Event Roundup: What to Look Forward to This Weekend

Happy Friday! It's gonna be a chilly weekend, but there's still plenty of fun events going on, from the opening of the outdoor rolling rink at Discovery Green, to MFAH's Winter Festival, Family Day at Bayou Bend, and more. Plus, Mardi Gras! Galveston kicks off today. 

Head to Galveston for the largest Mardi Gras celebration in Texas, including two fun weekends of parades, live entertainment, balcony parties, and family-friendly festivities. (Photo courtesy of Galveston CVB)

114th Mardi Gras! Galveston
Feb. 21-23 and Feb. 28-March 2
Downtown Galveston's Entertainment District
General admission starts at $17
The largest Mardi Gras celebration in Texas kicks off today, bringing two fun weekends of parades, live entertainment, balcony parties, and family-friendly fun to Galveston’s historic downtown district. The festivities take place rain or shine. This weekend’s celebration starts with the George P. Mitchell Mardi Gras Award Honoree Parade and continues with a packed entertainment lineup featuring legendary acts like Bret Michaels, La Fiera de Ojinaga, and more.

Skate around The Rink at Discovery Green, Feb. 23-April 13. (Photo courtesy of Discovery Green)

The Rink at Discovery Green
Sunday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.  
Open through April 13
The Rink at Discovery Green
Tickets $14 plus tax
Houston’s only outdoor roller rink opens Sunday at Discovery Green! The Rink offers fun for all ages and is perfect for creating memorable moments under Houston's downtown skyline. Proceeds support the Discovery Green Conservancy. Tickets must be purchased online and in advance. 

A stunning 100-foot long tunnel featuring fuchsia flowers is just one of 50 eye-catching lantern displays at the Houston Botanic Garden's all-new Radiant Nature.

Radiant Nature presented by Reliant
Open through Sunday, Feb. 23; timed tickets starting at 6:30 p.m., last entry at 8:30 p.m.
Houston Botanic Garden
$28.50 for ages 3 and up
This weekend is your last chance to visit the Radiant Nature display at Houston Botanic Garden, which ends this Sunday. Returning with brand new Lanterns this season, Radiant Nature at the Houston Botanic Garden will glow with the radiant brilliance of more than 50 large-scale Chinese lantern installations – in three themed zones, including an interactive area with lighted swings and other immersive opportunities for family-friendly play and memory-making – celebrating the beauty of nature and the uniqueness of Asian culture. 

The Houston Farmers Market's 3rd Annual Rodeo Festival
Saturday, Feb. 22, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
The Houston Farmers Market 
This event is FREE for guests of all ages. Guests are recommended to bring cash if interested in purchasing produce from Houston Farmers Market vendors.
Hold onto your hats, y’all! The Houston Farmers Market is kicking off Rodeo season with their 3rd Annual Rodeo Festival on Saturday. The city’s oldest and largest farmers market invites guests of all ages to enjoy live music, savory bites, and family-friendly activities. Guests can shop artisan goods, take on a Texas-sized challenge on a mechanical bull, and listen to live performances from local artists Cooper Mohrmann, FULLER, and more. Little wranglers can enjoy a petting zoo, a bubble show from and a festive soft-play set-up by Toddler Towns. 

ReelAbilities Houston Presents ReelArt For All and ReelCommunity
Sunday, Feb. 23, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Sabine Street Studios
Free
Visit the ReelArt exhibit, join some interactive and family-friendly activities, and learn about yearround accessible activities! This event is free. Registration is preferred. To learn more about ReelAbilities Houston and all upcoming events, please visit www.reelabilitieshouston.org.

Bellaire Open Air Rodeo Market
Sunday, February 23, 12-4 p.m.
Evelyn's Park Conservancy
Free
Saddle up and mosey on down to the "Bellaire Open Air Rodeo Market"! Rope in some fantastic finds from talented local artisans and food vendors.

MFAH's The Winter Festival: Year of the Snake includes dynamic music and dance performances, delicious food from a variety of Asian cultures, art-making activities, and more. (Photo courtesy of MFAH)

MFAH Winter Festival: The Year of the Snake
picture – winter festival
Sunday, February 23, 1-5 p.m.
The Brown Foundation, Inc. Plaza and the Cullen Sculpture Garden, MFAH.
Free; reserve tickets
The Winter Festival: Year of the Snake at MFAH will feature dynamic music and dance performances by Taiko Drummers with Kaminari Taiko of Houston, K-pop dancers presented by Han Narea, and the North America Youth Chinese Orchestra. Delicious food from a variety of Asian cultures will be available for purchase. Families can engage in art-making activities with Museum artists and community organizations like the Japan America Society of Houston. They can create an illustrated wooden plaque called an ema, design a snake-inspired bookmark, and make a firecracker using sparkling cellophane. Visitors can also explore the Museum’s galleries for free and follow the scavenger hunt, Objects of Renewal, to the Arts of Asia and Indonesian Gold galleries, where they will find art that celebrates the spirit of the snake.

Visit Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens and Rienzi for an afternoon of free, family-friendly programs that revolve around the theme of “The Unknown Maker”—exploring the stories of artists whose names have been lost to history. (Photo courtesy of MFAH) 

Family Day at Bayou Bend & Rienzi “The Unknown Maker”
Sunday, Feb. 23, 1-5 p.m.
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens and Rienzi 
Free admission
Visit the Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens and Rienzi for an afternoon of free, family-friendly programs that revolve around the theme of “The Unknown Maker” – exploring the stories of artists whose names have been lost to history. Activity highlights at Bayou Bend include: children’s activities from Houston Junior Woman’s Club, storytelling, an art-making workshop led by artist Deanna Santiago, and musical performances by Susan McDonald and Joseph Dixon. Activity highlights at Rienzi include: self-guided tours of the house and garden, art-making for all ages, and a spotlight talk about the special exhibition Skillful Hands: The Apprentice in Europe by Assistant Curator Misty Flores. Park at Bayou Bend and take the complimentary shuttle between locations.
 
More Events
See our event calendar for more upcoming events.