors can play a lotería game with cards featuring MFAH works of art, wander through the Cullen Sculpture Garden to discover the sculptures, and join in art-making activities. 1 pm.

    Texas Medical Center Orchestra presents "Voices of Resilience"
    The Texas Medical Center Orchestra presents "Voices of Resilience," a performance that will explore the pressing issues of homelessness and mental illness, especially among veterans, through the power of music. The performance will feature the world premiere of Lost Child by Max Viventz, a new composition that captures the emotional journey of those who have faced life’s harshest realities. 5 pm.

     Tree Lighting and Ice Spectacular
    Photo courtesy of The Galleria

    The Galleria presents Tree Lighting and Ice Spectacular.

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    Weekend Event Planner

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

    Craig Lindsey
    Jan 28, 2026 | 6:30 pm
    ​Broadway at the Hobby Center presents Water for Elephants
    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.

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