Summer Species: Butterfly Briefing
2024-08-17 09:00 - 09:30, 2024-08-24 09:00 - 09:30 UTC | THE WATER WORKS, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Join us every Saturday in June through August for “Ask the Expert” and dive into the wondrous world of butterflies and other pollinators during our Summer Species series. Find out why these tiny creatures are essential for keeping our environment healthy, helping plants grow, and making sure we have food. Get tips on protecting them, enjoy chatting with experts who can answer all your questions, and watch the transformation of caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly in our very own mini habitat. Don’t miss out on these fun and informative sessions!
Additional Information:
Meet at The Water Works Visitor Center next to the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern.
Parking is available in the adjacent parking lot or along Sabine Street.
RSVP

Summer Species: Butterfly Walk
2024-08-17 09:00 - 10:30 UTC | JACKSON HILL BRIDGE
We’re fluttering into summer with a series of nature walks exploring this year’s Summer Species, butterflies! Learn about local butterfly species, life cycle, and habitat on this discovery tour of Buffalo Bayou with Nancy Greig, founding director of the Cockrell Butterfly Center (now retired). An avid natural historian “jack of all trades”, she has a particular interest in native plants and insects. At home she keeps busy with a butterfly garden, honeybee hives, and purple martin houses.
Additional Information:
Meet at Jackson Hill Bridge (on the Allen Parkway side) just east of Flora Restaurant.
Parking is recommended at the 300 block of Jackson Hill Street off Memorial Drive. More information available here.
Walking tours are 90 minutes and cover approximately 3 miles. Comfortable clothing and good walking shoes recommended.
RSVP

Buffalo Bayou East: A Progress Report to the Community
2024-08-28 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | BakerRipley, 4450 Harrisburg Blvd, Houston, 77011, United States
Date: Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Time: 6:00-8:00 pm
Location: BakerRipley Ripley House (4414 Navigation Blvd)
Buffalo Bayou Partnership is Branching Out along Buffalo Bayou East!
We’re looking forward to this presentation which will provide more information about the exciting new developments along the banks of Buffalo Bayou east of downtown as we realize the Buffalo Bayou East 10-Year Plan. Join us on August 28 for a presentation from the BBP team followed by a reception for questions and discussion.
Registration is recommended but not required.
RSVP
Or call us at 713-752-0314 ext. 101
————————————–
Fecha: Miercoles, 28 de Agosto, 2024
Hora: 6:00-8:00 pm
Ubicación: BakerRipley Ripley House (4414 Navigation Blvd)
¡Buffalo Bayou Partnership se Expande a lo largo de Buffalo Bayou East!
Esperamos con entusiasmo esta presentación que proporcionará más información sobre los nuevos y emocionantes desarrollos a lo largo de las orillas de Buffalo Bayou al este del downtown a medida que realizamos el Plan a 10 años de Buffalo Bayou East. Únase a nosotros el 28 de agosto para una presentación del equipo BBP seguido de una recepción para preguntas y discusión.
Se recomienda inscribirse, pero no es obligatorio.
Inscríbase
O llámenos al 713-752-0314 ext. 101

Summer Species: Butterfly Briefing
2024-08-31 09:00 - 09:30 UTC | THE WATER WORKS, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Join us every Saturday in June through August for “Ask the Expert” and dive into the wondrous world of butterflies and other pollinators during our Summer Species series. Find out why these tiny creatures are essential for keeping our environment healthy, helping plants grow, and making sure we have food. Get tips on protecting them, enjoy chatting with experts who can answer all your questions, and watch the transformation of caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly in our very own mini habitat. Don’t miss out on these fun and informative sessions!

Additional Information:
Meet at The Water Works Visitor Center next to the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern.
Parking is recommended at the 300 block of Jackson Hill Street off Memorial Drive. More information available here.
Walking tours are 90 minutes and cover approximately 3 miles. Comfortable clothing and good walking shoes recommended.
RSVP

Friends of River Oaks Theatre Presents: Being There
2024-09-19 18:00 - 21:30 UTC | THE WATER WORKS, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Friends of River Oaks Theatre presents a FREE, outdoor screening of the satirical film Being There, co-presented by Buffalo Bayou Partnership. Starring Peter Sellers in his final film and directed by Hal Ashby (Harold and Maude, The Last Detail), Being There tells the story of a simple-minded gardener named Chance has spent all his life in the Washington D.C. house of an old man. When the man dies, Chance is put out on the street with no knowledge of the world except what he has learned from television.
Grab your picnic blankets and join us on The Water Works lawn in Buffalo Bayou Park for an evening reflecting on important topics such as human nature, life and American society.
RSVP Here

Schedule of events:
6:00pm: Doors open
7:15pm: Movie begins

Japhet Creek Park Opening Celebration
2024-09-21 11:00 - 14:00 UTC | JAPHET CREEK PARK, 4600 Clinton Dr, Houston, TX, 77020, United States
Date: Saturday, September 21
Time: 11am – 2pm
Location: Japhet Creek Park (4600 Clinton Dr)
Join us for an opening celebration for Japhet Creek Park! We’re inviting the community to the newly completed neighborhood park on Japhet Creek, a historic Buffalo Bayou tributary in Houston’s Fifth Ward. Bring your lawn chairs, picnic blankets, and family and friends to enjoy a day in the park with performances from local musicians, including Step Rideau & The Zydeco Outlaws, food and drinks, face-painting, community organizations and vendors, and fun activities for all.

Schedule
11:00am: Remarks with Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Rich Kinder, Chairman of the Kinder Foundation
11:30am: Ribbon cutting followed by the Wheatley High School Marching Band and Cheer Squad
12:00pm: Performance by local band Step Rideau & The Zydeco Outlaws
1:15pm: Performance by piano prodigy and TikTok sensation Traevon Narcisse
1:30pm: Tunes with KTSU

RSVP

Buffalo Bayou Partnership recently completed construction on the first phase of the Japhet Creek Park improvements, featuring new trails, wildflower meadows, and lawns for gatherings and events. Part of BBP’s Buffalo Bayou East 10-Year Plan, the second phase of the Japhet Creek project will include a creekside trail leading to a bayou-crossing pedestrian bridge connecting to Tony Marron Park to the south.
LEARN MORE ABOUT BUFFALO BAYOU EAST

Inauguración del Parque Japhet Creek

Date: Sábado, 21 de Septiembre
Time: 11am – 2pm
Location: Parque Japhet Creek (4600 Clinton Dr)
¡Celebre con nosotros la inauguración del Parque Japhet Creek! Invitamos a la comunidad al recién terminado parque vecinal en Japhet Creek, un histórico afluente de Buffalo Bayou en el Fifth Ward de Houston. Venga con sus amigos y familiares para disfrutar de un día en el parque con música y actividades divertidas, deliciosa comida, y mucho más!
Se recomienda registrarse, pero no es obligatorio.
Inscríbase

Buffalo Bayou Partnership ha finalizado recientemente la construcción de la primera fase de las mejoras del Parque Japhet Creek, que incluye nuevos senderos, praderas con flores silvestres y césped para reuniones y eventos. La segunda fase del proyecto de Japhet Creek, que forma parte del plan a 10 años de Buffalo Bayou East de BBP, incluirá un sendero junto al arroyo que conducirá a un puente peatonal que cruzará el bayou y conectará con el Parque Tony Marron, situado al sur.
Conozca más acerca de Buffalo Bayou East

Thank you to our partners:
Gracias a nuestros socios:

Lockwood on Buffalo Bayou Ribbon-Cutting & Neighborhood Party
2024-10-05 10:00 - 13:00 UTC | Lockwood on Buffalo Bayou, 733 N Drennan St, Houston, 77003, United States
Date: Saturday, October 5
Time: 10am-1pm
Location: Lockwood on Buffalo Bayou (733 N Drennan St)
Join us to celebrate the completion of Lockwood on Buffalo Bayou, a new affordable housing development nestled within green space in the vibrant East End community.
This community celebration will feature a ribbon cutting and remarks from:

Gaynell Floyd Drexler, Buffalo Bayou Partnership Board Chair
Sylvia Garcia, U.S. Congresswoman
Mario Castillo, Houston City Council Member
Mike Nichols, City of Houston Director of Housing and Community Development
Rich Sciortino, Co-Founder of Brinshore, national affordable housing developer and partner in the Lockwood on Buffalo Bayou project

Friends and neighbors will gather for a day of music, food, lawn games, giveaways, and plenty of fun! Don’t miss out on tours of the Lockwood on Buffalo Bayou building, art tours by the talented artist Gerardo Rosales, and the vibrant beats of DJ Gracie Chavez. Plus, the Milby High School Marching Band and Cheer Squad will deliver a special performance. Enjoy activities for all ages from lawn games to face painting. Be sure to grab free tacos and paletas from Boombox Tacos and El Pibe, while supplies last.
Registration is recommended but not required.
RSVP

Buffalo Bayou Partnership recently completed construction on the first phase of Lockwood on Buffalo Bayou in partnership with Brinshore, a national affordable housing developer. This phase includes 80 multi-family income-inclusive units that began leasing earlier this summer.
LEARN MORE ABOUT BUFFALO BAYOU EAST

What to Know
Lockwood on Buffalo Bayou is located at 733 N. Drennan St.
To access this location, please go to Navigation Blvd. and N. Drennan St. (one block east of Milby). Head north (toward the bayou) on N. Drennan past where the road curves to the right. Lockwood on Buffalo Bayou is at the end of the road and parking is available on site as well as on nearby streets. See map below for recommended route.

Corte de Cinta y Fiesta en el Vecindario de Lockwood en Buffalo Bayou

Date: Sábado, 5 de Octubre
Time: 10am – 1pm
Location: Lockwood en Buffalo Bayou (733 N Drennan St)
Unase a nosotros para celebrar la finalización de Lockwood en Buffalo Bayou, un nuevo desarrollo de viviendas asequibles ubicado dentro de espacios verdes en la vibrante comunidad del East End.
Esta celebración comunitaria contará con un corte de cinta y comentarios de:
• Gaynell Floyd Drexler, Presidente de la Junta Directiva de Buffalo Bayou Partnership
• Mario Castillo, Concejal de la Ciudad de Houston
• Mike Nichols, Director de Vivienda y Desarrollo Comunitario de la Ciudad de Houston
• Rich Sciortino, Brinshore, promotor nacional de viviendas asequibles y socio en el proyecto Lockwood on Buffalo Bayou

¡Amigos y vecinos se reunirán para un día de música, comida, juegos, obsequios y mucha diversión! No te pierdas los recorridos artísticos del talentoso artista Gerardo Rosales y los vibrantes ritmos de DJ Gracie Chávez. Además, la Banda de Marcha de la Escuela Secundaria Milby ofrecerá un rendimiento especial. Disfrute de actividades para todas las edades, desde juegos de césped hasta pintura facial. Asegúrese de tomar un bocado de los camiones de comida, Boom Box Tacos y El Pibe, que brindan almuerzos gratuitos hasta agotar existencias.
Se recomienda registrarse, pero no es obligatorio.
Inscríbase

Buffalo Bayou Partnership ha finalizado recientemente la construcción de la primera fase de Lockwood en Buffalo Bayou en asociación con Brinshore, un desarrollador nacional de viviendas asequibles. La primera fase incluye 80 unidades multifamiliares de ingresos inclusivos que comenzaron a alquilarse a principios de este verano.
Conozca más acerca de Buffalo Bayou East

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.

***
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.
