Annual Events Around Houston

You can look forward to the following events each year.

Choose a month:

A more thorough list of happenings can be obtained at the Chamber of Commerce (http://www.houston-spacecity.com, 1200 Smith, 713-844-3600)

January

• Houston International Boat, Sport, and Travel Show (Reliant Park, http://houstonboatshow.com)
• Houston Marathon (www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com)

February

• Chinese New Year, food and fireworks (www.ccchouston.org)
• Owlcon, gaming convention sponsored by the Rice science fiction and gaming clubs (http://www.owlcon.com)

March

• Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (Astrodome/Reliant Park) with the usual 4-H and rodeo events plus two weeks of big-name country/western musicians, and great BBQ (http://www.hlsr.com)
• Azalea Trail, spectacular flowering shrubs that bloom each spring in Houston (http://www.riveroaksgardenclub.org/AzaleaTrail.cfm)
• Shell Houston Open Golf Tournament in The Woodlands (http://www.shellhoustonopen.com)
• St. Patrick's Day Parade (Downtown)

April

• San Jacinto Day, commemoration of Sam Houston's defeat of the Mexican army in 1836
• MS 150 Bike Tour: Houston to Austin (http://www.ms150.org/ms150)
• Houston International Festival, featuring a different country each year (http://www.ifest.org)
• Houston International Film Festival (http://www.worldfest.org)

May

• Heights Historical Home Tour (http://www.houstonheights.org)
• Cinco de Mayo
• Czech Fest, 3rd Sunday
• Jewish Festival (713-729-7000)
• Art Car Parade (http://www.orangeshow.org/artcar.html)

June

• Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, prestigious horse show (http://www.pinoak.org)
• Juneteenth Blues Festival (http://www.houstonculture.org/juneteenth/)

July

• Independence Day, parade Downtown, fireworks displays at Sharpstown, Buffalo Bayou and Miller Theater
• Slavic Heritage Days, Knights of Columbus Fairgrounds
• Shakespeare Festival at Miller Outdoor Theater in Hermann Park

August

September

• Fiestas Patrias, a week-long celebration of Mexican independence from Spain (713-926-2636)
• Houston Hot Sauce Festival, 9/17-9/18 (http://www.houstonhotsauce.com, 281-558-3518)

October

• Italian Festival, 10/08­10/09 (http://www.houstonitaliancenter.com, 713-524-4222)
• Greek Festival, first weekend in October (3511 Yoakum, http://www.greekfest.org)
• Renaissance Festival, wandering minstrels, jugglers, magicians, puppets, etc. make this an intriguing (if expensive) adventure located in Plantersville (http://www.texrenfest.com, 1-800-458-3435)
• Oktoberfest, numerous places, especially the Garden in the Heights
• Moonlight Bicycle Ramble (http://www.bikehouston.org)
• Bayou City Memorial Park Arts Festival (http://bayoucityartfestival.com).

November

• WaMu's Thanksgiving Day Parade (Downtown)
• "Home for the Holidays" (Spring TX, 281-353-9310).

December

• Dickens Evening on the Strand, scenes from Christmas past recreated on the Strand (Galveston)
• "Nutcracker," Houston Ballet's annual performance at the Wortham Center (http://www.houstonballet.org).