FREE WEEKEND FUN

Free Houston Weekend Fun May 17-19

The weekend is almost here. What are your plans? Here is a snapshot of a few free events and activities to enjoy with your family and friends:

Fight for real food — Take a stand again processed food and engage with your community at Jamie Oliver Food Revolution Day. The public is invited to enjoy a potluck meal Friday, May 17, 6 pm – 9 pm at The Last Organic Outpost at the Emile Street Community Research Farm (711 Emile Street). Local chefs will be on hand at the kids’ cooking station, so bring your kids. Bring a dish to share, blanket, and utensils. And it’s free, of course! Learn more at the national site, FoodRevolutionDay.com.

Enjoy the opera — Thanks to Houston Grand Opera, Houstonians can experience La Boheme for free Friday and Saturday (May 17-18) at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Performance begins at 8 pm. Free reserved ticket seats are available on performance day at the Miller box office from 10:30 am – 1 pm. Limit of 4.

Explore the arts — Enjoy a free event for educators and families dubbed Artsploration at Discovery Green May 18, 9 am – 1 pm. The fun day features 20 interactive live performances in theater, dance, music, visual arts, and puppetry. Discovery Green is located at 1500 McKinney downtown.

Love the ’80s life -- Fans of the 1980s will love the Totally ’80s Sing-Along Saturday, May 18, 7:30 pm. Imagine custom subtitled videos full of big hair, legwarmers, bright neon tights. and more. Plenty of props will make the evening even more fun! Don’t forget to dress the part in your favorite Flashdance-inspired outfit! This event is sponsored by Theater Under the Stars and Aurora Picture Show to get ready for TUTS’ production Flashdance, The Musical. The Sing-Along is located at 2442 Bartlett.   photo: Aurora Picture Show

Sing to Moody Blues — Houston’s own Fab 40 returns to Discovery Green for a free performance Saturday, May 18. These talented folks will perform songs from the Moody Blues. The free outdoor concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

Watch a free flick — Alamo Kids Camp returns this weekend with the free movie Fantastic Mr. Fox. Show times are 11 am May 17 and 19. Seats are first-come, first-serve. Get a reserved seat by pre-purchasing a $5 food and beverage voucher online.

Celebrate the Asian/Pacific culture — Learn more about the Asian Pacific culture at the Asian Pacific Heritage Festival Saturday, May 18, 10 am – 5 pm. Enjoy a Ramen noodle eating contest (3 pm), cultural performances, games, arts and crafts, Hamster Balls, foam party, and food trucks. First 1,000 guests will receive a free coke! The festival is located at Houston Community College, 5601 West Loop South.

photo: Asian/Pacific American Heritage Festival, Patrick Lew

Love a community celebration — The Sugar Land Bash returns Saturday, May 18, 4 pm – 9 pm at Sugar Land Town Square. The fun-filled day benefiting Snowdrop Foundation features live music, concessions, face painting, contests, midway games, demonstrations, and more. Cheer on your favorite heroes as the Sugar Land Police Department battles the Sugar Land Fire Fighters Association in a Tug-of-War! Proceeds benefit research to eliminate childhood cancer.

Engage with nature — The Third Sunday each month, Armand Bayou Nature Center provides a free afternoon of nature fun, thanks to the generosity of Dow Chemical. The next one is Sunday, May 19, noon – 4 pm. Hike the trails with a trained naturalist interpreter, view live reptiles, and relive 1895 cultural history of our era by visiting the Hanson House on the Martyn Farm site. Located at 8500 Bay Area Blvd. in Pasadena.