Lively Summer Festivals in Houston, 2007

I just love Houston. It's a very strange city in a lot of ways, the "Texas" in the town, the ethnic neighborhoods and a slight Caribbean spirit. Then right down the road is NASA, for Pete's sake! But Houston is and always has been lively and has reveled in and shared the many dimensions of its culture. The 2007 lineup of festivals and celebrations is really impressive for 2007. Anyone living here are lucky indeed. Visitors planning a short stay would do well to plan to coordinate their visits to one of the upcoming summer events.

http://www.jazzeducation.org/html/contact.html
Each August Houston puts on a dynamite Jazz Festival. It's a month-long affair that involves participation of local jazz clubs and educators. A Celebration of the Summer Jazz Workshop will take place August 4th, and on August 5th and 6th the International Jazz Explosion takes place. The schedule of events is not yet ready for printout, so contact the organization directly to find out more about this 17- yr. old citywide celebration.
3303 S. Rice, Suite 107
Houston,Texas 77054
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 8031
Houston,Texas 77288
713.839.7000
jazzed@jazzeducation.org

This summer Houston will again host the Houston Caribfest , one of the country's best loved celebrations of Caribbean music food and dance. Events this year will center around, of course, the delightful music and costumes. The main event, the Festival Explosion, is a truly carnival delight of musicians and dancers winding their way through the streets with masks, bright colors and head dress plumage, while crowds sway to this marvelous music--reggae, zydeco, calypso, steel bands, and the wild Masquerade Parade. It all takes place July5th-8th. Call 713-689-0689 or email festival coordinators at information@houstoncaribfest.com to more information, since the web site does not yet have events scheduled. But be sure to click the "Contact Us" link to register for a chance at any of 50 VIP Weekend giveaways! Who knows, it could be that you win a paid weekend of absolute Carnival this summer. The contest registration begins May 1, 2007. www.houstoncaribfest.com

More than 100 hot-air balloons majestically take off around the Johnson Space Center in Houston during the Ballunar Liftoff Festival. Largest hot air balloon gathering in the state. Visitors can enjoy a dramatic after-dark balloon glow on Friday and Saturday evenings, achieved when the balloon pilots simultaneously illuminate the tethered fleet. Saturday features special shaped balloons during the "UFO Invasion". Sky diving, balloon flights, hang gliding, model rocket demonstrations, games and food add to the fun. It all takes place the last weekend of August. Call 281.333.4211 for directions on getting there and event times. The light balloon display takes place dusk to dark on Friday and Saturday, with games, food, hang gliding and model rocket demos all contributing to the fun. http://www.nassaubay.com/ballunar_festival.htm