The weekend is almost here! What are your plans? Maybe the rain will stay away a little bit to enjoy some outdoor fun. Here is a snapshot of a few free events and activities to enjoy with your family and friends:

Celebrate local art — Don’t miss Lawndale Art Center’s The Big Show Opening Reception Friday, July 13, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. Awards announced at 7 pm. A total of 69 works by 61 artists were selected from 915 works submitted by 381 artists by juror Marco Antonini, Gallery Director at NURTUREart. The Big Show is an annual juried exhibition that runs through August 11. The event is located at 4912 Main Street.

Get creative at Rienzi’s Family Workshop — Fantasies and Fairytales is the theme for this Sunday’s Family Workshop at Rienzi, a European house that’s part of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. The workshop from 1 pm – 3:30 pm features children’s literature of fantasies and fairytales plus a creative writing worshop for older kids. Instructors from Rice University’s Literacy and Culture Project lead the afternoon event. Admission is free, but space is limited, so reserve your spot by calling 713.639.7800. Rienzi is located at 1406 Kirby Drive.

Play at summer camp — It’s the last weekend of Family Summer Camp at Bass Pro Shops with free activities for kids on Saturday and Sunday plus family workshops and more. Family Summer Camp lasts from 1 pm to 5 pm through July 15. Engage in activities such as casting pond, shooting gallery, s’mores cookout and more. Paint a birdhouse at this weekend’s craft time. Bass Pro Shops has two Houston-area locations in Katy (5000 Katy Mills Circle) and Pearland (1000 Basspro Drive).

Jam at annual music fest — The annual Steel Lounge Underground at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH) is a much-anticipated free music event, Friday, July 13, 8 pm to midnight. It brings together musical artists from a variety of genres including Esteban Torres, Suraj K., and DJ Baby Jae. Visitors can browse exhibitions while enjoying the music. Cash bar and food trucks on site. CAMH is located at 5216 Montrose Blvd.

Browse local art — It’s the largest collection of local artists in Houston. Don’t miss Second Saturday Open Studios July 14, 2 pm – 5 pm, at Winter Street Studios and Spring Street Studios at 2101 Winter Street.

Engage with animals — The Nature Discovery Center presents a special animals program at Discovery Green Saturday, July 14, 1 pm. The event is located at Houston Public Library’s HPL Express located at Discovery Green near The Lake House downtown.

Craft American Girl fun — This month’s American Girl event at Blue Willow Bookshop Saturday, July 14, 10 am, focuses on making crafts for yourself and your doll out of things you already have already the house. Please RSVP for this event so they can plan ahead: 281.497.8675.