Buffalo Bayou Partnership

Sunrise Ceremony with the Calmecac Indigenous Organization
2024-10-13 07:00 - 10:00 UTC | TONY MARRON PARK, 808 N. York Street, Houston, Texas, 77003
Join BBP at Tony Marron Park for the 11th Annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day Sunrise Prayer and Ceremonial Gathering led by the Calmecac Indigenous Organization. This sunrise observance will follow the ceremonial construction of a tipi and will honor the Buffalo nation through traditional song, music, and dance. All are invited to participate in a Rematriation and Four Winds Blessing led by Abuela M’api Rainflowa, Co-founder of Calmecac Indigenous Organization, her mother, sisters, and daughter followed by a walk to the bayou for an offering of flowers and herbs. Speakers representing various Indigenous nations and groups as well as informational tables from community organizations will also be join the ceremony.

Ceremony Schedule:
7:00am Rematriation and Four Winds Blessing Begins
7:30am Walk to Buffalo Bayou and Ceremonial Offering
8:00am Performance by Houston Aztec Dance

Indigenous Peoples' Day: A Celebration of All Nations
2024-10-14 17:00 - 20:30 UTC | THE WATER WORKS, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Xochipilli Collective presents Indigenous Peoples Day: A Celebration of All Nations, an event dedicated to honoring the rich histories, cultures, and enduring presence of Indigenous peoples. Saying proudly, “we have always existed, we have always been here, we were not discovered.” This celebration invites people of all backgrounds to recognize the sovereignty and resilience of Indigenous nations, featuring cultural performances, vendors, foods, and music. It is a day to reflect on the contributions of Indigenous peoples and to acknowledge their rightful place in the world’s history and future.

Festival Schedule:
5:00-6:30pm DJ Delsur
6:30pm Opening with Cancega Xicas Unidas
7:00pm Performance with Danza Azteca Taxcayolotl
7:30pm Film: Reflections of Coatlicue – Reflections of our Mother the Creator and Destroyer. Presented in conjunction with DiverseWorks Overlapping Territories exhibition.

Vendors:
Becky Finley
Boombox Taco
Bookie’s Brookies
Eheca Aztlah
Kindred Stories
Kopi Cowboy Coffee
Lone Star Legal Aid
Raven Remedies
Toknihuan

Sensorium: Sounds of Revival by Frewuhn
2024-11-10 16:30 - 17:30 UTC | THE WATER WORKS, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER
Join us for a free, live performance by Houston’s own musician and sound artist, Frewuhn. Sensorium: Sounds of Revival will harmonize with Rachel Rossin’s Haha Real installation, currently featured in the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern where Frewuhn was a key collaborator. Taking place on The Brown Foundation Lawn above the Cistern, this event invites audiences to explore the connections between the senses and the stories they tell. Frewuhn will perform original scores from Haha Real alongside a selection of other uplifting compositions.

REGISTER FOR SENSORIUM: SOUNDS OF REVIVAL

BBP Members receive reserved seating and 10% off participating food trucks. Email abishop@buffalobayou.org to reserve your seats!

Generous support provided by

Vivian L. Smith Foundation

Buffalo Bayou Partnership is

Johnny Steele Dog Park Community Meeting
2024-11-13 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | UNITED WAY OF GREATER HOUSTON, 50 Waugh Drive, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Join Buffalo Bayou Partnership at United Way of Greater Houston to provide input on future enhancements at Johnny Steele Dog Park. This meeting follows a community survey and in-person discussions conducted during summer 2024. Responding to the feedback we received, our design team will present a series of concepts that address safety, convenience, and overall design. We encourage all park users to participate in this event to help define the future of this shared space.
Please note that only service animals are permitted in this venue. Parking is available in the United Way parking garage behind the building.
Registration is recommended but not required.
REGISTER

Tinsel Trek: Buffalo Bayou Park Wellness Walk
2024-12-11 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | bird-grasshopper
This event has reached capacity and is not available for booking.
Bundle up in your festive attire and tie up those walking boots! Join Buffalo Bayou Partnership on a free Tinsel Trek led by Laura Conely, founder of Urban Paths. Anyone and everyone is invited to walk through the paths of Buffalo Bayou Park and explore downtown’s new holiday lights.
Whether you prefer a brisk walk or a leisurely stroll, our Tinsel Trek is the perfect way to enjoy the holiday season while staying active. Let’s walk, talk, and be merry! Don’t miss this chance to celebrate the season’s cheer with every step!
Walk departs at 6:30pm at 105 Sabine Street and covers 3 miles in 1.5 hours – making our way to downtown’s Market Square Park to see the colorful light display!
REGISTER

Tinsel Trek: Buffalo Bayou Park Wellness Walk
2024-12-18 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | bird-grasshopper
This event has reached capacity and is not available for booking.
Bundle up in your festive attire and tie up those walking boots! Join Buffalo Bayou Partnership on a free Tinsel Trek led by Laura Conely, founder of Urban Paths. Anyone and everyone is invited to walk through the paths of Buffalo Bayou Park and explore downtown’s new holiday lights.
Whether you prefer a brisk walk or a leisurely stroll, our Tinsel Trek is the perfect way to enjoy the holiday season while staying active. Let’s walk, talk, and be merry! Don’t miss this chance to celebrate the season’s cheer with every step!
Walk departs at 6:30pm at 105 Sabine Street and covers 3 miles in 1.5 hours – making our way to the Theater District and Lynn Wyatt Square to tour the transformed “Jingle Town”.
REGISTER

Witness Series: Grow with Grace
2025-03-09 09:00 - 11:30 UTC | JAPHET CREEK PARK, 4600 Clinton Dr, Houston, TX, 77020, United States
Join BBP’s 2025 Artist in Residence, Kristi Rangel, for The Witness Series in green spaces along Buffalo Bayou East and explore the bayou’s rich history, engage with its natural elements, and reflect on themes of environmental equity.

Grow with Grace: Indigenous Wisdom through Native Wildflowers
Join us in exploring Japhet Creek Park, home to a historic bayou tributary and the future key connector between the Fifth Ward and the Greater East End. Attendees will engage with bilingual writers, visual artists and environmentalists, as they meditate on the natural world around us through a facilitated walking meditation. They will also discover facts about the native wildflowers planted throughout the space and the role they play in ensuring a healthy ecosystem. Artist and Community Activist, Erandi Trevino, and members of The Raices Collab Project will lead hands-on container garden making workshops designed to empower and excite participants about green spaces in their own backyards or porches. All workshop attendees will leave with their own wildflower garden.

Participating Artists & Partners
Erandi Trevino
Joe Robles IV
Kristi Rangel
The Raices Collab Project

NIGHT LIGHT 2025
2025-03-29 20:00 - 22:00 (America/Chicago) | 333 SOUTH JENSEN DRIVE, 333 South Jensen Drive, Houston, TX, 77003, United States
Aurora Picture Show and Buffalo Bayou Partnership co-present this free annual event featuring video activations on structures along the Buffalo Bayou East waterfront. On March 29, Houston artists Saúl Hernández-Vargas, Diana-Sofia Estrada, and Isogram Media Studio, have been commissioned to create new, site-specific media installations along a half-mile stretch of bayou trails. There will also be a market featuring local food trucks, vendors, and music by DJ Felix. Join us for this festive, uniquely Houston experience!
FREE REGISTRATION
ESPAÑOL

About the Artists
Diana-Sofia Estrada is a Guatemalan American visual artist and educator born in Houston. Her paintings, animations, installations, and social practice works question our immediate visual culture. She has exhibited work nationally and internationally, and is a current artist in residence at Houston’s Box13 Artspace.
Saúl Hernández-Vargas is a Houston-based visual artist and writer whose work is concerned with material performativity, the framing of historical objects, and fiction. A recipient of the Artadia Award and an alum of the Core Program at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, his first solo museum exhibition opened at the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo y de las Culturas de Oaxaca last October.
Isogram Media Studio (Houston artists Ha Na Lee and James Hughes) creates immersive experiences through public art and projection-based works. Using video, sound, kinetic machines, and interactive elements, Lee and Hughes push the boundaries of contemporary art, technological innovation, and audience engagement.

Event Volunteers
Interested in volunteering to help us make NIGHT LIGHT a success? Follow the link below, create an account in our Volunteer platform, and find an opportunity that’s right for you!
VOLUNTEER

Site Map and Transportation Details
Entrance: The entrance of NIGHT LIGHT 2025 will be located at 333 South Jensen Drive.
Parking for this event is extremely limited. Rideshare, carpooling, public transportation, cycling, and walking are strongly encouraged.
Rideshare (Uber, Lyft, etc): Drop-off/pick-up at 333 South Jensen Drive.
Public Transportation: Event accessible via Houston METRO bus route 6, 30, and 48 stop at Talento Bilingue de Houston at the intersection of South Jensen Drive and Ann Street. Plan your public transportation route here.
Cycling: Bike Valet by BikeHouston will secure your bike throughout the event, free of charge. Find recommended bike routes here.
Accessibility: Please note that the pathways between the artworks may have uneven surfaces. Please wear sturdy footwear suitable for uneven surfaces.

For questions, please contact Trudi Smith, Director of Programming, at tsmith@buffalobayou.org.
In the case of inclement weather, this event will take place on the following Saturday, April 5, 8–10pm.

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Buffalo Bayou Partnership is

Summer Species: Invasive Plant Eradication Unit Pop-Up
2025-05-10 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | THE WATER WORKS, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Join us every Saturday in May through August for the Invasive Plant Eradication Unit will pop-up! Artist Mark Dion created the Invasive Plant Eradication Unit in 2011 as an interactive artwork responding to the one of Buffalo Bayou’s key challenges: the proliferation of non-native species. For Summer Species, the Invasive Plant Eradication Unit will pop-up at The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park on second Saturday mornings from 9 – 11am to share information on common invasive species in our area, the importance of native species, and what we can do to sustain them.
Visitors will also be able to make native seed “bombs” to help spread native species at home or in the park!

LEARN MORE

Jazzy Sundays: MonoNeon and APBOYZ
2025-05-11 16:00 - 19:00 UTC | THE WATER WORKS, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Buffalo Bayou Partnership is teaming up with two Houston parks to bring you Jazzy Sundays, 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 Sundays, March 2, 9, 16 and 23 at Emancipation Park; Sundays, April 6, 13, 20 and 27 at Discovery Green; and Sundays on May 11, 18, 25 and June 1st at The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park from 4-7 p.m.
Before the jazz performances kick off, enjoy a local vendor market, food trucks, cool beverages, and a free drumming workshop for all ages, courtesy of Houston’s Dinky Drum Company. Bring you picnic blanket, lawn chairs, friends, and family for a groovy afternoon in Buffalo Bayou Park!
Jazzy Sundays is made possible by a grant from the Kinder Foundation.
Location: The Water Works Lawn in Buffalo Bayou Park (105-B Sabine St.)
Lineup:

May 11: MonoNeon and APBOYZ
May 18: Bobby Lyle, Patric Johnston, and Houston Ensemble
May 25: Lao Tizer Band with Tareon Gully and Houston Groove Society
June 1: Charly Siaba and Los Souldees

Schedule:

4pm: Houston’s Dinky Drum workshop
4:30pm: Vendor market opens
5-7pm: Jazz performances

FREE REGISTRATION

About MonoNeon
MonoNeon is an American bassist and experimental musician from Memphis, Tennessee. He is known for his presence on YouTube playing bass guitar and being one of the last people to work with Prince. He is a Grammy Award winning artist, for his participation on the 2020 Nas album King’s Disease. Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers has referred to Mono as “The greatest … electric bass player”. On November 1, 2022, Fender released the MonoNeon Collection, which included the MonoNeon Jazz Bass V Signature.
About APBOYZ
APBOYZ is a high-energy super group, whose music can be classified as a sort of jazz hip-hop fusion. Each member of the group is an independent artist, working on their own original music as well as performing with many of Houston’s local artists. APBOYZ is the pseudonym used when the four for them perform together.
The group was almost formed by accident. MBK, ΛΣE, Maxx & Yung Punk met each other through local jam session and really enjoyed each other’s playing. They began to meet weekly to jam out and let loose; almost a sort musical group meditation. After a couple months, things naturally fell into place and the group was officially established. There is no doubt in their authenticity to the listener. This is who we are and we’re going to show it to you the best way we know how. The proof is in the pudding!

Market Vendors:
Constantin’s
Evans BBQ
PopLife Popping Co.
Lone Star Beards
Sam Saves
Roro’s Retro
Miss Boujee Bakes
My Organic Skin, LLC
Peppaz
Uncle Louie G’s
SkyCraft
Volando Coffee

Witness Series: Drawn to Nature
2025-05-17 09:00 - 11:30 UTC | YOLANDA BLACK NAVARRO BUFFALO BEND NATURE PARK
Join BBP’s 2025 Artist in Residence, Kristi Rangel, for The Witness Series in green spaces along Buffalo Bayou East and explore the bayou’s rich history, engage with its natural elements, and reflect on themes of environmental equity.

Drawn to Nature: Building Community through Observation
Yolanda Black Navarro Buffalo Bend Nature Park is a scenic park with restored wetlands and woodlands. This intimate 10-acre park is the perfect inspiration for nature journaling. Join artist Maverick and learn how to keep a nature journal in this calming environment. Nature journaling helps reduce stress and makes you a better observer, naturalist, and artist and opens a world of beauty and discovery. The Houston Audubon will provide tutorials on drawing birds found along Buffalo Bayou. A limited supply of journals and sketching pencils will be provided for participants.
This park was named in memory of Yolanda Black Navarro, a committed civic leader from the East End who served Houston for decades. She founded the Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans and received numerous accolades for her leadership in her community. Attendees will learn more about her legacy, while learning to observe and capture details of what they see in nature.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SERIES

Participating Artists & Partners
Houston Audubon
Houston Public Library
Joe Robles IV
Kristi Rangel
Latino Outdoors Houston
Maverick

Generous Support for this program provided by

Buffalo Bayou Partnership is

Jazzy Sundays: Bobby Lyle and Patric Johnston
2025-05-18 16:00 - 19:00 UTC | THE WATER WORKS, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Buffalo Bayou Partnership is teaming up with two Houston parks to bring you Jazzy Sundays, 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 Sundays, March 2, 9, 16 and 23 at Emancipation Park; Sundays, April 6, 13, 20 and 27 at Discovery Green; and Sundays on May 11, 18, 25 and June 1st at The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park from 4-7 p.m.
Before the jazz performances kick off, enjoy a local vendor market, food trucks, cool beverages, and a free drumming workshop for all ages, courtesy of Houston’s Dinky Drum Company. Bring you picnic blanket, lawn chairs, friends, and family for a groovy afternoon in Buffalo Bayou Park!
Jazzy Sundays is made possible by a grant from the Kinder Foundation.
Location: The Water Works Lawn in Buffalo Bayou Park (105-B Sabine St.)
Lineup:

May 11: MonoNeon and APBOYZ
May 18: Bobby Lyle, Patric Johnston, and Houston Ensemble
May 25: Lao Tizer Band with Tareon Gully and Houston Groove Society
June 1: Charly Siaba and Los Souldees

Schedule:

4pm: Houston’s Dinky Drum workshop
4:30pm: Vendor market opens
5-7pm: Jazz performances

FREE REGISTRATION

About Bobby Lyle
Bobby Lyle, the legendary pianist and organist, has been captivating audiences for over three decades with his unparalleled talent and groundbreaking contributions to jazz. His debut album, The Genie, was a game-changer, exploding onto the Billboard charts and solidifying his status as a musical prodigy. A native of Minneapolis, Bobby began his professional journey as a pianist at just 16, later studying advanced piano at Macalester College before embarking on a full-time music career.
Bobby’s journey has taken him around the world, performing at prestigious festivals and venues. He has served as musical director for icons such as Al Jarreau, Anita Baker, and Bette Midler, earning an Emmy nomination for the HBO special Diva Las Vegas. His 1990 album The Journey topped the Billboard jazz chart, and he remains the only artist with a record (Straight and Smooth) to appear on both the Billboard smooth jazz and traditional jazz charts simultaneously.
In Houston, Bobby is a celebrated performer and educator, mentoring students and creating opportunities for young musicians. He established a program at Walker Elementary School to provide instruments for talented students in need and was honored with “Bobby Lyle Day” by the city in 2012.
Bobby’s most recent work includes The Way I Feel, a Hammond B-3 organ project, and the creation of The J-Spot, Houston’s first TV jazz show. Whether performing solo, with his piano bands, or organ trio, Bobby Lyle’s music continues to inspire and elevate jazz enthusiasts worldwide.
About Patric Johnston
Patric Johnston crafts soulful, indie-folk songs with raw storytelling and rich melodies, blending influences from folk, hip-hop, and classic singer-songwriters.

Market Vendors
Ivhrit Royalty
Better with Butter Bakery
CrystalWoodshop
Lone Star Beards
MeaningfulTreasFinds
My Organic Skin, LLC
PopLife Popping Co.
Roro’s Retro
Sam Saves

Jazzy Sundays: Lao Tizer Band and Tareon Gully and Houston Groove Society
2025-05-25 16:00 - 19:00 UTC | THE WATER WORKS, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Buffalo Bayou Partnership is teaming up with two Houston parks to bring you Jazzy Sundays, 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 Sundays, March 2, 9, 16 and 23 at Emancipation Park; Sundays, April 6, 13, 20 and 27 at Discovery Green; and Sundays on May 11, 18, 25 and June 1st at The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park from 4-7 p.m.
Before the jazz performances kick off, enjoy a local vendor market, food trucks, cool beverages, and a free drumming workshop for all ages, courtesy of Houston’s Dinky Drum Company. Bring you picnic blanket, lawn chairs, friends, and family for a groovy afternoon in Buffalo Bayou Park!
Jazzy Sundays is made possible by a grant from the Kinder Foundation.
Location: The Water Works Lawn in Buffalo Bayou Park (105-B Sabine St.)
Lineup:

May 11: MonoNeon and APBOYZ
May 18: Bobby Lyle, Patric Johnston, and Houston Ensemble
May 25: Lao Tizer Band with Tareon Gully and Houston Groove Society
June 1: Charly Siaba and Los Souldees

Schedule:

4pm: Houston’s Dinky Drum workshop
4:30pm: Vendor market opens
5-7pm: Jazz performances

FREE REGISTRATION

About Lao Tizer Band with Tareon Gully
“Jazz Group of the Year” nominee The Lao Tizer Band make their debut at Jazzy Sundays at Houston’s Buffalo Bayou Park in support of their new album and video release AMPLIFY. The project was recorded and filmed LIVE at legendary EastWest Studios in Hollywood with a simultaneous seven-camera video shoot. The project is a major evolution for the group and includes five new original vocals, featuring American Idol star Elliott Yamin and four new original instrumentals. Joining keyboardist, composer and bandleader Lao Tizer (former “Best New Jazz Artist” nominee, Special EFX, Down To The Bone) for the performance, are GRAMMY-winning drum legend with deep Houston ties Terreon “Tank” Gully (Dianne Reeves, Christian McBride), the aforementioned vocal sensation Elliott Yamin, sax/flute wunderkind Danny Janklow (MONKestra, Shelea) and Senegalese bassists, producer and composer Cheikh N’Doye (Baaba Maal, Mike Stern.)
About Houston Groove Society
Houston Groove Cultivation: the Society for Groove Cultivation was founded by Cedrick Bates in 2013 to provide world-class entertainment to major corporations, performance venues, and philanthropic groups. Houston Groove Society (HGS) is a fully customizable performance group, providing singers, ensembles, soloists, lecturers, backline instruments, and professional sound equipment. HGS play all music genres and specialize in the grooves that move the soul.
Houston Groove Society has performed annually for the American Cancer Society, National Sales Network, University of Houston, Morehouse College, Kingdom Health, Spelman College, Microsoft, Memorial Park Conservancy, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, the Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce, the Texas Medical Center, End Hunger, National Black MBA Association, Houston Minority Supplier Development Council, Jack and Jill of America, and several other professional groups. HGS has advocated for music and arts education, autism awareness, breast cancer awareness, men’s health awareness, STEM enrichment programs, entrepreneurship, clothing for the homeless, and youth mentorship programs. Houston Groove Society consists of touring artists, recording artists, music educators, research scientists, IT professionals, sales professionals, published authors, and music historians. We fervently believe that we are the music makers…the dreamers of the dreams. We create the grooves that dreams are made of.

Market Vendors:
Better with Butter Bakery
CrystalWoodshop
La Bougie Wick
Lone Star Beards
MeaningfulTreasFinds
My Organic Skin, LLC
PopLife Popping Co.
Roro’s Retro

Jazzy Sundays: Charly Siaba and Los Souldees
2025-06-01 16:00 - 19:00 UTC | THE WATER WORKS, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Buffalo Bayou Partnership is teaming up with two Houston parks to bring you Jazzy Sundays, 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 Sundays, March 2, 9, 16 and 23 at Emancipation Park; Sundays, April 6, 13, 20 and 27 at Discovery Green; and Sundays on May 11, 18, 25 and June 1st at The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park from 4-7 p.m.
Before the jazz performances kick off, enjoy a local vendor market, food trucks, cool beverages, and a free drumming workshop for all ages, courtesy of Houston’s Dinky Drum Company. Bring you picnic blanket, lawn chairs, friends, and family for a groovy afternoon in Buffalo Bayou Park!
Jazzy Sundays is made possible by a grant from the Kinder Foundation.
Location: The Water Works Lawn in Buffalo Bayou Park (105-B Sabine St.)
Lineup:

May 11: MonoNeon and APBOYZ
May 18: Bobby Lyle, Patric Johnston, and Houston Ensemble
May 25: Lao Tizer Band with Tareon Gully and Houston Groove Society
June 1: Charly Siaba and Los Souldees

Schedule:

4pm: Houston’s Dinky Drum workshop
4:30pm: Vendor market opens
5-7pm: Jazz performances

FREE REGISTRATION

About Charly Siaba
Charly Siaba is a Cuban singer-songwriter and producer trained in classical guitar and piano. With music in his veins from an early age, he found his passion in songwriting and forged an authentic style surrounded by a confluence of melodies and rhythms; from Trova and Bolero to Funk and Blues. Now living in Houston, his language moves from the commercial to the experimental, and he’s always seeking unique ways to integrate elements from multiple genres.
Charly is an old soul in a modern age, an artist weaves timeless emotions into melodies and evokes a musical tapestry that is both classic and contemporary. He has accompanied his steady stream of releases with regular live appearances around Houston; as an opener for Amanda Pascali’s EP debut ‘The Messenger’ and as a solo artist performing in intimate venues and at Sofar Sounds in cities like Houston, Austin, and Miami.
About Los Souldees
Los Souldees are the new band out of Houston Tx bringing you the freshest sounds of chicano soul with a Texas attitude.

Market Vendors:
Ivhrit Royalty
Better with Butter Bakery
CrystalWoodshop
HI Ceramics
La Bougie Wick
Lone Star Beards
MeaningfulTreasFinds
My Organic Skin, LLC
PopLife Popping Co.
Roro’s Retro
Shafer Jewellery

Summer Species: Invasive Plant Eradication Unit Pop-Up
2025-06-14 09:00 - 11:00, 2025-07-12 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | THE WATER WORKS, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Join us on the second Saturday of the month from May through August from 9 – 11am for the Invasive Plant Eradication Unit will pop-up!
Artist Mark Dion created the Invasive Plant Eradication Unit in 2011 as an interactive artwork responding to the one of Buffalo Bayou’s key challenges: the proliferation of non-native species. For Summer Species, the Invasive Plant Eradication Unit will pop-up at The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park to share information on common invasive species in our area, the importance of native species, and what we can do to sustain them.
Visitors will also be able to make native seed “bombs” to help spread native species at home or in the park!

LEARN MORE

Summer Species: Invasive Plant Eradication Unit Pop-Up
2025-08-09 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | THE WATER WORKS, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Join us on the second Saturday of the month from May through August from 9 – 11am for the Invasive Plant Eradication Unit will pop-up!
Artist Mark Dion created the Invasive Plant Eradication Unit in 2011 as an interactive artwork responding to the one of Buffalo Bayou’s key challenges: the proliferation of non-native species. For Summer Species, the Invasive Plant Eradication Unit will pop-up at The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park to share information on common invasive species in our area, the importance of native species, and what we can do to sustain them.
Visitors will be able to make native seed “bombs” to help spread native species at home or in the park!
In addition, visitors can join Lualo Studio and Buffalo Bayou Partnership for a hands-on flower pounding workshop using native Texas plants to create eco-printed notecards. As we make art together, we’ll share stories about land, migration, and memory—honoring those who came before us and those who continue to grow roots here. Come connect, reflect, and create with community.

LEARN MORE

Witness Series: Preserve Memories
2025-09-13 09:00 - 11:30 UTC | HIDALGO PARK, 7000 Avenue Q, Houston, TX, 77011, United States
Join BBP’s 2025 Artist-in-Residence, Kristi Rangel, for The Witness Series in green spaces along Buffalo Bayou East and explore the bayou’s rich history, engage with its natural elements, and reflect on themes of environmental equity.

Preserve Memories: Artmaking with Dried Flowers
Since its founding at the Turning Basin, Hidalgo Park has been at the center of the East End’s cultural and civic life. Neighborhood residents raised money to purchase the park’s original land and sponsored the creation of its unqiure quiosco (gazebo). Join us in the park’s gazebo for several hands-on workshops using dried flowers, known as flores inmortales (immortal flowers). Attendees are encouraged to bring their own dried flowers that they wish to preserve and arrange. Artist Britanny Mayfeild will give pointers and insights on the art of dried flower arrangement. Pressed flower poetry sessions will be offered.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SERIES

Participating Artists & Partners
Brittany Mayfield
Joe Robles IV
Kristi Rangel

Generous Support for this program provided by

Buffalo Bayou Partnership is

Sculpture Unveiling | Rust Garden: A Triad Harmony by Preston Gaines
2025-09-27 10:00 - 12:00 UTC | JAPHET CREEK PARK, 4600 Clinton Dr, Houston, TX, 77020, United States
Date: Saturday, September 27
Time: 10am – 12pm
Location: Japhet Creek Park (4600 Clinton Dr)
Parking: Japhet Creek Park and 122 Emile St.

Join us for a morning of art, ecology, and community as we unveil Rust Garden: A Triad Harmony, a temporary sculpture exhibition by BBP 2024 Artist-in-Residence Preston Gaines. Installed at Japhet Creek Park in Houston’s historic Fifth Ward, this immersive installation reimagines floral forms as sculptural mosaic totems, blending cultural heritage, environmental storytelling, and collective memory.
Throughout the event, fellow Houston-based artists will activate the space:

Kristi Rangel, BBP’s 2025 Artist-in-Residence, will guide a poetic prompt walk centered on nature, ancestry, and reflection.
Brittany Mayfield, founder of Foliage Faerie, will present a site-specific floral installation echoing the themes of botanical identity and personal memory.

Enjoy complimentary coffee and pastries as you explore the site and connect with the local art and Fifth Ward community.
Rust Garden: A Triad Harmony will be on view through January 15, 2026.
FREE REGISTRATION

About the Artwork
Rust Garden: A Triad Harmony is a public art installation by Preston Gaines, rooted in the landscape and legacy of Fifth Ward. Weaving together local cultural heritage, ecological awareness, and visual storytelling. The project draws inspiration from the quilting practices of Gee’s Bend, where African American women transformed necessity into artistry, and reinterprets those traditions through oxidized steel and floral forms reflecting the neighborhood’s layered cultural identities.
From Black-Eyed Susans symbolizing justice in African American gardens, to Marigolds from Hispanic traditions, to Cherry Blossoms signifying renewal in Asian cultures, the sculpture becomes a botanical mosaic of shared identity.
Together, these forms compose a sculptural tapestry, echoing the park’s natural rhythms while honoring the community’s past and future. Designed to be experienced from both close-up and afar, offering different experiences from pedestrian paths, park trails, and nearby streets. Its scale and composition are designed to evolve with light and shadow, echoing the creek’s natural rhythms. Rust Garden: A Triad Harmony serves as a sculptural landmark that honors Fifth Ward’s past while affirming its ongoing transformation.
About the Artist
Preston Gaines is a Houston-based architect, designer, and artist whose practice explores the intersection of nature, technology, and public memory. As founder of Inanimate Nature, he leads a multidisciplinary studio dedicated to reimagining ecological narratives through immersive installations, functional sculpture, and community-based design. investigating the use of technology to re-establish our connection to the earth and nature through design.
Gaines’ recent work includes exhibitions with the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, Project Row Houses, and ION District’s EyeOnArt program. His sculptural environments invite viewers to move beyond passive observation and into a space of resonance, reflection, and transformation.
While any built environment can have a physiological effect on the viewer, Gaines seeks to transcend the physical and activate a deeper psychological response, invoking emotion, memory, and a renewed connection to place.

Generous support for this program provided by

Buffalo Bayou Partnership is

Indigenous Peoples Day 12th Annual Celebration
2025-10-12 11:00 - 15:00 UTC | ELEANOR TINSLEY PARK, 500 Allen Parkway, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
BBP, in partnership with the Calmecac Indigenous Organization, invites you to this family-friendly event that honors the traditions, artistry, and resilience of Indigenous peoples with cultural ceremonies, live performances, and community recognition. Experience a day of learning, celebration, and connection along the banks of Buffalo Bayou. Traditional attire is encouraged.

Activities include:

Xilonen Coming-of-Age Danza Azteca Ceremony facilitated by Calmecac Tonantzin Yolilitzyotl, Sahumadora Mayor, Catalina Tlahuizipaktli Benavides Palabra de Grupo Azteca Teokalli, and local ceremonial community dancers
Rematriation Water Blessing of Buffalo Bayou led by Sydney Keith (Minneconjou/Hunkpapa), traditional knowledge bearer and head woman of International Sundance, Green Grass, South Dakota
Indigenous artwork by Colectiva Pochteca
Debut Houston performance by the Sahawe Dancers (Uvalde, TX), celebrating their 75th anniversary
Pipe ceremony for all pipe carriers facilitated by David Claymore (Cheyenne River Sioux), co-founder of the Black Hills Powwow
Recognition of the Claymore family as respected Lakota Tiyospaye and lifelong contributors to sobriety, wellness, ceremony, and Lakota culture
Featured vendor: Toknihuan
Featured DJ: Trajik Sol

GATHER WITH US

Witness Series: Drawing Strength
2025-10-18 09:00 - 11:30 UTC | YOLANDA BLACK NAVARRO BUFFALO BEND NATURE PARK
Join BBP’s 2025 Artist-in-Residence, Kristi Rangel, for The Witness Series in green spaces along Buffalo Bayou East and explore the bayou’s rich history, engage with its natural elements, and reflect on themes of environmental equity.

Drawing Strength: Nature Journaling
Nature Journaling is a worldwide movement that integrates art, science, and nature exploration. Nature journaling makes you a better observer, naturalist, and artist and opens a world of beauty and discovery. Join artist Maverick for an outdoor sketching class in this calming environment that is designed to reduce stress and create an increased connection to nature. The Nature Heritage Society will lead nature studies, allowing attendees to better understand the park’s unique ecosystem made up of restored wetlands and woodlands. A limited supply of journal and sketching pencils will be provided for participants.
This park was named in memory of Yolanda Black Navarro, a committed civic leader from the East End who served Houston for decades. She founded the Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans and received numerous accolades for her leadership in her community. Attendees will learn more about her legacy, while learning to observe and capture details of what they see in nature.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SERIES

Participating Artists & Partners
Joe Robles IV
Kristi Rangel
Maverick
Nature Heritage Society – Houston

Generous Support for this program provided by

Buffalo Bayou Partnership is

2025 Houston Witch Paddle
2025-11-02 10:00 - 14:00 UTC | ALLEN’S LANDING, 1001 Commerce Street, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
**Rescheduled for Sunday, November 2**
Inspired by the growing popularity of “witch paddles” nationwide, Taylor Chapman and New Climate Ventures are hosting Houston’s second annual Witch Paddle. Wear your finest Halloween witch or wizard attire and paddle down Buffalo Bayou!
Duration
10am – 2pm / 3.5 miles
Meeting Location
Allen’s Landing Park (1005 Commerce St)
FREE REGISTRATION
Buffalo Bayou Partnership is in support of the Second Annual Houston Witch Paddle. Rain date is Sunday, October 26.
Kayak Rentals: Buffalo Bayou Kayak Tours
2024 Witch Paddle – Photo by Peter Warren, Houston Chronicle.

Witness Series: With Gratitude
2025-11-22 09:00 - 11:30 UTC | YOLANDA BLACK NAVARRO BUFFALO BEND NATURE PARK
Join BBP’s 2025 Artist-in-Residence, Kristi Rangel, for The Witness Series in green spaces along Buffalo Bayou East and explore the bayou’s rich history, engage with its natural elements, and reflect on themes of environmental equity.

With Gratitude: Pop-Up Community Art Show and Artist Talk
Join us in celebrating the closing of the 2025 Witness Series with a Pop-Up Community Art Show. This unique community art show will feature nature journals from attendees of the Witness Series events at Yolanda Black Navarro Buffalo Bend Nature Park. The works created by artists Maverick and Kristi Rangel will also be displayed. Photographer, Joe Robles IV, will curate a survey of photos he has taken during the series. A facilitated artist talk will take place highlighting the activations in the Buffalo Bayou Partnership green spaces during this year’s Witness Series. Light bites and refreshments will be provided for attendees.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SERIES

Participating Artists & Partners
Erandi Trevino
Houston Audubon
Joe Robles IV
Kristi Rangel
Latino Outdoors Houston
Maverick
Nature Heritage Society – Houston
The Raices Collab Project

Generous Support for this program provided by

Buffalo Bayou Partnership is

Tinsel Trek: Buffalo Bayou Park Wellness Walk
2025-12-10 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-12-17 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | bird-grasshopper
Bundle up in your festive attire and tie up those walking boots! Join Buffalo Bayou Partnership on a free Tinsel Trek led by Laura Conely, founder of Urban Paths. Anyone and everyone is invited to walk through the paths of Buffalo Bayou Park and explore downtown’s new holiday lights.
Whether you prefer a brisk walk or a leisurely stroll, our Tinsel Trek is the perfect way to enjoy the holiday season while staying active. Let’s walk, talk, and be merry! Don’t miss this chance to celebrate the season’s cheer with every step!
Walk departs at 6:30pm at 105 Sabine Street and covers 3 miles in 1.5 hours – throughout downtown to see the winter wonderland of lights.
REGISTER

NYE Celebration Stroll: Buffalo Bayou Park Wellness Walk
2025-12-31 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | bird-grasshopper
Bundle up in your festive attire and tie up those walking boots! Join Buffalo Bayou Partnership on a free New Year’s Eve Celebration Stroll Wellness Walk led by Laura Conely, founder of Urban Paths. Anyone and everyone is invited to walk the path and celebrate 2025 as we take steps towards a new year!
Whether you prefer a brisk walk or a leisurely stroll, our guided walk is the perfect way to start the new year. Let’s walk, talk, and be merry! Don’t miss this chance to celebrate the season’s cheer with every step!

Cost
Free
Duration
90 minutes / 3 miles
Meeting Location
The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park (105-B Sabine St)

REGISTER

NIGHT LIGHT 2026
2026-03-28 20:00 - 22:00 (America/Chicago) | ALLEN’S LANDING, 1001 Commerce Street, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Aurora Picture Show and Buffalo Bayou Partnership co-present this free, annual outdoor event featuring video artworks activating structures along Buffalo Bayou. Happening this year along a half-mile stretch of trails in Downtown Houston near historic Allen’s Landing, NIGHT LIGHT 2026 features new, site-specific media installations by Houston artists Hillerbrand+Magsamen, Corey De’Juan Sherrard Jr., and Kenneth Tam in collaboration with Alexander Jamu, Cal Mascardo, Claire Morton, and Elbread Roh.
With an artisan market hosted by East End District and BLCK Market at East River, food trucks, and music by DJ Gracie Chavez, this festive, uniquely Houston experience is not to be missed!
FREE REGISTRATION
ESPAÑOL

Date & Time
Saturday, March 28
8 – 10 PM

Location
Allen’s Landing Park in downtown (1005 Commerce St.)

What to Know
Entrance: The entrance of NIGHT LIGHT 2026 will be located near Allen’s Landing at 1005 Commerce St.
Parking for this event is limited. Paid parking is available on adjacent streets and in parking garages and surface lots. Find paid parking options here.
Rideshare, carpooling, public transportation, cycling, and walking are strongly encouraged.
Rideshare (Uber, Lyft, etc): Drop-off/pick-up in front of the Sunset Coffee Building on Commerce St.
Public Transportation: Event accessible via Houston METRO bus routes. Plan your public transportation route here.
Cycling: Bike Valet by BikeHouston will secure your bike throughout the event, free of charge.
Accessibility: There is an accessible ramped path from the street level to the bayou hike and bike trail. Please note that the pathways between the artworks may have uneven surfaces. Please wear sturdy footwear suitable for uneven surfaces.

For questions, please contact Trudi Smith, Director of Programming, at tsmith@buffalobayou.org.
In the case of inclement weather, this event will take place on the following Saturday, April 4, 8 – 10 PM.

Volunteer with Us!
Get involved with NIGHT LIGHT as a volunteer! View all available volunteer opportunities here.

Featured Artists
Hillerbrand+Magsamen is a collaborative artist duo who work across video, photography, installation, and interdisciplinary performance. Their work has been presented at festivals including the Ann Arbor Film Festival, Fusebox Festival, CounterCurrent, and Diffusion Photography Festival; and exhibited at institutions such as FotoFest, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Everson Museum, and Center for Photography Woodstock. They are currently working on a commissioned public artwork for the Austin Bergstrom International Airport.
Corey De’Juan Sherrard Jr. is an interdisciplinary artist who employs unique systems for creating songs, images, and objects. He is an alum of the School for Poetic Computation and the University of Houston; has exhibited works at Project Row Houses, Sanman Studios, Sabine Street Studios, Cleve Carney Museum of Art, and the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center; and has performed at the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, DiverseWorks, and the Blaffer Art Museum.
Kenneth Tam is an interdisciplinary artist who works across moving-image, sculpture, installation, movement, and performance. Tam received his BFA from the Cooper Union, has exhibited widely across the US, and is included in the upcoming Greater New York 2026 at MoMA/PS1. He is Assistant Professor of Art at Rice University and, for this commission, will be collaborating with students Alexander Jamu, Cal Mascardo, Claire Morton, and Elbread Roh.

Generous support provided by

Buffalo Bayou Partnership is

NOCHE DE LUCES 2026
2026-03-28 20:00 - 22:00 (America/Chicago) | ALLEN’S LANDING, 1001 Commerce Street, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Aurora Picture Show y Buffalo Bayou Partnership presentan conjuntamente este evento anual gratuito al aire libre que presenta obras de videoarte proyectadas sobre estructuras a lo largo de Buffalo Bayou. Este año, NIGHT LIGHT 2026 se llevará a cabo a lo largo de aproximadamente media milla de senderos en el centro de Houston, cerca del histórico Allen’s Landing. El evento presenta nuevas instalaciones de medios específicas para el sitio creadas por artistas de Houston Hillerbrand+Magsamen, Corey De’Juan Sherrard Jr. y Kenneth Tam, en colaboración con Alexander Jamu, Cal Mascardo, Claire Morton y Elbread Roh.
El evento también contará con un mercado artesanal organizado por East End District y BLCK Market at East River, food trucks y música a cargo de la DJ Gracie Chavez. ¡Una experiencia festiva y única de Houston que no te puedes perder!
REGISTRO GRATUITO
ENGLISH

Fecha y hora
Sábado 28 de marzo
8 – 10 PM

Ubicación
Allen’s Landing Park en el centro de Houston (1005 Commerce St.)

Información importante
Entrada: La entrada de NIGHT LIGHT 2026 estará ubicada cerca de Allen’s Landing, en 1005 Commerce St.
Estacionamiento: El estacionamiento para este evento es limitado. Se recomienda utilizar transporte compartido, compartir vehículo, transporte público, bicicleta o llegar caminando.
Rideshare (Uber, Lyft, etc.): Punto de subida y bajada frente al Sunset Coffee Building en Commerce St.
Transporte público: El evento es accesible a través de las rutas de autobús de Houston METRO. Planifica tu ruta de transporte público aquí.
Ciclismo: BikeHouston ofrecerá servicio gratuito de Bike Valet para resguardar tu bicicleta durante todo el evento.
Accesibilidad: Ten en cuenta que los senderos entre las obras de arte pueden tener superficies irregulares. Se recomienda usar zapatos para caminar.

En caso de mal clima, el evento se realizará el sábado 4 de abril, de 8 a 10 PM.

Los artistas
Hillerbrand+Magsamen es un dúo artístico colaborativo que trabaja con video, fotografía, instalación y performance interdisciplinario. Su trabajo se ha presentado en festivales como el Ann Arbor Film Festival, Fusebox Festival, CounterCurrent Festival y Diffusion Photography Festival, y en instituciones como FotoFest, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Everson Museum of Art y Center for Photography at Woodstock. Actualmente trabajan en una obra pública comisionada para el Austin–Bergstrom International Airport.
Corey De’Juan Sherrard Jr. es un artista interdisciplinario que desarrolla sistemas únicos para crear canciones, imágenes y objetos. Es egresado de School for Poetic Computation y de la University of Houston. Ha exhibido su trabajo en Project Row Houses, Sanman Studios, Sabine Street Studios, Cleve Carney Museum of Art y el George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, y ha presentado performances en el Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, DiverseWorks y el Blaffer Art Museum.
Kenneth Tam es un artista interdisciplinario que trabaja con imagen en movimiento, escultura, instalación, movimiento y performance. Obtuvo su BFA en The Cooper Union y ha expuesto ampliamente en Estados Unidos. Su trabajo formará parte de Greater New York 2026 en MoMA PS1. Es Profesor Asistente de Arte en Rice University y, para esta comisión, colaborará con los estudiantes Alexander Jamu, Cal Mascardo, Claire Morton y Elbread Roh.

Con el generoso apoyo de

Buffalo Bayou Partnership es

National Walking Day Wellness Walk
2026-04-01 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | THE WATER WORKS, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
April 1st is National Walking Day!
Join the movement toward a healthier lifestyle with a free Wellness Walks led by Laura Conely, founder of Urban Paths. Anyone and everyone are invited to walk the paths along Buffalo Bayou with fellow nature enthusiasts and enjoy the benefits of movement, connection, and the outdoors. Each walk is 90 minutes long and will cover approximately 3 miles.
All attendees will be entered into a raffle for the chance to win awesome Buffalo Bayou Partnership merch!
Learn more about National Walking Day Houston.

Cost
Free
Duration
90 minutes / 3 miles
Walk Schedule
6:30 – 8pm: Meet at The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park (105-B Sabine St)

FREE REGISTRATION

Jazzy Sundays: Christian McBride and Synesthesia
2026-04-05 17:00 - 19:30 UTC | THE WATER WORKS, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
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 4:30-7:30 PM.
Bring you picnic blanket, lawn chairs, friends, and family for a groovy afternoon in Buffalo Bayou Park!
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 Christian McBride
Christian McBride has blazed an extraordinary trail as one of the most preeminent musicians of his time. Over the last three decades, the nin-time Grammy winner has made momentous advances as a dynamic musician and recording artist, a prolific composer-arranger-producer, a distinguished curator of culture, and a dedicated educator and mentor. A prolific bandleader, McBride’s ensembles are each distinctive extensions of his tremendous threshold of creative inspiration, which span and synthesize straight-ahead, experimental, free-leaning jazz, funk, soul, Latin, hip hop and rhythm and blues.
McBride’s staggeringly diverse career also includes the role of host of NPR’s public radio program Jazz Night in America as well as The Lowdown: Conversations with Christian on SiriusXM. McBride also holds artistic director titles at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, the TD James Moody Jazz Festival, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), and JAZZ HOUSE KiDS.
McBride is an entire artist whose colossal sound, strikingly vast body of work, and huge strides within the realm of artistic directorship are denotative of a self-identified perpetual student, whose love of learning feeds his passion, and whose passion has led a generation of musicians — within jazz and beyond.

About Synesthesia
K’vhondre Tahree-Amir Tinner is a multidisciplinary artist, trumpeter, pianist, composer, and author whose work lives at the intersection of jazz, cinematic storytelling, and speculative world-building. Now based in Houston, Texas and attending Texas Southern University, Tinner brings a global perspective to his sound and creative vision.
His performance career includes notable milestones such as opening for MonoNeon at Houston’s Jazzy Sundays (2025), sharing the stage with Erykah Badu (2023), performing with Solange (2017), and appearing at the Monterey Jazz Festival in both 2024 and 2025. In 2026, he reached a major career landmark by selling out Doc’s Jazz Club for the first time as a headlining artist.
With a sound rooted in jazz but unbound by tradition, Tinner continues to build a body of work that is both musically sophisticated and narratively expansive—positioning himself as a forward-thinking artist shaping his own lane across music, literature, and live performance.

Market Vendors:
Cali’s Little TeapotCrystalWoodshopCupfusion CupcakeryLone Star BeardsMiss Boujee BakesMoods by MonetMy Organic Skin, LLCNolani Co.PopLife Popping Co.Shafer JewelleryThe Streets of NO
Food Vendors:
Evans BBQKind Ice CreamPeppaz ChickenVolando Coffee
