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Free Red Bull event brings Formula 1 excitement to downtown Houston

The Red Bull Showrun is coming to Houston.

Courtesy of Red Bull

Houstonians with a passion for Formula 1 racing have to drive to Austin — and spend a lot of money — to experience the sport in person. That’s all going to change for two hours in September.

The Bayou City will be the next host of a Red Bull Showrun. Held on Saturday, September 7 at Discovery Green in downtown Houston, the free event will feature one of Red Bull’s championship-winning RB7 car flying down the streets around the park.

Best of all, it’s completely free to attend. Of course, those who want a great view of the action may purchase grandstand tickets ($50) that went on sale this morning.

Held previously in other cities without F1 races such as New York, Dallas, and Washington, D.C., Red Bull uses the Showrun to bring the sport to new fans. Although the sport traces its history to the ‘50s, it has seen a boost in popularity thanks to Formula 1: Drive to Survive, a Netflix show that offers a behind-the-scenes look at key people on each of the 10 teams. Red Bull’s Formula 1 team is riding particularly high at the moment, having won the Constructors Championship in both 2022 and 2023 on the strength of its car and lead driver Max Verstappen, who has won three consecutive Drivers’ Championship titles.

"The best part about any Red Bull Showrun is being able to bring Formula One to some fans that have already seen it, but more importantly to some who have never seen Formula One before," David Coulthard, a former Red Bull Racing Grand Prix driver who won 13 races during his 15-year career, said in a statement.

Held from 12-2 pm, the RB7 car will make a number of trips on the streets, doing doughnuts and burnouts and generally being very fast and loud. In between those runs, the Showrun will feature appearances by other Red Bull athletes and a DJ battle between local legends DJ Mr. Rogers and Chase B, who is the longtime DJ for hip hop star Travis Scott. A complete lineup of appearances will be released at a later date, according to a release.

Fans will also have access to a fan zone with food vendors, F1 racing simulators, Oracle Red Bull Racing merch, and other free activities.

For more information, including how to purchase grandstand tickets, visit the event’s website.

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auditions open

Houston's World Cup fan festival searching for talented performers

Courtesy photo

Fans have the opportunity to register for tickets to individual World Cup matches.

In just four months, Houston will serve as one of the host cities for the FIFA World Cup, the biggest sporting event on Earth. That kind of audience is a grand chance for every host city to show off some of its greatest musicians, dancers, and performers. This week, the official FIFA Fan Festival Houston announced a citywide search for talent who will perform across East Downtown during the World Cup from June 14 to July 4.

“The FIFA World Cup is about more than what happens on the pitch — it’s about the cities and communities that bring the tournament to life,” said Chris Canetti, president of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston Host Committee. “This talent search is an opportunity to put Houston’s creativity and diversity on full display, giving local performers a global platform as fans from around the world gather here for this experience.”

The Fan Festival is an immersive, free experience that will encompass four blocks of EaDo. A full list of attractions and themed days is still to come, but the festival has promised the participation of Space Center Houston and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in addition to the performances from those chosen in the talent search.

Applications are now open at the official FIFA Houston website and will close on March 10. Video submissions are required, and the callback interview process will begin in early April. The final lineup will be announced in May. The selected performers will have a unique opportunity to reach an in-person, international audience.

“The FIFA Fan Festival will be a place where culture, community and celebration come together every day of the tournament” said Patti Smith, Director of Houston’s FIFA Fan Festival. “By centering local performers on our stage, we’re ensuring it will reflect the spirit of Houston and create moments that are truly unforgettable.”

Half a million people are expected to visit Houston during the World Cup, so it's little wonder the host committee is pulling out all the stops. Mindful of Houston's blistering summers, the Fan Festival will include ample shade, misting zones, and other amenities that will help fans and visitors enjoy the festival in EaDo.