Houston - Annual events
Here is a list of recurrent events that take place in and around Houston. For non-recurrent events a good source of information is the embassy of your country of origin and the local associations of expats, which may have information on events pertaining your specific cultural background, and probably in your own language as well.
Calendar of Ethnic Events
Springtime
April
The Houston International Festival - This festival celebrates the city's ethnic and cultural diversity with a week of food, music, arts and crafts and exhibits. A 20-block area downtown is transformed into an open-air market filled with the sights, smells and sounds of many different traditions and cultures.
Tel: + 1 (713) 654 8808
WorldFest: The Houston International Film Festival - This festival attracts multi-media artists and audiences from around the world for a week-long screen-fest to view and review the films, screenplays, commercials, music videos, and documentaries produced each year.
Tel: + 1 (713) 965 9955
May
Anything That Floats Parade - A Houston tradition, the Anything That Floats Parade, is a canoe, kayak and row-boat race along a 14.5 mile course on Buffalo Bayou.
The regatta is followed by another traditional event, the Anything That Floats Parade - and they do mean anything; Houston's inventive citizens decorate everything from barrels to bathtubs to send floating down the Bayou.
Tel: + 1 (713) 752 0314/+ 1 (713) 752 0314
Summer
June
The Juneteenth Celebration - This celebration commemorates Lincoln's signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Live blues, gospel and jazz performances at Miller Outdoor Theater in Hermann Park are part of this celebration of the cultural heritage of African-Americans.
Tel: + 1 (713) 284 8352
July
Freedom Festival - Houston's annual July 4th extravaganza, the Freedom Festival, covers the grounds of both Sam Houston Park and Bayou Park with food and beverage booths, musical performances and celebrating citizens
who stake out their territory well before sunset to ensure a good view of the world-famous fireworks display.
Tel: + 1 (713) 621 8600
August
Jazz Festival - The Houston International Jazz Festival brings the hottest jazz musicians in the world to perform during the hottest time of the year; the result is Houston's coolest musical event.
Tel: + 1 (713) 839 7000
Fall (Autumn)
September
Texaco-Havoline Grand Prix - For three days, the Texaco-Havoline Grand Prix turns the staid business-like streets of Houston downtown into an exhilarating race course for the Champion Auto Racing Team Circuit.
Tel: + 1 (713) 739 7272
Winter
February
The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo - This is a real prime-beef kind of Texas tradition; it takes place at the big Astrodome, Downtown, starts with a big ole parade, features big-name musical performers and, all told, is a really big annual event for Houston.
Tel: + 1 (713) 791 9000
Local Events
The Houston area holds many events throughout the year, here are a list of some of the more familiar events in
Fort Bend County
Fort Bend County Annual Fair - Late September/Beginning of October, in Rosenberg, Fort Bend County holds their Annual Fair featuring Rodeo & Livestock Show, barbecue cookoffs, arts and crafts and big-name entertainers.
Tel: + 1 (281) 342 6171 for dates information
Texan Market Days - Mid October, the George Ranch Historical Park offers its annual Texan Market Days. You can enjoy cowboy and cattle demonstrations from the 1890's to1930's and Native American area African-American cowboy history shows; tour historic homes, Civil War reenactments, an archeology digs and watch blacksmithing, music, square dancing, clogging and antique farming equipment.
Tel. + 1 (281) 343 6478 for dates information.
Christmas fai r- On ne of the last days of November, in historic downtown Rosenberg, enjoy Santa Claus, a snow park, old-fashioned wagon and carnival rides, choirs, and stroll through antique shops and craft booths. Admission is free.
Tel: + 1 (832) 595 3520 for date and information
Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau
901 Bagby, Suite 100 (at the corner of Walker)
Houston
Texas
77002
USA
Tel. + 1 (713) 437 5200
For more information about what is going on, please contact the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau
To keep on top of all the events Houston has to offer, visit the website: www.houston-guide.com/
The website is informative, but a visit to the bureau is also worthwhile. At the center you can browse the museum-type exhibits, use the computer stations, buy memorabilia and souvenirs, pick up brochures or ask the staff any questions you might have.
Some events are very localized and cover a huge range of interests. For example, Spring in the North of the City hosts some fabulous seasonal events, but involves an hour or more of journey if you are travelling from South West Houston. We therefore request you, our Members, to contact us, including a concise description about the association events you consider appropriate for other expatriates.
