From a Japanese Oshogatsu event celebrating the new year at Levy Park to a family-friendly Arbor Day event at the Houston Arboretum, several events are taking place in January in the Heights, River Oaks and Montrose areas.

Oshogatsu 2024

The second annual Japan Junction Oshogatsu event celebrates the start of the new year. The family-friendly event, hosted by the Japan American Society of Houston, features live performances, traditional Japanese games, omikuji fortune telling, craft stations and food concessions. Crafts will include decorating hagoita/battledores, making daruma woodblock prints and folding origami dragons.Craig Robinson at the Houston Improv

Best known for his role as Darryl Philban in NBC’s “The Office,” comedian Craig Robinson will headline several shows at the Houston Improv.
  • Jan. 11-14, times vary
  • Starts at $90 (general admission table for two)
  • 7620 Katy Freeway, Ste. 455, Houston
  • www.improvtx.com/houston
Kinsey African American Art & History Collection debut

More than 100 works of art, photographs and rare documents are coming to Holocaust Museum Houston when the Kinsey African American Art & History Collection exhibition opens Jan. 12. The exhibition, which runs through June 23, celebrates the achievements and contributions of Black Americans from 1595 to the present.
  • Jan. 12-June 23, exhibit open during museum hours
  • $22 for museum admission ($16 for seniors ages 65 and older)
  • 5401 Caroline St., Houston
  • www.hmh.org/kinsey
46th Annual Original MLK Day Parade


The Black Heritage Society hosts the weekend celebration in Downtown Houston with civil rights attorney Ben Crump serving as grand marshal. Immediately following the parade, event organizers will host a Children's Day of Service festival in Hermann Square Park featuring multicultural music performances, family-friendly activities, craft vendors and food.
  • Jan. 15, 10 a.m.
  • Free (donations accepted)
  • Reflection Pool at Houston City Hall, 900 Smith St., Houston (parade start)
  • www.blackheritagesociety.net
2024 Annual MLK Birthday Observance: Public Health Epidemic of Gun Violence

This event at the Rothko Chapel will feature keynote speaker David Hogg and a panel of local public health researchers and organizers. The event delves into the why and how of addressing the gun violence epidemic.'Like Sheep Among Wolves' screening

The Italian Cultural & Community Center of Houston hosts a series of film screenings to showcase contemporary Italian films. The first screening will be for "Like Sheep Among Wolves," a crime drama directed by Lyda Patitucci that follows two estranged siblings—a police officer and a criminal—who find themselves on opposite sides of the same heist. All films are screened in Italian with English subtitles.Vegan BrewFest Houston

Vegan food, activities and a selection of brews crafted by Eureka Heights Brew Co. are the hallmarks of this year’s plant-based party hosted by Florida pop-up shop for vegan eats, The Poppin Vegan.Houston Arboretum Arbor Day celebration


The annual celebration gives guests the chance to celebrate the important role trees play in the ecosystem while taking part in activities. The event will include crafts, apple cider samples, an educational session on how bees use trees to make honey, wildlife hikes and an appearance by Johnny Appleseed.Writespace Reading and Open Mic

The nonprofit Writespace will host a reading and open mic at Antidote Coffee. The event features author Icess Fernandez Rojas and will also have a small book fair with works by members and friends of the organization.