| January Calendar of Events | ||
| Event & Web Site | Phone Number | Description |
| The Hewlett-Packard Houston Marathon January 16 |
713-957-3453 | The HP Houston Marathon invites you to be a part of Houston’s largest single-day sporting event. Combined with the Aramco Houston Half Marathon and Houston Press 5K, more than 15,000 participants, 200,000 spectators and 5,000 volunteers will take to the streets of Houston on Sunday, January 16, 2005. From race organization, to course entertainment, to state-of-the-art technology, the HP Houston Marathon is truly a Texas-sized experience... be part of it! |
| International Boat, Sport & Travel Show January 7-16 | 713-526-6361 | On January 7th, the Reliant Center doors will swing open once again to one of the largest boat, sport and travel shows in the country. The 2005 Houston International Boat, Sport & Travel Show features an enormous display of sailboats, luxury yachts and powerboats - actually over 5 football fields of the latest in nautical innovation. The 10-day show also offers exhibits for the landlubber such as campers, RV accessories and services, travel trailers, and camping equipment. |
| February Calendar of Events | ||
| Event & Web Site | Phone Number | Description |
| Houston Antiques Dealers Association Annual Spring Show February 17-20 |
713-465-7427 | HADA is one of the oldest organizations of its kind in the nation. Founded in 1964 by three local dealers, the first HADA antiques show was held at the famous Shamrock Hilton Hotel. An instant success, the growing number of exhibitors dictated the show moving to the Albert Thomas Convention Center and eventually to the George R. Brown Convention Center. The show now consists of 150 dealers from all across the country and around the world displaying virtually every type of antiques. |
| Mardi Gras Galveston January 28 - February 8 |
888-425-4753 | Each year, more than half a million people gather in the streets of Galveston Island to participate in the largest Mardi Gras celebration in Texas. For 12 days and 11 nights the island is electrified by the sounds of live music, spectacular parades, elaborate masked balls, and flamboyant costumes. This year, Mardi Gras! Galveston salutes American patriotism with "Mardi Gras! Galveston: Red, White, and Blue," January 28, 2005 thru Fat Tuesday, February 8, 2005. |
| March Calendar of Events | ||
| Event & Web Site | Phone Number | Description |
| Azalea Trail March 5-6 March 12-13 |
713-523-2483 | About The Azalea: the name given to the various spectacular flowering shrubs (genus Rhododendron) of the Heath family that are in full bloom each Spring in Houston, Texas. These showy flowers flourish at six Houston locations in varying shades of pink, purple, white, red and yellow and are a magnificent sight to behold. |
| Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo March 1-20 |
713-667-1000 | SHOW ADDS EXCITING NEW MUSIC VENUES FOR 2005. Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo officials are adding new music venues and bringing back two old favorites for the 2005 event. The 2005 Show will include the return of The Hideout, in the historic Reliant Astrodome, the new Coca-Cola Texas Stage, and live music at the Main Corral Club. |
| April Calendar of Events | ||
| Event & Web Site | Phone Number | Description |
Houston Children's Festival |
713-529-1396 | he largest celebration for children in the entire United States, this is truly kids' heaven, and in aid of one of the best causes. Organized by Child Advocates Inc, which aims to stamp out child abuse, the festival offers over 350 events packed into a couple of hectic days. Enough to bring out the child in all of us! The city also gets inundated by cartoon characters - you'll be lucky to escape a run-in with Donald Duck or a joke from Mickey Mouse. Everything takes place in downtown Houston. It's all for charity. You can even work as a volunteer if you want to, or just take the children and give them, and yourself, a weekend to remember. |
| May Calendar of Events | ||
| Event & Web Site | Phone Number | Description |
| The Art Car Parade May 14 |
713-926-6368 | What began in 1988 with 40 decorated vehicles and a handful of onlookers has grown into an event of unprecedented scale attracting participants, spectators and media from all over the world, making Houston ground zero of an international phenomenon. |
| The Westheimer Street Festival May TBA |
713-522-6548 | "WestFest," as locals refer to it, has been a political source of drama during the past few years. After being founded by Montrose residents in 1973 as a way to celebrate community artists., |
| The Pasadena Strawberry Festival May 20-22 Parade, May 14 |
281-991-9500 | Presenting Texas' largest Strawberry Shortcake again this year, bigger than ever! Be sure and have a heapin' helpin' of this great Texas tradition. Enjoy this year's carnival provided by Crabtree Amusements, with lots of fun and exciting rides with daily ride specials (to be announced). There's also a children's entertainment and activity area with FREE games, clowns, a petting zoo, pony rides, and historical craft demonstrations by Armand Bayou Nature Center. |
| June Calendar of Events | ||
| Event & Web Site | Phone Number | Description |
| Juneteenth, Miller Outdoor Theatre June 19 |
713-284-8350 | News of the end of slavery didn't reach Texas for nearly two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. On June 19, 1865, General Order No, 3 was read at Galveston Bay, proclaiming that "all slaves are free." Houston celebrates Juneteenth by presenting a Freedom Festival in Miller Outdoor theatre within Hermann Park. |
Gay & Lesbian Pride Parade |
713-529-6979 | Houston's Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade attracts 50,000 participants and 100,000 spectators, making it the third-largest in the nation. The parade is a night festival which weaves through the Montrose area on lower Westheimer. |
| July Calendar of Events | ||
| Event & Web Site | Phone Number | Description |
| ArtHouston July 9-10 |
713-522-9116 | Traditionally beginning the weekend after Independence Day, ArtHouston is a multi gallery celebration of differing styles of art across H Town. Galleries across town hold evening receptions of Friday, open houses all day on Saturday and artist receptions on Saturday evening in a whirlwind of activity for the artistic and social elite. |
| Independence Day Celebration July 4 |
713-247-3500 | Houston's Official July 4th Celebration, will celebrate America's Birthday with a live concert featuring LeAnn Rimes and Clint Black, and one of the largest fireworks displays in the state of Texas! This is a one-of-kind family event that will have the eyes of Texas upon Houston for the 4 th of July! |
| August Calendar of Events | ||
| Event & Web Site | Phone Number | Description |
| Houston Shakespeare Festival August TBA |
713-284-8352 | Celebrating its 26th anniversary, it has attracted more than 475,000 viewers in the past several years. While emerging as a true stapel of Houston summers, the HSF features two of the bards plays and is held at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park. |
| Ballunar Liftoff August TBA |
281-488-7676 | Visit this exciting and educational family-oriented event at NASA/Johnson Space Center and enjoy hot air balloon competitions, evening balloon glows, skydiving exhibitions, commercial exhibits, concession booths, food from local restaurants, arts & crafts exhibits, entertainment and various aviation equipment displays. |
| September Calendar of Events | ||
| Event & Web Site | Phone Number | Description |
| Fiestas Patrias September 16 |
713-926-2636 | The annual Fiesta Patria International Parade will be presented along Texas and Crawford streets. Houstonians can gather to see a spectacle of bright colors, beauty queens, marching bands, ballet folkorico troops and much more. Hispanics representing Mexico and other Central American countries unite to celebrate Mexico's Independence from Spain. |
| Houston Hot Sauce Festival September 17-18 |
281-558-3518 | The Houston Hot Sauce Festival, held under the covered arena at the Houston Farm and Ranch Club, offers a great way to spend the weekend.This event, held to benefit the Stehlin Foundation for Cancer Research, features a variety of goodies to delight any chilihead with sauce, salsa, chipotle, jams, spices, marinades, chips, dips and much more. |
| October Calendar of Events | ||
| Event & Web Site | Phone Number | Description |
| Greek Festival October TBA |
713-526-5377 | Come and join The Original Greek Festival, now in its 39th year, and be Greek for a day! Growing attendance over the years continues to create excitement as the word gets around, so bring your family, friends and co-workers to enjoy the festive atmosphere and our new expanded festival site. Facilities, children's activities, Athenian playground & seating capacity have been expanded over the last three years. OPA!! |
| Texas Renaissance Festival October TBA |
281-356-2178 | The Texas Renaissance Festival is one of the nation's largest, most acclaimed renaissance theme parks where the sights, sounds, tastes and beauty of the 16th Century come alive. |
| November Calendar of Events | ||
| Event & Web Site | Phone Number | Description |
| Uptown Tree Lighting Ceremony November 24 |
713-621-2011 | One of Houston's favorite traditions, the 20th annual Uptown Holiday Lighting will illuminate the area skyline with more than a half million twinkling lights, a sparkling electric light parade and a festive holiday show with local choirs and bands. For the finale, dazzling fireworks will light up the Houston skies. This year's event will once again come alive on Thanksgiving evening, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2005, along Post Oak Boulevard in Uptown Houston. |
| Houston International Quilt Festival November TBA |
713-781-6864 | The International Quilt Festival features more than 1500 contemporary and antique quilts from around the world.The festival turns 30 in 2005 and annually features more than 1,000 booths that spectators may visit. |
| December Calendar of Events | ||
| Event & Web Site | Phone Number | Description |
| Dickens on the Strand December TBA |
409-765-7834 | Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Be it decreed that all lords, ladies and children shall come and celebrate the 32st Annual Dickens on The Strand, a holiday festival, where bobbies, Beefeaters and the Queen herself will be on hand to recreate the Victorian London of Charles Dickens. Characters from Dickens novels walk the street. Food and entertainment fill the area with sights and smells that take you back to another era. |
| Lights in the Heights December TBA |
713-868-1579 | For holiday revelers wishing to enjoy Christmas lights, wassail, Santa and community fun, Lights in the Heights is a great place to find these things and so much more. |
| Please report any broken links, address or phone number changes to The Esplanade Webmaster. Thank you. |
| Have fun, learn new things, explore what Houston has to offer throughout the year. |
| January February March April May June July August September October November December |
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