A note regarding COVID-19
Upcoming Events in GULF COAST
Pearland
Houston Folk, Blues, and Gospel Festival
April 1
Independence Park, 3449 Pearland Pkwy.
Hear major concerts while browsing through 100 artists booths, a farmers market, and dozens of fun contests and attractions. Check out the Taste of Texas Food Garden, with delicious cuisine and domestic and craft beers. National recording artists perform throughout the afternoon and evening on the main stage. Best of all, admission is free for all ages.
Corpus Christi
Big Bloom Mega Plant Sale
April 1
South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, 8545 S. Staples St.
Bring your plant wagon and load up on hundreds of plants of all kinds. There's also specialty vendors, reptile shows, butterfly releases, food trucks, and a Kids' Zone.
Houston
Neighborhood Community Day
April 1
The Menil Collection, 1533 Sul Ross St.
Enjoy an afternoon of art, music, poetry, and family activities in celebration of the Menil’s vibrant neighborhood. Participating organizations include: DACAMERA, Houston Center for Photography, Inprint, The Menil Collection, Rothko Chapel, Watercolor Art Society, and Writers in the Schools.
Surfside Beach
Wings Over Surfside
April 1
Bird and Butterfly Trail, 418 Parkview Road
Celebrate spring bird migration and the wonders of birds in Bird City Surfside. With 400 species of birds in the area, this event provides visitors with an opportunity to learn more through educational speakers, vendors, and fellow birders.
Port Arthur
Cajun Heritage Fest
April 1
Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center, 1800 Lakeshore Drive
Enjoy live Cajun music, spicy food, and dancing the night away. Cajun activities are planned in days surrounding the event.
Galveston
Steampunk Festival
April 1-2
Galveston Railroad Museum, 2602 Santa Fe Place
The inaugural Steampunk Festival hearkens back to a time inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery and takes place in the historic railroad museum. The festival offers a family-friendly program filled with entertainment, exhibits, vendors, presenters, and games.
Clute
Planetarium Show
April 4, 11, 18, 25, 28
Center for the Arts and Sciences, 400 College Blvd.
This show features a 30-foot dome equipped with a Spitz Star Ball projector that reproduces the night sky, along with a variety of other high-tech equipment to give visitors a close-up feel of comets, exploding stars, and black holes.
Quintana
Spring Fling
April 8-May 7
Quintana Bird Sanctuary, 814 N. Lamar St.
Spring is peak migration time so the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory hosts Spring Fling at the Quintana Neotropic Bird Sanctuary. For four weeks, volunteers and staff are available each day to help identify the migrants as well as resident birds and keep a daily list going.
Houston
Art Car Parade
April 10-16
Various locations
Orange Show Center for Visionary Art hosts the annual Art Car Parade and event week. Founded in the mid-'80s as a small gathering of like-minded individuals making a statement on the road, the now internationally recognized phenomenon showcases personal artistic creativity and provides a forum for a unique type of expression. Festivities include the annual ball, a lineup party along Allen Parkway, Kids' Creative Zone in Sam Houston Park, the 36th annual Art Car Parade, and an awards ceremony.
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Wind Ensemble
April 11
Rice University—Alice Pratt Brown Hall—Stude Concert Hall, 6100 S. Main
Though its string ensemble is already well-known to Chamber Music Houston audiences, the celebrated Academy of St. Martin in the Fields offers guests a wind ensemble in a program featuring two superb quintets for piano and winds by the masters: Mozart and Beethoven.
Galveston
Seong-Jin Cho Piano Concert
April 14
The Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice St.
Recognized for his overwhelming talent and innate musicality, classical piano virtuoso, Seong-Jin Cho, has made his mark as one of the "consummate talents of his generation" and as "one of the most distinctive artists on the current music scene." You won't want to miss this intimate concert performed by one of the world's brightest stars in contemporary classical music.
Sugar Land
Ana Gabriel in Concert
April 14
Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land, 18111 Lexington Blvd.
Grammy-nominated Mexican singer and songwriter Ana Gabriel comes back to Smart Financial Centre on her "Por Amor A Ustedes" world tour.
South Padre Island
Texas State Surfing Championship
April 15-16
Isla Blanca Park, 33174 State Park Road 100
The Texas Gulf Surfing Association is a family-oriented organization that specializes in grassroots surfing events that are healthy and fun while still placing emphasis on maintaining academic excellence, good sportsmanship, and environmental awareness. See surfers battle the waves for the top spot in this surfing competition.
Galveston
Renee Elise Goldsberry in Concert
April 15
The Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice St.
Winner of the 2016 Tony Award for her performance in "Hamilton," Renee Elise Goldsberry is equally at home in a Broadway theater, a film set, or on a concert hall stage. You won't want to miss her dynamic show titled "Revive." Look forward to her performance anchored by a four-piece band and complement of back-up singers who have you stomping your feet and clapping your hands to the grand music of this high-energy concert.
Corpus Christi
Explore the Shore
April 15
Mustang Island State Park, 9394 SH 361
A wide array of educational events take place throughout the day. Try fishing with a ranger, kayaking, beach walks, wildlife touch tanks and discussions, and other fun activities that highlight all of the recreational opportunities the park can provide as well as provide education on the important habitat and ecosystems of the park.
Houston
"Crossing to the New World: Early and Traditional Music in the British Isles, France, and North America"
April 16
A.D. Bruce Religion Center, 3841 Cullen Blvd.
Houston Early Music presents a concert by Baltimore Consort featuring country music brought to the shores of the New World by northern European settlers.
Sugar Land
Sensory Friendly Day
April 17
Fort Bend Children's Discovery Center, 198 Kempner St., Building B, First Floor
Children with autism spectrum disorder and their families are invited to experience the Fort Bend Children's Discovery Center with dimmed lights, limited extra sounds, and no distracting motions during this private event. Extra signage is added to help visitors determine things not to climb on, and the entrances between exhibits where it is good to stop and wait for an adult before continuing.
Victoria
"Ernesto Leon: Selected Works"
April 20-June 11
The Nave Museum, 306 W. Commercial St.
Experience the art of Ernesto Leon. His photography, paintings, and sculptures reflect his views on cultural resistance and environmental concerns.
"Clybourne Park"
April 20-23
Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts, 214 N. Main St.
Enjoy Theatre Victoria's performance of Clybourne Park, a razor-sharp satire about the politics of race and real estate. The play features two scenes, 50 years apart, that bookend Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun."
Galveston
FeatherFest and Nature Photo Festival
April 20-23
Various locations
Bird lovers are invited to experience one of the largest birding festivals in Texas and the only one with a dedicated nature photography track. The 21st annual event features field trips, workshops, and other special events on Galveston Island.
Sugar Land
Ha*Ash in Concert
April 20
Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land, 18111 Lexington Blvd.
Sisters Hanna Nicole Pérez and Ashley Grace Pérez, aka Latin pop duo Ha*Ash, perform songs from their latest album "HAASHTAG," which debuted at No. 1 on iTunes Mexico and includes hits like “Lo Que Un Hombre Debería Saber.”
Houston
"Si Lewen: The Parade"
April 21-Sept. 3
Menil Drawing Institute, 1412 W. Main St.
This epic series features 63 drawings by Polish-born artist Si Lewen (1918-2016). In the 1950s he published a cutting-edge graphic novel that directly responded to the horrors of World War II. This exhibition is the first in the United States to bring together the complete set of works from "The Parade."
"Hyperreal: Gray Foy"
April 21-Sept. 3
Menil Drawing Institute, 1412 W. Main St.
Between the 1940s and 1970s, American artist Gray Foy (1922–2012) created a body of extraordinarily meticulous drawings, most often rendered in graphite on paper, and this exhibition spans the entirety of Foy’s career. It also celebrates two recent gifts that have made the Menil Collection the foremost repository of Foy’s work.
Orange
Jimmy Fortune and The Malpass Brothers in Concert
April 22
Lutcher Theater , 707 Main Ave.
Gospel Music Association and Country Music Association Hall of Famer Jimmy Fortune is joined by special guests The Malpass Brothers for this one-of-a-kind concert. Jimmy Fortune toured, sang, and performed with the legendary Statler Brothers for 21 years and wrote the groups second No. 1 hit, "Elizabeth." Openers for music legend Merle Haggard on multiple tours, The Malpass Brothers promote the work and music of classic country artists they treasure while creating new music and making their own mark in the lineage of rich American culture.
Houston
"The Story of the Lone Star State"
April 22
Mangum-Howell Community Center, 2500 Frick Road (inside Doss Park)
This original production by Houston's award-winning children's theater takes a bite out of Texas history. Beginning with the indigenous people of the Gulf Coast through the adventures of NASAs astronauts, 600 years of Texas tales are told in an hour.
South Padre Island
Texas Beach Ultimate Festival
April 22-23
Isla Blanca Park, 33174 State Park Road 100
Ultimate is an exciting, non-contact team sport played by thousands the world over. It mixes the best features of sports such as soccer, basketball, American football, and netball into a simple yet fascinating game.
Lake Jackson
Kids Reel Big Fish Event
April 22
Sea Center Texas, 302 Medical Drive
Pack your sunscreen, hat, lawn chair, and fishing gear and come out for a couple hours of catch-and-release fishing at a marine fish hatchery and visitor education center. This event is available to guests 16 years old and younger accompanied by an adult. Anglers must bring their own gear and bait with barb-less hooks.
Victoria
Historic Homes Tour
April 22-23
Mitchell School, 306 E. Commercial St
Victoria Preservation Inc. presents its 33rd annual Historic Homes Tour, "Treasures of the Past." Come explore some of the historic buildings and homes and celebrate Victoria's unique cultural and architectural heritage.
Corpus Christi
Birdiest Festival in America
April 26-30
South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, 8545 S. Staples St.
Spotlighting South Texas' peak spring migration in one of the country’s busiest flyways is the Birdiest Festival in America. The festival features optional guided birding field trips to regional birding hot spots, shorebird/wading bird sites, and private ranches. Plus, "The Raptor Project" presentations, a vendor trade show, and an artisan show.
South Padre Island
Splash South Padre
April 27-30
South Padre Island, Padre Boulevard
Enjoy a weekend of nonstop fun and relax by the beach. A perfect getaway for the LGBTQ community and friends. Television personality Carson Kressley makes an appearance.
Victoria
Victoria Symphony—Downtown Rhythms
April 27
De Leon Plaza, 101 N. Main St.
The Victoria Symphony puts on an outdoor performance, interspersed with student and college musical groups. Children love the instrument petting zoo where they can play symphony instruments.
Alvin
Rotary Frontier Day
April 28-30
Alvin National Oak Park, 118 S. Magnolia St.
The 49th annual Frontier Day, presented by the Alvin Rotary Club, features the popular Frontier Day Parade through the old downtown area of Alvin. The Alvin Rotary Club Gunfighters perform their popular shootout twice during the day, and nearby are children's rides, food concessions, carnival activities, arts and crafts vendors, and an antique car and bike show. Proceeds support scholarships and other charitable activities in the Alvin area.
Victoria
John Conlee in Concert
April 28
Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts, 214 N. Main St.
Enjoy classic country music at this Charity Concert Series show featuring John Conlee, who has recorded 11 studio albums, charted a total of 32 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, and has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1981.
Rockport
Goose Island Extravaganza
April 28
Goose Island State Park, 202 S. Palmetto St.
Goose Island Extravaganza is an open house event for the public to come and experience what Goose Island has to offer. Activities include fishing, archery, kayaking, a star party, demonstrations, and food. Find educational program stations set up around the park, and enjoy bass fishing, geocaching, living history programs, outdoor skills such as archery, dutch oven cooking, fishing, and touch tank aquatic programs.
La Porte
Sylvan Beach Festival
April 29
Sylvan Beach Park, 636 N. Bayshore Drive
The 67th annual Sylvan Beach Festival is a full day of excitement for the entire family. Join one of the longest-running traditions on the Gulf Coast for family fun and games, live concerts, a carnival, food and drinks, and vendors.
Victoria
Victoria Symphony Concert: Gershwin Hits
April 29
Victoria Fine Arts Center, 1002 Sam Houston Drive
Hear some of George Gershwin's memorable, jazzy tunes from Paris to bluesy rhapsodies followed by Brahm's First Symphony. Martin James Bartlett plays piano.
Rockport
Fishing for Wishes Tournament
April 29
Fulton Convention Center, 402 N. Fulton Beach Road
The tournament's location is in a world-renowned area known for saltwater tournaments. Fishing categories include Heaviest Redfish, Trout, Flounder, and Stringer. Side pots consist of Most Spots on a Redfish, Blackjack Trout, and Texas Slam. Don't forget about Calcutta. There is a Kids Pier Fishing Tournament and Make-A-Wish Kids Fishing Tournament, plus a live auction, drop ticket raffle, and giveaways.
friendsforwishes.org/events/fishing-for-wishes-fishing-tournament/
Kite Festival
April 29-30
Rockport Festival Grounds , Adjacent to the Beach Park
A free family event, the Kite Festival provides the opportunity to view, make, and fly kites. An exotic array of kites are on display, along with demonstrations by professional kite pilots. There are children's arts and crafts booths, including one for making their own kites, vendors, and food trucks.
Brazoria
Migration Celebration
April 29-30
San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge, 2547 County Road 306
Tour the refuge on a marsh buggy. Free activities for children include archery, fishing for catfish, a BB gun range, bug sweeping, microscopes, touch tanks, and reptiles. Adults and children can both enjoy the popular "Birds of Prey" show by EarthQuest as well as the butterfly encounter tents. Refuge tours given by qualified naturalists can be enjoyed by marsh buggy or wagon. Guided walking tours to Bobcat Woods and to the largest Texas Live Oak are also available.
Surfside Beach
Old Guy Surf Reunion
April 29
Stahlman Park, 2211 Bluewater Highway
Join Texas surfers as they remember and honor those who have gone before them. The event includes vendors, food trucks, a paddle-out, and a nighttime bonfire.
Surfside Marina Crawfish Fest
April 29
Surfside Marina, 827 Gulf Road
Come for the crawfish, stay for the competition, where teams compete and judges select the best crawfish boil. The event also feature vendors and live music.
Galveston
The Grand Kids Festival
April 29
Postoffice District, Postoffice Street between 20th and 23rd streets
Hosted by The Grand 1894 Opera House, this event introduces families to the arts and features live performances, storytellers, and arts and crafts.
Orange
"Tootsie"
May 1
Lutcher Theater , 707 Main Ave.
This laugh-out-loud love letter to the theater tells the story of Michael Dorsey, a talented but difficult actor who struggles to find work until one show-stopping act of desperation lands him the role of a lifetime.
Houston
Calidore Quartet with Matthew Lipman
May 2
Rice University—Alice Pratt Brown Hall—Stude Concert Hall, 6100 S. Main St.
The Calidore Quartet returns to close the season in a beautiful program featuring string quintets by Mendelssohn and Mozart, aided by Lincoln Center star violist Matthew Lipman, already well-known to Chamber Music Houston audiences from past digital presentations. The quartet also performs Smetana's autobiographical work, "From My Life."
Clute
Planetarium Show
May 2, 9, 16, 23, 26, 30
Center for the Arts and Sciences, 400 College Blvd.
This show features a 30-foot dome equipped with a Spitz Star Ball projector that reproduces the night sky, along with a variety of other high-tech equipment to give visitors a close-up feel of comets, exploding stars, and black holes.
Corpus Christi
Buc Days
May 4-14
American Bank Center, 1901 N. Shoreline Blvd.
There's something for buccaneers of every age at Buc Days, including a rodeo, concerts, and carnival rides.
Port Arthur
Jerry Connally Photography Exhibit
May 6-July 29
Museum of the Gulf Coast, 700 Procter St.
Photographs from local photographer Jerry Connally are on display in the Dunn Gallery. Connally is a self-taught photographer who captures stunning Texas naturescapes. A free opening reception is on May 6. A museum ticket is required for the exhibit.
Galveston
"Fiddler on the Roof"
May 6-7
The Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice St.
See the heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, life, love, and laughter. Hear musical hits such as "Tradition," "Sunrise, Sunset," "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," and "If I Were a Rich Man." Based on the original staging by Jerome Robbins, "Fiddler on the Roof" introduces a new generation to the uplifting celebration that raises its cup to joy, love, and life.
Rockport
Nautical Flea Market
May 6-7
Rockport Yacht Club, 722 Navigation Circle
On the first full weekend of May, the Rockport Yacht Club hosts the Natical Flea Market, with market booths featuring nautical-themed treasures including books, nautical art, fishing gear, boats, and décor.
Freeport
Cinco De Mayo Celebration
May 6
Freeport Historical Museum, 311 E. Park Ave.
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in historic downtown Freeport with food trucks and live entertainment.
Needville
Brazos Bend Expo
May 6
Brazos Bend State Park, 21901 FM 762
Brazos Bend State Park invites the community and visitors to spend the day at this expo-style event. Nonprofit organizations, respresentatives from other Texas State Parks around the region, rehabilitation groups, local sports teams, archelogy organizations, and other civic-minded entities are on hand to provide information about their causes. Food trucks are on-site throughout the day.
Galveston
Historic Homes Tour
May 6-7, 13-14
Various locations
Organized by the Galveston Historical Foundation, this annual event gives the public a chance to tour the insides of private residences not normally open to the public.
South Padre Island
Shallow Sport Fishing Tournamnet
May 12-13
South Padre Island Convention Center, 7355 Padre Blvd.
Fish one of the biggest and best boat owner's fishing tournaments on the Gulf Coast.
5K Kemp's Krawl
May 13
Holiday Inn Resort, 100 Padre Blvd.
Runners, walkers, and everyone in between is invited to traverse the beach to raise money, with all proceeds going directly to the conservation and care of the Texas coast's precious sea turtles. Starting at the Holiday Inn Resort, this unique community event enables participants to experience the coastal beauty of South Padre Island up close and personal. There are three race categories: timed 5K, non-timed 5K, and a virtual option. Finishers receive a T-shirt and medal.
Port Arthur
Family Fun Day: For the Birds!
May 13
Museum of the Gulf Coast, 700 Procter St.
Family Fun Day is a free event for all, coinciding with International Migratory Bird Day. The museum provides fun children's activities and educational experiences about birds, along with free admission to the museum.
Freeport
Spring Market Day
May 13
Freeport Historical Museum, 311 E. Park Ave.
Local vendors showcase homemade goods and farm fresh items.
Fulton
Babes on the Bay
May 19-20
Fulton Harbor
Babes on the Bay is an all-women’s fishing tournament that has existed since 2000. The tournament is hosted by the CCA Texas Aransas Bay Chapter, based in Rockport. It was created to help educate women about the sport of saltwater fishing in a conservation-minded approach. The event includes cash pots, the Babes Shopping Mall, a food court, drinks, live music, and team shirts judging. The event kicks off at Fulton Park Fairgrounds.
Lake Jackson
Gina Chavez in Concert
May 19
The Clarion , 500 College Drive
Gina Chavez blends the sounds of the Americas with tension and grace. A 12-time Austin Music Award winner, including 2019 Female Vocalist and 2015 Austin Musician of the Year, Chavez explores the true meaning of “Americana" as she and her five-piece band take audiences on a high-energy journey through Latin America and beyond.
Spring
Michael Cavanagh: The Music of Billy Joel and Elton John
May 20
The Centrum, 6823 Cypresswood Drive
Michael Cavanaugh was hand-picked by Billy Joel to star in the hit Broadway musical "Movin' Out." He received both Tony and Grammy nominations in the lead role. This show includes the greatest hits from rock piano legends Elton John and Billy Joel, including "Piano Man," "Rocket Man," "Bennie and the Jets," "Movin' Out," "I'm Still Standing," and "My Life."
South Padre Island
Jailbreak Beach Escape
May 20
Clayton's Beach Bar and Grill, 6900 Padre Blvd.
The Jailbreak Beach Escape has become a South Padre Island tradition. Each May, thousands of runners conquer the 5K course, covering 20 challenging obstacles on the sun-drenched beaches of South Padre before heading to Clayton’s Beach Bar for a Texas-sized beach party.
Galveston
Steve Tyrell in Concert
May 20
The Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice St.
Grammy Award-winning vocalist Steve Tyrell is a soulful crooner with a deep love of the American pop and standards tradition. His popular and breakthrough performances in "Father of the Bride" and "Father of the Bride II" helped Tyrell reinvent classic pop standards for a modern-day audience. Look forward to enjoying such hits as "The Way You Look Tonight," "Crush on You," and "The Sunny Side of the Street."
Rockport
Wine Festival
March 27
Texas Maritime Museum, 1202 Navigation Circle
This event is sponsored by the Maritime Museum and proceeds go toward furthering the museum's efforts. The festival includes wine tastings, beer, food, and live music.
South Padre Island
Memorial Day Fireworks
May 28
South Padre Island, 211 W. Whiting St.
Celebrate Memorial Day weekend on South Padre Island with a fireworks display over the bay. For the best viewing spots, check out the restaurants and bars in the Entertainment District.
Sugar Land
Memorial Day Ceremony
May 29
Sugar Land Memorial Park, 15300 University Blvd.
Each Memorial Day, Sugar Land invites the community and visitors to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving the country.
Wharton
City Wide Garage Sale
June 2-3
Various locations, 225 North Richmond Road
Each year, an online map is available so you can navigate your way through Wharton's best bargains. The sale includes everything from antiques to new items. There are over 50 separate sites to shop from.
South Padre Island
Dargel Boat Owners Fishing Tournament
June 2-3
South Padre Island Convention Center, 7355 Padre Blvd.
When summer is in full swing, South Padre Island celebrates the angler approach to island enjoyment by hosting the annual Dargel Boat Owners Tournament each June. For this tournament, the angler who catches the redfish with the most spots wins.
sopadre.com/event/dargel-boat-owners-fishing-tournament/1131
Victoria
Bach Festival
June 3-10
Various locations
Artistic director Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez leads this festival that celebrates the works of J.S. Bach and composers spanning the ages. Orchestral, choral, and chamber works are performed by local and national musicians in venues in and around Victoria.
Houston
Go Bananas!
June 3
Houston Botanic Garden, 1 Botanic Lane
The Houston Botanic Garden goes bananas this June, in celebration of the world's most popular tropical fruit. The festival, which features food and drink, educational programs, and entertainment, highlights the 11 types of banana plants in the Garden's global collection. Everyone knows the fruit, but many don't know how amazingly unique the banana plant itself is. Go Bananas! introduces visitors to new and unexpected culinary uses and benefits of bananas, while also exposing them to cultural, botanical, environmental, and community impacts of the plant and its fruit as well.
Galveston
Mary Chapin Carpenter in Concert
June 3
The Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice St.
Grammy Award winner Mary Chapin Carpenter takes the stage for one dynamic concert. Chapin is just one of only 15 female members of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and has also won two Academy of Country Music awards.
Houston
Accordion Kings and Queens Concert
June 3
Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Drive
Deemed the unofficial national instrument of Texas by many, the accordion plays a key role in diverse folk music genres and cultural communities in Texas. Dust off your dancing boots for a historic celebration of the accordion with accordion-fronted music performances from top bands including Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole, Grupo Imagen, Alex Meixner Band, and the winners of Texas Folklife's 2023 statewide Big Squeeze Youth Accordion Contest.
Lake Jackson
Abner Jackson Plantation Site Tour
June 3
Abner Jackson Plantation Site, Farm-to-Market Road 2004 near State Highway 332
Visit the historic archeological site of Maj. Abner Jackson, the namesake of the city of Lake Jackson. Once a prosperous sugar plantation, the site was destroyed by the same hurricane that devastated Galveston in 1900. Discover the sugar-making process of the 1840s and how convict labor replaced slave labor during the 1870s.
Youth Fishing Event
June 3
Sea Center Texas, 302 Medical Drive
Pack your sunscreen, hat, lawn chair, and fishing gear for a couple of hours of catch-and-release fishing at this marine fish hatchery and visitor education center.
Clute
Planetarium Show
June 6, 13, 20, 23, 27
Center for the Arts and Sciences, 400 College Blvd.
Featuring a 30-foot dome equipped with a Spitz Star Ball projector and a variety of high-tech equipment, this show recreates the night sky as it appears to the naked eye, giving viewers a close-up feel for comets, exploding stars, and black holes.
East Bernard
Czech Kolache Klobase Festival
June 10
Riverside Hall, 14643 Buls Road
Enjoy live music, dancing, and lively entertainment with bands and entertainers from morning into the night. A plate lunch of barbecue chicken, sausage, sauerkraut, and trimmings is available for purchase. Hamburgers are available in the evening. There are also arts and crafts, raffle prizes, a cake walk, and plenty of kolaches for sale.
Galveston
The Texas Tenors in Concert
June 10-11
The Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice St.
The most successful touring group in the history of "America's Got Talent," the Texas Tenors have created a special performance for The Grand that celebrates music legends.
Rockport
Downtown Farmers Market
June 10, July 8, Aug. 12
Downtown Farmer's Market, 105 S. Austin St.
Every second Saturday of the month, vendors sell local produce, jams, jellies, pickled produce, fresh-baked bread, local honey, eggs, locally raised beef, hen fruit, and goat soap.
Makers Market
June 10, July 8, Aug. 12
Rockport Daily Grind, 302 S. Austin St.
At this local outdoor market, find handmade items from local artists and fun, one-of-a-kind home décor.
Austin Street Art Walk
June 10, July 8, Aug. 12
Various locations
Held on the second Saturday of the month, this art walk is an alfresco art experience featuring an ever-changing mix of participants and art mediums such as paintings, pottery, jewelry, photography, and textiles, as well as live music, artists demonstrations, and food.
Galveston
World Ocean Day
June 10
East Beach Park, 1923 Boddeker Road
Galveston's World Ocean Day features kayaking, beach tours, interactive exhibits hosted by eco-friendly businesses, and other attractions.
Lake Jackson
Alden B. Dow Office Tour
June 10
Alden B. Dow Office Museum, 101 S. Parking Place
Witness the restored mid-century architectural beauty of Alden B. Dow’s 1943 office in downtown Lake Jackson. Learn all about the city’s beginnings and the indelible mark that Dow left as the principal architect of Lake Jackson.
Farmers Market
June 10
Parking Place Pavilion, 110 S. Parking Place
At the market you can select locally grown fruits and vegetables, locally roasted coffee, homemade food, handmade products, and other items.
Port Aransas
"Five Lesbians Eating A Quiche"
June 15-18
Port Aransas Community Theatre, 2327 SH 361
Winner of the 2012 NYC International Fringe Festival as Best Overall Production, "5 Lesbians Eating A Quiche" is a tasty recipe of hysterical laughs, sexual innuendoes, unsuccessful repressions, and delicious discoveries. As the assembled widows await the announcement of the society's prize-winning quiche, the atomic bomb sirens sound. Has the Communist threat come to pass? How will the widows respond as their idyllic town and lifestyle faces attacks?
Galveston
Juneteenth Celebrations
June 15-19
Various locations
Galveston is the birthplace of Juneteenth, and every year the community hosts citywide events that include symposiums, galas, an emancipation gospel celebration, a Juneteenth parade and picnic, and a reenactment of the reading of General Order No. 3, which informed the people of Texas that slavery ended.
Rockport-fulton
Market Days
June 16-18; July 14-16; Aug. 18-20
Rockport Festival Grounds, 1500 E. Laurel St.
Every third weekend of the month, come see live music, peruse the merchandise of over 100 vendors, and choose various eats from food trucks.
Baytown
Juneteenth Celebration
June 17
Bicentennial Park, 1001 Market St.
Baytown commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people with live entertainment, food, shopping, and family fun.
Lake Jackson
Bird Banding
June 17
Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, 299 SH 332 West
Watch volunteers collect baseline data on bird populations at the sanctuary. The banding station is an excellent opportunity to see birds up close and to learn all the birds of the Brazosport area.
South Padre Island
Beach Bash Skate Jam
June 21-22
John L. Tompkins Park, 6100 South Padre Blvd.
At South Padre Island's annual skate competition, there's live music, food, and cash prizes.
Baytown
Summer Music Festival
June 24
Town Square, 213 W. Texas Ave.
Summer months are meant for fun, sun, and relaxation. Listen to good tunes from numerous artists while hanging out on the town square. Headlining is the Brightwire Band, a Houston-area folk-rock band.
Freeport
Fort Velasco Day
June 24
Freeport Historical Museum, 311 E. Park
Fort Velasco Day commemorates the 191st anniversary of the Battle of Fort Velasco. This living history event brings reenactors from across the state to give visitors a glimpse of what life and conflict was like at the mouth of the Brazos River in 1830s Texas.
Galveston
Hotter Than Birding Competition
June 25-26
Various locations
This birding big day is a fun, fast-paced, semi-competitive race to see which team can identify the most brid species in Galveston County in 24 hours.
Freeport
Fishin' Fiesta
June 29-July 2
Freeport Municipal Park, 421 N. Brazosport Blvd.
Since 1947, anglers have been drawn to this fishing tournament each year in the hopes of catching the biggest redfish, barracuda, or any other offshore or inshore fish. The Fishin’ Fiesta is sponsored by the Freeport Lions Club and offers games, food, live entertainment, dances, and arts and crafts. The fishing tournament is one of the largest on the Gulf and includes prizes for both offshore and inshore categories. A fireworks display takes place on Saturday night.
Rockport
Art Festival
June 30-July 2
Rockport Festival Grounds, 1500 E. Laurel St.
This annual fine art event starts with an art auction and continues with over 100 artists, jury selected from across the nation, showcasing their masterpieces in a variety of media and styles.
Lake Jackson
Abner Jackson Plantation Site Tour
July 1
Abner Jackson Plantation Site, Farm-to-Market Road 2004 near State Highway 332
Visit the historic archeological site of Maj. Abner Jackson, the namesake of the city of Lake Jackson. Once a prosperous sugar plantation, the site was destroyed by the same hurricane that devastated Galveston in 1900. Discover the sugar-making process of the 1840s and how convict labor replaced slave labor during the 1870s.
Rubber Duck Regatta
July 1
Dunbar Park, 803 FM 2004
Get out on Oyster Creek for some kayak and canoe fun. Teams compete to be one of the first 20 boats to retrieve eight different rubber ducks that are corralled along the creek and bring them back to the starting point to win a prize. The total course length is approximately 1 mile. Teams can consist of up to two people and should bring their own kayaks or canoes, lifejackets, and paddles.
Baytown
Fourth of July Celebration
July 3-4
Bicentennial Park, 1001 Market St.
Not one, but two days of free, live entertainment get the crowd going for the Fourth of July. Grammy Award winner LeAnn Rimes brings all of her hits to Baytown as the headliner. She is joined by her primary opening act, Madeline Edwards. R.L. Bell, who is known for his performances on NBC’s hit show "America’s Got Talent" is also playing this night. As for July 3rd, two Grammy Award winners take the stage: Siggno and Sunny Sauceda. The fireworks start right after Rimes' performance on July 4th.
South Padre Island
Beach Parade
July 4
Beach Access No. 21, Gulf Boulevard
Kick off the Fourth of July with a parade on the sand. If there is rain, the event will be moved to July 5th.
Fourth of July Fireworks
July 4
South Padre Island Entertainment District, 211 W. Whiting St.
Celebrate the Fourth of July with a spectacular display of lights over the bay.
Rockport
July Fourth Celebration
July 4
Rockport Beach, 100 Seabreeze Drive
Get in a celebratory mood as you view the patriotic boat parade at noon. Best views are from Broadway Street adjacent to Little Bay or directly across from the north end of Rockport Beach. The Wendell Family Fireworks Show is held at dark in the evening.
Lake Jackson
Firecracker 4 Run
July 4
Dunbar Park, 803 FM 2004
This 4-mile run goes through the neighborhoods of Lake Jackson along Oyster Creek and is a USATF-certified course.
Alden B. Dow Office Tour
July 8
Alden B. Dow Office Museum, 101 S. Parking Place
Witness the restored mid-century architectural beauty of Alden B. Dow’s 1943 office in downtown Lake Jackson. Learn all about the city’s beginnings and the indelible mark that Dow left as the principal architect of Lake Jackson.
Farmers Market
July 8
Parking Place Pavilion, 110 S. Parking Place
At the market you can select locally grown fruits and vegetables, locally roasted coffee, homemade food, handmade products, and other items.
Clute
Planetarium Show
July 11, 18, 21, 25
Center for the Arts and Sciences, 400 College Blvd.
Featuring a 30-foot dome equipped with a Spitz Star Ball projector and a variety of high-tech equipment, this show recreates the night sky as it appears to the naked eye, giving viewers a close-up feel for comets, exploding stars, and black holes.
South Padre Island
Ron Hoover Fishing Tournament
July 14-15
South Padre Island Convention Center, 7355 Padre Blvd.
Anglers compete in an exciting bay tournament, with a portion of proceeds going to Make-A-Wish of the Rio Grande Valley.
Clute
"The Sound of Music"
July 14-16, 20-23
Center for the Arts and Sciences, 400 College Blvd.
An intimate, heartfelt retelling of one of history’s most thrilling and inspirational stories. This final collaboration between Rogers and Hammerstein follows Maria, serving as governess to seven children of an imperious Captain, as the forces of Nazism take hold of Austria. Join the von Trapp family in one of the world’s most beloved musicals.
Rosenberg
Open House
July 15
Fort Bend Art Center, 2012 Avenue G
Nestled in the heart of historic Rosenberg, Fort Bend Art Center opens a new, eclectic show by a group of 30 talented artists. Pottery, paintings, illustrations, textiles, and jewelry are on display, accompanied by cheese and wine for snacking. Experience the art and meet the artists.
Lake Jackson
Bird Banding
July 15
Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, 299 SH 332 West
Watch volunteers collect baseline data on bird populations at the sanctuary. The banding station is an excellent opportunity to see birds up close and to learn about all the birds of the Brazosport area.
Brazoria
Santa Anna Ball
July 16
Brazoria Heritage Foundation Civic Center, 202 W. Smith St.
This ball is a reenactment of the Santa Ana Ball that was given in Brazoria at Jane Long's Tavern in 1832. The annual fundraiser for the Brazoria Heritage Foundation includes a gourmet dinner with wine and silent and live auctions.
Victoria
"Disney's Little Mermaid"
July 21-30
Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts, 214 N. Main St.
Theatre Victoria presents the musical about a young mermaid who longs to leave her ocean home and live in the world above, with songs from the Disney hit movie.
Sabine Pass
Kids Fish
July 22
Sea Rim State Park, 19335 S. Gulfway Drive
At this annual event, children between the ages of 1 and 12 receive a free fishing rod and T-shirt while supplies last. Kids can then use that rod to catch as many fish as they can to compete for prizes. Volunteers are on the beach to record size and number of fish caught for each kid as well as provide bait and fishing advice.
Port Aransas
"The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical"
July 27-Aug. 13
Port Aransas Community Theatre, 2327 SH 361
Adapted from the best-selling book "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan and featuring a thrilling original rock 'n' roll score, "The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical" is an action-packed mythical adventure. As the half-blood son of a Greek god, Percy Jackson has newly discovered powers he can't control, a destiny he doesn't want, and a mythology textbook's worth of monsters on his trail.
Clute
The Great Texas Mosquito Festival
July 27-29
Clute Municipal Park, 100 Parkview Drive
The Great Texas Mosquito Festival is three days of family fun with a carnival, vendors, barbecue contest, 5K run, tournaments, and the ever-popular mosquito legs and calling contests. The evenings are topped off with live music. Don't forget to take your picture with everyone's favorite mosquito, "Willie-Man-Chew."
Planetarium Show
Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22, 25, 29
Center for the Arts and Sciences, 400 College Blvd.
Featuring a 30-foot dome equipped with a Spitz Star Ball projector and a variety of high-tech equipment, this show recreates the night sky as it appears to the naked eye, giving viewers a close-up feel for comets, exploding stars, and black holes.
South Padre Island
Texas International Fishing Tournament
Aug. 2-6
South Padre Island Convention Center, 7355 Padre Blvd.
Surrounded by the sparkling waters of the Laguna Madre Bay and Gulf of Mexico, Port Isabel and South Padre Island play host to Texas’ largest saltwater fishing tournament. Anglers compete in one of three divisions: bay, tarpon, and offshore. Dockside, thousands of spectators turn out to view impressive catches of blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish brought in by the big boats offshore.
Houston
"The Iconic Portrait Strand by Nestor Topchy"
Aug. 4-Jan. 21
The Menil Collection, 1533 Sul Ross St.
This exhibition presents over 100 portraits made over the past 20 years by Houston-based artist Nestor Topchy (b. 1963). The small paintings, with their gold backgrounds, resemble Byzantine icons; however, rather than represent religious figures, Topchy depicts friends and colleagues in the art community.
Lake Jackson
Abner Jackson Plantation Site Tour
Aug. 5
Abner Jackson Plantation Site, Farm-to-Market Road 2004 near State Highway 332
Visit the historic archeological site of Maj. Abner Jackson, the namesake of the city of Lake Jackson. Once a prosperous sugar plantation, the site was destroyed by the same hurricane that devastated Galveston in 1900. Discover the sugar-making process of the 1840s and how convict labor replaced slave labor during the 1870s.
South Padre Island
Ladies Kingfish Tournament
Aug. 11-13
South Padre Island Convention Center, 7355 Padre Blvd.
The first all-ladies tournament in Texas is divided into two divisions: bay and offshore fishing.
Galveston
Air, Car, and Boat Show
Aug. 11-13
Moody Gardens, 1 Hope Blvd.
The air show ranges from P-63 King Cobra and DH-115 Vampire to the Ghostwriter pyrotechnics show planes with daredevil pilots sending off fireworks trails to light up the night sky. The boat show showcases an array of yachts at the Moody Gardens Marina. The car show at Moody Gardens Convention Center is filled with rows of classic vehicles and the stories that accompany them.
AIA Sandcastle Competition
Aug. 12-13
East Beach Park, 1923 Boddeker Road
Members of the Houston chapter of the American Institute of Architects hit the sand and build for hours to win the Golden Bucket Award. Structures remain in place for Sunday viewing.
Lake Jackson
Farmers Market
Aug. 12
Parking Place Pavilion, 110 S. Parking Place
At the market you can select locally grown fruits and vegetables, locally roasted coffee, homemade food, handmade products, and other items.
Alden B. Dow Office Tour
Aug. 12
Alden B. Dow Office Museum, 101 S. Parking Place
Witness the restored mid-century architectural beauty of Alden B. Dow’s 1943 office in downtown Lake Jackson. Learn all about the city’s beginnings and the indelible mark that Dow left as the principal architect of Lake Jackson.
Laguna Vista
South Padre Island Junior Golf Championship
Aug. 14-16
South Padre Island Golf Club, 1 Golf House Road
The nation's best junior golfers compete for the championship on the Gulf Coast.
Baytown
Eastern Rim Funny Book and Vintage Con
Aug. 19-20
Goose Creek Memorial High School, 6001 E. Wallisville Road
If you're into cosplay, head to the Eastern Rim Funny Book and Vintage Con, where there's a cosplay contest, special comic book guests, vendors, authors, artists, and food. Parking is free.
Victoria
Jimmy Fortune in Concert
Aug. 19
Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts, 214 N. Main St.
Part of the Charity Concert Series, this concert invites audiences to experience the music of Jimmy Fortune, whose career includes 21 years of singing and performing with the legendary Statler Brothers followed by a solo career.
Lake Jackson
Bird Banding
Aug. 19
Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, 299 SH 332 West
Watch volunteers collect baseline data on bird populations at the sanctuary. The banding station is an excellent opportunity to see birds up close and to learn all the birds of the Brazosport area.
Galveston
Esports Summit
Aug. 25-27
Galveston Island Convention Center, 5600 Seawall Blvd.
Attendees can look, learn, and participate in the fastest-growing entertainment industry in the world. Panel discussions, hands-on opportunities, and celebrity appearances are part of the fun.
Clute
Spooktacular Trick-or-Treat Trail
Oct. 26
Clute Municipal Park, 100 Parkview Drive
Drive through Clute Municipal Park and trick-or-treat your way through to see the sights and sounds of the Spooky Trail.
Christmas in the Park
Dec. 8-9
Clute Municipal Park, 100 Parkview Drive
Christmas in the Park is an event that gets the whole family in the holiday spirit—from watching performances by local choirs and dance groups to fixing s'mores by the crackling fire to a visit with Santa. The drive-thru holiday light display is available the entire month of December.