Everything You Absolutely Must Do in Houston This Summer

Bring a blanket, picnic, and box of wine (no glass allowed) to Miller Outdoor Theatre and catch a totally free performance of musical fantasy All Shook Up, which travels back to 1955 with the hip-swiveling sounds of Elvis Presley.
Cost: Free, with open seating on the hill and zero-dollar seated tickets available at the box office

Squat, plank, and work on your summer body during a free, hour-long sweat sesh set to your favorite Broadway tunes at Market Square Park. The event is held every second and last Tuesday of the month through August.
Cost: Free

The Feast of Saint Arnold features four courses -- fish, red meat, poultry, and pork -- all served simultaneously and family-style just like you’d imagine in Game of Thrones accept without the terrifying band of White Walkers trying to end mankind. You’ll get to pair your whole roasted snapper, beer-can chickens, and blackened ribeyes with any of the brewery’s regular beers, plus a few specials tapped for the evening. Show up at 5pm for hors d’oeuvres and aperitif beers; the Feast will commence promptly at 5:45. The annual event raises funds for Texas Children’s Hospital’s Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center.
Cost: Reservations are $135 each and include all food and beer, plus a sweet ceramic drinking mug

Market Square Park’s bingo event continues through summer’s end. Bring a blanket or lawn chair or show up early to snag one of the tables and prepare yourself to yell “BINGO” way too excitedly in front of a bunch of strangers. 6-9pm, with Bingo starting at 7.
Cost: $10 admission includes one bingo packet (approx 9 games); additional games and daubers can be purchased for $1 each

Every summer, the Houston Museum of Natural Science puts on Mixers & Elixirs socials, opening up its doors for an evening of live music, dancing, booze and food truck eats. Doors open at 7pm and the event is 21-and-up.
Cost: $25 ($15 for members)

Dating back to mid-19th century New York City, a Beefsteak is a formal, beef-heavy banquet where plates, utensils, and napkins ain’t allowed.And now, B&B Butchers is continuing the tradition. The bar opens at noon with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, and lunch will be served at 12:30 with a four-course, 12-item dining experience, live variety band, and silent auction and a raffle. Use your hands to feast on sliced beef tenderloin with demi glace, house fries, horseradish cream and mac’ n cheese balls. Attire is dressy casual (don’t worry, you’ll have an apron).
Cost: $95

The 4th annual Galveston Island Brewing Pub Crawl hits the historic Strand, with stops at The Tremont Houses' 1888 Toujouse Lobby Bar, Sound Bar, Brews Brothers, Tsunami Exotic Tequila Emporium, The Proletariat Gallery and Public House, and a final stop and after-party at Stuttgarden Tavern (at its new location next to Saengerfest Park). The event runs from 5 to 9pm and is 21-and-up only.
Cost: Free, plus the cost of beers and bites

Discovery Green’s monthly market pop-up rocks cheeky kitsch, vintage items, mid-century modern furniture, and crafts from local artisans and designers. The flea takes place on the third Saturday of every month unless affected by weather. 6-10pm.
Cost: Free to attend, not free to spend

Bring a blanket for a twilight showing of this 1986 American coming-of-age dramedy at Market Square Park. The flick begins at 8:30pm.
Cost: Free

Head to the HCC West Loop Campus to fill up on fajitas, tacos and micheladas at this third annual festival. The day will feature a Taco and Jalapeno Eating Contest, live art walls, kids area and playground, DJs and more from 1-8pm.
Cost: Free to attend, with plenty of food and drink available for purchase

White Oak Music Hall will host Beer Fest 2018, a beer-fueled event featuring a variety of craft suds, art, food trucks, live music and a party on the lawn area and and parking lot.
Cost: $10 for all-day admission

Hit up House of Blues for the return of its Local Brews, Local Grooves event, showcasing over 20 local craft breweries, 40+ beers and rare releases, local bands and DJs, brew-inspired pub food pairings and whole lotta party. The party starts at 3pm.
Cost: $15 for general admission, $25 with a tasting wristband, $65 for VIP

Head to the The Citadel Houston and live the good life at Houston’s largest annual whiskey tasting. The evening runs from 7 to 9:30pm will feature 350+ whiskies from around the world, select single-barrel offerings, and fine food to go alongside (because you’re definitely going to want that).
Cost: $75 for general admission (includes access to tastings, master classes and gourmet bites while supplies last), $135 for VIP (includes hour early admission and access to limited expressions)

Houston Restaurant Weeks returns, raising funds for the Houston Food Bank through Labor Day. The site will go live with the list of participating restaurants on July 15, but you can expect over 250 participants serving multi-course prix fixe menus for brunch, lunch, and dinner.
Cost: $20 to $45

All month long, delis from across the nation will be participating in National Deli Month, offering three-course menus and raising funds for charity. Both locations of Kenny & Ziggy’s will be getting down, with its prix fixe menu benefitting the Holocaust Museum Houston. Chomp on goodies like stuffed kishka, matzo ball soup, Roumanian steak, and 7-layer cake.
Cost: $37

Hit the 200 and 300 blocks of 19th Street to sip, shop, peruse art and mingle from 6 to 10pm. Those looking for the after-party will find celebrations continuing throughout the 'hood, particularly along White Oak.
Cost: Free to walk-around

Fluff Bake Bar’s "Thursday Night Take Over" series continues with chef Claudette Zepeda-Wilkins of San Diego regional Mexican eatery, El Jardin. The monthly chef pop-up invites guest chefs from around the country to create a three-to-four item available a la carte, and Fluff’s Rebecca Masson will create a special dessert to complement it. No tickets or reservations are required, but those looking for something special can snag one of the four “chef’s table” seats available for purchase at 6 and 7:30pm. The event runs from 6 to 9pm.
Cost: A la carte, with optional wine pairings and specialty beer from Houston’s Saint Arnold available

Market Square Park’s bingo event continues through summer’s end. Bring a blanket or lawn chair or show up early to snag one of the tables and prepare yourself to yell “BINGO” way too excitedly in front of a bunch of strangers. 6-9pm, with Bingo starting at 7.
Cost: $10 admission includes one bingo packet (approx 9 games); additional games and daubers can be purchased for $1 each

The Houston Food Fest will bring 70+ local vendors, trucks, restaurants and pop-ups to Hermann Square Park, offering everything from pizza in a cone and bao buns to ice cream tacos alongside live music and interactive games. The all-day event runs from noon to 10pm.
Cost: $5 admission with food and drink available for purchase

Bring a blanket or lawn chair for a twilight showing of this cult classic at Market Square Park. The flick begins at 8:30pm.
Cost: Free

One of the area’s most elite beer festivals returns to Galveston’s Moody Gardens, offering events from the BrewHaha Grand Tasting (Saturday) and Brew-B-Que (Sunday) to the Nach-Yo Ordinary Tequila Tasting (Friday).
Cost: $30 for the tequila tasting, $35 ($15 designated driver) for the grand tasting, $85 ($40 for designated driver) for VIP access, $23 for the Bar-B-Que, $135 for the Saturday and Sunday hopper, and $165 for the full weekender pass

Fluff Bake Bar’s "Thursday Night Take Over" series continues again, this time with Aaron Hoskins and Sarah Simmons of Columbia, S.C. The monthly chef pop-up invites guest chefs from around the country to create a three-to-four item available a la carte, and Fluff’s Rebecca Masson will create a special dessert to complement it. No tickets or reservations are required, but those looking for something special can snag one of the four “chef’s table” seats available for purchase at 6 and 7:30pm. The event runs from 6 to 9pm.
Cost: A la carte, with optional wine pairings and specialty beer from Houston’s Saint Arnold available

Details are TBD, but the date is set for the Texas Taco Music Fest and Texas Taco Mania Dynamic Duo. The taco throwdown will take place at Discovery Green.
Cost: $10 for general admission

A 14-count lineup of Houston's greatest pitmasters will compete for smoked meat glory at this fourth annual event, hosted by the Houston Barbecue Festival and Saint Arnold Brewing Company. For now, participating BBQ joints include spots like the 2017 Judge’s co-winners Beaver's Westheimer and El Burro & the Bull, as well as Blood Bros. BBQ, Buck's Barbeque Co, Feges BBQ, Harlem Road Texas BBQ, The Pit Room, Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue and Victorian's Barbecue. The throwdown goes down from 1 to 4pm at Saint Arnold.
Cost: $65 for general admission, $130 for VIP

Head to Chapman & Kirby to taste as Houston chefs bring out their banh mi A-game for a heated banh mi competition. The chefs will battle for People's Choice and Judges' Choice, both presented at the end of the evening. 6:30-9:30pm.
Cost: Early bird tickets are $25 and include food and bite-sized dessert