A Guide to Houston Street Festivals for 2018
With mostly mild weather sweeping across the Houston area, festivals are a regular and, yes, important aspect of life in the Bayou City. Street festivals in various parts of the city rule the weekends with adults and kids strolling and taking in the sights while dancing, sampling delectables, and people-watching. Let’s explore the distinctive personalities of some of Houston’s best festivals.
April 14 - Houston Art Car Parade
Downtown Houston
The Art Car Parade is the highlight of a three-day celebration that attracts 250-plus vehicles. This ultra-creative parade winds through Downtown Houston and attracts 250,000-plus spectators who travel from near and far to see creativity on wheels including unicycles, motorcycles, lawnmowers, cars, and go-carts.
April 21 - San Jacinto Day Festival
La Porte
History buffs converge in La Porte, 35 minutes outside of Houston, for the annual re-enactment of the Battle of San Jacinto that resulted in Texas winning its independence. These volunteers even start the battle at the exact same time the actual battle in 1836 was thought to have started, 4:30pm. This real-life battle reenactment is the highlight of the free San Jacinto Day Festival. The festival, attended by over 12,000 people, is an entire day of celebration, food, entertainment, and education as festival-goers experience living history.
April 21 - Five Dollar Food Truck Festival
Northshore
Enjoy the flavors of over 20 of Houston's most popular and tasty food trucks plus free beer, live music, a kids zone, and free parking at this annual Northshore foodie event. This festival is best known for its hot-dog eating contest and all-you-can-drink margaritas. Houston Pets Alive, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing the killing of companion and stray animals, will also be at this family-friendly festival to promote their cause. Children aged 9 and under enter free.
May 17-20 - Houston Greek Fest
Memorial
Assimilate into the Hellenic culture at the annual Greek Festival with over 15,000 fellow attendees. Festival-goers will enjoy tours of St. Basil The Great Greek Orthodox Church; Greek art, unique jewelry, and cultural gifts to peruse and purchase; lively dance performances; and Greek cuisine and beverages.
May 18-20 - Pasadena Strawberry Festival
Pasadena
The annual Pasadena Strawberry Festival boasts over 65,000 attendees, 2,073 booth exhibitors, a 2,000-square-foot strawberry shortcake, and 2,000 pounds of strawberries. The three-day festival in Pasadena, 20 minutes outside Houston, is in its 44th year and kicks off with a beauty pageant and the large parade. The family-friendly festival is also the home of the world’s largest strawberry shortcake. Initially baked in 2014, it’s featured in the Guinness Book of World Records.
June 23 - Houston LGBT Pride Celebration
Downtown Houston
The Houston Pride Festival and Houston Pride Parade lights up Downtown Houston as over 700,000 people from all over the world party with a purpose. In its 40th year, Pride is the second largest parade in the city, after the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Featuring a variety of performers, the Pride Festival is a great way to experience the LGBT community, learn about its history, eat, socialize and visit the booths of local vendors and organizations.