Houston Botanic Garden will sparkle this holiday season with Lightscape, a world-renowned light show featuring an array of enchanting artistic installations that will elicit wonder and joy as they dazzle the senses. 

Lightscape will immerse visitors of all ages in a first-of-its-kind-for-Houston experience, with a wide array of brightly colored, festive installations by local and international artists, tailored to the Garden’s distinctive landscape.

Put your costumes on, gather your friends and family, and join us at The Woodlands Family YMCA for our annual Halloween at the Y Trunk ‘n’ Treat event. YMCAs across the city are planning community events where families can bring their children to enjoy the fall season in a fun and safe environment.

The annual Halloween at the Y, presented by America’s ER + Urgent Care, will be held at The Woodlands Family YMCA’s Shadowbend location on Saturday, October 23, from 3-5 pm. Outdoor activities will include trunk-or-treating, carnival games, a sweet tooth walk, a photo booth, face art, balloon art, bubbles, music and much more frightful fun. Don’t forget to dress to impress in your best family-friendly costume and bring a camera to capture memories from the fun afternoon. Kids are welcome to visit activity booths as many times as they would like and will receive a treat at each one. Concessions will be available for purchase.

This special event is open to the community and admission is free, so bring friends, family and co-workers. In lieu of an admission fee, each guest is asked to bring a non-perishable food item for the local food pantry. The first 200 kids in attendance will receive a free special edition Halloween shirt, sponsored by America’s ER + Urgent Care. Thank you to our generous sponsors: Christine Hale Realty Group, Danielle Franco, State Farm Agent, Main Event and Scott Fernandez Realty Group.

The Woodlands Family YMCA at Shadowbend is located at 6145 Shadowbend Place, in The Woodlands. For more information on YMCA membership, programs and activities, please call 281-367-9622 or visit ymcahouston.org.

This weekend, Downtown Houston will be transformed into artistic avenues bursting with colors and culture! Bayou City Art Festival will take place on Saturday and Sunday, October 9-10, 2021, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. at Sam Houston Park and along Allen Parkway.

Bayou City Art Festival will spotlight the festival’s featured artist McKenzie Fisk, a painter from Los Angeles, along with 200 artists from across the country. As one of the top art festivals in the U.S., the outdoor event will provide patrons with the opportunity to personally meet artists, view original works, and purchase artwork from 19 art disciplines including world-class paintings, prints, jewelry, sculptures and more at prices for everyone. 

Guests are invited to enjoy Houston’s skyline views while experiencing a Stella Artois Main Stage, a KPRC 2 Hitch Stage, a food truck park, a craft beer garden, Haak Vineyards wine garden, a Crown Royal sampling area, as well as additional entertainers throughout the festival. In the Active Imagination Zone, guests of all ages can play with oversized bubbles, visit with caricature artist Bonnie Blue, and create art with the festival’s nonprofit partners. To spread joy and show appreciation for healthcare workers Bayou City Art Festival has partnered with HCA Houston Healthcare for the interactive HeART for Heroes Community Art Project with artist Kati- Ozanic-Lemberger. 

For the ultimate art lover, the VIP Hospitality Lounge presented by Frost Bank will include a tented oasis with light bites, and complimentary beer, wine and other beverages. The relaxing setting under a canopy of trees will feature roaming musicians, artistic décor, a phone charging station and more. VIPs will receive all-day access to the VIP area, along with VIP parking.

A portion of the proceeds from Bayou City Art Festival Downtown will benefit the festival’s nonprofit partners including ArtReach, A Cause to Give Us Paws, Artists For Artists, Fresh Arts, Orange Show For Visionary Art, and The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

Online general admission tickets are available online at www.bayoucityartfestival.com for $18 for adults, $5 for children 6-12, and children under five are free. VIP Hospitality Lounge tickets are also available online for $60 and include admission to the festival. Online pre-purchased tickets are required to enter the festival. Tickets will not be sold at the gate and can only be purchased online.

Bayou City Art Festival Downtown Sponsors include City of Houston, Houston Arts Alliance, KPRC, Stella Artois, Advantage BMW Midtown, Frost Bank, HCA Houston Healthcare, AARP Houston, Rhythm, Crown Royal, Green Mountain Energy, Haak Vineyard & Winery, Evamor, Nuro, Renewal by Andersen, Cirque Du Soleil and T-Mobile.

Photo credit: Katya Horner

The National Endowment for the Arts has awarded The Woodlands Children’s Museum a grant of $10,000 through the Arts Engagement in American Communities program.  Funding will be used to support artist fees and young children’s engagement with the performing arts.  A variety of regional and statewide performing artists, with exceptional skill and experience in interacting with young children, will visit the museum throughout the year, allowing families to enjoy enriching, high-quality live entertainment.

“The arts make communities more vibrant and fulfilling places, help us to heal, and strengthen our nation’s economy,” said Ann Eilers, acting chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “The National Endowment for the Arts is committed to supporting organizations nationwide, such as The Woodlands Children’s Museum, helping to make it possible for our arts and culture sector to grow and for more Americans to have access to the arts.”

The Woodlands Children’s Museum features an event stage with up-close seating that allows children to experience the arts and engage with performers in a unique way not found at larger venues.  Multiple performance times are also offered to ensure performances are accessible for families.  Typically, 15-20 special events are offered each year highlighting holidays and cultural traditions such as Lunar New Year, Tanabata, Native American Heritage Month, Mardi Gras, Hispanic Heritage Month, St. Patrick’s Day, Kwanzaa and many more.  A wide variety of children’s musicians, singer/songwriters, puppeteers, storytellers, dancers and other artists share their talents during the events.

“Early arts education is important to help develop skills such as empathy, confidence, creativity, and social and emotional development,” stated Angela Colton, the museum’s Executive Director.  “Seeing a performer at the museum may be a child’s first time engaging with the arts.  There are so many talented artists in our region and we are honored that this grant will help us bring them to our community.”

The museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 2001, with a mission to create opportunities that educate, empower, and excite children and families through play while inspiring a lifelong sense of wonder and discovery.  Additional information and event details are available online at www.woodlandschildrensmuseum.org.  October hours are Tuesdays from 10am-12pm, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am-2pm, and Fridays and Saturdays from 10am-4pm.  The museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays.  Admission is $7 for guests over age one, or free with membership.  The Woodlands Children’s Museum is located in the Panther Creek Village Center at 4775 W. Panther Creek Drive, The Woodlands, Texas 77381. 

Cooler weather means fall events heat up at north Houston’s City Place with an exciting line-up of happenings, including the inaugural Día de los Muertos festival, Halloween activities, outdoor fitness programming, plus smooth sounds and happy hour eats during the Friday Night Live series. October also sees the return of Children’s Story Time, Sunday Strolls, and photography classes to City Place Plaza, located at 1250 Lake Plaza Drive, Spring, TX, 77389.

A four-day celebration of Día de los Muertos kicks off on Thursday, October 28 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the alfresco Black Dinner on The Plaza. With limited, ticketed seating for just 50, the delectably elegant evening overlooking waterfront City Place Park will officially unveil the traditional altar to honor past loved ones and feature intricate Catrina face painting and a four-course menu with wine pairings created by acclaimed Mexican chef/restaurateur Eduardo Palazuelos (Zibu Allende and Yintony Bar in San Miguel de Allende, Mar del Zur in Monterrey and Zibu and Mario Canario in Acapulco), in collaboration with Houston culinary veteran David Cordua of soon-to-open The Lymbar, a Latin/Mediterranean restaurant and craft cocktail bar in Midtown’s The Ion. Priced at $150 per person.


It’s a party on City Place Plaza, Friday, October 29 from 5 until 9 p.m. with Calacas & Cocktails. Come for margaritas (cash bar) and live music and stay for the Candlelight Procession with mojigangas (giant puppets) to the traditional altar at 8 p.m. While free to attend, a ticketed option for $35 per person includes limited VIP access – beginning at 6:30 pm – to the specially decorated, poolside Canopy Salon at the adjacent Houston City Place Marriott, where 30 guests will receive a welcome cocktail, floral crown, and candle kit for the procession, plus enjoy Catrina face painting.

The Mercado takes over the City Place Plaza on Saturday, October 30 from noon to 10 p.m. Shop of a variety of curated Mexican folk-art vendors and artisans showcasing an assortment of upscale accessories, art, jewelry, clothing, handcrafted ornaments, and more in elaborate stalls. Experience traditional music and DJs including Latin Strings on Fire, Mango Punch, Bamuaya and Hues, alongside face painters, photo opportunities, and kids’ activities throughout the day, as well as the weekend’s second public Candlelight Procession with mojigangas to the altar at 8 p.m. The event is free to attend, but a ticketed option for $35 provides VIP access to the Canopy Salon at the Houston City Place Marriott from 6:30 to 9 pm, where 30 guests will receive a welcome cocktail, floral crown, and candle kit for the procession, in addition to intricate Catrina face painting.

The four-day engagement wraps up on Sunday, October 31 with a Family Movie Night screening of the Pixar classic, CoCo starting at 6 p.m. on The Plaza complimentary face painting and activities for kids, followed by the screening at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free. RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line, “Remember Me.”

Make a night or weekend of Dia de los Muertos at City Place’s three onsite hotels. The AAA Four Diamond Houston City Place Marriott features up to 20% when you stay two nights or more and starting rates from $149 per room, plus additional perks for Black Dinner ticket holders. At the nearby Residence Inn Houston Springwoods Village, the Snacks On Us package offers overnight rates starting at $129 with a $10 snacks credit, and the Courtyard Houston Springwoods Village Room and Breakfast package begins at $104 a night.

Feed your sweet tooth throughout October at Common Bond Bistro & Bakery with a variety of seasonal treats. Enjoy pumpkin croissants starting October 15, as well as Halloween and Día De Los Muertos cakes, created by cake artist, Sarah Ono Jones, winner of the competitive baking show, Halloween Wars. Be the star of the Halloween party with a scary skeleton cake or other unique items. To pre-order beginning October 6, visit the Common Bond Bistro & Bakery at www.commonbondbistro.com.

Friday Night Live kicks off the month on Friday, October 1. The bi-weekly event shines a spotlight on local musicians with extended happy hour specials starting at $3 from restaurants on and around The Plaza from 6 to 9 p.m. Multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Kyle Mathis will be the featured guest for the first show of the month, playing classic rock and country tunes. The Evelyn Rubio Duo lay down their take on blues and R&B on October 15. Picnic blankets and lawn chairs are welcome!

The Plaza’s Sunday Strolls series, featuring live music and activities on the green from 5:30 to 8 p.m., will return on Sunday, October 10 with blues and classic rock sounds courtesy of the Eric Demmer Duo. Enjoy the classic rock and pop sounds of Felix Luna on Sunday, October 24.

Are dragons good pets? How fast do they fly? Get all the answers when the Raya, the dragon princess from beloved children’s film, Raya and the Last Dragon, visits The Plaza on Friday, October 8 for Children’s Story Time at 6 p.m. She’ll share her tale of saving her father Chief Benja and Kumandra’s Heart Land from the stone plague using the Dragon Gem. Following that, she’ll be available for photos. Costumes are welcome and encouraged.

Photographers of all skill levels enjoy free classes conducted by the Houston Center for Photography at City Place each month with October’s session slated for Saturday the 23rd at 10 a.m. This month’s focus “Composition Basics: Line, Shape, and Texture.” will showcase framing and how to incorporate line, shape, and texture to create outstanding images. All camera types are suitable for this workshop. Space is limited; to reserve your spot, visit https://hcponline.org/education/cityplace-photography-workshop/.

Cooler temperatures make City Place Plaza a perfect place to achieve health and wellness goals with a variety of programming options. Camp Gladiator spotlights its popular HIIT regimen every Monday and Wednesday at 5:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and on Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. Fit4Mom Stroller Barre welcomes new mothers and their babies on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. A complimentary yoga/mediation session is featured every Saturday at 10 a.m. Or try the new Sphere Powa soccer influenced workout every Thursday at 6 p.m. Camp Gladiator and Fit4Mom Stroller Barre are free for the first session with memberships available for ongoing attendance. Sphere is priced at $17 per month.

Market Street – The Woodlands is looking for a special child or deserving family to flip the switch that will light the shopping, dining and entertainment destination’s 70-foot Christmas tree as part of its Market Street in Lights on Thursday, November 18.

Nominations currently are being accepted for this year’s Market Street “Lighting Luminary,” a child or family who has overcome incredible odds, made a significant contribution to the community, or perhaps helped someone in need.  The selected “Lighting Luminary” will be on stage to illuminate Market’s Street’s giant Christmas tree and launch its amazing, three-minute light show synchronized to signature holiday songs.

Sponsored Texas Children’s Hospital – The Woodlands, “Market Street in Lights” will attract hundreds to witness the first “performance” of Market Street’s Christmas tree and the more than 25,000 multi-colored lights adorning the destination’s Central Park.  “Market Street in Lights” presentation will continue nightly throughout the holiday season.

To nominate a deserving child or family, visit the Market Street website at https://shopatmarketstreet.com, download the Luminary Nomination Form and describe why a child/family should serve as the Official Lighting Luminary for Market Street in Lights.

All submissions must arrive at the Market Street management office no later than October 22.  Instructions for submission can be found on the nomination form.