Best Things to Do in Houston This Weekend

Weekends don’t get any more summer than a teen concert, a trip to South Beach and going for a dip at Wet’n’Wild Splashtown. Keep reading to see this weekend’s best bets:

Hit songs “Shot Down” and “Young, Dumb and Broke” are just two of Khalid’s other best hits off his debut album, American Teen. Credit: Photo courtesy of Tickemaster

Khalid the American Teen Tour at Revention Music Center
Friday, 7 p.m.
520 Texas

All songs aren’t created equal. For 19-year-old Khalid Robinson, “Location” went from SoundCloud buzzmaker to national smash hit thanks in part to Kylie Jenner’s Snapchat. The El Paso native translated his newfound fame and success into a solid, ’80s pop-centric debut album in American Teen and, finally, his own headlining show this Friday at Revention Music Center. For information, call 713-225-8551 or visit reventionmusiccenter.com. $110 to $130.

Film still of opening night’s flick Hello Again sure does set a steamy precedent for the rest of the series to follow. Credit: Film still courtesy of QFest

QFest 2017: The 21st Annual Houston International LGBTQ Film Festival at Multiple Locations
Friday, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The 21st annual festival kicks off this Thursday evening with a series of films to follow throughout the weekend. Friday’s lineup has The Fabulous Allan Carr, reminding us all of the flurried ’70s and the fabulous thumbprint Carr left behind on the decade, shown at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; followed by In a Glass Cage at Rice Media Center. For information, call 713348-4853 or visit q-fest.com. $10.

Your inner astronomy nerd will thank you after you check out this meteor shower. Credit: Photo by Bill Ingalls, NASA

Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower Party at Brazos Bookstore
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
2421 Bissonnet

Space rules, but it sometimes feels inaccessible. During the meteor shower, Brazos Bookstore will livestream the annual bling-blinging of the star Delta in the Aquarius constellation during an event that includes a meteor-showers chit-chat by Dr. Christopher Johns-Krull of Rice University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy. For information, call 713-523-0701 or visit brazosbookstore.com. Free.

Houston Shakespeare Festival presents Twelfth Night through August 6 at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Credit: Photo by Brian Boeckman

Houston Shakepeare Festival presents Twelfth Night at Miller Outdoor Theatre
Friday, 8:15 p.m.
6000 Hermann Park

A young woman ends up shipwrecked on a foreign coast, her twin brother presumed dead in the disaster. This being a William Shakespeare play, there are plenty of complications to come of this, but of the elegantly elaborate kind. She disguises herself as a boy and goes to work for Duke Orsino, only to fall in love with him. This is where Shakespeare really shines; the drama unfolds as the love between these two is complicated by plot twists that we won’t reveal. You’ll have to head to Miller Outdoor Theatre to learn the tale of these two. For information, visit houstonfestivalscompany.com or milleroutdoortheatre.com. Free.

Something tells us this multicolored piece will make you feel like an anime character in the middle of Dr. Seuss’s Whoville. Credit: Photo courtesy of Anya Tish Gallery

Houston Museum District’s Zone 3 Experience at Multiple Locations
Saturday, 10 a.m.

Houstonians hate walking, especially during the summer, but the attractions within the three-block area of the Houston Museum District’s Zone 3 Experience will leave you smarter (and cooler) for it. The tour includes complimentary entry to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston; and the Jung Center, all of which will feature special programming for the annual summer event. For information, call 713-715-1939 or visit houstonmuseumdistrict.org. Free.

Richard III, manipulative, powerful and vengeful, but quite charming once you get to know him. Credit: Photo by Brian Boeckman

Houston Shakespeare Festival presents Richard III at Miller Outdoor Theatre
Saturday, 8:15 p.m.
6000 Hermann Park

As seen by William Shakespeare, Richard III was a scheming, power-hungry man, crippled in body, who used and discarded most anyone who entered his life. And yet there’s something likable about him. He is able, for instance, to persuade Lady Anne to marry him even though he killed her father and husband. Watch as a man who is physically crippled and depends on the support of his crutches exercises power and tactical manipulation, all before Game of Thrones came along. For information, visit houstonfestivalscompany.com or milleroutdoortheatre.com. Free.

South Beach is every cool kid’s play land. Credit: Photo by Jack Gorman

Willam of RuPaul’s Drag Race at South Beach
Saturday, 9 p.m.
810 Pacific

Willam, who was first introduced to us on RuPaul’s Drag Race, is now a star all his own. Willam now has nearly 700,000 followers on Instagram and close to 800,000 subscribed viewers on YouTube, with both numbers still rising. This catty, sassy, sharp-tongued diva will be at South Beach this Saturday night for a party that doesn’t stop until the wee hours of the morning. Or until you’re asked to sashay away, because it seems this sashay-ee has become the sashay-er. For information, call 713-529-7623 or visit southbeachnightclub.com. Free before 10 p.m.

Wet’n’Wild is perfect for hot summer days, complete with a lazy river and wave pool to boot. Credit: Photo courtesy of Wet'n'Wild SplashTown

Texas Fest at Wet’n’Wild Splashtown
Sunday, 10 a.m.
21300 Interstate 45

Splish, splash, it’s a water bash with Wet’n’Wild SplashTown’s Texas Fest, a family-friendly party with all the 80-acre park’s great rides. Slide down the six-story-tall Alien Chaser, get dizzy on the Big Spin or catch the waves on FlowRider. Or if you prefer, kick back and relax in the Paradise River. Marketing director Rosie Shepard backs it up by saying, “We offer a lot for everyone. We’re Houston’s largest water park.” Plus, the park has teamed up with Rudy’s BBQ to offer some good eats. Since it wouldn’t be Texas without a little twang, local group The Justin Taylor Band will perform at 1 and 3 p.m. on the Wave Pool concert stage. For information, call 281-355-3300 or visit wetnwildsplashtown.com. $32.99 to $45.99.

Catch other artists, like LeCrae, Baby Bash and local hitmaker Propain, at this year’s DUB show. Credit: Photo courtesy of DUB Magazine

Monster Energy Dub Show at NRG Park
Sunday, 12 p.m.
One NRG Park

Wondering about the vibe of DUB magazine’s Monster Energy DUB Show, currently traveling all over the country? Check this out: “Had a blazt tha atmosphere was live, tha women and tha carz waz on point, and tha performances waz 2 Turntup,” wrote an unidentified attendee on the Ticketmaster site. (Sounds pretty chill.) The traveling custom car show features hundreds of hot wheels. Also featured are performances by Gucci Mane, LeCrae, Slim Thug, Baby Bash and our favorite auto-themed nom de guerre, Propain, a Houston-based rapper who will perform his hits “2 Rounds” and “Got a Problem.” For information, call 832-667-1400 or visit dubshowtour.com. $25 to $100.

Dorothy wouldn’t be complete without her infamous red glittered heels. Credit: Photo by Tom Brown

The Wizard of Oz at Stageworks Theatre
Sunday, 3 p.m.
10760 Grant

Drumroll, please. The final production of Stageworks Theatre is The Wizard of Oz. Enjoy the nostalgia that Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and even the Wicked Witch bring with them. All characters will be brought to life and carried out with a full Munchkinland to match. Now let’s hope the Wicked Witch takes our posted street signs seriously and decides not to “mess with Texas” after she takes her swing at Dorothy. For information, call 281-685-6374, or visit stageworkshouston.org. $20 to $31.

Sam Byrd, Brandon Caldwell, Margaret Downing and Steve Jansen contributed to this post.