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| Houston Calendar of Events |
Galveston Caribbean Carnival Festival
Features live entertainment, food, music, arts and crafts, limbo competition, a costume competition and a parade. 409-763-5326, www.galvestonchamber.com/annualevents.asp
Juneteenth Celebration
Located at Miller Outdoor Theatre, includes blues, gospel and jazz performers and a variety of smaller events aimed at raising awareness of African-American heritage. 713-284-8350, www.houstonparks.org
An evening art walk with the participation of about 37 art galleries. 713-522-9116, www.arthouston.com
BP Power of Freedom Festival
An annual July 4 downtown celebration featuring live entertainment, exhibits, food booths and a world-famous fireworks display. 713-522-9723, www.festivalsofhouston.com
Fourth of July at Miller Outdoor Theatre
Includes fireworks and Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture accompanied by a dramatic 16-cannon salute. 713-284-8350, www.houstonparks.org
Red, Hot and Blue Festival
A Fourth of July funfest in The Woodlands that includes live entertainment, a food fair and play area, and culminates with a fireworks extravaganza. Admission is free of charge. 281-363-2447, www.towncenter.com
Reliant World Series of Dog Shows
More than 12,000 dogs representing 153 breeds are shown at this annual event that attracts participants from around the country. Shows are held at Reliant Center. 800-884-2443, www.reliantdogshows.com
A ballooning event that involves a weekend of hot-air-ballooning, arts and crafts, live entertainment, skydiving exhibitions and food. 281-488-7676, www.ballunarfestival.com
Houston International Jazz Festival
The only jazz festival in the nation highlighting international jazz includes some big names in jazz for some of the hottest music in summer. 713-839-7000, www.jazzeducation.org
Houston Shakespeare Festival
Free performances throughout the month at Miller Outdoor Theatre. 713-284-8352, www.hfac.uh.edu/theatre
A downtown weekend of music, wine and food from Houston’s Italian community. 713-524-4222, www.houstonitalianfestival.com
Fiestas Patrias
Mexican Independence Day celebration features colorfully clad dancers who spin down the streets performing to Mexican music. One of the largest community-sponsored parades in the Southwest. 713-926-2636
Fort Bend County Fair
A 10-day extravaganza with a parade, food, rides, auctions, competitions, exhibits, bands, and folk and country dancing. One of the largest county fairs in Texas, it draws nearly 200,000 visitors annually. 281-342-6171, www.fbcfa.org
Provides Asian music, dancing and demonstrations of other Asian arts as well as cultural exhibits and children’s activities at Miller Outdoor Theatre. 713-861-8270, www.houstonparks.org
Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival
A three-day music extravaganza that covers five stages with Cajun, zydeco and blues music and includes food, arts and crafts, a children’s area, carnival and great entertainers. 713-863-9994, www.conroecajuncatfishfestival.com
The Komen-Houston Race for the Cure
A fundraising walk sponsored by The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to support breast cancer awareness and research. More than $1.3 million was raised in 2004. 713-792-3363, www.komen-houston.org
The Original Greek Festival
Brings together the traditions of Greece the first weekend of October. 713-526-5377, www.greekfestival.org
Texas Renaissance Festival
Recreates an English village of the 16th century. Features food, magicians, jugglers, minstrels, troubadours, comedians and more.
800-458-3435, www.texrenfest.com
Texian Market Days
Brings Texas to life with more than 1,000 costumed interpreters, scenes of Texas and numerous entertainers. 281-342-6478, www.george-ranch.org
The Wings Over Houston Airshow
Features the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the Navy’s Blue Angels who wow the audience with aerial acrobatics, while aircraft from current Air Force and Navy inventories sits on display. 713-266-4492, www.wingsoverhouston.com
Exhibits brightly decorated streets and shops in a collection of wonderful old houses at Old Town Spring and includes carolers, street performers and beautiful holiday artistry. 800-653-8696, www.oldtownspringtx.com
Features live entertainment, food, music, arts and crafts, limbo competition, a costume competition and a parade. 409-763-5326, www.galvestonchamber.com/annualevents.asp
Juneteenth Celebration
Located at Miller Outdoor Theatre, includes blues, gospel and jazz performers and a variety of smaller events aimed at raising awareness of African-American heritage. 713-284-8350, www.houstonparks.org
JULY
ArtHoustonAn evening art walk with the participation of about 37 art galleries. 713-522-9116, www.arthouston.com
BP Power of Freedom Festival
An annual July 4 downtown celebration featuring live entertainment, exhibits, food booths and a world-famous fireworks display. 713-522-9723, www.festivalsofhouston.com
Fourth of July at Miller Outdoor Theatre
Includes fireworks and Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture accompanied by a dramatic 16-cannon salute. 713-284-8350, www.houstonparks.org
Red, Hot and Blue Festival
A Fourth of July funfest in The Woodlands that includes live entertainment, a food fair and play area, and culminates with a fireworks extravaganza. Admission is free of charge. 281-363-2447, www.towncenter.com
Reliant World Series of Dog Shows
More than 12,000 dogs representing 153 breeds are shown at this annual event that attracts participants from around the country. Shows are held at Reliant Center. 800-884-2443, www.reliantdogshows.com
AUGUST
Ballunar Liftoff FestivalA ballooning event that involves a weekend of hot-air-ballooning, arts and crafts, live entertainment, skydiving exhibitions and food. 281-488-7676, www.ballunarfestival.com
Houston International Jazz Festival
The only jazz festival in the nation highlighting international jazz includes some big names in jazz for some of the hottest music in summer. 713-839-7000, www.jazzeducation.org
Houston Shakespeare Festival
Free performances throughout the month at Miller Outdoor Theatre. 713-284-8352, www.hfac.uh.edu/theatre
SEPTEMBER
Festa ItalianaA downtown weekend of music, wine and food from Houston’s Italian community. 713-524-4222, www.houstonitalianfestival.com
Fiestas Patrias
Mexican Independence Day celebration features colorfully clad dancers who spin down the streets performing to Mexican music. One of the largest community-sponsored parades in the Southwest. 713-926-2636
Fort Bend County Fair
A 10-day extravaganza with a parade, food, rides, auctions, competitions, exhibits, bands, and folk and country dancing. One of the largest county fairs in Texas, it draws nearly 200,000 visitors annually. 281-342-6171, www.fbcfa.org
OCTOBER
Asian American FestivalProvides Asian music, dancing and demonstrations of other Asian arts as well as cultural exhibits and children’s activities at Miller Outdoor Theatre. 713-861-8270, www.houstonparks.org
Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival
A three-day music extravaganza that covers five stages with Cajun, zydeco and blues music and includes food, arts and crafts, a children’s area, carnival and great entertainers. 713-863-9994, www.conroecajuncatfishfestival.com
The Komen-Houston Race for the Cure
A fundraising walk sponsored by The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to support breast cancer awareness and research. More than $1.3 million was raised in 2004. 713-792-3363, www.komen-houston.org
The Original Greek Festival
Brings together the traditions of Greece the first weekend of October. 713-526-5377, www.greekfestival.org
Texas Renaissance Festival
Recreates an English village of the 16th century. Features food, magicians, jugglers, minstrels, troubadours, comedians and more.
800-458-3435, www.texrenfest.com
Texian Market Days
Brings Texas to life with more than 1,000 costumed interpreters, scenes of Texas and numerous entertainers. 281-342-6478, www.george-ranch.org
The Wings Over Houston Airshow
Features the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the Navy’s Blue Angels who wow the audience with aerial acrobatics, while aircraft from current Air Force and Navy inventories sits on display. 713-266-4492, www.wingsoverhouston.com
NOVEMBER
Home for the HolidaysExhibits brightly decorated streets and shops in a collection of wonderful old houses at Old Town Spring and includes carolers, street performers and beautiful holiday artistry. 800-653-8696, www.oldtownspringtx.com
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