Event Roundup: What to Look Forward to This Weekend

Happy Friday! The fall festival season is underway. This weekend includes the popular, family-friendly ArBOOretum, KBR Kids Day at Buffalo Bayou, the Bellaire Diwali celebration, and more.

Friends of the Bellaire Library's Semi-Annual Book Sale 
Sat., Oct. 18, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Bellaire Fire Station
Hardback Books: $2; Paperback Books: $1
The Friends of the Bellaire Library's Fall Book Sale will be held at the Bellaire Fire Station and offers a wide selection of books in the shade of the designated fire station bays. Held twice each year, book sales are the major fundraisers for the Friends with proceeds benefiting the Bellaire City Library.

Wings Over Houston showcases vintage World War II aircraft and features a variety of aerial performances. (Photo: Wings Over Houston)

CAF Wings Over Houston
Oct. 18-19; gates open at 8 a.m. No admittance after 3 p.m.
Ellington Airport
General admission for 15+: $60
One of the top air shows in the US, Wings Over Houston showcases vintage World War II aircraft and features a variety of aerial performances (performances begin around 10 or 10:30 a.m.) and demonstrations. The show supports a variety of charities.

Children’s Museum Houston hosts a variety of spooktacular Halloween fun Sept. 27-Oct. 31. 

Monster Shock at the Children's BOOseum 
Children's Museum Houston
Sat., Oct. 18, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
$19.95/adults and children; free for children under 1. Dress in costume for $2 off admission.
All month long, the Children's Museum (the BOOseum) is offering a plethora of spooktacular events and activities all month long. This Saturday, get in the Halloween spirit with Monster Shock, including a variety of monster-themed activities, crafts, and more.

Enjoy games & crafts, trick or treating, character photo-ops, face painting, and more at Tricks, Treats & T-Rex at HMNS Sugar Land.

Tricks, Treats & T-Rex - Magical Maze Festival
Sat., Oct. 18, 10 a.m.
HMNS Sugar Land
Member adult: $5; public adult: $18; member child: $5; public child: $15
Enjoy games and crafts, trick-or-treating, character photo ops, face painting, and more at Tricks, Treats & T-Rex at HMNS Sugar Land. Wear your best costume for the Grand Costume Contest.

ArBOOretum features fun fall activities for all ages including live animals, pumpkin decorating, and Houston’s only Trick-or-Treat Nature Trail. (Photo: Henrich Perez)

2025 ArBOOretum 
Sat., Oct. 18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (last entry: 3 p.m.)
Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
$20 for nonmembers ages 3 and up
ArBOOretum features fun fall activities for all ages including live animals, pumpkin decorating, and Houston’s only Trick-or-Treat Nature Trail. Featured activities include carnival swings, a Halloween market, live animal encounters, pumpkin decorating, train rides, and more. Wear your costumes and celebrate fall at the Arboretum.

 ARToberFEST features more than 100 artists from all over the country, live music, and great food. 

Galveston Island ARToberFEST 
Sat. Oct. 18, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., Oct. 19, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Postoffice and Market St.
$5/tickets; kids under 12 are free.
Presented by The Grand 1894 Opera House, ARToberFEST features more than 100 artists from all over the country, live music, and great food. The kids creative zone is open 12-3 p.m.

Anya Bhojwani (pictured, fifth from left) and Farhana Alapat (pictured, fifth from right) choreographed a dance performance for Bellaire’s 2023 Diwali celebration. 

Bellaire Diwali 2025 
Sat., Oct. 18, 5:30-9 p.m.
Bellaire Town Square
$45/adults; $20/children ages 5-12
Bellaire Desi Group brings Bellaire Diwali 2025 to Bellaire Town Square this Saturday. Enjoy an evening full of entertainment and delicious Indian food.

Flea by Night presented by Green Mountain Energy 
Sat., Oct. 18, 6-10 p.m.
Discovery Green
Free
Browse goods and crafts from local makers at this fun open-air market at Discovery Green.

Fan Appreciation Night: Houston Dash vs. Kansas City Current 
Sat., Oct. 18, 6:30 p.m.
Shell Energy Stadium
$17+
The Houston Dash will take on the Kansas City Current in the final regular match of the season. There will be giveaways and surprises for Fan Appreciation Night.

Enjoy free family-friendly fun at KBR Kids Day at The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park. This year, celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Buffalo Bayou Park.

2025 KBR Kids Day 
Sun., Oct. 19, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Buffalo Bayou, The Water Works
Free
KBR Kids Day is a free annual event for the entire community. Enjoy a full day of free family fun with exciting activities for all ages, including hands-on nature activities, face painting, music and dance performances, a birds of prey show, Halloween costume parade, and more. This year, help celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Buffalo Bayou Park! Costumes are encouraged.

Oktober on the Boulevard 
Sun., Oct. 19, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
The Church of St. John the Divine
Free
Join The Church of St. John the Divine for their annual Oktober on the Boulevard! There will be food, games, pumpkin decorating, songs, beer tasting, cake walk, and more! Some favorite vendors will be out there selling baked goods, jams, barbecue sauce, salsa, and more.

Visit Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens for an afternoon of family-friendly fun. This edition of Family Day explores the American tradition of welcoming the fall equinox through an “Autumn Harvest.”

Family Day at Bayou Bend “Autumn Harvest”
Sun., Oct. 19, 1-5 p.m.
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens
Free
Visit Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens for an afternoon of family-friendly fun, including games and art activities, a musical performance, a magic show, a puppet show, and more. This edition of Family Day explores the American tradition of welcoming the fall equinox through an “Autumn Harvest.”

Color Factory's Haunted Hues offers featuring fall-flavored treats (no tricks!), frightfully fun photo opportunities, and an all-new scavenger hunt perfect for all ages. 

Color Factory's Trick-or-Treat Night
Sun., Oct. 19, 4-6 p.m.
Color Factory 
$29+
Dress in costume and get your candy bags ready. There will be treats to collect at every corner of Color Factory this Sunday evening. Tickets include admission to Color Factory's Haunted Hues, with the option to add on a scavenger hunt. Color Factory is an immersive art experience that invites visitors to experience the joy of color through multi-sensory installations, immersive rooms, and carefully curated moments.

More Events
See our event calendar for more upcoming events and find a roundup of fall festivals here.