Best Things to Do in Houston This Weekend — Greek Fest, Major Concerts and Moonlight Moments

Houston weekends are packed full of events, but how many of them are truly worthy of your time? PaperCity’s new events calendar offers a curated look at all the best things to do in the area. But everyone can still use a guru — or two.

PaperCity Weekend Gurus Matthew Ramirez and Virginia Reynolds cull our calendar for your weekend must dos in this weekly series.

53rd Original Greek Festival

One of the biggest and most cherished Houston events is back. That’s right, the weekend of the Greek Festival has finally arrived after a year’s-worth of anticipation.

Whether you’re just now getting over your Greek food-and-drink hangover from last year, or have dutifully prepped and readied yourself throughout the year, you don’t want to miss this coveted annual tradition.

You can be sure that the four day festival will include some of the best Greek bites and drinks in town, but it will also bring in vendors and displays for shopping, Greek dance performances, and live music every evening from The Golden Greek. The newly renovated Cathedral will also be open for tours, so don’t miss the opportunity to view and learn more about the exquisite sanctuary.

The festival commences on Thursday, October 3 and runs through Sunday, October 6. Tickets are $5 at the gate for adults; children 12 and under are admitted for free.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

14th Annual Heights Bicycle Rally and Scavenger Hunt

If you’re feeling extra sporty this weekend, or are just looking for an excuse to head to the bustling Heights (do you need an excuse?), then this one’s for you.

The Heights will be hosting its 14th Annual Heights Bicycle Rally and Scavenger Hunt this Saturday, October 5, beginning and ending at Marmion Park. So stretch and hop on your bike to take part in this neighborhood-wide event. The entire course is 15 miles, but if you’re no Lance Armstrong, fear not – you can opt for the shorter and simpler three mile course.

If you’re yearning to participate but are lacking the key ingredient (ahem, a bike), you’re in luck! Houston BCycle will allow you to borrow any one their bikes at no charge.

There will be a kickoff party at Eureka Heights Brewery the night before the event, so load up on that beer, wine, food and cider before the next morning’s ride.

Tickets to the kickoff party are $50 for adults, and $20 for children. The Bicycle Rally is $30 for the 15-miler and $20 for the three miler.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

Moonlight at the Moody

The summer of space never ends (now it’s stretching into Fall), and we’re OK with that. I’m sure we can all agree that any invitation to celebrate Houston’s ingenuity and greatness is a welcome one.

This Saturday, October 5, Rice University’s Moody Center for the Arts will be hosting a special night to celebrate its exhibition Moon Shot, which spotlights lunar inspired works from artists dating back to 1969. Expect the free event to be enlightening, educational and entertaining. Expect expert talks from a number of Rice University professors and NASA professionals, a film screening of A Trip to the Moon with music accompaniment from the university’s acclaimed Shepherd School of Music, as well as a film screening of Apollo 11.

You’ll also be able to take a look at the moon through telescopes, enjoy bites from local food trucks, participate in games, and purchase drinks from the cash bar.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

Lizzo

I saw hometown hero Lizzo, a then-buzzing underground singer/rapper, a few years ago upstairs at White Oak Music Hall. I didn’t know who she was but my friend passed me a ticket and we ended up in the back of a small room as she sang her heart out to a packed audience.

I thought she was cool but could not have imagined the success of where Lizzo is now – a bonafide star with a No. 1 song, millions of listeners on YouTube and Spotify, and the type of fame that causes controversy without her even really trying (she apologized to that Postmates delivery woman, for those not in the know).

The Houston star (one of an exciting crop, joining the ranks of Megan Thee Stallion, Travis Scott, and Maxo Kream) plays Revention Music Center this Friday, October 4, with doors opening at 7 pm. Ticket prices vary. -Matthew Ramirez

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

Cuco

The progeny of Mexican immigrants, the California-based Cuco is rewriting the rules of aspiring pop musicians. The 21-year-old is an unlikely but welcome star, whose bilingual intimate bedroom pop shimmers with the influences of artists like Toro y Moi, Mac DeMarco and even Pharrell.

He signed an eye-popping seven-figure deal with Interscope and dropped his solid, fun major label debut Para Mi early this summer. Cuco plays the sprawling lawn at White Oak Music Hall this Friday, October 4. Doors open at 6 pm; tickets start at $26. -Matthew Ramirez

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

J. Balvin

Reggaeton star J. Balvin returns to Houston this weekend, playing Sugar Land’s Smart Financial Centre Saturday, October 5. While his appearance at 2018’s Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo left a little to be desired, Balvin’s reputation has only gone up since then. First when he landed a feature on that year’s song of the summer “I Like It” with Cardi B and Bad Bunny, then on his record Vibras, which was a stunning, progressive pop record that didn’t betray his roots at the expense of a crossover attempt.

Now that J. Balvin’s big enough to protest the Latin Grammys and dance onstage at the MTV Video Music Awards, it’s safe to say he’s earned his pop star bonafides. The show gets underway at 8 pm; tickets start at $59. -Matthew Ramirez

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

The Raconteurs

The Raconteurs sprung to life in the middle of last decade, while Jack White’s main concern, The White Stripes, were still existent and releasing great albums. They dropped two albums and disappeared. Yet they went away long enough for their return to be exciting, evidenced by the surprisingly vital-sounding and enthralling Help Us Stranger, released in the dog days of summer.

It’s good to have them back. They’ll be at Revention Music Center this Saturday, October 5. -Matthew Ramirez

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

James Blake

James Blake emerged at the dawn of the decade, one of a handful of “dubstep” artists that came on the scene before the term was synonymous with big bass drops and Skrillex – when the music still pulled from the two-step of UK garage, the physical bass of dub, and a hip-hop-influenced love of sampling.

His early music is essential, the chopped-not-slopped approach to textures on a trio of EPs CMYK, The Bells Sketch, and Klavierwerke sounded like nothing else at the time, and still do. As he progressed his songwriting became more linear, reaching its peak with this year’s Assume Form, a record that’s puppy-eyed in its songwriting, frequently dips into sappiness, yet is undeniable, particularly on the giant choruses of songs like “Can’t Believe the Way We Flow,” “Power On,” and “I’ll Come Too.”

Blake will be at House of Blues this Sunday, October 6. Doors open at  7 pm; tickets $35. -Matthew Ramirez

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

Wu-Tang Clan

Wu-Tang Clan need no introduction: the nine-member rap group from the ’90s that redefined hip-hop and expanded what the genre could do were for a long time genuinely great and innovative, with at least two classics to their name, and individual members like Ghostface Killah, GZA and Raekwon all dropping solo records that are landmarks of hip-hop and hold up to this day.

It’s a shame their legacy is one of white guys in beanies thinking ODB was merely hilarious, but between a great Showtime docu-series from this year and the current fictionalized origin myth as shown of Hulu’s excellent Wu-Tang: An American Saga, they’re starting to write their own story themselves. They celebrate the 25th anniversary of their classic debut Enter the Wu-Tang at Smart Financial Centre Sunday, October 6.

Show at 7:30 pm; tickets start at $59.50. -Matthew Ramirez

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

Natalia Lafourcade

Before Cuco, before Kali Uchis, before Rosalia, there was Natalia Lafourcade, the Mexico City singer/songwriter who melded indie rock influences into beautiful pop sounds throughout the first decade of this century and onward (her 2015 record Hasta la Raiz is essential). She brings her gorgeous songwriting to Revention Music Center Wednesday, October 9. Doors open at 7 pm; tickets start at $69.50. -Matthew Ramirez

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

The Astros

As if it needs any introduction, this weekend marks the start of the Houston Astros’ postseason run. With homefield advantage locked up through the World Series, the road to the title runs through Houston. The one-two punch of Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole at the top of the rotation is only rivaled in modern baseball history by Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, except this Astros team also hits like the 1927 Yankees.

They host the Tampa Bay Rays starting this Friday, October 4, 1:05 pm, at Minute Maid Park, and play again Saturday night October 5 at home. This should be an exciting and fun-filled few weeks for Houstonians so strap in and watch the Astros take it back. -Matthew Ramirez

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

Don’t Miss…

The Indian Film Festival of Houston, Friday, October 4 and Saturday, October 5, at Asia Society Texas Center … Da Camera kicks off its 2019-2020 season Friday with the debut of the John Scofield Quartet at Wortham Theatre … Glasstire‘s Data Hack will reward $5,000 to an artist who masters art and data, at Rice University’s Sewall Hall Saturday and Sunday, October 5 and 6.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.