Event Roundup: What to Look Forward to This Weekend

Mardi Gras! Galveston is the 3rd largest Mardi Gras celebration in the country. Live entertainment this year will include 3 Doors Down and Siggno. (Photo: Kim Christensen Photography)

Happy Friday! Mardi Gras and Rodeo season are kicking off here in Houston. Here’s what’s happening this weekend:

Eat Drink HTX 
Enjoy prix fixe brunch, lunch, and dinner menus at some of your favorite Houston spots! This new two-week-long fundraiser, produced by The Cleverley Stone Foundation, was developed for the casual dining category, with a lower price point allowing more casual and fast-casual eateries the opportunity to participate. Proceeds will benefit the Houston Food Bank and Star of Hope Mission, with funds going towards the organization’s homeless men, women, and children. Eat Drink HTX was designed to create a boost in sales during historically slow periods for area restaurants; specifically, weeks in February, after Valentine’s Day and early spring. Participants include: Oporto Fooding and Wine, Roost, Weights + Measures, Dak & Bop, Fadi’s, Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co., Thai Cottage, El Meson, Prego, and many more. The meal prices for dinner will be $20-25 and for lunch/brunch will be $15. Eat Drink HTX will end on Feb. 28. 

Mardi Gras! Galveston 
The 111th annual celebration of the third largest Mardi Gras in the United States is this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Friday festivities will start at 5 p.m. with several parades, including the Funky Uptown Umbrella Brigade Parade. Saturday’s activities will start at 11 a.m., featuring the 12th Annual Zaniest Golf Cart Parade & 3 other Krewe Parades, plus a live performance from 3 Doors Down at 5:30 p.m. On Sunday, there will be two Fiesta Gras! Parades starting at 1 p.m. and a live performance by Siggno at 2:30 p.m. Festivities are free to attend and will take place in Galveston’s historic downtown in the Mardi Gras Entertainment District, with activities running in the area bordered by 20th to 25th Streets and Harborside Drive to Mechanic Street. View the website for more details.

20th Anniversary Rockets Run 
Come and get fit with the Houston Rockets for their 20th Anniversary Rockets Run presented by Children's Memorial Hermann. Bring out the whole family on Saturday at 7:30 a.m. to run or walk as you cross the actual center court inside Toyota Center. Tickets are $40 pre-sale and $50 on the day of the race. Each participant receives one Rockets game ticket, one commemorative T-shirt and free admission to the Post Race Party at Root Memorial Square Park. Free parking is available in the Toyota Tundra garage. More information is available on the website.

Mardi Gras Celebration at Kemah Boardwalk 
Come enjoy beads, live music, and fun kid's crafts all day on the Kemah Boardwalk! 3 Spot will be playing from 12-3 p.m., followed by Flashpoint from 4-8 p.m. The Yachty Gras Boat Parade will take place at 7 p.m. The parade is free to attend.

George Ranch Rodeo: Honoring Fort Bend County's Black Cowboy Legacy
Come down to the George Ranch Historical Park on Saturday from 4-9:30 p.m. to experience a rodeo honoring the legacy of Black cowboys. For more than 100 years, Black cowboys played an essential role in Fort Bend County ranching operations. At the George Ranch specifically, four generations of Black cowboys worked alongside four generations of the George family, leaving behind a rich legacy of Black cowboy heritage that is unique to this part of Texas. Entertainment, kids’ activities, craft, and food booths open at 4 p.m., Grand Entry is at 6:30 p.m., and the Rodeo starts at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $10-15 for children and $20-35 for adults. 

Children’s Texas Art Festival at Bayou Bend 
Visit Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens for an afternoon of free, family-friendly fun on Sunday from 1-5 p.m. The Children’s Texas Art Festival celebrates art -created by and for children - that helps forge a connection to Texas and American heritage. Families are invited to enjoy art-making workshops, games, and a group project. Demonstrations emphasize the way art keeps people connected to the past, how it improves the present, and why preserving it is important for the future. 

Rodeo Clown Roundup at Karbach Brewing 
Kick off rodeo season with Karbach Brewing Co.'s Rodeo Clown Roundup. Flatland Calvary, Shinyribs, and Aaron Copeland will take the stage. Doors open at 3 p.m. Dance the night away with live music and share a pint. Tickets are $35 for General Admission and $100 for VIP (comes with access to VIP area, three beers of your choice, access to special beer tasting, and buffet by Karbach). Tickets are not needed for children under age 12 when accompanied by a parent with a ticket. Personal chairs are allowed, and bringing pets is discouraged.

Rodeo Uncorked! Roundup & Best Bites Competition
Support the Houston Rodeo and eat gourmet food paired with more than 450 wines, including the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion of the International Wine Competition. At the Rodeo Uncorked! Roundup & Best Bites Competition this Sunday at 6:30 p.m., you will have the opportunity to sample signature dishes from approximately 100 of the area’s top restaurants and culinary institutions, and vote for your favorites in the Best Bites Competition. Tickets start at $165. 

Immersive Frida Kahlo
Lighthouse Immersive and Impact Museums announce their newest immersive art installation, Frida: Immersive Dream. From this Thursday through April 17th, patrons can see the exhibition, which features some of Frida Kahlo’s best-known works “brought to life” by Italy’s Massimiliano Siccardi, and accompanied by composer Luca Longobardi’s musical score. Kahlo’s work bridges surrealist and magic realism traditions – blending authentic depictions of her life with fantastical elements reflecting her inner thoughts and struggles. Among the works featured in the piece are The Two Fridas (1939), The Wounded Deer (1946), and Diego and I (1946), along with an assortment of photographs, drawings and iconography. The projections are shown on Lighthouse Immersive’s massive architectural canvas, using high-quality projectors and sound systems. Tickets start at $39.99 and are timed, providing access to the exhibit at a specific hour on a specific day. The exhibit is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Plus - read this cool story about Robin, a lawyer and local Frida fan who handmade an incredible tribute jacket with Frida’s face on the back!

Editor's note: Please check individual event websites for any weather-related changes or Covid-related restrictions. Find more events here.