Things to do in Houston during the weekend – October 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th

October 17, 2025 /u/generalpao

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Festival & Markets

Thursday – Sunset Market @ M-K-T @ 6PM
Enjoy charcuterie on M-K-T's wave deck, live music and face-painting on the lawn, or grab a made-to-go meal by one of Houston's favorite chefs.

Saturday – Oktoberfest @ POST @ 4PM Raise a glass to fall with a curated selection of beer vendors, delicious seasonal bites, multiple rooftop bars, and live entertainment.

Saturday – Houston Filipino Street Festival @ Constellation Field @ 10AM Immerse yourself in the rich culture and traditions of the Philippines with a day full of traditional food, performances, and more exciting activities!

Saturday – IGBO Festival @ Discovery Green @ 3PM Celebrate and learn about West African culture through professional performers, vendors, and more.

Saturday – Flea By Night @ Discovery Green @ 6PM
This open-air market features local artisans and small business owners selling vintage, handmade, recycled, repurposed and local goods.

Saturday – Sip & Shop Market @ Grand Central Park @ 11AM Shop more than 100 small business entrepreneurs showcasing unique jewelry, boutique clothing, art, gourmet food, furniture, decorations, and more!

Saturday – BLCK Market at Night @ East River @ 5PM
East River transforms into a high-energy celebration of Black-owned businesses and culture. Explore a curated lineup of clothing, art, skincare, books, candles, and more!

Sunday – Annual Black Heritage Festival @ Discovery Green @ 2PM This annual festival is a vibrant, free cultural celebration that brings together the city's African American community and beyond in a spirited showcase of heritage and creativity.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY – ARToberFEST @ Downtown Galveston Presenting over 100 artists from all over the country, this festival is dedicated to celebrating and supporting fine arts and local artisans.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY – ThriftCon @ NRG Center
Visit the nation's premier vintage clothing and collectible sale!

All weekend – International Gem & Jewelry Show @ NRG Center Shop from rows and rows of quality jewelry, gemstone, bead, jewelry supply and accessory dealers in a unique marketplace setting.

Ongoing – Texas Renaissance Festival @ Todd Mission On Saturdays and Sundays, the King invites all to his 16th century English village for a celebration of all things Renaissance! Ends 11/30.

Standup

Thursday – Will Burkart Stand-Up @ Houston Improv @ 7:30PM

Thursday – Funniest Person in Houston Comedy Competition @ The Riot Comedy Club @ 7PM / 9PM

Friday – Oscar Collazos Comedy Show @ The Secret Group @ 7PM

Friday – Mitch Fatel Stand-Up @ The Secret Group @ 9PM

Sunday – Anna Przy Stand-Up @ Punchline Houston @ 3:30PM

Sunday – Dale Elliot Jr. Stand-Up @ Punchline Houston @ 7PM

FRIDAY & SATURDAY – Rodney Perry Stand-Up @ Houston Improv

FRIDAY & SATURDAY – Joe Devito Stand-Up @ The Riot Comedy Club

FRIDAY & SATURDAY – Keegan Tindall Stand-Up @ Punchline Houston

Sports

Saturday – Dash vs Kansas City Current @ Shell Energy Stadium @ 6:30PM

Arts & Culture

Thursday – Party in the Park @ Menil @ 7PM This stunning soiree spotlights the Menil's green spaces and outdoor sculpture, accompanied by live music and culinary delights.

Thursday – Cultural Bridges: Tea Tasting @ Asia Society Texas @ 5PM Taste teas from different parts of Asia while learning history, culture, traditions, and wellness benefits behind the teas.

Saturday – Saturday Stargazing @ George Observatory in Needville

Saturday – 'Mountains' Screening @ MFAH @ 7PM 'Mountains' is an experimental live-cinema performance by Hillerbrand+Magsamen+Lynn exploring the cyclical nature of human experience.

Sunday – Family Day @ MFAH Bayou Bend @ 1PM Visit Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens for an afternoon of free, family-friendly fun.

Sunday – 'Videoheaven' Screening @ MFAH @ 4PM Ten years in the making, 'Videoheaven' uses the story of the neighborhood video shop to consider wider, changing social histories.

Ongoing – 'Beat The Bomb' Experience The World's Craziest Team Game is coming to Houston! Step into a real life video game and get blasted with paint, foam, and slime if you lose.

Ongoing – Sloomoo Exhibition @ Marq E Entertainment Center Immerse yourself in the joy of sensory play with Sloomoo Institute's colorful world of never-ending, hand-crafted slime, yummy scents, and soothing ASMR delights. Ends 12/31.

Ongoing – 'The House of Pikachu: Art, Anime, and Pop Culture' Exhibition @ Asia Society Texas NEW – Expanding beyond a focus on Japanese artists, 'The House of Pikachu' explores anime's worldwide reach through the works of a diverse chorus of artists from Japan, Brazil, China, Mexico, Côte d'Ivoire, Texas, and beyond. Ends 3/15/2026

Ongoing – 'Extreme Animals Alive' Exhibition @ HMNS Step into a graphic novel and explore the unique adaptations that make Earth's creatures fearless and fascinating, beautiful and bold. Ends 12/31.

Ongoing – 'Body Worlds 101: The Core of Life' Exhibition @ The Health Museum This fascinating all-new exhibit is designed to ignite curiosity, understanding, and awe for the human body for visitors of all ages.

Ongoing – 'Coastal Cowboys' Exhibition @ Heritage Society Sam Houston Park This groundbreaking show sheds light on a network of Texas coastal ranches that flourished long before Texas found its place on the map, revealing how these cowboys forged a distinct way of life amid sand, salt, and sea. Ends 12/2025.

Ongoing – 'Lines of Resolution: Drawing at the Advent of Television and Video' Exhibition @ Menil The exhibition explores the relationship between drawing, television, and video from the late 1950s into the 1980s. Ends 2/8/2026.

Ongoing – 'Wall Drawing Series: Gladys Nilsson' Exhibition @ Menil Known for her densely layered and meticulously constructed watercolors and collages, Nilsson brings her prominent artistic style to Menil's special Wall Drawing Series. Ends 8/16/2026.

Ongoing – 'Eye on Houston: High School Documentary Photography' Exhibition @ MFAH
The annual exhibition documents and celebrates Houston's diverse neighborhoods through student photography that captures daily life in our communities, identity, and future. Ends Spring 2026.

Ongoing – 'The Space Between Looking and Loving' Exhibition @ Menil Featuring new work by Francesca Fuchs and selections from the Menil's collection and archives, the exhibition explores the affective power and relational histories of objects in domestic settings. Ends 11/2.

Ongoing – 'Robert Rauschenberg: Fabric Works of the 1970s' Exhibition @ Menil Celebrating one hundredth birthday of renowned American artist Robert Rauschenberg, this exhibition that looks at the artist's expressive and conceptual use of fabric as a sculptural medium. Ends 3/1/2026.

Ongoing – 'Tomashi Jackson: Across the Universe' Exhibition @ CAMH The exhibition surveys nearly a decade of multi-disciplinary artist Tomashi Jackson's works, including vibrant and thoughtful paintings, prints, videos, photography, and sculpture. Ends 3/29/2026.

Ongoing – 'OUT OF STOCK' Exhibition @ CAMH This exhibition features artworks by over 30 teen artists responding to questions surrounding consumer culture and reflects on the compulsion to fulfill endless desires. Ends 10/19.

Ongoing – 'Bio Morphe' Exhibition @ Moody Center for the Arts The Moody's fall 2025 exhibition focuses on the topic of biomorphism—artistic styles that use occurring patterns or shapes inspired by nature— as seen through the lens of seven international artists. Ends 12/20.

All Ages/Good for kids

Thursday – Spooky Spirits @ Houston Zoo @ 6PM Enjoy a wickedly fun night dressed in your favorite Halloween gear where you can see the Zoo glow and sip on seasonal cocktails and craft brews.

Thursday – Salsa Night @ POST @ 7PM Enjoy a free night of performances and lessons in Salsa, Bachata, and other Latin dance styles.

Thursday – 'Grease' Screening @ POST @ 8PM

Saturday – Monster Jam @ NRG Stadium @ 7PM Enjoy big-time family fun at Monster Jam, where the world's best drivers and their monster trucks tear up the dirt in wide-open competitions of speed and skill.

Saturday – Kids: ArBOOretum @ Houston Arboretum @ 10AM ArBOOretum features fun fall activities for all ages including live animals, pumpkin decorating, and Houston's only Trick-or-Treat Nature Trail.

Saturday – Kids: Scavenger Hunt @ CAMH @ 1PM Go on a hunt for shapes and patterns while enjoying the museum's exhibitions.

Sunday – KBR Kids Day @ Buffalo Bayou Park @ 11AM Celebrate Buffalo Bayou Park's 10th anniversary with a day of fun activities for kids of all ages.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY – Galaxy Frights @ Space Center Explore the wonders of our galaxy as Space Center Houston transforms into a launchpad for space-themed Halloween fun.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY – Wings Over Houston Airshow @ Ellington Airport One of the top air shows in the United States, this premier Houston event is dedicated to showcasing vintage World War II aircraft, along with the thrills of modern aviation.

Ongoing – Zoo Boo @ Houston Zoo Count down to Halloween together with the Zoo – enjoy fun activities, dress up in costumes, and celebrate all things Fall. Ends 10/31.

Ongoing – 'Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks' Immersive Experience @ Space Center Houston Experience the story of humanity's reach for the Moon in a 360° immersive journey through space and time narrated by Tom Hanks.

Live Theater

Friday – MasterChef All-Stars Live Show @ Smart Financial Centre @ 7:30PM Witness epic head-to-head battles, thrilling challenges, and jaw-dropping culinary creations done by your favorite MasterChef chefs.

All weekend – 'Jazz Meets Symphony' Concert @ Jones Hall Feel the joyful energy and carefree spirit of Gershwin's musical delights, direct from the Roaring '20s.

All weekend – 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' Musical @ Art Factory Art Factory lets loose on their innovative, new revival of the iconic show, promising fully immersive and high-octane nights of zany fun! Ends 10/31.

All weekend – 'The Addams Family' Musical @ Crighton Theatre A comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family, this magnificently macabre hit musical features everyone's favorite creepy, kooky characters. Ends 11/2.

All weekend – 'Carrie' Musical @ The Owen Theatre Based on the novel by Stephen King and adapted from the cult classic film, this musical is a thrilling exploration of vengeance, empowerment and the supernatural. Ends 10/26.

All weekend – 'The Da Vinci Code' Play @ Alley Theatre Based on the smash hit novel by Dan Brown, embark on a journey across Europe as two people race to solve a deadly puzzle that could change history. Ends 10/19.

All weekend – 'The Body Snatcher' Play @ Alley Theatre Just in time for spooky season, this spine-tingling love story, inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson's Victorian Gothic classic, comes alive onstage. Ends 10/26.

All weekend – 'Mud Row' Play @ Stages Beneath the roof of one house, generations apart, four sisters must confront their shared legacies, and each other, in this riveting, humorous, and hopeful story about sisterhood and family. Ends 11/2.

All weekend – 'Freud's Last Session' Play @ The George Theatre Filled with sharp humor, emotional depth, and surprising moments of connection, this play puts you at the center of a dramatic debate between two brilliant minds – Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis. Ends 10/19.

All weekend – 'Perfectos Desconocidos / Perfect Strangers' Play @ MATCH Based on the record-breaking hit film, this fast-paced and vibrant comedy takes audiences on a rollercoaster ride filled with laughter, shocks, and surprises, where privacy is pushed to its limits. Ends 10/26.

All weekend – 'Drunk Dracula' Performance @ Drunk Shakespeare This October, watch as one brave actor downs five shots of whiskey and hilariously attempts to retell the classic tale of Transylvania's thirstiest vampire. Ends 11/2.

All weekend – 'Midnight High: A Night at the Oxhead' Immersive Performance @ MATCH This immersive and interactive show tells a story about the intersection of power and desire for belonging through a western and science-fiction lens. Ends 10/25.