Houston is known for many wacky things: our fascination with fajitas; our H-Town Strong ability to withstand even the toughest, hottest and wettest of Mother Nature’s occasional downpours; and even our ability to excel in sports. However, nothing is as Houston-centric as the annual Art Car Parade, which takes place Saturday.
“The Art Car Parade is this wonderful, gigantic thing with a 38-year history. About 280 cars will be in it this year, and over 300,000 people will show up,” said Jack Massing, executive director of The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art.
Nearing its fourth decade of existence, the Houston Art Car Parade will roll through the city’s streets, greeted by thousands of eager fans cheering on the close to 250 entries. The parade’s official start is at Dallas (inbound Allen Parkway) and Bagby, where it will head into downtown, taking a left onto Smith, circling around City Hall onto Walker, then cutting a left onto Bagby, and finally taking a right onto Lamar (outbound Allen Parkway). The parade will continue along Allen Parkway until dispersing at Waugh Drive. As always, the parade is free to attend.
The 38th annual Houston Art Car Parade presented by Team Gillman at 2 p.m. on Allen Parkway and Downtown Houston. Simultaneously, the VIPit Experience takes place from 12-4 p.m. at Hermann Square, 901 Bagby, where guests can enjoy more expensive seating, bars and food.
While the parade is a Houston staple, there are a few new features to keep things interesting. The party doesn’t stop at the parade. The organization is capping off the celebration with the Official Art Car After Party at Market Square Park from 5–9 p.m. Expect live music, lawn games, bubble stations and family-friendly fun, plus a glowing cruise through Downtown as dozens of art cars light up the night.
“Each year, the Art Car Parade is a jam-packed weekend filled with creativity, community activism and a belief in the artist in everyone,” said Tommy Pace, executive director of the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, the organizer of the parade.
To see an art car is to gain a glimpse into the imagination of someone’s creativity, and just like a bumper sticker, it is a foray into the psychological threads that constitute a person’s essence.
“We’re a really disparate bunch of people, but our Venn diagram intersection of Art Car is really strong,” said Rebecca Lowe, president of Houston Art Car Klub. “Once you start driving an art car, there is no going back.”
As ubiquitous as the Art Car Parade is, most people do not realize that it is nearly a completely volunteer run event. It is the largest free cultural event in the city, and it takes place at the footsteps of City Hall, which underscores how important this event is to the identity of Houston.
“It’s a special thing for an arts organization to be able to draw that kind of an audience,” Pace said.
From 17 cars in year one to more than 300 cars and taking over a major thoroughfare in Houston, the Art Car Parade has never stopped making Houston fun, funky and fabulous.
The participants also give their full-throated support to the cause.
“Houston is unique for having real art cars…daily drivers…that you see all the time,” said Gary Hunt, a mechanic at the Art Car Museum.
That same sentiment was shared by one of this year’s featured artists, Henry Chang.
“I certainly did not expect this big underground subculture,” said Chang. “This is not something that mainstream people do…decorate their cars in this manner…and I’m happy about it because it says to me that there is something larger at work.”
While the event is meant to show off the creativity of art car enthusiasts, it also serves as an opportunity to fund future development in the visual arts. Each year, the organization donates more than $15,000 in award cash in a show of support for artists.
The Art Car Parade is a spectacle, and it includes everything from fire-breathing dragons to a portable potty on wheels. As long as the entry has wheels that roll, it counts as a qualified entry.
Don’t miss out; join the party and celebrate this uniquely Houston event this weekend.
The 38th annual Houston Art Car Parade takes place Saturday at 2 p.m. on Allen Parkway and Downtown Houston. Simultaneously, the VIPit Experience takes place from 12-4 p.m. at Hermann Square, 901 Bagby. For information or to purchase tickets, visit thehoustonartcarparade.com. The Art Car Parade is free to attend; the VIPit’s adult admission starts at $250.
