Buffalo Bayou Partnership

Tinsel Trek: Buffalo Bayou Park Wellness Walk
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.
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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)

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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.
