Art Car Parade returns after two-year COVID hiatus
Want another sign that things are slowly getting back to normal? The Art Car Parade is finally back on the road.
The flagship event at the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art takes place April 7-10 after a two-year shutdown related to COVID-19. The event is dedicated to the late Ann Harithas, a Houston artist, curator, art collector and patron who is credited with organizing one of the first local art car shows. The parade’s grand prize will be permanently named the Ann Harithas Legacy Award.
The parade will spotlight Houston’s slab cars and feature more than 100 new cars from around the country. The full range of cars will be available at the parade site.
The calendar of events includes:
The Main Street Drag
9:00 a.m. on April 7
Art Cars and their artists will take part in a series of mini-parades that will visit schools, hospitals, retirement homes, development centers and other places where participants might not be able to participate in the events of the weekend.
Overview of Discovery Green
6-10 p.m. April 7 at Disvoery Green, 1501 McKinney
Nearly 100 art cars will line the streets for those who want a first look. It will be held in conjunction with Discovery Green’s UHD Thursday Night concert series featuring Houston native and “American Idol” hopeful Ren Patrick. To free.
The legendary Art Car Ball
6-11pm April 8 at the Orange Show, 2401 Munger
A night of live performances, art installations, costumes and art cars. It will feature the Golden Dawn Arkestra Jazz Ensemble and Kam Franklin’s Bayou City Comeback Chorus. Tickets start at $35 and are available at thehoustonartcarparade.com.
The starting line party
11 a.m. April 9 at Allen Parkway in Heiner
Live music, food, drinks and more. To free.
The 35th Annual Houston Art Car Parade
2:00 p.m. April 9 at Allen Parkway and Downtown Houston
The official parade start is in Dallas and Bagby and will continue along Allen Parkway. To free.