Before temperatures get unbearable, head to Bayou Bend Park to soak up the good weather.

A season of renewal, spring in Houston is (literally) a breath of fresh air. The temperatures haven’t yet turned oppressive, being outside is bearable and—dare we say—enjoyable? And the city reemerges after winter’s quieter stretch. Festivals, art shows, concerts, and pop-up events nudge us outside our winter caves, begging us to indulge in the city before triple-digit heat sends us retreating inside again. With so many things vying for our attention, it raises the inevitable question: Where do you start? We asked Houstonians to weigh in on their favorite things to do this season. Here’s what they said. Responses have been edited and condensed for clarity.

Get Outside.

“Going to parks in Houston and enjoying the outdoors as things start to bloom again. This past year, I’ve gotten really into going on walks at Memorial Park.” —Parnia Razi, yoga teacher and local commentator

Visit some of Houston’s best gardens and get some inspiration for your own green spaces. 

“A walk around Buffalo Bayou, followed by a picnic at Eleanor Tinsley Park. It’s something my friend from UH and I used to do, and I like to continue the tradition.” —Sofia Gonzalez, Houstonia food and travel editor

Celebrate!

“Persian New Year is on the spring equinox in March. One of my favorite
things to do in the spring is to go to Persian New Year events. There’s a big one that’s hosted by the Iranian Cultural Foundation. They have a market and vendors and food, and they have a lineup of different dance presentations, an emcee, and some fun musicians, and they usually have a pretty cool headliner, a Persian artist that comes to perform.” —PR

The Houston Art Car Parade reimagines what our commuter vehicles could look like.

Attend the Houston Art Car Parade.

“One of the most underrated events of the year, not just in spring, is the Houston Art Car Parade. You can watch it for free on the side, but they also have VIP tickets where they have a lot of good food. You can drink, you can eat, you can spend hours just watching all the crazy cars. I don’t think there’s anything like it.” —Shawn Singh, food influencer @shawnthefoodsheep

Prepare for the pollen.

“One absolute must for me (and probably most Houstonians) is getting a solid dose of allergy medicine. Snotty sneezing sucks!” —Erica Cheng, Houstonia news and city life editor

Get your hands dirty.

“I’m planting native wildflowers in my backyard this year, and I’m getting pretty antsy waiting to put down some soil and get started. I have a big bag of mixed seeds for variety’s sake, too, so it’ll be exciting to see what grows.”
—Meredith Nudo, Houstonia senior culture editor

Get your yeehaw on at the Houston Rodeo!

Eat some funnel cake, attend some concerts, and be scared for your life as you watch toddlers take on mutton bustin’. —Houstonia staff

Travel.

Hit the road and visit some Texas towns like Seguin, and check out our state parks. —Houstonia staff

Bluebonnets season is in full swing, but don’t let the state flower steal your eyes away from other seasonal beauties.

Get your crawfish fix in.

“Whether it’s at your favorite restaurant or in someone’s backyard. My husband hosts a crawfish boil every year, and it doesn’t disappoint!” —Brittany Britto Garley, Houstonia editor in chief

Cheer on the home team at Daikin Park and fuel up on stadium eats.

Go ’Stros! —Houstonia staff

Wear bright colors.

Break out of the drab cold-weather gear and embrace the pleasant temps with something pastel or flashy. —Houstonia staff

Refresh your storm kits before hurricane season.

April showers do bring May flowers, but flooding can hit when we don’t expect it. —Houstonia staff

Chill out on a patio.

Gather your friends and find an outdoor spot to dine and drink alfresco. —Houstonia staff

Head to the Seawall and get away from the hustle and bustle of Houston.

Create your own personal itinerary.

“Grab sugar cane juice from various spots on Hillcroft. Catch Lucha Libre Wrestling at Coliseo Houston. Drive Seawall Boulevard in Galveston with the windows down, listening to ‘Tops Drop’ by Fat Pat.” —Raheel Ramzanali, UFC Fight Pass announcer

Feast on primo cuts and smoked meats galore at the Houston Barbecue Festival.

Embark on food-filled adventures.

“A picnic and walk-through of the Menil. Food crawl in Bellaire/Chinatown/Viet-town. I recommend Star Snow Ice and Teriyaki, Linda’s Tropical Fruits, the Banh Mi Company, Lo Banh Mi, and Handam.” —Bert, social media influencer @bertubble

“I call spring in Houston the first ‘big back season!’ I feel like in January and February…people aren’t spending money as much as restaurants. People are chilling, are in their New Year’s resolutions still, and then crawfish season comes around. Then you also have the Houston Barbecue Festival.” —SS

Mark your calendar for spring festivals and events.

“There’s no better place to soak it up than at the Bayou City Art Festival, where you’ll have access to a plethora of featured art, live music, and food in the heart of Houston. Picture this: blue skies, live music drifting through the air, art that makes you say, ‘I don’t know what it is, but I love it,’ and enough food vendors to test the structural integrity of your willpower. It’s culture, carbs, and cardio (from walking booth to booth) all in one place.… Your future, sweatier self will thank you.” —Stevie Vu, director of operations at the Asia Society

“Sherwood Forest Faire operates out of Bastrop. It’s a medium-scale Renaissance festival on absolutely gorgeous terrain. It’s wooded, and it’s hilly, and it feels small and homey. There are hundreds of live performances every day, incredible food, a lot of handmade crafts. You can drive through the Texas wildflowers and land at a Renaissance festival, which is pretty peak.” —Kimberly Larkspur, president of Dauntless Dance and Movement

“They host a free air hockey doubles tournament. You’ll get to activate your competitive spirit mode for some double-elimination round action against others and win prizes. I’d have every ’80s movie montage song playing in my head during gameplay.” —SV

Pick up fresh produce and baked goods at a local farmers market.

“Spring is all about those…vegetables that you do not know existed, but you should try them: kohlrabi, squash, beets, corn, turnips, all the alliums.” —Julio Mendez, local chef

Partake in strawberry season.

“Sometimes, I plan an entire day’s driving trip to farms outside the city like Atkinson Farms or Froberg’s Farm.” —JM