Buffalo Bayou Partnership

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.

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Food Vendors:
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Jazzy Sundays: Melvin Johnson and Mahoganee Renee
2026-04-12 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 4-7:30 PM.
Bring you picnic blanket, lawn chairs, friends, and family for a groovy afternoon in Buffalo Bayou Park!
To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all, outside alcohol is not permitted. Food and drink will be available for purchase on-site.
Jazzy Sundays in the Parks is made possible by a grant from the Kinder Foundation and sponsored by KTSU.
Location: The Water Works Lawn in Buffalo Bayou Park (105-B Sabine St.)
Lineup:

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

Schedule:

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

FREE REGISTRATION

About Melvin Johnson
Melvin Johnson is a Houston-born pianist, composer, and international recording artist who masterfully blends emotion and melody into unforgettable music. As the creative force behind The Electro-Akoustic, he delivers a dynamic jazz-fusion experience that captivates audiences nationwide. Through his event production company, Sincerely Yours Music & Production, Melvin provides top-tier live entertainment and seamless event coordination—from live bands and DJs to lighting and pro-audio.
As the founder of the Melvin Johnson Collective, he unites his artistic vision, his band, his direction, and his expanding live-entertainment empire. With his 3rd and 4th albums set for release in 2026, Melvin continues to inspire and elevate the musical landscape. In every note, every performance, and every event, Melvin Johnson’s brilliance and masterful artistry shine through.

About Mahoganee Renee
Growing up in a musical family, there was no other choice than to develop a voice that expresses love and creativity. A native of Houston, Mahoganee is a proud graduate of Houston’s Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and Loyola University New Orleans, holding a B.M in Music Industry Studies.
While performing in some of the top venues in New Orleans, she realized her calling: to be a voice that brings change to the world through music. Although she sings a plethora of musical genres, Mahoganee got her start singing gospel, then moved on to classical, jazz, pop, Broadway, and R&B. As the lead vocalist for Heights Funk Collective, she was featured in the EP “Four Letters.” She has also been a featured soloist with the Scott Joplin Orchestra and Voices of Houston, and shared the stage with the Houston Symphony, New Orleans Grand Opera, and a host of other artists.

Jazzy Sundays: Joy Bloom & Strangers on Earth and Kinder HSPVA Jazz Ensemble
2026-04-19 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 4-7:30 PM.
Bring you picnic blanket, lawn chairs, friends, and family for a groovy afternoon in Buffalo Bayou Park!
To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all, outside alcohol is not permitted. Food and drink will be available for purchase on-site.
Jazzy Sundays in the Parks is made possible by a grant from the Kinder Foundation and sponsored by KTSU.
Location: The Water Works Lawn in Buffalo Bayou Park (105-B Sabine St.)
Lineup:

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

Schedule:

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

FREE REGISTRATION

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

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

Jazzy Sundays: Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers and Steven Dargin & Texas Kreole
2026-04-26 17:00 - 19:30 UTC | 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 4-7:30 PM.
Bring you picnic blanket, lawn chairs, friends, and family for a groovy afternoon in Buffalo Bayou Park!
To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all, outside alcohol is not permitted. Food and drink will be available for purchase on-site.
Jazzy Sundays in the Parks is made possible by a grant from the Kinder Foundation and sponsored by KTSU.
Location: The Water Works Lawn in Buffalo Bayou Park (105-B Sabine St.)
Lineup:

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

Schedule:

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

FREE REGISTRATION

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

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