Its been more than ten years now since the Bayou City Art Festival busted out of Montrose (when it was known as the Fall Westheimer Arts Festival) and landed downtown, where it attracts more and more visitors every year. Its now ranked in the top 50 of the 200 Best Art Festivals in the U.S., according to Sunshine Artist Magazine. Much more than an excuse to drink beer during the day, the juried event hosts 300 artists working in 19 mediums. Shop for paintings, jewelry, sculpture and leather goods from the selected sellers, or test the mettle of your progeny in the Creative Zone, where kids can choose from a slew of activities that may yield a masterpiece. This year, volunteers from the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft will be teaching children the art of origami; kids can decorate their own mini art cars with folks from the Orange Show; and the Art Colony Association will show youngsters how to make wax hands (Ouch!). 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hermann Square at City Hall, 901 Bagby. For information, call 713-521-0133 or visit
www.bayoucityartfestival.com. $10; kids 12 and under, free.
Sat., Oct. 13, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., Oct. 14, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 2007