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These are the must-hit festivals, concerts, events, and most fun things to do this year in Houston, broken down by month
By
Brooke Viggiano
Dreaming up a trip to Houston? Well, you should totally book it, but before you do, we’ve got a colossal events calendar for you to plan your trip around. It’s a local’s take on the most iconic recurring events for the rest of this year and some of next—what’s hot and new, the one-of-a-kind celebrations you’ll only find in H-Town, and old favorites that draw crowds year after year. Barbecue, chili, and beer, anyone?
Yes, of course the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo is on here, and so is Texas RenFest, now of HBO fame. Browse the guide to incorporate some authentic local action into your travel itinerary.
January
January 17–18, 2025
Galveston Island Strand
Texas winter is a beautiful thing, y’all. Especially when there is chili, beer, and beach time involved. Every January, city folk and islanders flock to Galveston Island’s Historic Strand District to partake in an afternoon of chili and craft beer sampling, and having personally consumed her own weight in chili and beer, this author can confirm it’s as fully glorious as it sounds. The fest was created after Hurricane Ike in an effort to bring tourism to the island in its off months, and with festivities including a morning Fun Run, Jackpot Margarita Contest, and Corn Hole Tournament in addition to the good eatin’, it totally works. Pro-tip: Fill up your Big Dumb Cup with water before you go, as these chili competitors bring the heat.
January 18, 2025
Humble
If you thought the chili was hot, wait until you try all the tongue-scorching bites at the fiery Hops n’ Hot Sauce Festival. Or better yet, sign up to partake in its epic Hot Pepper Eating Contest, where the first person to eat their pile of jalapeños wins cold hard cash. Work your way through the unlimited vendor samples—extremely hot salsas, slow-burning spice rubs, smoky fire-roasted salsas, spicy jams, and more. Tame the spice with craft suds. Rinse. Repeat.
February
February 21–March 4, 2025
Galveston
You don’t have to make trip to New Orleans to partake in all the Mardi Gras mischief and fun; because there will be roughly 3 million beads flyin’ around down in Galveston as the island throws its annual Mardi Gras fete, held over the two weekends leading up to Fat Tuesday. Floats will be floatin’, krewes will be paradin’, balcony parties will be rockin’, and musical acts will bring the good vibes as the revelry goes well into the night.
February, 27–March 1, 2025
NRG Park
Houston is absolutely abuzz during Rodeo Season; and that buzz begins here, before the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo officially kicks off, at the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest. You’re not considered a local until you’ve managed to score yourself an invite to a private tent party (free booze + barbecue = fun), but even if you can’t get your way in o one, the festival grounds are a dang good time. Grab an admission ticket to access the most badass of Texas carnivals, rock out to free live concerts, and dig into festival fare plus your complimentary bbq brisket plate from the Chuck Wagon.
March
March 4–23, 2025
NRG Park
Ask any Houstonian what the city’s most highly anticipated event of the year is, and they’ll say the Houston Livestock Show & Rode. The entire city dusts off its collective boots for the roughly three-week affair every spring, bringing adrenaline-pumping rodeo action (bull riding, barrel racing, and the most adorable rodeo event you ever did see, mutton bustin’), plus a giant outdoor carnival and festival with rides, games, and deep-fried everything, a wine garden with live country performances, after-hours two-stepping and after-parties, and crazy good concerts from headlining artists every single night. Experience this. We beg of you.
March 2025, exact dates TBD (and October 11-13, 2024)
Downtown (and Memorial Park)
Art enthusiasts can and will find something special at this world-class art festival, which now goes down twice a year – starting with a downtown spring festival set to the backdrop of the city skyline and followed by the fall fair amongst nature at the picturesque Memorial Park. Both giant open-air art galleries offer the opportunity to meet with artists and score new pieces — bespoke artworks, world-class paintings, one-of-a-kind jewelry, mixed-media, and more; with extra experiences from live entertainment and chefs tastings to food trucks and wine and beer gardens to contemplate your next purchase in.
April
April 2025, exact dates TBD
Humble
Meat sweats. You’re getting them if you attend this festival, but it’s so worth it. What began as a way to bring attention to Houston’s burgeoning barbecue community has become a quintessential local tradition, as heavy-hitting smokehouses and pitmasters from across Houston bring their A games in the art of ‘Q. We’re talkin’ ace local spots like Blood Bros. BBQ, Gatlin’s BBQ, The Brisket House, Henderson & Kane, Corkscrew BBQ, Truth BBQ, and more. All you need to do is snag your tickets, show up, and eat (loose clothing highly, highly suggested).
April 2025, exact date TBD
Downtown
Everyone talks about keepin’ Austin weird, but this wackadoo spectacle of art-on-wheels proves that Houston’s got some quirky stuff going on, too. Hundreds of eccentrically decked out art cars (and bikers, rollerbladers, walkers, and even a uni-cyclist or two) roll through the streets of downtown and along Allen Parkway in the Houston Art Car Parade every April. Join the beloved Houston tradition by simply grabbing a spot along the route to watch, and pack some beverages, your shades, and camping chairs to keep you comfy (show up early to score the best views).
May
May 2025, exact dates TBD
Sugar Land
The inaugural Bazaar Food and Wine fest was a big hit, giving foodies the opportunity to immerse themselves in the multicultural heart of Houston. Just like last year, you can expect a melting pot of eats from star local chefs – 2024 showcased Cochinita & Co.’s Victoria Elizondo, Hamsa’s Yotam Dolev, and James Beard Award winner Benchawan Jabthong Painter (Chef G) of Street to Kitchen, among other super talent. Tickets will get you unlimited food and drink from 40 some-odd restaurants, plus access to the party featuring proper drinks and live entertainment performances.
May 2025, exact dates TBD
Conroe, $139 and up
Head up to the Montgomery County Fairgrounds for a rockin’ three-day country music festival as big as Texas. Last year, the debut event rocked concerts from 35+ local rising stars and some of the hottest names in country music today—including Dirks Bentley, Thomas Rhett, Morgan Wade, Clay Walker, and more – over multiple stages. Belt out your favorite lyrics and tap your toes, then fill your Texas cup with all the extras — food truck eats and classic festival fare, live art experiences from chainsaw wood-carving to hat-making, pig racing and barrel racing, car shows and camping, and whatever else you can discover.
June
June 2025, exact dates TBD
Downtown
Collective force Pride 365 puts on the official Houston LGBT Pride Celebration every summer. Its flashy, flagship event is the annual Pride Parade in downtown, drawing a rainbow crowd in a colossal celebration of love, acceptance, and joy; and there are fun happenings all over the city during the entirety of Pride Month, too – buzzing pool parties and sexy runway shows, pop-up markets and spirited dinners, unicorn margaritas and DJ-fueled after-parties, and more.
June 20–22, 2025
Downtown
Comic fans can unleash their inner geekdom at annual pop culture fest Comicpalooza, held at George R. Brown Convention Center over three days. Expect panels, photograph and autograph sessions, cosplay competitions, anime, gaming, and after-dark activities. Last year’s celebrity guests (2024) included the likes of John Cena, Rose McGowen, Kimoko Glenn, Jon Heder, and Robert Englund. Keep your eye out to see what’s coming for 2025.
June 2025, exact dates TBD
NRG Park
Houston is home to one of the largest Asian American populations in the U.S., hosting numerous Asian heritage fests throughout the year. Tokyo X is the most colossal, showing off Japanese culture via food and drink, cars and anime, martial arts and sumo, and nostalgic stuff like a Pokémon Trading Card Tournament in a huge expo to NRG Park. In its inaugural year, the indoor event rocked over 200 vendors, including famed Japanese restos Gindaco (known for its takoyaki) and Tenkatori, a karaage titan, and 85 Japanese cars for the two-day show.
July
July 4
Buffalo Bayou Park
Chris Young, Clay Walker, and Darius Rucker are just some of the big names that have performed at this annual Texas-sized fireworks show and celebration of America. Freedom-loving folks cozy onto blankets and chairs at Eleanor Tinsley Park to enjoy the day of country music before the musically-choreographed fireworks dazzle the sky over the downtown cityscape. Other cool July Fourth happenings include a fireworks viewing party at Post’s downtown Skylawn, the Houston Symphony’s Star-Spangled Salute at Miller Outdoor Theatre, and sippin’ booze in a hammock watching classic Americana movies at Axelrad.
August
August 1–September 2, 2024
Various locations
August means it’s time to book your next reservation for Houston Restaurant Weeks, the annual foodie fundraising event that sees restaurants across town crafting specially-priced, prix fixe menus for lunch, brunch, and dinner. WIth every meal purchased, a set portion of proceeds will go toward the Houston Food Bank (2023 raised almost $2 million alone), so you can feel good while eating really, really good.
August 30–September 1, 2024
Galveston
Wine, food, and fireworks down by the bay. If that sounds like a nice way to close out summer to you, you’ll want to head to Houston’s favorite island for a wine-soaked Labor Day Weekend. Held at Moody Gardens, you can enjoy events like the Seven-on-Seven Seafood Extravaganza (featuring seven prestigious local chefs preparing paired eats for seven fine wines), Bourbon Dinners and Brunch & Bubbles (which we hope are self-explanatory), and the Penguins & Pinot: Grand Tasting (a super cool world of wine and food in the Aquarium).
Ready to go?Book tickets here.
September
September 22, 2024
Warehouse District
The oldest craft brewer in Texas puts on an epic ‘que competition every year, challenging the city’s best pitmasters to use Saint A beer to craft a smokin’ bbq dish that defines Houston. Upcoming competitors include defending winners Bar-A-BBQ (People's Choice and Brett's BBQ Shop (Judge's Choice) alongside top smokehouses like Daddy Duncan's BBQ, Harlem Road Texas BBQ, Tejas Chocolate + BBQ, and The Pit Room. This one’s known to sellout as it’s held in the air-conditioned Beer Hall, so snag tickets while you still can.
Ready to go?Book tickets here.
October
October 5, 2024
Downtown
Houston-born nonprofit Southern Smoke Foundation puts money directly into the hands of food and beverage workers in need nationwide, offering services from emergency relief to mental healthcare. Its biggest, tastiest fundraiser, the Southern Smoke Festival, runs every fall, bringing with it a supersonic lineup of top chefs from around the country and the finest wine, spirits, and beer producers for an absolutely knockout foodie fest. Set in the gorgeous Discovery Green park, watch chef demos from celebrity chefs Brooke Williamson and Christina Tosi, get drool-worthy eats from Lee Ann Wong, Rodney Scott, Aaron Franklin, and local stars from Aaron Bludorn and Greg Gatlin to Rebecca Mason and Ryan Pera. You want tickets to this. Trust. Ready to go?Book tickets here.
October 12–December 1 (weekends), 2024
Todd Mission
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024, Texas RenFest is easily the best people-watching experience of the year. But you shouldn’t just watch the merry-making and mayhem, you should join in as royals and vikings, fairies and dragons, and maybe even a naughty Santa or two storm the enchanted 16th-century English village.
Ready to go?Book tickets here.
November
November–January, exact dates TBD
Downtown
Discovery Green’s Kinder Lake says “goodbye” to the kayakers and “heyoooooo” to all levels ice skaters every holiday season when it transforms in to a giant outdoor skating rink. Feel the magic as you gracefully (or not) glide under the soaring downtown skyline, and pop in for fun theme nights. Afterwards, you can lick your wounds with some bourbon at nearby bars like Bayou & Bottle, Biggio’s, Reserved 101, and The Rustic.
November 14–17, 2024
NRG Park
Before you even think about relying on your 2-Day Amazon Prime delivery for your holiday shopping this year, consider hitting up this sprawling Christmastime bazaar instead. You’ll find hundreds of artisan merchants slinging a winter wonderland of goodies—gourmet foods from jam to jerky; home and holiday decor; art and jewelry; toys and kidstuffs; authentic leather goods; and some whiskey toothpicks for your dad. There’s a ticket for entry, but we promise the goodies inside are worth it (plus all ticket proceeds go to the Houston Ballet and its academy and scholarship programs).
November–January, exact dates TBD
Museum District
The Houston Zoo goes bigtime festive every holiday season, with millions of twinkling lights and extravagant displays adorning its winding pathways—think animal-themed lanterns under towering oak trees, bubble caves and fake snow-covered groves, and the colossal color-changing holiday tree. Stroll the grounds and break out your camera to snap core holiday memories.
December
December 2024, exact dates TBD
Various locations
Over-the-top nostalgic holiday pop-up bar Miracle brings the magic to local watering holes around the country just in time for Christmas. For the past several years, Johnny’s Gold Brick, Winnie’s, and Galveston’s Daiquiri Time Out have decked their halls and livened up their spirits for pop-ups, offering the coziest, cheeriest holiday settings in which to sip festive beverages like the Christmapolitan (if you’re feeling nice) and The Krampus (for the naughty ones).
Brooke Viggiano is a Houston-based writer who suddenly has a ton of weekend plans. Follow her journeys on IG @brookiefafa or on Twitter @brookeviggiano.
