20 Houston-area festivals to explore this spring, from music and wine to art and Cajun food

Houston Spring Festivals. 
Houston Chronicle

Houston's festival season is in full swing, a perfect time to celebrate music, art and food and enjoy the great weather with outdoor events. We've gathered 20 of the city’s must-attend festivals that you should not miss this spring.

The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival

Printed artwork from Florencio Zavala is seen during The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival.

Printed artwork from Florencio Zavala is seen during The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival.

Gustavo Huerta, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Taking place along the scenic banks of The Woodlands Waterway and Town Green Park, festival guests can enjoy an outdoor art gallery with music, food, and kid's activities, as well as shopping for works of art created by fine artists from all over the world.

When: 1-5 p.m. April 14, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. April 15 and 10 a.m.-5p.m. April 16

Where: Woodlands Waterway Square, Waterway Square Pl, The Woodlands

Details: $11-$28, free for ages 12 and under; thewoodlandsartscouncil.org/p/festival

MORE FROM ANA KHAN: Free things to do in Houston: Museums, boat tour, outdoor movies, bats

Houston Art Car Parade

People celebrate during the annual Houston Art Car Parade in downtown Houston.

People celebrate during the annual Houston Art Car Parade in downtown Houston.

Mark Mulligan/Staff photographer

For its 36th year, Houston celebrates one of its most beloved events, featuring more than 250 art cars rolling through downtown. Marilyn Oshman, the Orange Show’s founder, will be this year’s grand marshal, and you can expect kids activity stations and more along the route.

When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. April 15

Where: Hermann Square at City Hall, 901 Bagby

Details: thehoustonartcarparade.com

Rails & Tails Mudbug Festival

Tomball's Rails & Tails Mudbug Festival.

Tomball's Rails & Tails Mudbug Festival.

Courtesy of City of Tomball

Along with boiled crawfish and other Cajun treats, festivalgoers will enjoy a variety of festival foods. Performing this year is Palomino Moon, Bayou Roux will fill the Depot Plaza with tasty sounds of Cajun rock and closing out the festival is award-winning country artists Buck Yeager Band.

When: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. April 15

Where: 201 S. Elm St., Tomball

Details: Free; tomballtx.gov

Puranava Indian Art & Culture Fest

The Puranava Indian Culture Fest returns to the Pearland Town Center Pavilion. 

The Puranava Indian Culture Fest returns to the Pearland Town Center Pavilion.

Courtesy Puranava Indian Culture Fest

Experience Indian culture through performances, art exhibits, hands-on activities, a bazaar with local food, plus youth competitions in chess, art, dance and trivia.

When: 4-8 p.m. April 15

Where: Pearland Town Center, 11200 Broadway St., Pearland

Details : Free; puranava-usa.org

Houston Whiskey Riot Festival

The Whiskey Riot Festival. 

The Whiskey Riot Festival.

Whiskey Riot Festival

This Downtown festival for all things whiskey offers more than 200 whiskies, inventive whiskey cocktails, and a chance to meet master distillers.

When: 4 p.m. April 15

Where: POST Houston, 401 Franklin

Details: $85-$160; bit.ly/3UDVFUl

Love Street Music Fest

Photos from Karbach Brewery's annual Love Street Music Fest in Houston.

Photos from Karbach Brewery's annual Love Street Music Fest in Houston.

Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer

Karbach Brewing Company brings back its annual Love Street Music Fest at the Biergarten. The festival will be headlined by Grammy-nominated rockers Spoon, Jukebox the Ghost and Mind Shrine.

When: 5-10 p.m. April 15

Where: Karbach Brewing Co., 2032 Karbach

Details: $40-$135; bit.ly/43eEcpj

Brazilian Food and Music Festival

The Brazilian Food and Music Festival in Katy, Texas.

The Brazilian Food and Music Festival in Katy, Texas.

Courtesy photo

The 8th Annual Brazilian Food and Music Festival will offer mouthwatering cuisine and vibrant music. The event will also feature live samba music, arts and crafts, kids' area, and vendor.

When: Noon-6 p.m. April 16

Where: Wildcatter Saloon, 26913 Katy Fwy, Katy

Details: $12-$15; bit.ly/3KMSO83

Obscure Houston Oddities Market: April Fools Festival

Cotton Moth Studio by Karla AnaMarie is a featured vendor at this year's Obscure Houston Oddities Market: April Fools Festival.  

Cotton Moth Studio by Karla AnaMarie is a featured vendor at this year's Obscure Houston Oddities Market: April Fools Festival.

Cotton Moth Studio

Numbers Night Club hosts a unique market featuring goth boutiques, taxidermy, bones and skulls, antiques, vintage toys and clothes, as well as plenty of other peculiar goods. In addition to a live performance by Houston's own avant-garde group Ak'chamel, there will be a comedy showcase and a DJ set.

When: 1-8 p.m. April 16

Where: Numbers Night Club, 300 Westheimer

Details: $7-$10, free for ages 5 and under; bit.ly/3KOSMN8

The 15th Annual H-Town Blues Festival

Singer Calvin Richardson performs at The 15th Annual H-Town Blues Festival. 

Singer Calvin Richardson performs at The 15th Annual H-Town Blues Festival.

Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS

The annual blues extravaganza returns to Houston, featuring renowned blues musicians like Tucka, Calvin Richardson, Pokey Bear, King George, and many more.

When: 8 p.m. April 21

Where: NRG Park, 1 NRG Pkwy

Details: $59 and up; nrgpark.com

Houston LatinFest

Michele Capri, center, and other members of Samba Houston perform at the Houston Latin Fest. 

Michele Capri, center, and other members of Samba Houston perform at the Houston Latin Fest.

Melissa Phillip/Staff photographer

Live Latin music, local vendors and delicious Latin food are all part of this family-friendly annual music and cultural festival.

When: 1-10 p.m. April 23

Where: The Crown Festival Park at Sugar Land, 18355 Southwest Fwy, Sugar Land

Details: $12 and up; theofficialhoustonlatinfest.com

The Grand Kids Festival

The Annual Grand Kids Festival presented by The Grand 1894 Opera House.

The Annual Grand Kids Festival presented by The Grand 1894 Opera House.

Courtesy photo

This free, family-friendly festival features fine arts activities for kids in the Cultural Arts District of Downtown Galveston, including hands-on projects, dance performances, shows, inflatables, a petting zoo, pony rides, and more, all hosted by the Grand 1894 Opera House.

When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. April 29

Where: Downtown Galveston, 502 20th St, Galveston

Details: Free; grandkidsfestival.com

Frida Festival

The annual Frida Festival in Houston.

The annual Frida Festival in Houston.

Alex Barber: Visible in Light

Houston's East End has hosted the Frida Festival for the past 18 years. This year's celebration features local performers, an arts market with unique finds and the famous Frida look-alike contest for all ages.

When: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. April 29

Where: MECA, 1900 Kane

Details: fridafestival.org

Houston Zydeco Fest

The Houston Zydeco Fest returns to Emancipation Park. 

The Houston Zydeco Fest returns to Emancipation Park.

Houston Zydeco Fest

This event at Emancipation Park, combines Zydeco music with food vendors and games, contests, and other activities.

When: 2-10 p.m. April 29

Where: Emancipation Park, 3018 Emancipation

Details: $13 and up; houstonzydecofest.com

Sonoma County Wine Fest

The Kemah Boardwalk hosts the Sonoma County Wine Fest. 

The Kemah Boardwalk hosts the Sonoma County Wine Fest.

Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

Spend the day sampling over 72 wines from Sonoma County, snacking on delicious appetizers and listening to live music at Kemah Boardwalk.

When: 2-5 p.m. April 29

Where: 215 Kipp, Kemah

Details: $59.95 and up; kemahwine.com

Japan Festival Houston

A Sakura Sakura performance during the Japan Festival Houston at Hermann Park. 

A Sakura Sakura performance during the Japan Festival Houston at Hermann Park.

James Nielsen/Houston Chronicle

In celebration of its 30th anniversary, the popular Japan Festival will return to Hermann Park for two days of music, dance, martial arts, food, hands-on activities, and more.

When: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. May 6-7

Where: Hermann Park, 6001 Fannin

Details: Free; houstonjapanfest.org

Spring Festival

The Buffalo Bayou Park in Houston. 

The Buffalo Bayou Park in Houston.

Photo by Slight Clutter Photography/Katya Horne

Join GHIRP's premiere Spring Festival featuring live music, food, drinks, raffles and children's activities, all in support of the Galveston-Houston Immigrant Representation Project's mission to provide holistic legal services to immigrants in need.

When: Noon-4 p.m. May 6

Where: The Water Works at Buffalo Bayou Park, 105 Sabine

Details: $10 and up; bit.ly/3ZVJLGe

38th Annual Texas Crab Festival

The Texas Crab Festival at Crystal Beach.

The Texas Crab Festival at Crystal Beach.

Jake Daniels

The annual festival kicks off Mother's Day weekend at Crystal Beach's Festival Park. Festivities include a Crab Gumbo Cook-Off, arts and crafts and live music. A crab legs contest and a 5K run are also on the schedule.

When: p.m. May 12-14

Where: Festival Park, 1605 Highway 87, Crystal Beach

Details: $20; bit.ly/3GxV7cG

Houston Art Bike Festival

Art bike riders start the art bike parade during Houston’s first Art Bike Festival in MacGregor Park. 

Art bike riders start the art bike parade during Houston’s first Art Bike Festival in MacGregor Park.

Justin Rex/Contributor

The Houston Art Bike Festival features an Art Bike Parade where families, individuals, and youth groups are invited to participate and cheer on hundreds of art bikes rolling through MacGregor Park. There will be live music, community activations, food and drinks, and art bikes. Head to the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art after the parade for live music from Mononeon, exciting interactive art, food and drinks.

When: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. May 13

Where: MacGregor Park, 5225 Calhoun

Details: Free; artbikehouston.com

Buzzfest 2023

Fans cheersat Buzzfest at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion in The Woodlands, TX.

Fans cheersat Buzzfest at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion in The Woodlands, TX.

Eric Kayne/For the Chronicle

This year's event will be headlined by Godsmack, I Prevail, Highly Suspect, The Struts, Giovannie & The Hired Guns and The Warning.

When: 2:30 p.m. May 13

Where: Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, 2005 Lake Robbins Dr, The Woodlands

Details: $39 and up; woodlandscenter.org

Pasadena Strawberry Festival

Representatives from the Volunteer Firemen's Association of Pasadena Ladies Auxiliary wave to the crowd during the Pasadena Strawberry Festival parade.

Representatives from the Volunteer Firemen's Association of Pasadena Ladies Auxiliary wave to the crowd during the Pasadena Strawberry Festival parade.

Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle

The annual strawberry celebration returns to Pasadena to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The event features live music, the world’s largest strawberry shortcake, mutton bustin', a car show, carnival rides and a BBQ cook-off.

When: May 18-21

Where: Pasadena Fairgrounds, 7902 Fairmont Pkwy, Pasadena

Details : $5-$30; strawberryfest.org

ana.khan@houstonchronicle.com