No plans yet for the weekend? We got you covered! From concerts, to brunch spots, bars, and more, our list of exciting, entertaining, and free things to do in Houston this weekend has something for you!
Celebrate life and remember loved ones at Houston’s Día de los Muertos on November 7, 2026.
The sixth annual Houston Día de los Muertos Festival and Parade will take place at Sam Houston Park on Saturday, November 7, 2026, featuring live music, a colorful procession, arts and crafts, and food from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The parade procession is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. after a 6:30 p.m. ceremony on Bagby Street.
A free, family-friendly Night Market celebrating Asian food, art and performance on November 6.
Asia Society Texas’ annual Night Market takes over the grounds on November 6, bringing an outdoor, all-ages festival of Asian and Asian American food, art, shopping and live performances. Outdoor admission is free; select indoor activities and sumo demonstrations require paid tickets.
The Texas Renaissance Festival kicks off Oct. 10 for its 52nd season across a 70‑acre, 16th‑century village with more than 200 daily performances and nearly 400 shops.
The Texas Renaissance Festival returns for its 52nd season beginning Saturday, Oct. 10, running on weekends through Sunday, Nov. 29 (with an extra day on Friday, Nov. 27) in Todd Mission on a 70-acre, 16th-century–themed village with hundreds of performances, shops and food offerings.
Explore 105 acres of vendors, rides, and fair-style food at Traders Village Houston.
Traders Village Houston is a 105-acre open-air flea market in northwest Houston with 1,500–2,000 vendors, amusement rides, food vendors, and regular weekend hours. The market is hosting a July 4th celebration from 10:00–18:00 featuring $1 hotdogs, a live DJ, vendor access, rides, and World Cup screenings.
The Skyspace is open again with a modern LED lighting system and free public access. If you’re looking for a serene, art-filled moment this weekend, Rice University’s James Turrell Twilight Epiphany Skyspace has reopened after a 28-month closure with upgraded LED lighting. The installation offers two daily 40-minute light sequences at sunrise and sunset and is free and open to the public.
Want a fresh outdoor spot to add to your weekend lineup? A new 100-acre regional greenspace is now open in Sunnyside, Houston. If you’re looking to spend a June day outdoors, check out Hill at Sims Park, a newly opened 100-acre regional greenspace in Sunnyside, south Houston.
The park features nearly 5 miles of paved and dirt trails, six scenic overlooks, a 60-foot Brown Foundation Hilltop Pavilion with panoramic city views, murals, new native trees, and flood-control capacity. It connects to the Sims Bayou Greenway via the Dr. Alma Allen Bridge and includes parking at 11808 Scott St, Houston, TX 77047.
The Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern turns 100 years old this 2026! In celebration of the cistern’s centennial, officials are debuting a new, interactive exhibition. Dubbed “Undercurrent”s, the mesmerizing exhibition sees the subterranean labyrinth suffused with LED lights. Here, visitors are invited to record messages into the matrix of light.
Further solidifying itself as a destination for art-lovers, Houston has added another gallery to its already impressive collection. The new Opera Gallery Houston has opened its doors in River Oaks, unveiling its rich collection of masterworks by the likes of Picasso, Monet, and Kumasa, alongside acclaimed contemporary artists. Oh yeah, it’s free!
Explore Surrealism, African art, Cy Twombly, and a peaceful lawn — all completely free to visit. If you’re looking for an easy, budget-friendly weekend stop, The Menil Collection in Houston is a free, world-class museum set on a 30-acre, park-like campus in Montrose, anchored by a Renzo Piano–designed main building. The collection spans ancient to contemporary art and hosts several temporary exhibitions alongside outdoor sculptures and the nearby Rothko Chapel.
A 270-acre slice of jungle in the heart of Texas. If you’re looking for an easy weekend nature escape from Houston, head to Palmetto State Park in Gonzales, Texas—a 270-acre park known for dwarf palmettos, wetlands, the San Marcos River and Oxbow Lake. The park offers hiking trails, swimming and fishing, campsites and an air-conditioned cabin available for rent.
See Houston’s skyline sparkle at POST’s Winter Wonderlawn this holiday season.
Winter Wonderlawn transforms POST Houston’s five-acre Skylawn into a rooftop holiday experience from November 6, 2026 through January 10, 2027, featuring thousands of lights, two 35-foot Christmas trees, and a new 100-foot Polar Express installation. Tickets are required after 5 p.m.; prices range from $8 to $19 and children six and under enter free.
