Houston Gay Events | Festivals, Parades & Marathons

My Gay Houston lists Houston-area annual events month by month, from January through April and beyond. Events include the Chevron Houston Marathon, the MLK Grande Parade, Galveston Mardi Gras, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Black Queer AF Music Festival, Bunnies on the Bayou, the HRC Houston Dinner, and the Art Car Parade. Many events support LGBTQ+ communities and causes, including HIV/AIDS services and civil rights.

January February March April May June July August September October November December January Chevron Houston Marathon January 14, 2024 This annual 26.2, 13.1 and 3.1 mile run begins and ends at Downtown’s George R. Brown Convention Center, letting runners see all the beauty the city has to offer. The race has steadily grown to attract more than 20,000 entrants from around the world and thousands upon thousands of spectators handing out cheers and sustenance for all the runners. Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Grande Parade January 15, 2024 This annual parade celebrating the civil rights leader marches through the heart of Houston and draws more than 300,000 supporters from around the nation. The parade will take place in Midtown Houston, starting on San Jacinto Street & Elgin Street beginning 10 a.m. To register for the parade or for more information visit www.mlkgrandeparade.org or call 713-560-8328. –back to top– February Galveston Mardi Gras February 2 - 13, 2024 Mardi Gras! Galveston is the largest Mardi Gras celebration in Texas, attracting more than 300,000 attendees annually. The two-week celebration is best known for its lavish parades held on the streets of the city's historic downtown and beachfront. World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest February 22 – 24, 2024 The World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest is three days of cooking, competition, eating, and dancing. The sweet aroma drifts over the Houston metropolis, drawing crowds like bees to honey. It is the best way to celebrate and kick off Houston’s Livestock Show and Rodeo. Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo February 27 - March 17, 2024 Rodeo has been a tradition in Houston since 1932, and the three-week extravaganza at NRG Park continues to consume the city every spring. The kickoff for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ is the Rodeo Parade after trail riders ride into town and set up camp in Memorial Park.  All 20 championship rodeo competitions are concluded with entertainment by music superstars. While most go for the musical entertainment, the real stars are the kids competing in the Mutton Busting competition, which if you don’t know what is, we highly suggest you Google it before making your way to the Rodeo. –back to top– March Black Queer AF Music Festival March 14-17, 2024 Get ready to “party with a purpose” at The Normal Anomaly’s annual Black Queer AF Music Festival. The event features an amazing line-up of artists, attractions, various vendors, and community organizations present. Walk to End HIV: AIDS Walk Houston Date: TBD Join thousands of walkers on a 5k trek through Downtown and along Buffalo Bayou as they raise money for AIDS services in Houston. This is a popular fundraising event in Houston. The Diana Foundation Awards Show Date: TBD Houston's Diana Foundation is the oldest continually run gay organization in the country. Each spring the Dianas host their black tie awards ceremony which includes entertainment, dinner, and a "roast" of members. Bunnies on the Bayou 45 March 31, 2024 Bunnies on the Bayou is one of Houston’s best-attended LGBTQ events. The organization has raised a total of over $1.7 million for programs supporting underrepresented communities. Join the organization on Easter Sunday at Bunnies on the Bayou, the largest outdoor cocktail party in Texas. –back to top– April 2024 Human Rights Campaign Houston Dinner Date: April 6, 2024 The HRC Houston Gala gives the community the opportunity to support the nation's leading LGBT civil rights organization.  Celebrities, awards and a fantastic dinner are part of this annual event. The Orange Show's Houston Art Car Festival & Parade April 13, 2024 The oldest and largest parade of its type in the world takes over Houston each year for four full days of excitement and creativity. More than 250,000 spectators line downtown streets to view this parade, which showcases Houston’s most outlandish folk art creations on wheels. Truly a sight to see, the parade is produced by the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. –back to top– May Victory Fund Brunch Date: TBD The national organization responsible for getting LGBT candidates elected to office hosts one of Houston's most anticipated events of the year. The annual Victory Fund Champagne Brunch draws more than 500 members to toast LGBTQ political power and support LGBTQ candidates. Comicpalooza Date: TBD Comicpalooza is the largest annual, multi-genre, comic book, science fiction, anime, gaming, and pop-culture convention in the Southern United States and is held in Houston, Texas. With more than 2,000 hours of programming, you're sure to discover something for everyone in the family. –back to top– June Dining Out for Life Date: TBD Dining Out for Life is an annual dining fundraising event that raises money for AIDS service organizations across the country. Dozens of area restaurants participate in the event, donating a portion of proceeds from dining receipts that day to Allies in Hope, formerly AIDS Foundation Houston. Rainbow on the Green Date: TBD Grab a blanket and get a spot in front of the stage. Discovery Green hosts its Rainbow on the Green night with live music and performances from some of Houston’s finest drag queens in honor of Pride Month. Houston Pride Parade June 22, 2024 Pride Month just got a whole lot bigger in Houston. A new organization, New Faces of Pride, invites the LGBTQ+ community to join them in Downtown Houston for their inaugural Pride festival and parade this year! Houston Pride Parade June 29, 2024 The largest Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender event in the Southwest takes place each year during the Houston Pride Parade where more than 1,000 participants entertain hundreds of thousands of spectators with an empowering blend of light, color and sound with beautiful floats, costumes and performances. –back to top– July Shell Freedom Over Texas July 4, 2024 Houston’s official July 4th celebration takes place in Eleanor Tinsley Park at Buffalo Bayou and features live entertainment, food booths and a world-famous fireworks display. –back to top– August Houston Restaurant Weeks Dates: TBD Enjoy lunch and dinner specials at dozens of Houston's top restaurants. Multi-course, pre-fixed menus make this a must for any foodie. A portion of the proceeds from each meal go to the Houston Food Bank so there is no excuse not to explore the eclectic culinary. White Linen Night Date: TBD Join other Houstionians as you check out participating vendors of 19th Street and the surrounding area for a fun night out! From live music, art, and brews to shopping and supporting your local Houston businesses, come celebrate the annual music and art festival. Galveston Gay Beach Weekend August 30-31 & September 1, 2024 Grab your friends and head down to Galveston for the annual Gay Beach Weekend. A fun-filled weekend downtown and at the beach with music, volleyball, horseshoes, drinking, sunning and swimming. And with a whole host of events, Galveston will start to feel like your second home. –back to top– September Transgender Unity Banquet Date: TBD The Houston Transgender Unity Committee produces this annual banquet, which has become the largest event for the local transgender community. The banquet raises money for scholarships, Pride-related activities and other events. –back to top– October Out Smart Magazine Gayest and Greatest Awards Date: TBD Every year the city's top LGBTQ magazine conducts a reader's poll and names the best of the best in numerous categories, from local personalities to businesses, nightlife and more. This year’s winners will be announced in the magazine’s October issue and a celebration of all winners and finalists will commence mid-October. Texas Renaissance Festival Date: TBD Come be enchanted at the Texas Renaissance Festival which recreates an English village of the 16th century on the weekends. Magicians, jugglers, minstrels, troubadours and comedians perform on six stages. Jousting takes place throughout the day and the Queen requests your presence! The Original Greek Festival October 3-5, 2024 Celebrate Greek culture at the annual Houston Greek Festival on the grounds of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Authentic Greek food, wine, dancing and artifacts are fun for the entire family. Opa! Bayou City Art Festival Downtown Date: TBD The Bayou City Art Festival is Houston’s iconic art festival showcasing the works of 300 artists in 19 different categories at Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park in the spring and Bayou City Art Festival Downtown in the fall. –back to top– November 34th Annual Galleria Tree Lighting Saturday, November 11 Head to Uptown for The Galleria’s 34th Annual Ice Spectacular. The holiday tradition includes a 45-minute tree-lighting show with a performance by “The Voice” Season 21 contestant Jershika Maple. Don’t miss this lighting of the 55-foot Christmas tree, featuring 450,000 twinkling lights and 5,000 ornaments. Families and holiday enthusiasts are welcome to enjoy holiday activities throughout The Galleria beginning at 12 p.m. and the show will begin at 6 p.m. sharp! City Lights Downtown Holiday Magic November 17 - December 31, 2023 City Lights Downtown Holiday Magic is pulling out all the stops to transform Downtown Houston into the perfect winter wonderland with 11 unique themed villages. As part of this special program, various organizations and companies have gone all out to transform downtown Houston into the perfect winter wonderland, with 11 unique themed spots. Open to the public and mostly free to enter, these sites offer an ice skating rink, lights to gaze at, and activities to brighten the season for the whole family. If you come to Houston in November and December of this year, start exploring the city downtown and experience the magic of the holiday season. Zine Fest Houston November 18, 2023 Zine Fest Houston is an annual free event dedicated to promoting zines, mini-comics, and other forms of small press, alternative, underground, DIY media and art. It is also a grassroots attempt to build the local zine, DIY, and alternative media scenes and form networks with media creators in other areas. The goal of the event is for attendees to discover new zines and be inspired to create their own DIY art and media projects. City of Houston Thanksgiving Day Parade November 23, 2023 Houston’s Thanksgiving Day parade, one of the biggest in the country, remains a six-decade-old holiday tradition showcasing the Houston community and entertaining more than 200,000 parade-goers lining the streets Thanksgiving morning. –back to top– December Reliant Lights Mayor’s Holiday Spectacular Saturday, December 2, 2023 Mayor Sylvester Turner and Reliant will kick off the holiday season at the Reliant Lights Mayor’s Holiday Spectacular. The public is invited to Hermann Square at City Hall. A Night with the Normal Anomaly Friday, December 8, 2023 The Normal Anomaly Initiative, Inc. presents a Night with The Normal Anomaly. As Houston’s premiere Black, queer organization that is dedicated to seeing the forward mobility of people, the organization proudly presents an opportunity to honor the unsung heroes of our local and national community through music, celebration and uplifting the voices and work that is being done across the Southern United States. Learn more about this year’s event. Grace Place “Haus of Gingerbread” Annual Fundraiser Saturday, December 16, 2023 Join Grace Place on Saturday, December 16 at 5 PM for the 8th Annual Haus of Gingerbread event—a festive evening of fierce competition benefiting youth and young adults experiencing homelessness. Grab your friends or family and compete as a team in a live gingerbread house decorating contest, or just watch the fun as a spectator. –back to top– To download high-res images, visit photo gallery.

- Browse the full calendar at the My Gay Houston events page to find events near your schedule - Check back for TBD dates — many are confirmed a few months before the event - Register early for participatory events like the Houston Marathon or MLK Parade - Visit mlkgrandeparade.org if you want to march in the MLK Grande Parade - Look for fundraising events (AIDS Walk, Bunnies on the Bayou, Dining Out for Life) if you want to give back while you celebrate - Share the calendar with neighbors, friends, or community groups who might not know about these events