Houston Summer Events 2013

Must See Houston 2013 Summer Events

 from visithouston

Free Press Summer Fest

May

Byzantine Things in the World
Byzantine Things in the World focuses on highlighting the Menil Collection's more than 70 Byzantine holdings ranging from 1700 BC to the late twentieth century. Byzantine thinkers saw objects as dynamic and changeable, fully capable of affecting the world, which is contrary to the contemporary conception. The exhibition concentrates on the materials used and the sensory impressions created by the art. May 3-Aug. 11.

13th Annual Houston Dragon Boat Festival
The Texas Dragon Boat Association, in collaboration with Buffalo Bayou Partnership, presents the 13th Annual Houston Dragon Boat Festival. The event showcases 30 teams competing along the banks of Buffalo Bayou at Allen's Landing and features Asian cuisine, music, arts and crafts and cultural performances. May 4.

Houston Ballet at Miller Outdoor Theatre
In celebration of Miller’s 90th anniversary, the Houston Ballet brings fans a trio of free performances. The evening will open with the 19th century classic Flower Festival in Genzano and the classical set piece Grand Pas Classique, before concluding with Stanton Welch's signature Madame Butterfly, the story of a beautiful Japanese geisha who gives up her faith and her family to marry an American naval officer. May 10-12.

Miller Outdoor Theatre

Pop Shop Houston: Indie Craft Fair, Art and Music Festival
Pop Shop Houston is a twice yearly Indie Craft Fair, Art and Music Festival. It is a mecca of independent artists, designers and crafters of every media. Discover new locally made independent treasures while enjoying cocktails, live music and family-friendly activities. May 11-12.

Art Car Parade
More than 250,000 spectators line Downtown’s streets to view the world’s largest art car parade, which showcases Houston’s most outlandish folk art creations on wheels. The Fruit Mobile, a 1967 Ford station wagon, kicked off the craze in 1986. Truly a sight to see, the parade is produced by the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. May 11.

Pasadena Strawberry Festival
Strawberry fans unite at Pasadena’s 40th annual strawberry festival. The fruit-filled event marks the return of the world’s largest strawberry shortcake and offers festival goers 128 teams playing mud volleyball, carnival events, a BBQ cookoff and live music performances by Texas country artists. May 17-19.

Lego KidsFest
Covering more than three acres of space, the giant LEGO expo brings all of the creative hands-on, minds-on fun of LEGO building and experiences together in an activity and entertainment-packed family event for children of all ages and builders of all skills and interests. May 17-19.

Houston Press BrewFest
The first inaugural Houston Press BrewFest is coming to Washington Avenue, bringing with it an indoor/outdoor beer sampling event and festival. Expect craft beers, local food truck faire and musical entertainment. BrewFest is sponsored by Lucky’s Pub, The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates and Space City Credit Union. May 18.

Comicpalooza
Head to Downtown Houston Memorial Day weekend for Texas’ international comic con—a three-day sci-fi and fantasy extravaganza held at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Join celebrities such as Star Trek's Patrick Stewart, The Princess Brides’ Cary Elwes and the Fast & Furious’ Michelle Rodriguez, among other familiar faces, for this multi-platform event that brings together comics, fantasy, horror, steam punk, New Media, movies, film, gaming and, of course, sci-fi. May 24-26.

The Houston Symphony Presents 'Pirates of the Caribbean'
A one of a kind film screening concert experience will take guests for an adventure on the high seas. The performance features the 2003 smash hit Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, starring Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley, with musical score performed live by the Houston Symphony. Experience the blockbuster like never before. May 30.

Art Car Parade

Hall of Ancient Egypt Opening
Safely ensconced in the Sahara desert, and drawing its lifeblood from the river Nile, ancient Egyptian civilization flourished for more than three millennia. Learn more about the fascinating ancient culture at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, as the institution unveils its new permanent exhibition hall. Explore the Egyptian themes of writing, religion, natural resources and—of course—mummification. May 31.

June

Free Press Summer Fest
The annual two-day music festival returns to Buffalo Bayou's Eleanor Tinsley Park. There, more than 60,000 festival-goers will experience music by more than 150 national and local acts on eight stages. The 2013 show will feature bands such as The Postal Service, Bassnectar, Passion Pit and the Arctic Monkeys, along with many more. June 1-2.

Blue Man Group
Best known for its widely popular theatrical shows and concerts, Blue Man Group combines music, comedy and multimedia theatrics to produce a totally unique form of entertainment. The blissful party atmosphere created at the live events has become the trademark of a Blue Man Group experience!  With no spoken language, Blue Man Group is perfect for people of all ages, languages, and cultures. June 4-9.

USA vs Ireland Rugby
International rugby returns to Houston this summer as the U.S. Men’s National Rugby Team, The Eagles, host Ireland at BBVA Compass Stadium—one of the only international matches being held in the U.S. this year. The match up offers rugby fans a great opportunity to witness Ireland, a Tier 1 nation currently ranked 6th in world, battle on American soil against The Eagles, who are currently ranked 16th. June 8.

Juneteenth Summer Celebration
Join other Texans as they celebrate President Abraham Lincoln’s signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all slaves. The event at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park includes blues, gospel and jazz performers and a variety of smaller events aimed at raising awareness of African-American heritage. June 21-23.

Pride Houston
The largest Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transsexual event in the Southwest takes place each year during the Houston Pride Parade where 1,000 participants entertain 150,000 spectators with an empowering blend of light, color and sound with beautiful floats, costumes and performances. June 29.

July

Southwest Airlines Freedom Over Texas
Houston’s official July 4th celebration takes place in Eleanor Tinsley Park at Buffalo Bayou and features live entertainment, food booths and a world-famous fireworks display. Don’t miss performances by Sheryl Crow and Martina McBride, presented by NRG. July 4.

Freedom Over Texas

ExxonMobil Summer Chills at the Alley
A weekend gathering at The Hollow family estate of Lady Lucy and Sir Henry Angkatell explodes in the murder of one of their guests, physician John Cristow. When the good doctor is found shot, almost everyone is suspect with opportunity and motive including his dim but loyal wife, his current mistress, and his ex-mistress, who lives on a neighboring estate. Don't miss this classic Christie whodunit filled with brilliantly eccentric characters. July 5-Aug. 4.

'Wicked'
The Broadway smash-hit and award-winner returns to Houston telling the story of Dorothy, long before the Kansas girl arrives in Munchkinland. Follow along, as two girls meet in the land of Oz. One is born with emerald green skin, yet is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good makes for "the most complete and completely satisfying new musical in a long time" (USA Today). July 10 – Aug. 11.

BBVA Compass Dynamo Charity Cup
The Houston Dynamo will face the Stoke City Potters of the English Premier League at BBVA Compass Stadium in the fifth BBVA Compass Dynamo Charities Cup. Stoke City is the third European club to play in the Dynamo Charities Cup—an annual match between the Dynamo and a prominent international opponent. Stoke City features former Dynamo defender and U.S. national team regular Geoff Cameron. July 24.

Where To Stay?

Embassy Suites Houston Near the Galleria

2911 Sage Road
Houston, TX  77056
713-626-5444

This all suite hotel only 45 steps from Houston's #1 attraction-Galleria Houston- offers all this to guests attending Houston's unique Summer events:

• Free cooked to order breakfast
• Complimentary drinks and snacks at Evening Reception
• Two Room Suites
• Free Internet Access
• Certain packages include free parking
• Fitness Center
• Shuttle in 3 mile radius of hotel

Click here and feel the Houston Summer Fun Begin at 

Embassy Suites Houston Near the Galleria

Embassy Suites Houston Near the Galleria

What to Do Around Rodeo Houston

What To Do Around Rodeo

from visithoustontexas.com

When the big show comes to town, there are plenty of ways to celebrate

Discover the ways to look and act the part this Rodeo season

Houston is fixin' to be overrun with boots and chaps. The 2013 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo rides into town February 25, bringing 20 days of world-class performers, awesome rodeo action, great food and tons of excitement to Reliant Park. But not all of the western fun is at the Rodeo itself-here's how to "go Texan" all month-long in H-Town.

Do the Texas Two-Step...

Looking for country music? You'll certainly find it at the Rodeo, with headline performers including Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, Zac Brown Band, George Strait and many more (get tickets here). Apart from the arena concerts, more musical acts will perform at The Hideout and the Wine Garden on the Rodeo grounds. But if you want to get down away from the crowds, head to one of these Houston country music destinations.

Blanco's. Located in the Upper Kirby neighborhood, Blanco's isn't large, but it's packed with character, and you'll find some of the area's best bands playing country tunes to appreciative audiences.

Armadillo Palace

Armadillo Palace. Part honky-tonk and part Texas history museum, Goode's Armadillo Palace gets the mood established right off the bat thanks to the towering armadillo sporting longhorns and breathing smoke right out front. Oh, and you'll love the venison chili.

Rebels Honky Tonk. Inside Rebels you'll find pretty young things donning daisy dukes and cowboy boots serving cocktails and beer to a mixed crowd of post-college kids and baby boomers. The Western-themed décor is reminiscent of a saloon with barrels and beer tubs and wood accents galore. For those in the mood to two-step, Rebels' large dance floor leaves plenty of room to keep guests from standing on top of one another. You'll definitely want to try your skills on the mechanical bull.

Wild West. A part of the Bayou City for over 20 years, Wild West sits on Houston's Richmond strip with a motto of Two-Steppin' & Longneckin'. This country nightclub features a solid oak dance floor just for your boots! From dancin' and glancin' to shooting pool, eating fresh fajitas, playing blackjack, or getting your boots shined, a variety of activities will make your visit enjoyable.

Discover the Culture

Nothing makes Texas culture and history shine quite like Rodeo. From the trail rides to the livestock show, there's always an event to remind folks just what it means to be in the Lone Star State. But if you've got a hankering for more exposure to cowboy culture, check out these attractions.

Cypress Trails Equestrian Center. Ride like a cowboy at Cypress Trails. Located just 20 minutes north of Downtown Houston, Cypress Trails allows visitors to ride for an hour, or even a full day along the Cypress Creek, through some of the most picturesque parts of Harris County. Experienced stable staff will help match you and your level of riding ability to one of their many horses, from Spanish Mustangs to Appaloosas.

George Ranch Historical Park

George Ranch Historical Park. George Ranch is a 23,000-acre working ranch located less than an hour from Houston. The family's original "home place" is at the core of the George Ranch Historical Park where, every day, the legends and legacies of those who shaped this place come to life. See crops being harvested and other demonstrations of ranch life, including cattle wrangling.

San Jacinto Monument. See the birthplace of Texas at the San Jacinto Monument & Museum. This one-time battleground outside the city of La Porte is where Sam Houston and his band of Texians dealt a crushing defeat to the Mexican Army, securing Texas independence and giving rise to the Republic. The San Jacinto Museum of History, within the base of the San Jacinto Monument, holds one of the largest collections of Texas art, artifacts and history.

Look the Part

Everyone wants to play the part of cowboy or cowgirl once in a while, right? Whether you're headed to Rodeo or just want to add that western chic look to your wardrobe, here's your shopping guide.

Cavender's Boot City. Think of Cavender's as your one-stop-shop for the western look. From a huge selection of men's and women's boots, to cowboy hats and bejeweled belt buckles, this is the place to find it all. Plus, they have multiple locations around town, including one near Reliant Park, perfectly situated for Rodeo.

Texas Junk Co. Looking for the perfect pair of broken-in boots? How about a one-of-a-kind piece of Lone Star history? You'll discover a lot of interesting items at Texas Junk Co., but be prepared to rummage around for the perfect find. This place is hailed far and wide as a unique shopping destination. Open Saturdays only.

The Houston Visitors Center

Pinto Ranch. At Pinto Ranch you will find authentic furnishings and Indian rugs, handcrafted tack, chaps and saddles, as well as beautifully designed boots, belts, buckles, and apparel.

Houston Visitors Center. Have hat, will travel. The Houston Visitor's Center is a great place to find Texas souvenirs and a wide variety of clothing and accessories, from cowboy hats and belt buckles to rodeo jewelry and shirts. You'll also be able to pick up your favorite made-in-Texas BBQ sauces, collectibles and much more.

Tejas Custom Boots. A pair of custom boots from Jose Gonzales and his team at Tejas are always a work of art. If you're looking to invest in the kind of boots you'll want to hang on to forever, this is the place.

Know your Grub

Chili is the official state food of Texas and certainly barbecue comes in a close second. Whether you like your chili with beans or without, and your brisket and ribs dripping in sauce or dry, here are a few places to satisfy your Texas-sized cravings.

Goode Co. Bar-B-Q on Kirby

Goode Co. Bar-B-Q. This urbanized, Texana-decorated barbecue joint is wildly popular, thanks to expertly smoked brisket and a variety of platters. The first Goode Co. Barbecue restaurant opened in 1977 and even though they've since added burgers and seafood to the lineup, barbecue remains the company's mainstay.

Pizzitola's. Opened in 1934 by pit master legend, John Davis, and continued since 1983 by Jerry Pizzitola, some of Houston's finest ribs, brisket, chicken, and links are hickory smoked on Mr. Davis' original "open pits."

Gatlins. There's something quite inviting about this small Heights barbecue joint. Maybe it's the family atmosphere, with multiple members of the Gatlin family contributing in the kitchen.

Pappas Bar-B-Q. A favorite for slow-smoked, lean and juicy Texas barbeque with all the trimmings, at Pappas Bar-B-Q you can get good food and plenty of it. Dig in to brisket, ribs, sausage and much more, plus great Texas-style chili.

Get to the Rodeo

Want to avoid parking at the Rodeo? You've got options for getting there! Grab a round-trip ride on The Houston Wave from Armadillo Palace to Reliant Park from Feb. 21 through March 17 for just $20. That includes discounted buckets of beer at Armadillo. Get the schedule and purchase tickets here. Or you can take the METRORail from anywhere along Main Street directly to the Rodeo gates. 

By AJ Mistretta

Where to Stay?

Embassy Suites Houston Near the Galleria puts you close enough to enjoy all that Houston has to offer and at the same time just far enough away so you can relax and refresh for your next day of discovering Houston.

All Houston Adventurers enjoy:

• Free cooked to order breakfast daily
• Evening Reception with complimentary drinks and snacks
• Two Room Suite
• Free hotel shuttle in three mile radius of the hotel
• Fitness Center
• Indoor Pool

Click here and pick the Houston Hotel Special Offer perfect for your next Houston Adventure!