Spring is just getting started!
Warm weather is on the way, y’all. Embrace the blossoming flowers, sunlit brunches, and open-air happy hours while temperature allows. Read on to discover our top 45 things to do in Houston this April! [Featured image: @oagraphicdesigner]
1. Experience Magical Outdoor Candlelight Concerts
You can still experience an absolutely magical (and safe) winter here in Houston, and part of that is thanks to the amazing outdoor spaces the city has to offer. Luckily, Fever Originals is bringing its wildly popular Candlelight concert series to a beautiful open-air venue for the season.
2. Get Your Tickets For This Blockbuster Van Gogh Exhibit
Artwork from the iconic post-impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh will come to life in a 360-degree digital spectacle that’ll illuminate and transform the physical space into a fully immersive exhibit. You’ll see Van Gogh’s work take over the walls and encompass your surroundings through the lenses of several dozen projectors, hyper-realistic VR headsets, or a mix of both.
3. Go To Town On Brazilian Steak
You can sample the entire menu with this unlimited experience, testing out pork sausage and acquainting your taste buds with grilled pineapple and chicken drumsticks and much more. Countless trips to the salad bar, a wide selection of drinks and desserts, and unlimited servings ensure that stomachs are fully sated!
4. Dine In The Dark
Ever wondered what it is like to eat in the dark? Eminent psychologists have been advocating dining in the dark as the ultimate taste experience for many years. Studies show that 80 percent of people eat with their eyes; with that sense eliminated, the theory is that the other senses—namely taste and smell—take over to elevate your meal to a whole new level. After donning your blindfold in the darkened, candlelit room, you’ll soon realise that focusing on taste and smell alone can be a truly enlightening experience—provided you’re not afraid of the dark!
5. Fiesta Houston Festival
Fiesta Houston Festival is a unique culture and music festival experience that celebrates joy and Hispanic heritage in Houston! Taking place at the iconic Houston Raceway, there’s so much to do and see ranging from delicious food stands to live music at the state-of-the-art stage.
6. Venture Into The Upside Down
Seismique is a celestial new exhibit that experiments with an otherwordly interplay of immersive experiences, artificial intelligence, and alien-like terrain. Across 40 galleries, 111 projectors, 40,000 square feet, and 9 million LED lights, the exhibit immerses visitors in alien universes full of creativity, imagination, and wonder.
7-9. Cozy Up At Houston’s Best Coffee Shops
Thankfully, there are plenty of coffee houses scattered about the city for residents to take refuge, re-energize, and maybe eat a scone or two.
- Rev up your mornings at the motorcycle and coffee garage.
- Secret Garden offers various international coffees with options in the form of Vietnamese, Greek Espresso, Greek Freddo Cappuccino, Turkish Coffee, and more.
10. Pop Into Houston’s Whimsical New Bar
Phones at the ready, Houston, for a new selfie sanctuary has come to town with the opening of Austin-based Wonder Bar. While the quirky, IG-ready watering hole has teased their opening in H-town since last summer, the bar has finally opened.
11. Withdraw Pure Sweetness From This Cupcake ATM In Houston
For many, a trip to the ATM, particularly after a long weekend, is a somewhat trepidatious process. One mind trick is to simply make the withdrawal without peaking at your balance – if money comes out, it means you still have some in the account. When making a withdrawal from Sprinkles cupcake ATM, it’s kind of like that, except much more exciting.
12. Catch A Flick At The Largest Drive-In Movie Screen In Town
In 2020, drive-in cinema pulled a U-turn out of obsolescence. In the throes of the pandemic, drive-ins came in clutch to provide us with safe, much-needed entertainment and escape. While Houston has its fare share of drive-in theaters, there are none larger than the coming Drive-In Off Navigation.
13. Swim Into The Spongebob Squarepants Pop-Up
Say ahoy to Bikini Bottom, Houston, because Plethora Houston is bringing all of its nautical nonsense to H-town with their Spongebob Squarepants pop-up restaurant, bar, and hotel this April.
14. Experience Life On Mars
The Houston Museum of Natural Science gave us the world, and now they’re giving us Mars. Channel your inner Ziggy Stardust and see if there really is Life on Mars at the HMNS’s Mars from Luke Jerram.
15. Sweeten Up At This Speakeasy
So Clutch, the owners of the Concrete Cowboy, Clutch Bar, and a host of establishments in other US cities, opened the doors of the Sugar Room on Washington Avenue. The cocktail lounge hidden inside a local bakery features a glamorous selection of drinks as well as tasty treats.
16. Visit The Largest Winery In Town
The most-awarded winery in Texas has expanded with an impressive facility in Richmond, Texas. Harvest Green Winery & Kitchen is now open with a full kitchen, expansive tasting room, and much more.
17. Meet The Largest Touring T-Rex Skeleton In The World
From April 2 to September 2 this year, Houstonians will have the opportunity to get up and close and personal with the “largest and most complete” touring T-Rex skeleton in the world.
18. Check Out The Big Screen On The Green
Put the pup on the leash and gather up the kiddos, folks, because Discovery Green is reprising their Downtown park cinema, Screen on the Green presented by Bank of America this weekend!
19. Visit Van Gogh
You might be amped up for the blockbuster Van Gogh exhibition that’s coming to Houston this summer, so you might as well brush up on the iconic Dutch painter’s works with the exhibition: Hockney – Van Gogh: The Joy of Nature, now open at MFAH.
20. Transform The Way You Look At The Sky
At James Turrell’s Twilight Epiphany Skyscape in Houston, sunset and sunrise are otherworldly experiences. The rise and setting of the sun are spectacles all on their own. Captivating natural phenomena that imbue us with feelings of wonder, awe, and romance. At the James Turrells’ Twilight Epiphany installation, you’ll see the sky in entirely new colors.
21. Cider And Game
Reality has been a drag recently, escape into the carefree virtual world of gaming this weekend at East Downtown’s newest hangout. Cidercade opens in Houston today with a ton of games, ciders on tap, and 18,000 square feet of fun to be had.
22. Hit The Dive Scene
Because there is no date that officially marks the holiday season, there exists mass confusion as to the appropriate time to start decorating for the holidays. That said, when someone starts decorating is indicative of a certain personality. Those that decorate slightly prematurely are said to be happier people. Those who decorate before the end of October are likely a little nutty. And those who leave up their festive decorations year round, like the people over at Grand Prize Bar, are complete freaking lunatics – and we love them for it.
23. Stroll Through The 3D Gallery
What do Selena, Drake, and God have in common? All three make cameo appearances in the Houston’s pop-up 3D Galerié.
24. Stroll Through The Japanese Gardens
Hermann Park in Houston is full of wonder. It’s home to a railroad, a zoo, an outdoor theater, and much more. Any one of these spots is worth a visit, but if peace of mind is what you’re looking for, take a stroll through their Japanese Garden.
25. Go Pedal To The Metal For Art Car Weekend
It’s been nearly two years since Houston has got to celebrate the eclectic, nifty, and rather raucous festivities of Art Car Weekend. While organizers are leaving the Art Car Parade, Ball, and Award Ceremony in the garage due to COVID-19 restrictions, organizers are fueling up for a 2021 Houston Art Car Experience sure to take H-town for a ride between May 14 and May 16.
26. Be My Gyro
The original Al Quick Stop in Montrose is a charming little bodega at the corner of Waugh Drive and Welch Street next to Rudyard’s Pub. In addition to its inventory of amenities, groceries, and the like, the Quick Stop offers dynamite eats, with a full breakfast, lunch & dinner menu.
27. Crack Into The Best Crawfish In Town
Yeah, we love the holidays, but when it comes to food it’s really hard to beat peak crawfish season in the Bayou City. If you’re not throwing a crawfish boil of your own, you can get your hands dirty – and belly full – at our 10 favorite crawfish joints in Houston.
28. Follow The Umbrella Alley To This Street Art Pop Up
From the recent, epic MF DOOM mural, to the Houston Graffiti Building, to the city’s many local IG-inspired hot spots, it’s an understatement to say that H-Town is no stranger to street art. Which makes it somewhat surprising that they’re aren’t more street art-specific exhibits. There is, however, one present exhibition that has channels the graffiti-driven artwork that gives our city color.
29. Celebrate The Joy Of Color
The Color Factory is a western transplant from San Francisco, where it came to life in 2017. Its origins involve a team of artists collaborating on cultivating an imaginative space that pushes boundaries of understanding. In Houston, the Color Factory spans over 20,000 square feet of art installations, interactive exhibits, local features, and all-around hue-tiful space.
30. Meditate At The Rothko Chapel
Masterful artists often are exalted with holy reverence. Ingenuity, insight, and genius confound the layman such that no possible explanation can rationalize artists’ masterpieces than divine origination. Lemmy Kilmister is a god, Dolly Parton is an angel, and Spanish architect, Antoni Gaudi, is literally being considered for sainthood. In Houston, a chapel stands as a testament to the artwork of Mark Rothko.
31. Laugh It Off
Is it too soon to laugh about how awful the pandemic has been? We don’t think so. Head down to Montrose gem, Rudyard’s Pub, and catch one of the ribhurting comedy events that they have in store for the season!
32. Visit The Houston Museum Of Science
The Death by Natural Causes traveling exhibit will introduce patrons to the range of “animal, vegetable and mineral” dangers that lurk in their everyday lives. Through a collection of specimens, text and interactives, visitors can see what can cause a death, either directly or indirectly, from the natural world.
33.Venture Into Space City’s Space Center Houston
Space Center Houston is one of Houston’s top attractions, the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston’s first Smithsonian Affiliate and a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence awardee. Designed to engage adults and children alike, the center features more than 400 space artifacts, permanent and traveling exhibits, attractions and theaters related to the exciting future and remarkable past of America’s human space-flight program—all for one admission price. What’s more, Space Center Houston has the world’s largest collection of moon rocks and lunar samples for public view. There is always something new at Space Center Houston with an amazing array of traveling exhibits and astounding events.
34. Roll Into Houston’s Smashing New Bar
Houston’s bang-up new bar is groovy, baby. Furnished with shagadelic psychedelia complete with flashy neon signs and a cigarette machine straight out of the 60’s, new downtown hangout, Unicorn Disco, gives Houstonians the chance to blast into the past.
35. Glamp In The Stars
New resident Texan, Elon Musk, promises that humans will land on Mars by 2026. If you can’t wait that long, you can spend a few nights at Basecamp Terlingua, an other-worldly glamping experience that integrates the future with the past, giving its visitors the impression of luxury camping in the cosmos.
36. Rent Out A Theater For You And Your Friends
When it comes to movies in theaters, you never know who is going to be in that crowd with you… until now. Get the best of both worlds: the big screen, and a hand-selected audience to enjoy it with at Alamo Drafthouse by renting your own private Alamo!
37. Transport Yourself To Madrid At This Clubby Restaurant
If you’re looking for a taste of Spanish cuisine, with the sight, sound, and feel of Madrilenian nightlife, MAD Houston is your ticket.
38. Catch The Alright, Alright, Alright Dazed And Confused Reunion
The most iconic line of Matthew McConaughey’s career just happened to be his first on film – in an improvised scene no less. That said, it’s by no means the only memorable line from Richard Linklater’s Austin, Texas-shot coming-of-age classic, Dazed and Confused. As a part of their Support Local Cinemas campaign, Alamo Drafthouse will be screening the film in its theaters this April followed by a Q&A with cast members hosted by Jack Black via Zoom.
39. Support The #StopAsianHate Movement
Stop AAPI Hate, a national coalition that advocates for the civil and political rights of the Asian American and Pacific Island community, tracks incidents of anti-Asian discrimination. Between March 19, 2020, and February 28, 2021, the group reported 3,292 incidents of anti-Asian discrimination, 103 of which occurred in Texas.
40. Pay Homage To The State’s Beautiful Bluebonnets
Every self-respecting Texan knows that in spring it is an absolute necessity to pay homage to the official flower of the Lonestar State – the majestic and pure bluebonnet. With the sun shining and warm weather incoming, bluebonnets are already to show signs of blossoming in southern Texas. See our list to find the best places to spot these beautiful bluebonnets across the state! As always, be sure to treat the areas with respect – don’t mess with Texas (bluebonnets)!
41. Skate At The Foot Of The Houston Skyline
Discovery Green in Downtown, Houston has announced the return of their outdoor rink this spring. From now, until April 11, the organization is hosting public skates in Downtown Houston with tickets now on sale!
42. See The Big And Bright Stars At Night
See what Space City is all about this weekend at the re-opening of the George Observatory! The observatory first opened in 1989 and run until temporarily closing in 2019 for a “much needed makeover”. This weekend, the Houston Museum of Natural Science is reopening their totally revamped observatory!
43. Stream The Oscars
The Oscars have recently announced the official nominations. With the pandemic closing down theaters, and many studios opting to delay releases, original productions from streaming services have largely composed this year’s contenders. Read on to discover how to watch this year’s historical Oscar nominated-films.
44. Sink Your Teeth Into ’80s Nostalgia At Houston’s New Diner
The 1980s are making a come back. Be it the nostalgia-saturated Stranger Things, kaleidoscopic fashion lines, or droves of new wave, synth-driven music flooding the sound waves. Embrace the return of all things ’80s at Hungry Like The Wolf, which has just opened at 920 Studemont St #900.
45. Float The Texas Border
Yes, it’s only April, but warmer days are on the horizon. You could visit your parents house in the suburbs, or take a dip in your apartment complex’s pool, but why not think bigger? Why not think lazier? For instance, the Texas-shaped, six-story-high lazy river at the Marriot Marquis in Downtown.