Bat Chat
2026-05-08 19:30 - 20:30, 2026-05-15 19:30 - 20:30, 2026-05-22 19:30 - 20:30, 2026-05-29 19:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Waugh Drive Bat Bridge, 1
Stroll to Waugh Drive Bridge for a Bat Chat with the Houston Area Bat Team and see the bat colony up close!
Did you know? These population of Mexican Free-tailed Bats at the Waugh Bridge can reach a peak of approximately 300,000 in the summer months! Around sunset, the colony leaves the crevices beneath the bridge and create a whirlwind-like formation as they emerge. Join the Houston Area Bat Team to learn and discover as they share fun, educational facts and insights about these miniature, flying mammals!
Invite your family and friends, bring a picnic blanket, wear your bug spray, and admire this unique phenomena.

Bat Chats are held every Friday evening from May to August as part of our Summer Species series, starting 30 minutes before sunset.

Cost
Free
Time
7:30 – 8:30pm (30 minutes before sunset)
Meeting Location
Waugh Bridge Bat Colony Observation Deck (along Allen Parkway)
REGISTRATION

Buffalo Bayou Park Wellness Walk
2026-05-13 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-05-20 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-05-27 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-06-03 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-06-10 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | THE WATER WORKS, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Join Buffalo Bayou Partnership on a free Wellness Walk led by Laura Conely, founder of Urban Paths. Anyone and everyone is invited to walk through the paths of Buffalo Bayou Park while discussing topics including mental and physical health as well as the benefits of being exposed to nature.
En Español
El primer miércoles de cada mes, la traductora Marcella Cabrera se unirá al grupo para ofrecer la caminata guiada en español.
Cost
Free
Duration
90 minutes / 3 miles
Meeting Location
The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park (105-B Sabine St)
FREE REGISTRATION

Cocktails in Bloom
2026-05-14 18:30 - 21:00 UTC | TURKEY BEND, 5803 Navigation Blvd, Houston, TX, 77011, United States
Join us for Cocktails in Bloom on May 14th! This fifth annual gathering in support of BBP will be held at the Warehouse at Turkey Bend (5803 Navigation Blvd). Come out to enjoy a fun evening of specialty cocktails, tasty bites from local favorites, and live music while contributing to Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s work of creating and caring for dynamic parks and trails along Houston’s historic waterway.
Colorful, cool attire is encouraged.
Individual Tickets $100
$1000 Sponsorship (6 Tickets, Reserved Table, and Special Recognition)
PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS HERE

Interested in taking part in BBP special events and programs like this all year long? Consider becoming a BBP Patron or Member! Join us as a $1,000 or $2,500 Patron before May 13th and you will receive two complimentary tickets to Cocktails in Bloom or commit to another level of membership for a discount on tickets to this al fresco soiree. You can review all of the benefits of membership support here.
Need to check your membership status? Reach out to us at membership@buffalobayou.org.

Buffalo Bayou Cruise: Bats
2026-05-15 19:20 - 20:50, 2026-05-23 19:20 - 20:50, 2026-05-29 19:20 - 20:50 (America/Chicago) | ALLEN’S LANDING, 1001 Commerce Street, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Sail the scenic waterway on a 90-minute, guided tour from downtown to Waugh Drive Bridge and back to watch the emergence of the 300,000+ Mexican free-tailed bats that live under the bridge.
Our knowledgeable guide will share details about the bats’ eating patterns, behavior and contributions to the bayou’s ecosystem. Space is limited, and boat tours fill up fast. Boat departs 45 minutes before sunset.
Cost
Starting at $30/person
Duration
90 minutes
Departure location
Allen’s Landing (1019 Commerce St.)
Please note, children must be at least four years old to board the pontoon boat.

PURCHASE TICKETS

Monthly Volunteer Workday
2026-05-16 08:30 - 11:30 (America/Chicago) | TX
Volunteers, ages 9 and up, are invited to join Buffalo Bayou Partnership for community-wide volunteer days at Buffalo Bayou Park happening the third Saturday of each month. Whether volunteering as an individual or a small group, your efforts will lead to a healthier environment and a more aesthetically pleasing amenity for all to enjoy.
Volunteers will help with a variety of tasks, including but not limited to: trash pick-up, mulching and weed removal. We do ask that all volunteers bring their own work gloves. All other necessary work tools will be provided by BBP.
Time: 8:30 to 11:30 am
Meeting Location / Parking: Details will be provided after registration.
Interested individuals and small groups can sign up here.

Larger groups can schedule another day during the month by emailing volunteer@buffalobayou.org.

To sign up, please read the Volunteer Information packet and register through our GetConnected volunteer platform.
Volunteer Information Packet
Create a Profile on GetConnected
Questions? Contact Steve Parker by email (volunteer@buffalobayou.org) or by phone 713-752-0314 ext. 206.

Nature Walking Tour
2026-05-16 09:00 - 10:30 (America/Chicago) | THE WATER WORKS, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Learn about native plants and the insects that pollinate them along Buffalo Bayou! Follow along this discovery tour of Houston’s historic waterway ecosystem with Nancy Greig, founding director of the Cockrell Butterfly Center (now retired). An avid natural historian “jack of all trades”, she has particular interest in plants and insects, but birds, mammals, herpetofauna, and fish are all on her radar. At home she keeps busy with a butterfly garden, honey bee hives, and purple martin houses.
Cost
12 and over: $5
Children under 12: free
Duration
90 minutes
Meeting Location
The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park (105-B Sabine St)
REGISTER

Sound Healing Meditation
2026-05-16 10:00 - 10:45, 2026-05-17 10:00 - 10:45, 2026-05-23 10:00 - 10:45, 2026-05-24 10:00 - 10:45, 2026-05-30 10:00 - 10:45, 2026-05-31 10:00 - 10:45, 2026-06-07 10:00 - 10:45, 2026-06-13 10:00 - 10:45 (America/Chicago) and 1 more date | BUFFALO BAYOU PARK CISTERN, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Step into a deeper stillness inside the spacious and tranquil Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern.
Offered in collaboration with UNIONisCREATION™, this meditation and sound experience invites guests into a space of resonance, restoration, and inner alignment. Through gentle vibrations of singing bowls, wind chimes, and a gong, along with guided awareness, participants are supported in reconnecting body and mind.
This series is more than meditation – it is a practice of listening, feeling, and returning to center within one of Houston’s most iconic, immersive spaces. Each session unfolds as a shared moment of reflection, connection, and sound-guided stillness.
Guests should bring their own cushions or mats. No food or drinks are allowed inside the Cistern.
Cost: $20
PURCHASE TICKETS

Bikes & Bats
2026-05-16 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | THE WATER WORKS, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Join Buffalo Bayou Partnership and BikeHouston for a batty good time with a bike ride to the Waugh Bridge Bat Colony!
Bring your bike for an evening ride along Buffalo Bayou to the Waugh Drive Bridge, where you’ll witness an unforgettable sight—more than 300,000 Mexican free-tailed bats emerging at sunset. Along the way, bat expert DeAndra Ramsey will share insights about these fascinating and important creatures—affectionately known as “sky puppies.” Spots are limited, so reserve yours today!
Cost
$10
Duration
2 hours / 3 miles
Meeting Location
The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park (105-B Sabine St)
TICKETS

Buffalo Bayou Cruise: Bats
2026-05-22 19:20 - 20:50 (America/Chicago) | ALLEN’S LANDING, 1001 Commerce Street, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Sail the scenic waterway on a 90-minute, guided tour from downtown to Waugh Drive Bridge and back to watch the emergence of the 250,000+ Mexican free-tailed bats that live under the bridge.
Our knowledgeable guide will share details about the bats’ eating patterns, behavior and contributions to the bayou’s ecosystem. Space is limited, and boat tours fill up fast. Boat departs 45 minutes before sunset.
Cost
Starting at $30/person
Duration
90 minutes
Departure location
Allen’s Landing (1019 Commerce St.)
Please note, children must be at least four years old to board the pontoon boat.

PURCHASE TICKETS

Buffalo Bayou Cruise: History
2026-05-23 17:00 - 18:30, 2026-06-06 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Chicago) | ALLEN’S LANDING, 1001 Commerce Street, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Look back at Houston’s history while cruising Buffalo Bayou on a 90-minute tour with a local historian. Your guide will share stories of the Allen brothers and provide historical information about the people, places, and events along the bayou that helped shape Houston.

Cost

Adults: $40
Children: $32 (ages 4-12)

Departure Location
Allen’s Landing (1019 Commerce St.)
Weather permitting. Reservations Required. Children under the age of 4 are not permitted on the pontoon boat.

PURCHASE TICKETS

Undercurrents with Aris Kian: Poetry Reading and Cistern Visit
2026-06-04 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Chicago) | THE WATER WORKS, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Experience an evening of poetry and immersive art with acclaimed writer Aris Kian, presented in conjunction with Undercurrents by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. The program begins with a reading on the terrace above the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern, followed by a guided tour of the installation—offering a unique opportunity to experience the artwork alongside the poet’s words.
Stay tuned – more readings to come.
Cost
$20
Duration
6:30-7:30 PM / 1 hour
Location
The reading begins on the Wortham Insurance Terrace above the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern. (105-B Sabine St)

PURCHASE TICKETS

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