15+ Ways to Relax This Weekend in Houston

Check out some of our favorite ways to unwind after a tough week in Houston with free events, indoor attractions, 713th Day celebrations and community resources this weekend, Friday, July 12 through Sunday, July 13, 2024.

It’s been a tough week, guys.

As we head into the weekend, we want to help you find ways to re-emerge in the city of Houston.

Whether you want to support the reopening of businesses and organizations, find relief from difficult situations at home, or indulge in distractions after a frustrating week, this weekend offers plenty of opportunities for all of the above as Houston slowly gets back on its feet.

These are just a few highlights from this upcoming weekend, but you can explore more in-depth with our Weekend Guidewhere we have confirmed dozens of events that are still happening as planned, as well as others that are facing a change of plans.

We’ve also rounded up local coverage of ongoing recovery efforts from Houston media in our weekly. Bayou File series, which also offers resources for residents on storm debris, power outages and more.

Here are some of the best ways to spend this weekend:

5 Free Things to Do This Weekend

• Cumbia Night: Grupo Pegasso in concert at Axelrad | Friday | FREE – Third Ward Bar still has its monthly cumbia music night on the outdoor stage. Pioneering band Grupo Pegasso is the special guest for July, joined by El Tigeron, DJ Pedacito, Chido Machine and more. Ages 21 and up. 7pm-2am.
• Summer Symphony Evenings with the Houston Symphony at the Miller Outdoor Theatre | Friday & Saturday | FREE – The Houston Symphony Orchestra plans to host the opening weekend of its annual free summer concert series at Hermann Park. Come experience an evening of all-American music with guest conductor Kellen Gray leading the orchestra in the sounds of jazz and jubilee. 8:30 p.m.
• Christmas in July at Pearland Market Days | Saturday | FREE – Get into a more laid-back frame of mind when this Pearland market returns with an afternoon of Christmas movies, gift shopping, plus kids’ activities and food trucks, and photos with Santa. From 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• 7th Anniversary at BLCK Market | Saturday | FREE – Houston Local Market celebrates 7 years of shopping at Black-owned businesses with a downtown celebration at the Greenstreet location featuring music, food, art and a great atmosphere. 4-8 p.m.
• Hot Nights and Cool Beats at City Place | Saturday | FREE – Enjoy a springtime evening on the City Place waterfront, where a lively show by Tomar and the FCs and Bayou City Funk will set the summer vibe. Look for pop-ups including food trucks, fruit sampling from The Peach Truck, beer giveaways from Saint Arnold, photo ops, giveaways and other surprise activations. 7 p.m.

Find more things to do in our Weekend Guide.

5 Ways to Celebrate 713 in H-Town

Houston’s annual 713 Day celebration on July 13 will take place this Saturday and the following events are confirmed to still take place:

• 713 Day and Alotta Michelada at 8th Wonder Brewery – EaDo Brewery is hosting its second annual Michelada Mix-Off, giving you access to over 20 Michelada competitors, as well as 3 drink tokens and a souvenir pint glass. Good Market HTX will also be on site with local vendors, and you can enjoy live music and a Donkeeboy surprise. $35 and up. Noon to 4 p.m.
• Saint Arnold 713 Day Pub Crawl in Downtown Houston | No Coverage – The popular downtown pub crawl returns on 713, taking you through seven stops before ending at Market Square Park for the We Heart Hou concert. Venues include Flying Saucer, McIntyre’s, Angel Share, Little Dipper and more. Once you’ve punched your card at each of the seven bars, you’ll be able to pick up a commemorative pint glass. 2pm-6pm.
• Day 713: We Heart Hou Music Series at Market Square Park | FREE – Historic Market Square Park hosts a special edition of the 713th day of the We Heart Hou music series, featuring live music from Aire Fresco and EZ Band, as well as a market area with more than 20 vendors handing out unique crafts, food and refreshing beverages to enjoy on the lawn. 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• 713 Day with DJ Michael Watts 5000 at Social Beer Garden | No Cover – Midtown Beer Garden welcomes DJ Michael Watts 5000 for 713 Day, spinning Houston hits all night long, plus food and drink specials, double shots with Crown and Hennessy, Frozen Purple Drank and support from DJ Vic G and DJ SK. 6pm-1am.
• Houston Dynamo FC vs Minnesota United FC at Shell Energy Stadium – The Dynamo will close out Day 713 with a match against Minny, with celebrations in Houston throughout the night, including a pre-game slab show on Orange Avenue starting at 5 p.m. The club is also offering $13 tickets, with an additional $13 donation to local organizations supporting recovery efforts. $13 and up. 7:30 p.m.

Find out more about what’s happening on Day 713 in Houston.

Cool off at the indoor attractions

• Catch a Live Show | Daily – Performing arts productions are confirmed for Houston stages this weekend, including the play The woman in black at the Main Street Theater, as well as the start of a three-week tour for The Lion King in the city center. In addition, the Riot Comedy Club in Montrose hosts a comedy weekend with Isabel Hagen, nightly showcases and a Friday night roast battle; Donnell Rawlings arrives for shows Friday through Sunday at the Houston Improv; and the Secret Group welcomes actor Myq Kaplan on stage Sunday.
• Explore the inner workings of Space Center Houston | Daily – The Space Center campus has reopened and invites everyone to come and have fun in an air-conditioned environment with public Wi-Fi, science exhibits, interactive stations, historical artifacts and more. $24.95 and up; free for ages 3 and under. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park | Friday to Sunday – The Astros won another Silver Boot Series homestand, hosting a struggling Rangers team during 713 Weekend, with special giveaways including an Astros 713 jersey, a Yordan “Still Tippin” bobblehead and a 713 jewelry chain on Sunday. $29 and up. Times vary.
• Summer Nights at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston | Saturday – In addition to regular museum hours, this special Saturday evening program at the MFAH invites you to an after-hours tour of current exhibitions and permanent galleries, as well as cocktails, culinary specialties, live music in the galleries, and other highlights. $40. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Discover more ways to cool off with our Guide to Beating the Houston Heat (some activities may be unavailable).

Come together to help Houston

This weekend marks one of the first opportunities for the Houston community to come together for post-Beryl efforts. Here are some ways you can help:

• Hurricane Beryl Disaster Relief Campaign at Toyota Center | Friday | FREE – The Rockets organization is mobilizing to distribute meal kits, water, fruit, snacks and other essential items in downtown Houston on a first-come, first-served basis. Donations can also be made to the Clutch City Foundation to help provide supplies, shelter and medical care. 9 a.m.
• BARC Adoption Day at Post Houston | Saturday | FREE* – This adoption event at BARC is still on as planned and is helping to alleviate some of the overcrowding at area shelters. Held at Post in downtown, the adoption event will waive fees for adult dogs and reduce fees for puppies. All adoptions include vaccinations, spaying/neutering, microchipping and city pet registration. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• 713 Days of Service at the Houston Food Bank | Saturday | FREE – Take time to give back to Houston on 713 Day with the Houston Food Bank East Branch, which is opening a volunteer shift where you’ll join friends of the Houston Dynamo to prepare food bank necessities. Then, at 3:30 p.m., join a Houston party with food, ice cream and a DJ playing Houston classics. From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Participatory rescue | Daily – For years, this service has brought together thousands of ordinary members of the Greater Houston community to help each other. Currently active for Hurricane Beryl, Crowdsource Rescue has already provided over 500 meals to senior living residents, brought generators and window air conditioners to those in need, and much more. Sign up to volunteer or donate to meet their active emergency needs.