Things to do in Houston this weekend! Please don't shoot guns into the air!

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Festival & Markets & July 4th Events 🧨

Thursday – Houston Symphony’s ‘Star Spangled Salute’ Concert @ Woodlands Pavilion @ 8PM Don’t miss this iconic annual tradition that brings the Woodlands community together to celebrate Independence Day with classic patriotic music performed by the Houston Symphony.

Friday – Freedom Over Texas @ Eleanor Tinsley Park and Allen Parkway @ 4PM Houston’s official Fourth of July celebration features live music, family activities, and a stunning fireworks extravaganza.

Friday – 4th of July Parade + Fireworks @ Galveston The 4th of July on Galveston Island is a celebration rooted in tradition, but made unforgettable by its coastal setting.

Friday – Sugar Land’s Red, White, and Boom @ Constellation Field @ 4PM This free festival offers plenty of fun including one of the largest fireworks displays in the county, music, food, vendors, and more.

Friday – Woodlands 4th of July Parade + Festivals @ 9AM The 1.3-mile parade around The Woodlands features marching bands, fire engines, clowns, floats and more! Plus continue the celebrations in multiple locations throughout the community.

Friday – July 4th Celebration & Street Festival @ Tomball @ 6PM This annual all-American event features fireworks, food, and live music!

Friday – Celebration of Independence Parade & Festival @ Bellaire @ 9AM Enjoy food, music from a live band, and two parades.

Friday – FourthFest: MCTX Independence Day Festival @ Houston Community College—Southwest College @ 5PM Expect carnival games, live music, local vendors, an evening fireworks display, and more at the all ages celebration.

Friday – Katy Freedom Celebration @Typhoon Texas @ 11AM The waterpark is plussed for the fourth, with barbecue and live entertainment, and additional pools and slides.

Friday – 4th of July Celebration @ Bicentennial Park @ 4PM Baytown’s annual celebration features live music by beloved local bands plus kids’ activities, food and craft vendors, and an evening fireworks show.

Friday – Houston Fourth Fest & Road Races @ Vintage Park @ 7AM The 2nd annual festival includes a road race, Houston's Beer Mile Championship, & Houston's Hot Dog Eating Contest Championship.

Friday – July 4th Festival @ Jersey Meadow Park @ 10AM The Northwest Houston celebration features a morning parade, food trucks, games, live music from tribute bands, and a firework show at the end of the night.

Friday – 4th of July Celebration @ POST @ 5PM Enjoy a firework show, cirque performances, art activities, delicious bites, live music, and much more!

Friday – Fourth of July Celebration @ MFAH Bayou Bend @ 1PM The annual festival features an extravaganza of Americana, with performers, crafts, family-friendly activities, and refreshments.

Friday – Houston Symphony’s ‘Star Spangled Salute’ Concert @ Miller Outdoor Theatre @ 8:30PM Celebrate Independence Day with a performance of patriotic favorites followed by a grand finale of fireworks at 10:00 PM!

Saturday – Coffee and Cars @ POST @ 8AM Come out and enjoy an amazing display of machines at POST!

Standup

Thursday – Dustin Ross Stand Up @ Houston Improv @ 7:30PM

Thursday – Joselito Dapuppet Comedy Show @ The Riot Comedy Club @ 9PM

Friday – The Americans: 4th of July Stand Up Show @ The Riot Comedy Club @ 7PM / 9PM Featuring your favorite local comedians!

Saturday – Jerry Wayne Longmire Stand Up @ Punchline Houston @ 7PM / 9:15PM

Saturday – Dean Stanfield Stand Up @ The Riot Comedy Club @ 7PM

Sunday – Robbie The Fire + Friends Stand Up @ The Secret Group @ 8PM

All weekend – Bubba Dub Stand Up @ Houston Improv

Sports

Sunday – CONCACAF Gold Cup Final @ NRG Stadium @ 6PM

Arts & Culture

Ongoing – ‘Anicka Yi’ Exhibition @ MFAH NEW – Blending scientific research with philosophical inquiry and sensory experience, Anicka Yi’s work dissolves boundaries between biology and technology, proposing new ways of thinking about perception, sentience, and survival. Ends 9/7.

Ongoing – ‘From India to the World’ Exhibition @ MFAH A celebration of artistic mastery and cultural exchange, this pivotal addition to the MFAH collections offers a comprehensive view of Indian textile history. Ends 9/14.

Ongoing – ‘Floating World: A.A.Murakami’ Exhibition @ MFAH This immersive exhibition, first in the US, blends technology and ephemeral beauty, offering a sensory experience grounded in cultural history. Ends 9/21.

Ongoing – ‘Picturing Nature’ Exhibition @ MFAH Featuring over 70 artworks from the Stuart Collection, the exhibition examines innovative works by J.M.W. Turner, John Constable, and others in revolutionizing the genre of landscape art. Ends 7/6.

Ongoing – ‘Navigating the Waves’ Exhibition @ MFAH Exploring identity, heritage, and socio-political change, the exhibition traces the evolution of photography in Cuba from the 1960s to the 2010s. Ends 8/3.

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 – ‘Joe Overstreet: Taking Flight’ Exhibition @ Menil The exhibition presents a series of landmark paintings by pioneering artist Joe Overstreet, whose innovative works intertwine abstraction and social politics. Ends 7/13.

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 – ‘Figurative Histories’ Exhibition @ Moody Center for the Arts The Moody’s summer exhibition brings together a group of Texas-based artists whose figurative works explore personal and sociopolitical histories. Ends 8/16.

Ongoing – ‘Clément Cogitore: Collective Memories’ @ Moody Center for the Arts See renowned French artist Clément Cogitore’s video installations that explore individual and collective memories and mythologies, and how those dynamics relate to conflict, oppression, and self-expression. Ends 8/16.

All Ages/Good for kids

Saturday – Saturday Stargazing @ George Observatory in Needville

Ongoing – ‘Blooming Wonders’ Immersive Exhibition @ ARTECHOUSE Step into a digital garden where art, technology, and nature beautifully converge into an immersive and vivid exhibition. Ends 9/1.

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 9/30.

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 – Jurassic Giants @ Houston Zoo Unleash your inner paleontologist and immerse yourself in a one-of-a-kind prehistoric adventure featuring 60 new dinosaurs. Ends 9/1.

Live Theater

All weekend – ‘The Wedding Singer’ Musical @ Crighton Theatre Based on the hit Adam Sandler movie, this musical takes us back to a time when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up, and a wedding singer might just be the coolest guy in the room. Ends 7/20.

All weekend – ‘The Tap Dance Kid’ Play @ Ensemble Theatre The heartwarming play follows Willie, a 10-year old African-American kid whose dream is to become a tap dancer despite his family’s expectations. Ends 7/27.

All weekend – ‘Another Ding-Dang Tamarie Show’ Play @ MATCH Catastrophic Theatre’s very own Tamarie Cooper brings a new signature summer show that takes you behind-the-scenes of this theatre legend’s work. Ends 8/2.

Live Music

Thursday – Boys Don’t Cry: A Cure Experience @ Warehouse Live @ 7PM With Holdin’ On: Tribute to The Cranberries

Thursday – Rowdy @ Scout Bar @ 7:30PM With Falsify, Honeycutt Southern, Brokyn Hartz, DJ Cyde, & Dusty Haze Project

Thursday – Saint Judas & The Black Hymns @ The Big Top @ 8PM

Friday – East River’s Beats on the Bayou @ East River @ 6PM Enjoy an energetic, family-friendly evening of live music along the waterfront at The Bayou Park every first Friday of the month this summer.

Saturday – Santa Fe Klan + Shoreline Mafia @ NRG Arena @ 8PM

Saturday – Things we do for Love: The Concert Experience @ White Oak Music Hall @ 6PM With Blakboyokay

Saturday – Electric Foam: Red, White, & Blue Party @ Stereo Live @ 10PM

Saturday – Los Skarnales @ Continental Club @ 9PM With Shame On Me & Opie Hendrix

Saturday – Band On The Run @ The Big Top @ 9PM

Sunday – Outlaw Music Festival @ Woodlands Pavilion @ 4PM Featuring Willie Nelson and Family, Bob Dylan, The Avett Brothers, The Mavericks, & Tami Neilson

Sunday – Powerslave: Tribute to Iron Maiden @ Warehouse Live @ 3PM With The Punishment Due: Tribute to Megadeth & Blind.In.Texas: Tribute to W.A.S.P.

Other Events

Thursday – Movies Under The Stars: ‘Interstellar’ @ Market Square Park @ 8:30PM

Friday – Poolside Cinema: ‘Independence Day’ Screening @ Altitude Rooftop @ 7:30PM

Saturday – ‘Wicked’ Screening @ Miller Outdoor Theatre @ 8:15PM

Saturday & Sunday – ‘Barry Lyndon’ Screening @ MFAH