Feb. 17-July 9 Houston: “Art of the Cameroon Grassfields, a Living Heritage in Houston”
The Menil Collection, 1533 Sul Ross St.
This exhibition, celebrating the enduring artistic traditions of Cameroon and its global diaspora, features headdresses, masks, prestige hats, royal stools and figural sculptures, palace architectural elements from the Grassfields kingdoms, and two recent works by Douala-based artist Hervé Youmbi. menil.org
Feb. 21-Sept. 30 South Padre Island: Surfin’ Sunday Lessons
DJ Lerma Pavilion, Isla Blanca Park, 33174 State Park Road 100
Every Sunday in front of the DJ Lerma Pavilion, patrons can learn to surf for free. facebook.com/surfvive.org
March 11-Dec. 23 Rockport: Spring Art Fair by the Bay
Spring Art Fair is an opportunity for artists to connect with patrons and art collectors. Visitors to the fair are invited to shop artists booths in a leisurely fashion, visit with the artists and witness a number of artists demonstrations to learn about mediums and techniques. Ranges from 10am-5pm daily www.rockportartcenter.com 361-729-5519
March 24-Aug. 13 Houston: “The Curatorial Imagination of Walter Hopps”
The Menil Collection, 1533 Sul Ross St.
This exhibition explores the influential curatorial vision of Walter Hopps, the Menil Collection’s founding director, as well as his distinctive approach to exhibition making and appreciation for a variety of 20th-century art movements. The show features drawings, paintings, photography, and sculpture, ranging from the 1930s to the early 2000s. menil.org
April 21-Sept. 3 Houston: “Hyperreal: Gray Foy”
Menil Drawing Institute, 1412 W. Main St.
Between the 1940s and 1970s, American artist Gray Foy (1922–2012) created a body of extraordinarily meticulous drawings, most often rendered in graphite on paper, and this exhibition spans the entirety of Foy’s career. It also celebrates two recent gifts that have made the Menil Collection the foremost repository of Foy’s work. menil.org
May 6-July 29 Port Arthur: Jerry Connally Photography Exhibit
Museum of the Gulf Coast, 700 Procter St.
Photographs from local photographer Jerry Connally are on display in the Dunn Gallery. Connally is a self-taught photographer who captures stunning Texas naturescapes. A free opening reception is on May 6. A museum ticket is required for the exhibit. museumofthegulfcoast.org/events
June 29-July 2 Freeport: Fishin’ Fiesta
Freeport Municipal Park, 421 N. Brazosport Blvd.
Since 1947, anglers have been drawn to this fishing tournament each year in the hopes of catching the biggest redfish, barracuda, or any other offshore or inshore fish. The Fishin’ Fiesta is sponsored by the Freeport Lions Club and offers games, food, live entertainment, dances, and arts and crafts. The fishing tournament is one of the largest on the Gulf and includes prizes for both offshore and inshore categories. A fireworks display takes place on Saturday night. fishinfiesta.com
June 30-July 2 Rockport: Art Festival
Rockport Festival Grounds, 1500 E. Laurel St.
This annual fine art event starts with an art auction and continues with over 100 artists, jury selected from across the nation, showcasing their masterpieces in a variety of media and styles. Rockportartcenter.com
July 1 Lake Jackson: Abner Jackson Plantation Site Tour
Abner Jackson Plantation Site, Farm-to-Market Road 2004 near State Highway 332
Visit the historic archeological site of Maj. Abner Jackson, the namesake of the city of Lake Jackson. Once a prosperous sugar plantation, the site was destroyed by the same hurricane that devastated Galveston in 1900. Discover the sugar-making process of the 1840s and how convict labor replaced slave labor during the 1870s. ljhistory.org
July 1 Lake Jackson: Rubber Duck Regatta
Dunbar Park, 803 FM 2004
Get out on Oyster Creek for some kayak and canoe fun. Teams compete to be one of the first 20 boats to retrieve eight different rubber ducks that are corralled along the creek and bring them back to the starting point to win a prize. The total course length is approximately 1 mile. Teams can consist of up to two people and should bring their own kayaks or canoes, lifejackets, and paddles. lakejackson-tx.gov
July 3-4 Baytown: Fourth of July Celebration
Bicentennial Park, 1001 Market St.
Not one, but two days of free, live entertainment get the crowd going for the Fourth of July. Grammy Award winner LeAnn Rimes brings all of her hits to Baytown as the headliner. She is joined by her primary opening act, Madeline Edwards. R.L. Bell, who is known for his performances on NBC’s hit show “America’s Got Talent” is also playing this night. As for July 3rd, two Grammy Award winners take the stage: Siggno and Sunny Sauceda. The fireworks start right after Rimes’ performance on July 4th. baytown.org/778/4th-of-july-celebration
July 4 South Padre Island: Beach Parade
Beach Access No. 21, Gulf Boulevard
Kick off the Fourth of July with a parade on the sand. If there is rain, the event will be moved to July 5th. sopadre.com
July 4 South Padre Island: Fourth of July Fireworks
South Padre Island Entertainment District, 211 W. Whiting St.
Celebrate the Fourth of July with a spectacular display of lights over the bay. sopadre.com/event-calendar
July 4 Rockport: July Fourth Celebration
Rockport Beach, 100 Seabreeze Drive
Get in a celebratory mood as you view the patriotic boat parade at noon. Best views are from Broadway Street adjacent to Little Bay or directly across from the north end of Rockport Beach. The Wendell Family Fireworks Show is held at dark in the evening. rockport-fulton.org
July 4 Lake Jackson: Firecracker 4 Run
Dunbar Park, 803 FM 2004
This 4-mile run goes through the neighborhoods of Lake Jackson along Oyster Creek and is a USATF-certified course. theljfat.com/firecracker-4
July 4 Corpus Christi: Mayor’s Fourth of July Big Bang Celebration
Corpus Christi Bayfront
The 2023 Mayor’s Big Bang Celebration takes place at the downtown Corpus Christi bayfront with fireworks, festivities, and family activities all day long on the bayfront and at Water’s Edge Park. Enjoy food trucks along the bayfront and a watch party at the USS Lexington Museum. At night, fireworks go off from a barge located in the Corpus Christi Bay just north of People’s Street T-head. Shoreline Boulevard is closed to traffic to ensure pedestrian safety. visitcorpuschristi.com/big-bang
July 8, Aug. 12 Rockport: Downtown Farmers Market
Downtown Farmer’s Market, 105 S. Austin St.
Every second Saturday of the month, vendors sell local produce, jams, jellies, pickled produce, fresh-baked bread, local honey, eggs, locally raised beef, hen fruit, and goat soap. rockport-fulton.org
July 8, Aug. 12 Rockport: Makers Market
Rockport Daily Grind, 302 S. Austin St.
At this local outdoor market, find handmade items from local artists and fun, one-of-a-kind home décor. rockport-fulton.org
July 8, Aug. 12 Rockport: Austin Street Art Walk
Various locations
Held on the second Saturday of the month, this art walk is an alfresco art experience featuring an ever-changing mix of participants and art mediums such as paintings, pottery, jewelry, photography, and textiles, as well as live music, artists demonstrations, and food. facebook.com/austinstreetartwalk
July 8 Lake Jackson: Alden B. Dow Office Tour
Alden B. Dow Office Museum, 101 S. Parking Place
Witness the restored mid-century architectural beauty of Alden B. Dow’s 1943 office in downtown Lake Jackson. Learn all about the city’s beginnings and the indelible mark that Dow left as the principal architect of Lake Jackson. ljhistory.org
July 8 Lake Jackson: Farmers Market
Parking Place Pavilion, 110 S. Parking Place
At the market you can select locally grown fruits and vegetables, locally roasted coffee, homemade food, handmade products, and other items. ljfarmersmarket.com
July 11, 18, 21, 25 Clute: Planetarium Show
Center for the Arts and Sciences, 400 College Blvd.
Featuring a 30-foot dome equipped with a Spitz Star Ball projector and a variety of high-tech equipment, this show recreates the night sky as it appears to the naked eye, giving viewers a close-up feel for comets, exploding stars, and black holes. brazosportcenter.org
July 14-15 South Padre Island: Ron Hoover Fishing Tournament
South Padre Island Convention Center, 7355 Padre Blvd.
Anglers compete in an exciting bay tournament, with a portion of proceeds going to Make-A-Wish of the Rio Grande Valley. sopadre.com
July 14-16, 20-23 Clute: “The Sound of Music”
Center for the Arts and Sciences, 400 College Blvd.
An intimate, heartfelt retelling of one of history’s most thrilling and inspirational stories. This final collaboration between Rogers and Hammerstein follows Maria, serving as governess to seven children of an imperious Captain, as the forces of Nazism take hold of Austria. Join the von Trapp family in one of the world’s most beloved musicals. brazosportcenter.org
July 14-16; Aug. 18-20 Rockport-Fulton: Market Days
Rockport Festival Grounds, 1500 E. Laurel St.
Every third weekend of the month, come see live music, peruse the merchandise of over 100 vendors, and choose various eats from food trucks. rockport-fulton.org
July 15 Rosenberg: Open House
Fort Bend Art Center, 2012 Avenue G
Nestled in the heart of historic Rosenberg, Fort Bend Art Center opens a new, eclectic show by a group of 30 talented artists. Pottery, paintings, illustrations, textiles, and jewelry are on display, accompanied by cheese and wine for snacking. Experience the art and meet the artists. artleaguefortbend.org
July 15 Lake Jackson: Bird Banding
Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, 299 SH 332 West
Watch volunteers collect baseline data on bird populations at the sanctuary. The banding station is an excellent opportunity to see birds up close and to learn about all the birds of the Brazosport area. gcbo.org
July 16 Brazoria: Santa Anna Ball
Brazoria Heritage Foundation Civic Center, 202 W. Smith St.
This ball is a reenactment of the Santa Ana Ball that was given in Brazoria at Jane Long’s Tavern in 1832. The annual fundraiser for the Brazoria Heritage Foundation includes a gourmet dinner with wine and silent and live auctions. brazoriahf.org
July 21-30 Victoria: “Disney’s Little Mermaid”
Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts, 214 N. Main St.
Theatre Victoria presents the musical about a young mermaid who longs to leave her ocean home and live in the world above, with songs from the Disney hit movie. theatrevictoria.org
July 22 Sabine Pass: Kids Fish
Sea Rim State Park, 19335 S. Gulfway Drive
At this annual event, children between the ages of 1 and 12 receive a free fishing rod and T-shirt while supplies last. Kids can then use that rod to catch as many fish as they can to compete for prizes. Volunteers are on the beach to record size and number of fish caught for each kid as well as provide bait and fishing advice. tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/sea-rim
July 27-Aug. 13 Port Aransas: “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical”
Port Aransas Community Theatre, 2327 SH 361
Adapted from the best-selling book “The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan and featuring a thrilling original rock ‘n’ roll score, “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” is an action-packed mythical adventure. As the half-blood son of a Greek god, Percy Jackson has newly discovered powers he can’t control, a destiny he doesn’t want, and a mythology textbook’s worth of monsters on his trail. portaransascommunitytheatre.com
July 27-29 Clute: The Great Texas Mosquito Festival
Clute Municipal Park, 100 Parkview Drive
The Great Texas Mosquito Festival is three days of family fun with a carnival, vendors, barbecue contest, 5K run, tournaments, and the ever-popular mosquito legs and calling contests. The evenings are topped off with live music. Don’t forget to take your picture with everyone’s favorite mosquito, “Willie-Man-Chew.” mosquitofestival.com
Feb. 17-July 9 Houston: “Art of the Cameroon Grassfields, a Living Heritage in Houston”
The Menil Collection, 1533 Sul Ross St.
This exhibition, celebrating the enduring artistic traditions of Cameroon and its global diaspora, features headdresses, masks, prestige hats, royal stools and figural sculptures, palace architectural elements from the Grassfields kingdoms, and two recent works by Douala-based artist Hervé Youmbi. menil.org
Feb. 21-Sept. 30 South Padre Island: Surfin’ Sunday Lessons
DJ Lerma Pavilion, Isla Blanca Park, 33174 State Park Road 100
Every Sunday in front of the DJ Lerma Pavilion, patrons can learn to surf for free. facebook.com/surfvive.org
March 11-Dec. 23 Rockport: Spring Art Fair by the Bay
Spring Art Fair is an opportunity for artists to connect with patrons and art collectors. Visitors to the fair are invited to shop artists booths in a leisurely fashion, visit with the artists and witness a number of artists demonstrations to learn about mediums and techniques. Ranges from 10am-5pm daily www.rockportartcenter.com 361-729-5519
March 24-Aug. 13 Houston: “The Curatorial Imagination of Walter Hopps”
The Menil Collection, 1533 Sul Ross St.
This exhibition explores the influential curatorial vision of Walter Hopps, the Menil Collection’s founding director, as well as his distinctive approach to exhibition making and appreciation for a variety of 20th-century art movements. The show features drawings, paintings, photography, and sculpture, ranging from the 1930s to the early 2000s. menil.org
April 21-Sept. 3 Houston: “Hyperreal: Gray Foy”
Menil Drawing Institute, 1412 W. Main St.
Between the 1940s and 1970s, American artist Gray Foy (1922–2012) created a body of extraordinarily meticulous drawings, most often rendered in graphite on paper, and this exhibition spans the entirety of Foy’s career. It also celebrates two recent gifts that have made the Menil Collection the foremost repository of Foy’s work. menil.org
May 6-July 29 Port Arthur: Jerry Connally Photography Exhibit
Museum of the Gulf Coast, 700 Procter St.
Photographs from local photographer Jerry Connally are on display in the Dunn Gallery. Connally is a self-taught photographer who captures stunning Texas naturescapes. A free opening reception is on May 6. A museum ticket is required for the exhibit. museumofthegulfcoast.org/events
June 2-3 Wharton: City Wide Garage Sale
Various locations, 225 North Richmond Road
Each year, an online map is available so you can navigate your way through Wharton’s best bargains. The sale includes everything from antiques to new items. There are over 50 separate sites to shop from. whartonchamber.com/garagesale
June 2-3 South Padre Island: Dargel Boat Owners Fishing Tournament
South Padre Island Convention Center, 7355 Padre Blvd.
When summer is in full swing, South Padre Island celebrates the angler approach to island enjoyment by hosting the annual Dargel Boat Owners Tournament each June. For this tournament, the angler who catches the redfish with the most spots wins. sopadre.com/event/dargel-boat-owners-fishing-tournament/1131
June 3-10 Victoria: Bach Festival
Various locations
Artistic director Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez leads this festival that celebrates the works of J.S. Bach and composers spanning the ages. Orchestral, choral, and chamber works are performed by local and national musicians in venues in and around Victoria. victoriabachfestival.org
June 3 Houston: Go Bananas!
Houston Botanic Garden, 1 Botanic Lane
The Houston Botanic Garden goes bananas this June, in celebration of the world’s most popular tropical fruit. The festival, which features food and drink, educational programs, and entertainment, highlights the 11 types of banana plants in the Garden’s global collection. Everyone knows the fruit, but many don’t know how amazingly unique the banana plant itself is. Go Bananas! introduces visitors to new and unexpected culinary uses and benefits of bananas, while also exposing them to cultural, botanical, environmental, and community impacts of the plant and its fruit as well. Hbg.org
June 3 Galveston: Mary Chapin Carpenter in Concert
The Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice St.
Grammy Award winner Mary Chapin Carpenter takes the stage for one dynamic concert. Chapin is just one of only 15 female members of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and has also won two Academy of Country Music awards. thegrand.com
June 3 Houston: Accordion Kings and Queens Concert
Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Drive
Deemed the unofficial national instrument of Texas by many, the accordion plays a key role in diverse folk music genres and cultural communities in Texas. Dust off your dancing boots for a historic celebration of the accordion with accordion-fronted music performances from top bands including Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole, Grupo Imagen, Alex Meixner Band, and the winners of Texas Folklife’s 2023 statewide Big Squeeze Youth Accordion Contest. texasfolklife.org/akq2023
June 3 Lake Jackson: Abner Jackson Plantation Site Tour
Abner Jackson Plantation Site, Farm-to-Market Road 2004 near State Highway 332
Visit the historic archeological site of Maj. Abner Jackson, the namesake of the city of Lake Jackson. Once a prosperous sugar plantation, the site was destroyed by the same hurricane that devastated Galveston in 1900. Discover the sugar-making process of the 1840s and how convict labor replaced slave labor during the 1870s. ljhistory.org
June 3 Lake Jackson: Youth Fishing Event
Sea Center Texas, 302 Medical Drive
Pack your sunscreen, hat, lawn chair, and fishing gear for a couple of hours of catch-and-release fishing at this marine fish hatchery and visitor education center. tpwd.texas.gov/fishing/sea-center-texas
June 6, 13, 20, 23, 27 Clute: Planetarium Show
Center for the Arts and Sciences, 400 College Blvd.
Featuring a 30-foot dome equipped with a Spitz Star Ball projector and a variety of high-tech equipment, this show recreates the night sky as it appears to the naked eye, giving viewers a close-up feel for comets, exploding stars, and black holes. brazosportcenter.org
June 10 East Bernard: Czech Kolache Klobase Festival
Riverside Hall, 14643 Buls Road
Enjoy live music, dancing, and lively entertainment with bands and entertainers from morning into the night. A plate lunch of barbecue chicken, sausage, sauerkraut, and trimmings is available for purchase. Hamburgers are available in the evening. There are also arts and crafts, raffle prizes, a cake walk, and plenty of kolaches for sale. kkfest.com
June 10-11 Galveston: The Texas Tenors in Concert
The Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice St.
The most successful touring group in the history of “America’s Got Talent,” the Texas Tenors have created a special performance for The Grand that celebrates music legends. thegrand.com
June 10, July 8, Aug. 12 Rockport: Downtown Farmers Market
Downtown Farmer’s Market, 105 S. Austin St.
Every second Saturday of the month, vendors sell local produce, jams, jellies, pickled produce, fresh-baked bread, local honey, eggs, locally raised beef, hen fruit, and goat soap. rockport-fulton.org
June 10, July 8, Aug. 12 Rockport: Makers Market
Rockport Daily Grind, 302 S. Austin St.
At this local outdoor market, find handmade items from local artists and fun, one-of-a-kind home décor. rockport-fulton.org
June 10, July 8, Aug. 12Rockport: Austin Street Art Walk
Various locations
Held on the second Saturday of the month, this art walk is an alfresco art experience featuring an ever-changing mix of participants and art mediums such as paintings, pottery, jewelry, photography, and textiles, as well as live music, artists demonstrations, and food. facebook.com/austinstreetartwalk
June 10 Galveston: World Ocean Day
East Beach Park, 1923 Boddeker Road
Galveston’s World Ocean Day features kayaking, beach tours, interactive exhibits hosted by eco-friendly businesses, and other attractions. artistboat.org/world-ocean-day-festival
June 10 Lake Jackson: Alden B. Dow Office Tour
Alden B. Dow Office Museum, 101 S. Parking Place
Witness the restored mid-century architectural beauty of Alden B. Dow’s 1943 office in downtown Lake Jackson. Learn all about the city’s beginnings and the indelible mark that Dow left as the principal architect of Lake Jackson. Ljhistory.org
June 10 Lake Jackson: Farmers Market
Parking Place Pavilion, 110 S. Parking Place
At the market you can select locally grown fruits and vegetables, locally roasted coffee, homemade food, handmade products, and other items. ljfarmersmarket.com
June 15-18 Port Aransas: “Five Lesbians Eating A Quiche”
Port Aransas Community Theatre, 2327 SH 361
Winner of the 2012 NYC International Fringe Festival as Best Overall Production, “5 Lesbians Eating A Quiche” is a tasty recipe of hysterical laughs, sexual innuendoes, unsuccessful repressions, and delicious discoveries. As the assembled widows await the announcement of the society’s prize-winning quiche, the atomic bomb sirens sound. Has the Communist threat come to pass? How will the widows respond as their idyllic town and lifestyle faces attacks? Portaransascommunitytheatre.com
June 15-19 Galveston: Juneteenth Celebrations
Various locations
Galveston is the birthplace of Juneteenth, and every year the community hosts citywide events that include symposiums, galas, an emancipation gospel celebration, a Juneteenth parade and picnic, and a reenactment of the reading of General Order No. 3, which informed the people of Texas that slavery ended. juneteenthbirthplace.com
June 16-18; July 14-16; Aug. 18-20 Rockport-Fulton: Market Days
Rockport Festival Grounds, 1500 E. Laurel St.
Every third weekend of the month, come see live music, peruse the merchandise of over 100 vendors, and choose various eats from food trucks. rockport-fulton.org
June 17 Baytown: Juneteenth Celebration
Bicentennial Park, 1001 Market St.
Baytown commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people with live entertainment, food, shopping, and family fun. baytown.org/1011/juneteenth-celebration
June 17 Lake Jackson: Bird Banding
Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, 299 SH 332 West
Watch volunteers collect baseline data on bird populations at the sanctuary. The banding station is an excellent opportunity to see birds up close and to learn all the birds of the Brazosport area. gcbo.org
June 21-22 South Padre Island: Beach Bash Skate Jam
John L. Tompkins Park, 6100 South Padre Blvd.
At South Padre Island’s annual skate competition, there’s live music, food, and cash prizes. sopadre.com/event/spi-beach-bash-skate-jam/1132
June 24 Baytown: Summer Music Festival
Town Square, 213 W. Texas Ave.
Summer months are meant for fun, sun, and relaxation. Listen to good tunes from numerous artists while hanging out on the town square. Headlining is the Brightwire Band, a Houston-area folk-rock band. acedistrictbaytown.org
June 24 Freeport: Fort Velasco Day
Freeport Historical Museum, 311 E. Park
Fort Velasco Day commemorates the 191st anniversary of the Battle of Fort Velasco. This living history event brings reenactors from across the state to give visitors a glimpse of what life and conflict was like at the mouth of the Brazos River in 1830s Texas. facebook.com/freeportmuseum
June 25-26 Galveston: Hotter Than Birding Competition
Various locations
This birding big day is a fun, fast-paced, semi-competitive race to see which team can identify the most brid species in Galveston County in 24 hours. galvestonnaturetourism.org
June 29-July 2 Freeport: Fishin’ Fiesta
Freeport Municipal Park, 421 N. Brazosport Blvd.
Since 1947, anglers have been drawn to this fishing tournament each year in the hopes of catching the biggest redfish, barracuda, or any other offshore or inshore fish. The Fishin’ Fiesta is sponsored by the Freeport Lions Club and offers games, food, live entertainment, dances, and arts and crafts. The fishing tournament is one of the largest on the Gulf and includes prizes for both offshore and inshore categories. A fireworks display takes place on Saturday night. fishinfiesta.com
June 30-July 2 Rockport: Art Festival
Rockport Festival Grounds, 1500 E. Laurel St.
This annual fine art event starts with an art auction and continues with over 100 artists, jury selected from across the nation, showcasing their masterpieces in a variety of media and styles. Rockportartcenter.com
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