Buffalo Bayou Partnership

Buffalo Bayou Music in the Park: Navy Band Feature Performance
2026-04-14 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Chicago) | THE WATER WORKS, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Buffalo Bayou Partnership offers a unique musical experience! The Navy Band’s Southeast’s Popular Music Group, Pride, will be in Houston as part of Fleet Week and will be performing a special concert at The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park that is free to attend. Bring your families, your lawn chairs, and your picnic baskets for an evening of beautiful music, courtesy of the visiting sea services.
Duration
6-7:30 PM / 90 minutes
Location
The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park (105-B Sabine St)

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Jazzy Sundays: Joy Bloom & Strangers on Earth and Kinder HSPVA Jazz Ensemble
2026-04-19 17:00 - 19:30 UTC
Buffalo Bayou Partnership is teaming up with two Houston parks to bring you Jazzy Sundays in the Park, a series of FREE, outdoor jazz concerts. The series celebrates the vibrancy and rich tradition of jazz and the incredible Houstonians who preserve the artform. Family-friendly concerts will be held March 8, 15, 22 and 29 at Discovery Green; and April 5, 12, 19, and 26 at The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park from 4-7:30 PM.
Bring you picnic blanket, lawn chairs, friends, and family for a groovy afternoon in Buffalo Bayou Park!
To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all, outside alcohol is not permitted. Food and drink will be available for purchase on-site.
Jazzy Sundays in the Parks is made possible by a grant from the Kinder Foundation and sponsored by KTSU.
Location: The Water Works Lawn in Buffalo Bayou Park (105-B Sabine St.)
Lineup:

April 5: Christian McBride and Synesthesia
April 12: Melvin Johnson and Mahoganee Renee
April 19: Joy Bloom & Strangers on Earth with Kinder HSPVA Jazz Ensemble
April 26: Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers and Steven Dargin & Texas Kreole

Schedule:

4:30 PM: Vendor market opens
5-7:30 PM: Jazz performances

FREE REGISTRATION

About Joy Bloom & Strangers on Earth
Joy Bloom is a vocalist, pianist, and songwriter known for her inspiring blend of gospel, jazz, and soul. A proud graduate of Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas, Joy is passionate about using music as a bridge to share her faith. She is the bandleader of Strangers on Earth and a pianist with the Houston Latin Jazz Orchestra, bringing a rich musical style influenced by legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, and Kim Burrell. Joy has performed on stages around the world, from jazz festivals in Johannesburg, South Africa, to venues in downtown Houston. Her latest singles, “My Heart Belongs to You” and “Can’t Tell It,” reflect her heart for uplifting audiences through music filled with hope, faith, and inspiration.

About Kinder HSPVA Jazz Ensemble
Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts boasts the nation’s premier high school jazz program. Under the direction of James Westfall, jazz students study instrument technique, music theory, and jazz history. Jazz alumni include acclaimed musicians Jason Moran, Robert Glasper, James Francies and Walter Smith III. Kinder HSPVA is a nationally recognized tuition-free HISD public school where students train daily in one of six art areas: Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental and Vocal Music, Theatre, or Visual Arts.

Jazzy Sundays: Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers and Steven Dargin & Texas Kreole
2026-04-26 17:00 - 19:30 UTC
Buffalo Bayou Partnership is teaming up with two Houston parks to bring you Jazzy Sundays in the Park, a series of FREE, outdoor jazz concerts. The series celebrates the vibrancy and rich tradition of jazz and the incredible Houstonians who preserve the artform. Family-friendly concerts will be held March 8, 15, 22 and 29 at Discovery Green; and April 5, 12, 19, and 26 at The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park from 4-7:30 PM.
Bring you picnic blanket, lawn chairs, friends, and family for a groovy afternoon in Buffalo Bayou Park!
To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all, outside alcohol is not permitted. Food and drink will be available for purchase on-site.
Jazzy Sundays in the Parks is made possible by a grant from the Kinder Foundation and sponsored by KTSU.
Location: The Water Works Lawn in Buffalo Bayou Park (105-B Sabine St.)
Lineup:

April 5: Christian McBride and Synesthesia
April 12: Melvin Johnson and Mahoganee Renee
April 19: Joy Bloom & Strangers on Earth with Kinder HSPVA Jazz Ensemble
April 26: Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers and Steven Dargin & Texas Kreole

Schedule:

4:30 PM: Vendor market opens
5-7:30 PM: Jazz performances

FREE REGISTRATION

About Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers
With nearly two decades in the music industry, primarily within the zydeco genre, Lil Nathan, loves to create a gumbo of zydeco, R&B, swing out, hip hop and Afro Pop. He’s making his own history.
Lil Nathan blazes his own path, going from a cute 2-year-old on stage with his dad to an adult hitmaker playing the Bayou Classic halftime show before 50,000 in the Superdome. Other stops include Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, New Orleans Pelicans Halftime Show, New Orleans Saints Tailgate Party, the Houston International Festival, the Houston Livestock & Rodeo, Universal Studios in Orlando, the Ronald Reagan Building, International Trade Center in Washington, DC, and national attention on CBS 60 minutes. He’s shared the stage and studio with platinum selling artists, such as New Edition, Dru Hill, Tank, Cupid, Juvenile, Kevin Gates, Yung Bleu, and Los Lobos, along with Tucka, a Southern Soul favorite.
Nate’s 17 albums have embraced numerous styles, including his growing fascination with Afro Pop. Along the way, Lil Nathan earned a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies and a Master’s degree in Jazz Performance from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

About Steven Dargin & Texas Kreole
Steve Dargin, aka Texas Kreole, grew up playing music in church, was a drummer with Brian Jack and the Zydeco Gamblers for more than a decade. But an undying hunger to play the accordion and growing respect for his family’s Creole roots in southwest Louisiana drove him into the spotlight.
Dargin’s music contains flavors of Boozoo Chavis, Beau Jocque, Chris Ardoin and other legendary names. “Growing up trail riding and riding horses, I was always into zydeco,” said Dargin. “But I’m coming into this not just to play a trail ride. I want to get back into the festivals, the bazaars, get back to where I can have the old and the new.”
Dargin counts Lil Nathan Williams and family, along with rising stars Rusty Metoyer and Kaleb Leday as guiding forces in his new solo career. He’s ready to make his great grandmother and other family proud.

Undercurrents with Nick Flynn: Poetry Reading and Cistern Visit
2026-04-30 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Chicago)
Experience an evening of poetry and immersive art with acclaimed writer Nick Flynn, presented in conjunction with Undercurrents by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. The program begins with a reading on the terrace above the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern, followed by a guided tour of the installation—offering a unique opportunity to experience the artwork alongside the poet’s words.
Stay tuned – more readings to come.
Cost
$20
Duration
6:30-7:30 PM / 1 hour
Location
The reading begins on the Wortham Insurance Terrace above the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern. (105-B Sabine St)

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About Nick Flynn
Nick Flynn teaches in the Creative Writing Program at the University of Houston. His most recent book is Low (Graywolf, 2023). His book Stay (Ze Books, 2020) chronicles his work with other artists (filmmakers, visual artists, musicians, etc) over the past twenty-five years. His bestselling memoir Another Bullshit Night in Suck City (Norton, 2004) was made into a film starring Robert DeNiro (Focus Features, 2012) and has been translated into fifteen languages.

Sunset Poetry with Undercurrents: Aris Kian
2026-06-04 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Chicago)
Enjoy an evening of poetry and immersive art, presented in conjunction with Undercurrents by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer in the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern. The night begins with a poetry reading by one of the acclaimed writers who contributed to the installation and drinks on the terrace. Then, descend into the Cistern for a unique opportunity to experience Undercurrents with the writers.
Cost
$15
Duration
6:30-7:30 PM / 1 hour
Location
The reading begins on the Wortham Insurance Terrace above the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern. (105-B Sabine St)

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About Aris Kian
Aris Kian (she/her) is a Houston enthusiast and student of abolition. Her poems are published with Button Poetry, West Branch, Obsidian Lit, and elsewhere. As an Inprint C. Glenn Cambor Fellow, she received her MFA from the University of Houston. Her team Smoke Slam coached by Ebony Stewart ranked #1 at the 2025 Bigfoot Regional Poetry Slam and #1 at the 2024 Southern Fried Poetry Slam. She previously served as the 2023-2025 Houston Poet Laureate and was chosen as a 2025 Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellow.

Batman on the Bayou
2026-07-25 19:00 - 22:30 (America/Chicago)
Join Buffalo Bayou Partnership and Arthouse Houston for Batman on the Bayou, a free evening celebrating one of Houston’s most unique nighttime species. Presented as part of BBP’s Summer Species series exploring all things BATS, the event will feature family-friendly activities, nature education, and opportunities to learn more about the important role these night flyers play in our urban ecosystem.
Guests can enjoy:
• A screening of Batman Returns, costumes encouraged!
• Educational experiences and bat-themed activities hosted by the Houston Area Bat Team
• Food trucks, music, and frozen margaritas (no bats = no tequila…you will learn why!)
• Bat trivia… and more!
Grab your cape and lawn chair for a fun summer evening along the bayou!

Cost
Free
Time
7-10:30 PM (Movie begins at 8:15 PM)
Meeting Location
The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park (105-B Sabine St)
REGISTRATION

Cistern After Hours
2026-07-31 19:00 - 22:00 (America/Chicago)
Experience the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern in a new light at Cistern After Hours, an evening of art, music, and discovery.
Explore the interactive art installation and gather outside for live music by DJ Josh Zulu, complimentary wine and beer from Saint Arnold Brewing Company, and local food trucks. Buskers will also be on site, creating personalized poems inspired by guests and the downtown setting.
Whether you’re an art enthusiast, a first-time Cistern visitor, or simply looking for a unique night out, Cistern After Hours offers a memorable way to experience the Cistern and meet others drawn to creativity, culture, and community.
Cost
$25
Duration
7-10 PM
Location
The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park (105-B Sabine St)

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Sunset Poetry with Undercurrents: Martha Serpas
2026-09-17 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Chicago)
Enjoy an evening of poetry and immersive art, presented in conjunction with Undercurrents by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer in the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern. The night begins with a poetry reading by one of the acclaimed writers who contributed to the installation and drinks on the terrace. Then, descend into the Cistern for a unique opportunity to experience Undercurrents with the writers.
Cost
$15
Duration
6:30-7:30 PM / 1 hour
Location
The reading begins on the Wortham Insurance Terrace above the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern. (105-B Sabine St)

PURCHASE TICKETS

About Martha Serpas
Martha Serpas, a native of Galliano, Louisiana, produced the documentary Veins in the Gulf, which addresses the state’s land loss and coastal erosion crisis. Her four volumes of poetry include Côte Blanche, The Dirty Side of the Storm, The Diener, and Double Effect. Her poems appear in anthologies focused on ecological, religious, formal, or Southern poetry. A graduate of Yale Divinity School, she has worked as a hospital chaplain, most recently as part of a psilocybin trial for patients at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. At the Tilman J. Fertitta College of Medicine, she co-directs the Scripts program, an initiative to bring creative writers and medical students together around literature and medicine. She teaches poetry writing, consciousness studies, theology, and ecopoetry in the Creative Writing Program at the University of Houston.

2026 KBR Kids Day
2026-10-18 11:00 - 15:00 UTC
KBR Kids Day is a free annual event for the entire community. Thousands of children and their families will gather at The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park to experience a full day of fun with exciting activities for all ages. More information to come!

Sunset Poetry with Undercurrents: Roberto Tejada
2026-10-22 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Chicago)
Enjoy an evening of poetry and immersive art, presented in conjunction with Undercurrents by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer in the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern. The night begins with a poetry reading by one of the acclaimed writers who contributed to the installation and drinks on the terrace. Then, descend into the Cistern for a unique opportunity to experience Undercurrents with the writers.
Cost
$15
Duration
6:30-7:30 PM / 1 hour
Location
The reading begins on the Wortham Insurance Terrace above the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern. (105-B Sabine St)

PURCHASE TICKETS

About Roberto Tejada
Roberto Tejada is the author of poetry collections that include Mirrors for Gold (Krupskaya, 2006), Exposition Park (Wesleyan, 2010), Why the Assembly Disbanded (Fordham, 2022), and Carbonate of Copper (Fordham, 2025), longlisted for the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award. His writings on art and media history include National Camera: Photography and Mexico’s Image Environment (Minnesota, 2009), his work on the groundbreaking Mexican American artist Celia Alvarez Muñoz (UCLA/CSRC; Minnesota, 2009) and essay collections on Latin American and Latinx art and culture Still Nowhere in an Empty Vastness (Noemi, 2019), and the forthcoming Along the Diagonal: Art / Essays / América (Fordham, 2026). Awarded a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship in Poetry (2021) he is the Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor at the University of Houston where he teaches Creative Writing and Art History.
