15 Best Things in Houston This Weekend: November 10-12, 2023


Ice skaters glide with green-lit trees behind them
The Ice reopens at Discovery Green with the annual Frostival on Friday | Courtesy of Discovery Green

Take a tour of H-Town’s weekend highlights with our 365 Houston guide to the best things to do in Houston this weekend, from Friday, November 10 to Sunday, November 12, 2023.

Every weekend, Houston has plenty of happenings to be found around town—but which ones are the highlights that can help you plan an enjoyable weekend of outings?

We’ve whittled down our extensive Weekend Guide to offer you some of our favorite things to look forward to from Friday to Sunday.

The 15 Best Things to Do in Houston This Weekend: November 10-12, 2023

A massive market with crowds moving around holiday decor booths
The Nutcracker Market makes for one-stop decor and gift shopping this weekend | Courtesy of Houston Ballet

All Weekend

  • Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market at NRG Center | Thursday to Sunday – Knock out your holiday shopping at one of Houston’s largest market events. Stroll through the endless aisles filled with merchants selling goodies and gifts for the holiday season. $20. Times vary.
  • 15th Houston Cinema Arts Festival at Multiple Locations | Thursday to Sunday | Ongoing | Some FREE – The city’s annual festival celebrating the silver screen returns to theater spaces across Houston, screening and premiering short films and feature lengths from Houston and around the world, as well as providing special guest panels and workshop opportunities. Screenings are typically individually ticketed and sometimes free, but all-access passes start at $200. Times, locations and prices vary.
  • The French Farm Winter Open Warehouse Sale in the Heights | Friday & Saturday | No Cover – Just in time for the start of the holiday season, the French Farm in the Heights opens their warehouse to the public on select weekends to shop gourmet goods and quality kitchenware from Europe. Stop by for complimentary wine and cheese, and browse a wide selection of shelf-stable food products like olive oil, honey, jam, sweets, spreads and more. 10am to 3pm.
  • Fall Festival at Armand Bayou Nature Center | Saturday & Sunday – The Bay Area nature center hosts a fall festival for the whole family, including wagon rides, handmade toys and gifts, a pie eating contest and historical reenactments like candle making, butter making and blacksmithing. $12; $8 for ages 4 to 12. 10am to 4pm.
  • 33rd Annual Native American Championship Pow Wow at Traders Village | Saturday & Sunday | FREE – This annual event draws Native and Indigenous people from across the country for back-to-back days of tribal dance displays, art, crafts, fry bread, and more. Free, but parking is $5. 10am to 5pm.
  • Children’s Festival: Dino Party at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion | Saturday & Sunday | FREE – Walk amongst the dinosaurs in a 2-day event in the Woodlands for all dino fans. Catch Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live on the main stage plus hands-on activities, toddler fun, art projects, active adventures and more. $10. Saturday 10am to 5pm; Sunday noon to 5pm.
  • Honeyland Festival at Crown Festival Park | Saturday & Sunday – The inaugural Honeyland Festival celebrates the best of Black expression via food, music, art and culture. Top restaurateurs, beverage makers, and artists will join the fun, including world-renowned chef Marcus Samuelsson, Top Chef finalist Dawn Burrell, hometown rapper and singer Tobe Nwigwe, artist and “it girl” Chlöe and more. Tickets start at $95 for day passes and $175 for weekend passes, with add-on experiences available. Times TBA.

Friday, November 10, 2023

  • Frostival at Discovery Green | FREE – The annual winter festival returns to Downtown, offering families a way to celebrate the season with a snow zone, photo ops with Pancho Claus and Black Santa, art cars, a performance by J-Dance Company and ice skating at the newly reopened ice rink. 6pm to 10pm.
  • Houston Diwali: Festival of Lights at Rise Rooftop – The annual Diwali festival heads to Midtown this year, posting up at Rise Rooftop with an all-ages Diwali bazaar, fashion show, cultural performances and street foods. Then, at 10pm, the 18+ party commences with more fashion shows, live performances, laser fireworks and more. $25 and up for the full night of festivities. 6pm to 2am.

Saturday, November 11, 2023

  • HTX4Ukraine’s 2nd Annual Borscht Cook-Off at Pokrova Ukrainian Church – The Airline church in Aldine hosts its second cook-off event highlighting the hearty, flavor-rich dish of borscht. Baked goods, drinks and Ukrainian delicacies will also be available for purchase, and proceeds help support people in Ukraine during the Russian war against the country. $10; free for ages 10 and under. 11:30am to 3:30pm.
  • The Tejano Super Jam at Independence Park – Pearland plays host to a lively Saturday filled with Tejano stars, including Bobby Pulido with his father Roberto Pulido, Little Joe y La Familia, Grupo Siggno, La Fiebre, and a special mariachi opener with Gabriella Martinez. $30. 4pm to 11:30pm.
  • Bella Gaia with William Close & the Earth Harp Collective at Miller Outdoor Theatre | FREE – Miller caps off its centennial year with a pre-show celebration featuring steampunk photo ops and entertainment, followed by a concert and visual art projection. William Close and the Earth Harp Collective will perform on two large-scale harps with accompanying musicians as Bella Gaia displays a visual work that reminds us of connection to the planet and one another. 5:30pm for the pre-show celebration; concert begins at 7:30pm.

Sunday, November 12, 2023

  • Burton & Booze at Karbach Brewing Co. | FREE – Join in a celebration of director Tim Burton at this fifth annual event that features a vendor market, art, food and brews from the Spring Branch taproom. 11am to 6pm.
  • Penny Cup at Houston Polo Club – One of the final matches of the fall polo season gets rolling with a doubleheader event featuring live music, a champagne divot stomp at halftime and special trophy presentation. $18 and up. 2pm.
  • Comedian Ali Wong at Smart Financial Centre – Best known for her award-nominated role in Netflix’s Beef and stand-up specials like Baby Cobra and 2022’s Don Wong, the comedian and actress takes the Sugar Land stage for a November night of hilarity. $59 and up. 7pm.

Don’t Miss Out on Tomorrow’s Fun!

Subscribe to our free Weekend Guide newsletter and receive a round-up of great things to do every weekend in Houston, hitting your inbox on Thursday.

Don’t want to miss anything? Opt in for our Daily Updates to discover new things happening in Houston and receive special updates and offers, every weekday.


Previous articleWelcome the holiday season at Deer Park’s Tree Lighting at Patrick’s Cabin Christmas Town

A longtime Houstonian, Justin Jerkins always keeps an eye out for what’s ahead on Houston’s horizon while serving as Editor-in-Chief of 365 Things to Do in Houston.

When he’s not passing along the latest events, destinations and hidden treasures in H-Town, he loves diving into the city’s food scene, shopping local and learning about Houston’s rich history.


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *