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Here’s a short piece on how to Play The Global Game
and another on registering for a Trail.

Houston in January is a confident mix of new-year energy and big-ticket culture: marathon weekend takes over downtown, Discovery Green stays lively after dark, museums launch major exhibitions, and the convention calendar kicks back into gear. Use this date-sorted hit-list to stitch together your month — from Broadway and symphony nights to expos, skating, art openings and a very Houston kind of dusk spectacle at Waugh Bridge.

Festivals & Citywide:
Concerts & Music:
Theatre / Performance / Dance:
Arts & Exhibitions:
Sport & Outdoors:
Food, Drink & Night Markets:
Workshops & Learning:
Conferences & Expos:
Pop Culture & Community:

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Festivals & Citywide:

1. Ice at Discovery Green
   • Dates: Throughout January
   • Where: Discovery Green
   • Details: Downtown skating with themed nights — an easy, reliable winter plan.
2. Bumper Cars on Ice
   • Dates: Early Jan – mid Feb
   • Where: Discovery Green
   • Details: Loud, playful, and unexpectedly fun — especially with kids or friends.
3. Houston Marathon Weekend
   • Dates: Fri 9 – Sun 11 Jan
   • Where: Downtown / citywide course
   • Details: One of Houston’s signature weekends — expect crowds, closures and great energy.
4. We Are Houston 5K + RunFest
   • Date: Sat 10 Jan
   • Where: Discovery Green
   • Details: The most accessible part of marathon weekend — participatory and festive.
5. Chevron Houston Marathon & Aramco Half
   • Date: Sun 11 Jan
   • Where: Downtown Houston
   • Details: Early start, big crowds — Allen Parkway is a great viewing spot.
6. Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo — Season Build-Up
   • Dates: Late January → Mid March
   • Where: NRG Park
   • Details: Rodeo season begins to surface in late January with early events, trail rides, and citywide build-up ahead of February’s main program.
7. Rodeo Trail Ride Arrivals (Citywide)
   • Dates: Late January
   • Where: Various routes → Downtown Houston
   • Details: Horseback riders arrive from across Texas in one of Houston’s most distinctive traditions.

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Concerts & Music:

1. DACAMERA — Winter Concert Series
   • Dates: Throughout January
   • Where: Wortham Center, MATCH, Menil Collection
   • Details: Chamber music, jazz, and contemporary performances curated for intimate winter venues.
2. Houston Symphony — January Classical Program
   • Dates: Multiple January weekends
   • Where: Jones Hall
   • Details: Winter repertoire from Houston’s flagship orchestra.
3. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Live in Concert)
   • Dates: Fri 9 – Sat 10 Jan
   • Where: Jones Hall
   • Details: Full film screening with live orchestral score.
4. Shaggy with the Houston Symphony
   • Date: Sun 11 Jan
   • Where: Jones Hall
   • Details: A playful pop-symphonic crossover night.
5. Arturo Sandoval with Houston Symphony
   • Dates: Sat 17 – Sun 18 Jan
   • Where: Jones Hall
   • Details: Jazz virtuosity at symphonic scale.
6. Ali Wong (one night)
   • Date: Sat 17 Jan
   • Where: Toyota Center
   • Details: Major touring stand-up show.

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Theatre / Performance / Dance:

1. MATCH — January Performance Calendar
   • Dates: Throughout January
   • Where: Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston
   • Details: Experimental theatre, dance, and spoken-word performances across multiple stages.
2. Alley Theatre — Real Women Have Curves
   • Dates: Late Jan – mid Feb
   • Where: Alley Theatre
   • Details: Smart, funny, contemporary theatre with heart.
3. Broadway at the Hobby Center — Water for Elephants
   • Dates: Tue 27 Jan – Sun 1 Feb
   • Where: Hobby Center
   • Details: Major touring Broadway production.
4. Houston Ballet — Winter Mixed Repertoire
   • Dates: Mid–late January
   • Where: Wortham Center
   • Details: Seasonal program blending classical and contemporary choreography.

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Arts & Exhibitions:

1. The Menil Collection — Winter Exhibitions
   • Dates: Ongoing
   • Where: Menil Campus
   • Details: Free, world-class exhibitions ideal for quieter winter days.
2. Houston Center for Contemporary Craft — New Year Exhibitions
   • Dates: From January
   • Where: Museum District
   • Details: Craft-led exhibitions exploring material, process, and design.
3. MFAH — Frida: The Making of an Icon
   • Dates: From mid January
   • Where: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
   • Details: One of Houston’s major exhibitions of 2026.
4. Meow Wolf Houston — “Radio Tave”
   • Dates: Ongoing
   • Where: Fifth Ward
   • Details: Immersive, narrative sci-art experience.

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Sport & Outdoors:

1. Arboretum After Dark — Winter Edition
   • Dates: Select January evenings
   • Where: Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
   • Details: Guided night walks and seasonal nature programming.
2. Buffalo Bayou Kayak Tours
   • Dates: Weekends (weather permitting)
   • Where: Buffalo Bayou
   • Details: Guided paddles offering a winter perspective on the city skyline.
3. Buffalo Bayou Park Walks
   • Dates: Any clear January day
   • Where: Buffalo Bayou
   • Details: Bridges, skyline views and space to roam.
4. Waugh Drive Bat Colony
   • Dates: Weather-dependent evenings
   • Where: Waugh Drive Bridge
   • Details: Free, strange, and unforgettable.

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Workshops & Learning:

1. HMNS After Dark
   • Dates: One evening in January
   • Where: Houston Museum of Natural Science
   • Details: Adults-only learning night with talks, exhibits, and activities.
2. Marathon RunFest Programming
   • Date: Sat 10 Jan
   • Where: Discovery Green
   • Details: Family-friendly activities tied to race weekend.

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Conferences & Expos:

1. Houston AutoBoative Show
   • Dates: Late Jan
   • Where: NRG Center
   • Details: Cars, boats and gear in one large indoor showcase.
2. Bridal Extravaganza Show
   • Dates: Sat 24 – Sun 25 Jan
   • Where: George R. Brown Convention Center
   • Details: Houston’s largest wedding expo.

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Pop Culture & Community:

1. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade
   • Date: Mon 19 Jan
   • Where: Downtown Houston
   • Details: Major community event with large turnout.
2. Houston Astros FanFest
   • Date: Late Jan
   • Where: Daikin Park
   • Details: A pre-season ritual for locals.
3. Lunar New Year Celebrations (Citywide)
   • Dates: Late January
   • Where: Asiatown, Chinatown, Downtown
   • Details: Community festivals, lion dances, markets, and performances celebrating the Lunar New Year.

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Want more What’s On details?

• Space Center Houston — Galaxy Lights
• Houston Botanic Garden — Radiant Nature
• Houston Ballet — The Nutcracker
• Houston Symphony — Calendar
• Visit Houston — Events
• Buffalo Bayou Partnership
• DACAMERA — Season / Downtown Events
• Alley Theatre — Performances
• MFAH — Calendar / Menil — Events / HCCC — Events / HMNS — Events
• Meow Wolf Houston — Radio Tave
• Saint Arnold Brewing Co. — Events
• Houston Zoo

End summary: January in Houston is a month to move — skating downtown, marathon crowds on the streets, big cultural openings, and strong indoor-outdoor balance. Pair one headline night with one relaxed park or bayou wander and you’ll see the city at its most comfortable and confident.

These listings are curated for January 2026. Always confirm times and ticketing with organisers as schedules can change.

&npsb;