Like Houston Monthly (H|M), Annual Houston is not a not a Best of Houston List. Instead, it’s a list of things most people would agree make Houston a great place, but if every Houstonian did them once a year, would make this a better city. These will mostly be event based activities, highlighting Houston’s best annual events.
Attend the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas
Why?
I know what you’re thinking. How could attending the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas possibly make Houston a better places? It’s really quite simple. The Bowl is a showcase event for the City of Houston. Annually, alumni from the participating schools come to Houston to cheer on their favorite teams. Not only do they spend money in Houston while they’re visiting, it is sometimes the first time many of them have ever visited Houston. In the five years since the Bowl has been in operation, the feedback has been incredibly positive.
While a lot of tickets are sold between the two participating schools, the most successful bowls around the country rely upon local ticket sales. If Houston continues to present a successful bowl, it will continue to improve its draw among the other collegiate bowls, bringing more people, more money and more positive attention to the city of Houston.
Attend the Bayou City Art Festival
The Bayou City Art Festival is one of Houston’s best (bi-)annual art events. There are two festivals each year: one in Downtown Houston the other in Memorial Park. I have mainly attended the Downtown festival, and recently attended the Memorial Park event for the first time last Spring. The festival brings artists in from around the world in a huge art bazaar. Food, drink and entertainment is also available. The best thing about both events is they occur when the weather in Houston is at its best. It’s the perfect way to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.
Proceeds from the event benefit a number of Houston non-profit organizations including: Bering Omega Community Services, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, City ArtWorks, Downtown YMCA, Heritage Society, Houston Center for Photography, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Lawndale Art Center, Multicultural Education & Counseling through the Arts (MECA), MFAH, Museum of Cultural Arts Houston (MOCAH), Opera in the Heights, Orange Show, Several Dancers Core, Spay & Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP), Spacetaker and SPARK.
There is no doubt spending your money at the Bayou Cit Art Festival goes toward making Houston a better place.
Downtown Festival 2012
Saturday, October 13 – Sunday, October 14, 10AM – 6PM
Memorial Festival 2013
Friday, March 22 – Sunday, March 24, 10AM – 6PM