Notary Nation

Capture a moment in time at the Houston Center for Photography, where you'll find evolving exhibits by emerging and established photographers and plenty of spur-of-the-moment workshops to brush up on your photography skills. As a small visual artists organization, their gallery features some of the finest works of contemporary photography. They also offer over 300 photography classes and workshops year-round. Varying in competency levels, these classes are all taught by esteemed photographers and lecturers, including some of the masters of the medium.

Grab your tankard of ale, your favorite Lord and Lady, and spirit your way to The Texas Renaissance Festival, named #1 Best Cultural Festival by USA Today. Take a step back in time to the nation's largest Renaissance-themed event, where you will experience a 60-acre 16th-century European village filled with kings, queens, knights, nobles, peasants, and all manner of fantasy creatures. The festival has 21 stages of continuous entertainment by clowns, acrobats, musicians, dancers, magicians, award-winning food and drink, wine and beer, and over 500 shops that showcase the work of master artists and craftspeople from around the world.

Admire ​all the vibrant works of art that provide a unique opportunity to see artists in action and the evolution of an arts destination come to life at Smither Park, where the creative urban space developed with the help of an entire community. ​Smither Park is an outrageous, fanciful, functional playland featuring different, exciting, and interactive features. Their commitment to sustainability and recycling inspires decorative elements by exploring the reuse and repurposing of materials like broken ceramic, bottle caps, tiles, and sea shells.