In Houston, the weather is beautiful in spring! Before the summer heat returns, get outside and enjoy all that Bayou City has to offer. Here is our list of spring festivals and activities worth checking out!
ENTERTAINMENT & ACTIVITIES
Houston is jam-packed with events and things to do year-round, but there’s something about spring weather that makes getting out and exploring that much better!
Grab your 10-gallon hat and get ready for amazing food, concerts, carnival rides, and more at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, which runs from Feb. 27 to March 17, 2024.
The Houston Astros celebrate their season opener on March 28, so grab your team jersey and ball cap and get ready for a rowdy night at Minute Maid Park as the ‘Stros take on the New York Yankees.
Let the good times roll at The Rink: Rolling at Discovery Green, Houston’s only outdoor roller rink, which is open every day from Feb. 9 to March 31 and is open to all ages.
Nothing beats a gorgeous evening with amazing friends, a little picnic, and free entertainment on the hill at Miller Outdoor Theatre. With the season kicking off in March 2024, Houston’s premier outdoor theater for the performing arts is a Houston staple with a calendar of events ranging from musicals to Shakespeare, dance performances to concerts, and beyond. Seating is available for those who want to obtain a free ticket in advance, but chilling on the grass is the way to go if you’re able.
SPRING FESTIVALS
Spring festivals in Houston tend to pop up as fast as flowers around the city!
One such festival that is a staple in the LGBTQ+ community is Bunnies on the Bayou, an annual outdoor festival on Easter Sunday (March 31, 2024), which is the largest LGBTQIA+ fundraising festival in Texas. Scantily clad partygoers will be dazzled by emcee and local drag queen Blackberri, Grammy Award-winning talent, and drinks aplenty! The fundraiser benefits 15 different nonprofit organizations that support the queer community, including the unhoused, trans individuals, the elderly, and more.
This year marks the third year of The Normal Anomaly Initiative. They work to center Black, queer plus persons to overcome barriers and end stigma and problematic narratives to actualize a new normal. On March 14-17, 2024, the organization will host the annual Black Queer AF Week at Warehouse Live Midtown. This year's theme is HOMECOMING and will feature an impressive schedule of live entertainment, a Sunday Service, parties, and more! This year's headliner is a former member of Destiny's Child, LeToya Luckett. Get tickets today and get ready for an unforgettable experience!
Looking for something a little more family-friendly? Check out the upcoming Azalea Trails, Bayou City Art Festival Downtown, and the Art Car Parade.
MUSEUMS
Houston is a hub for world-class museums! Luckily, the spaces just outside of some of Houston’s best museums are almost as beautiful as the interiors.
The outdoor spaces at The Menil Collection are sprawling and provide beautiful green, shaded escapes in the middle of Montrose. On any given day, you’ll find groups of people having picnics or celebrations, couples sharing a blanket, or friends throwing a frisbee. You have plenty of options for where you want to snag a spot outdoors after perusing all that The Menil Collection has to offer!
One of Houston’s most acclaimed art and cultural community centers consisting of 22 renovated shotgun-style homes is the Project Row Houses. Each house has a different art installation to view and is the perfect place to spend a beautiful day in H-Town as you walk from house to house.
The Cullen Sculpture Garden at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is a tranquil oasis of art and nature. Enjoy some gorgeous weather while soaking in the sun and masterworks of 20th- and 21st-century sculpture by artists including Louise Bourgeois, Pietro Consagra, Henri Matisse, Joan Miró, Auguste Rodin, and David Smith. If it’s hot enough outside, hop over to the splash pad to cool off a bit!
Looking for a whimsical feast for the eyes? Then you have to plan a visit to The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. A Houston institution, The Orange Show was developed single-handedly by postman Jefferson Davis McKissack using concrete, brick, steel, and found objects, including gears, tiles, wagon wheels, mannequins, tractor seats, and figurines. The monument is a maze-like, multiple-level, unique experience that is a perfect option for enjoying the great outdoors. Want to keep the good times going? Check out Smither Park, right next to The Orange Show, for plenty of art viewing and more.
PARKS
Nothing beats a good day in the park on a gorgeous day—plus, it’s free!
Buffalo Bayou Park is arguably Houston’s most prominent outdoor space, with its sprawling green spaces, running trails, views of the downtown skyline, skate park, and more.
Hermann Park is a great option for enjoying shady spaces, running/walking trails, rolling down the hill at Miller Outdoor Theater (you gotta do it at least once!), and more. You are also a short walk to the Japanese Garden, a peaceful hideaway and beautiful oasis that is always worth checking out. The crepe myrtles, azaleas, waterfalls, bridges, stone paths, and more make it a tranquil space in a bustling city.
Right in the heart of downtown is Discovery Green, which serves as a refreshing green space in an otherwise concrete-surrounded area. Nearby restaurants, seasonal events, live music, and more make this a perfect escape that is made for people watching, enjoying a beautiful space downtown, and enjoying curated entertainment.
Running trails, sporting fields and courts, nature—oh yes! Dubbed “the largest urban park in Texas,” Memorial Park is a hub for fitness freaks, sports junkies, and nature enthusiasts. Stop by to get a workout in, play some tennis, walk and talk with friends, or pop over to the Clay Family Eastern Glades to soak up some nature via the 5 ½-acre Hines Lake and wetlands, trails, boardwalks, and opportunities to experience and learn about natural habitat systems.
Check out our EVENTS page for more activities.
And enjoy your spring vibe in Houston!
Photos: Courtesy of venues and attractions mentioned in this post.
