Event Roundup: What to Look Forward to This Weekend

Go Coogs!

Happy Friday! There’s lots to look forward to this beautiful spring weekend, including: 

March Madness
Go Coogs! The UH Cougars won their game against the Arizona Wildcats last night 72-60 and are on their way to play Villanova this Saturday. After getting to the Final Four last year, this year our hometown team has once again broken into the Elite Eight. Maybe this medical note from UH mascot Shasta will get you out of work to celebrate.

Houston First and University of Houston are hosting an Official UH Watch Party on Saturday, 5 p.m., at Avenida Houston. The free public event, emceed by KHOU, will feature multiple TVs, including a massive 24-foot LED screen, music, beverages, food, UH merchandise, and more. Register for tickets here.

Here’s the lineup for Friday: 
No. 3 Purdue vs. No. 15 Saint Peter's 7:09 p.m.
No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 4 Providence 7:29 p.m.
No. 4 UCLA vs. No. 8 North Carolina 9:39 p.m.
No. 10 Miami (Fla.) vs. No. 11 Iowa State 9:59 p.m.
 
The two games on Saturday will line up Thursday’s winners (No. 2 Villanova vs. No 5. Houston and No. 2 Duke vs. No. 4 Arkansas) and Sunday will line up Friday’s winners. The remaining Elite Eight teams will be decided after today's games. 

50th Annual Bayou City Art Festival  

Bayou City Art Festival will celebrate 50 years of providing unique art experiences and education for the greater Houston area while supporting local organizations and promoting the impact that art has on the Houston community. (Photo courtesy of Bayou City Art Festival)

Bayou City Art Festival returns to Memorial Park this weekend. The popular festival celebrates 50 years of providing art experiences and education while supporting local organizations. The three-day festival features two entertainment stages, a food truck park, a craft beer and wine garden, live entertainment, an Active Imagination Zone, and more. The festival takes place Friday-Sun., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. each day. Tickets: $18 for adults; $5: children, 6-12; children under 5 are free. 

Paws on Parade at Discovery Green
Parade around Discovery Green Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., with your pups. Free Rads Street Trio will perform, there will be a costume contest, and dog-friendly vendors. Dogs in the most creative costumes are eligible for prizes. Paws on Parade is part of a fundraising and awareness campaign for repairs needed to Discovery Green’s Dog Runs.  

Houston Holi Festival
Celebrate Holi with one of the biggest Festival of Colors in the US, featuring the crossover artist Jay Sean live in concert. More than 15,000 will gather for a colorful, all-ages event with DJs, Bollywood dance performances, Dhol, vegetarian street foods, free carnival rides, giveaways, free photo booths and Instagrammable scenes, free face-painting and balloons, and a color rave. The festival takes place at VPSS Haveli Temple Grounds, Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets: $12.

Wine & Tapas Gala
PATRONS for Bellaire Parks will be hosting their annual Wine and Tapas Gala on Saturday, 7 p.m. The event has been paused due to Covid for the last two years. Bellaire residents will gather for good wine, tapas, and entertainment under the moonlight at Bellaire Town Square. In tribute of the Bellaire Library’s 70th anniversary, the event will honor treasured librarian, Mary Cohrs. Wine and Tapas serves as PATRONS' largest annual fundraiser with net proceeds from the gala to be dedicated to future improvements to Bellaire parks and community green spaces. Tickets: $150/$175 at the door.

14th Annual H-Town Blues Festival
The return of the annual H-Town Blues Festival brings performers like Tucka, Calvin Richardson, Sir Charles Jones, Pokey Bear, Roi Anthony, Chick Rogers, and Jeter Jones to the stage at NRG Arena, Saturday, 7 p.m. at NRG Arena. Tickets start at $59.

19th Annual Run for the Rose
The 19th Annual Run for the Rose, supporting MD Anderson Cancer Center's immunotherapy research for patients with brain cancer, will take place Sunday at the University of Houston. the survivor stroll takes place at 8 a.m. followed by the 5K at 8:15 and a Family 1K at 9 a.m. 

Enjoy a day of friendly kite-flying, featuring activities, entertainment, live music, food, games, and more at Hermann Park. (Photo: JAEKAE)

Hermann Park Kite Festival
The Kite Festival returns to Hermann Park this Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thousands of kite flyers will head to Hermann Park to enjoy a day of friendly kite-flying, activities, entertainment, food, games, and more.

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