Top Festivals & Events in Houston: April 2025

Make the most of your month with our list of the 20 biggest and most notable festivals and events in Greater Houston in April 2025.

April is one of our favorite months, with spring in full force and a wide variety of outdoor festivals and celebrations, Houston’s most legendary parade of the year, and explosions of art, culture, and nature.

The Top 20 Festivals & Events in Houston in April 2025

Events are not ranked but are listed in chronological order, by start date and time and then by end date and time.

The Great Elephant Migration at Hermann Park | FREE | Tuesday, April 1 to Wednesday, April 30 – Currently migrating across the U.S, 100 stunning, hand-crafted, life-sized pachyderm sculptures have arrived in the Museum District, where they’ll grazing for the entirety of April. Everyone is invited to pose for photos, show them love, and take part in a series of pop-up events throughout the month. You’ll find the main herd near The Commons, with smaller pods nearer to the Japanese Gardens, Miller Outdoor Theatre and by the Sam Houston Statue. 6am to 11pm daily.

3rd Annual The Riot Comedy Festival at The Riot Comedy Club, Rudyard’s Pub & The Gordy | Thursday, April 3 to Sunday, April 6 – One of Houston’s newest spring tradition additions, the 4-day, out-of-this-world celebration of comedy presents 50+ performers in 30+ shows on 4 indoor stages in the heart of Montrose, plus the new Comedy & BBQ Cookoff centerpiece on Saturday. $44 and up for individual shows; $119 and up for all-access. Times vary.

Montgomery County Fair & Rodeo at Montgomery County Fairgrounds | Thursday, April 3 to Sunday, April 13 – If you’re still itching for your Rodeo fix, Montgomery County is here to help with 11 days of carnival, live music, a bbq cook-off, and livestock contests, and more. $5 to $25. Times vary.

Neighborhood Community Day at The Menil Collection | Saturday, April 5 | FREE – Montrose’s beloved art museum campus welcomes everyone to an afternoon of art, music, poetry, and family activities in the surrounding neighborhood and 30 years of the Collections’ Cy Twombly Gallery. 1pm to 5pm.

12th Annual Houston Barbecue Festival at Humble Civic Center | Sunday, April 6 – Barbecue lovers can come together as the annual fest gathers 30+ of Houston’s best barbecue joints together in northeast Houston. $60 and up. 1pm to 4pm.

Galveston Steampunk Festival at Galveston Railroad Museum | Friday, April 11 to Sunday, April 13 – Go wild for the future that never was a 3-day weekend celebrating the sci-fi subgenre that mashes Victorian-era tech with retro-futurism. The main event is on Saturday, with live music and entertainment, a costume contest, games like archery and axe throwing, and more. $35 and up; $15 for ages 11 and under. Saturday 11am to 10pm; other activities times vary.

20th Annual The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival in Town Green Park | Friday, April 11 to Sunday, April 13 – A certain marker that spring has arrived, The Woodlands’ standout spring event brings more than 200 accomplished artists out to the Waterway shores and surroundings with live music, entertainment, and food and drink. $15 to $33; free for ages 12 and under. Times vary.

38th Annual Houston Art Car Parade on Allen Parkway & in Downtown | Saturday, April 12 | FREE – One of Houston’s most beloved events—and the largest celebration of its kind in the world with over 250 cars—gets rolling on Allen Parkway and circles City Hall for its 38th year. VIP area options available in Downtown. 11am pre-party and mini music festival with food trucks and drinks; parade at 2pm.

12th Annual Lyons Avenue Renaissance Festival in Fifth Ward | Saturday, April 12 | FREE – Celebrating the history, art and culture of Houston’s Fifth Ward, the family-friendly fest features authentic zydeco music, an Easter egg drop by helicopter, parade, car show, and vendors serving up tasty soul food, Creole cuisine, barbecue, and more. Noon to 5pm.

Houston LatinFest at Crown Festival Park | Saturday, April 12 & Sunday, April 13 – Returning to Sugar Land, the annual music and culture festival is a family-friendly gathering with live Latin music along with local vendors and delicious Latin foods. $12 and up; free for ages 12 and under. 1pm to 10pm.

Flower Power Festival at Houston Botanic Garden | Sunday, April 13 – Celebrate the hippest blooms at HBC’s new ’60s-inspired springtime festival with live music by The Beatles cover band The Fab 5, amazing natural photo ops in the garden, an art and vendor market, floral-themed and tie-dye crafts, and more. $20; $16 for ages 3 to 11, students, active military, and ages 65+. 9am to 4pm.

Puranava Indian Art & Culture Fest at Pearland Town Center | Saturday, April 19 | FREE – Celebrate Indian culture with an day of arts performances, art exhibits, hands-on activities, a food and local vendor bazaar, youth competitions in chess, art, trivia and more. 11am to 6pm.

Earth Day Celebration at Discovery Green | Saturday, April 19 | FREE – One of Discovery Green’s signature events, the annual family-friendly festival returns with an afternoon filled with interactive exhibits and experiences, live music, art installations, face painting, crafts and activities, and more. Noon to 5pm.

Utopia Reggae Fest at Hiram Clarke Community Foundation | Saturday, April 19 – Experience ganja vibes with local bands and DJs, a curated marketplace, and more. $12 and up. 2pm to 10pm.

23rd Annual FeatherFest Birding & Nature Photography Festival in Galveston | Thursday, April 24 to Sunday, April 27 – For amateur and seasoned birding enthusiasts alike, this multi-day event leads birders through various coastal communities to see native and migratory birds throughout the Galveston region. $25 registration; individual activities priced separately. Times vary.

The Grand Kids Festival in Historic Downtown Galveston | Saturday, April 26 | FREE – The family festival from the Grand 1894 Opera House features a full day of fine arts for kids, along with hands-on projects, dance performances, shows, inflatables, a petting zoo, pony rides, and more. 10am to 5pm.

Sylvan Beach Festival in La Porte | Saturday, April 26 – Held along the waters of Galveston Bay, this historic seaside fest features a country music lineup—headlined by Aaron Watson and Ty Myers—which caps off an entire day of family-friendly fun with carnival rides, a barbecue cook-off, arts and crafts, inflatables, a local vendor market and more. $12.50 and up; $5 for ages 65+; free for ages 12 and under. 10am to 11pm.

BYOB (Bring Your Own Beamer) at The Menil Collection | Saturday, April 26 | FREE – The Menil’s annual celebration of light and art returns, as anyone and everyone is invited to their own visuals onto the main building’s walls using video, film, slides, and overhead projectors. Picnics, blankets, and creative energy are all welcome. 8:30pm to 10:30pm.

Sugar Land Arts & Music Fest at Smart Financial Centre Plaza | Saturday, April 26 & Sunday, April 27 – The 2-day arts festival showcases more than 100 visual artists from across the U.S, plus you can enjoy live music, food, wine and more. $10 1-day; $16 for both days. Saturday 10am to 5pm; Sunday 10am to 4pm.

Navroz Spring Festival 2025 at the Buffalo Bayou Park Water Works | Sunday, April 27 | FREE – Join in the celebration of Spring, sometimes known as “Nowruz,” celebrated in Iran, Central Asia, the Middle East, and some communities in India and Pakiston. Expect cultural activities, arts/crafts, festivities, live music and performances, food trucks, floral crafts, pottery painting, egg decorating, a henna corner, and more family entertainment. 11am to 4pm.

Don’t Miss Out on Tomorrow’s Fun!