Midtown parks are the place to be for big fun this spring

Spring and summer are right around the corner, and it’s a perfect time to have some big fun in the sun and moonlight at Houston Midtown’s Bagby, Baldwin, and Glover parks.

Amaris Salinas, Parks Programming and Marketing Manager at Midtown Parks Conservancy, said there will be entertainment and activities for Midtowners and visitors to enjoy this month and beyond.

Here’s the rundown of events at the parks:

Bagby Park, 415 Gray St.

Some crowd-pleasing events are returning to Bagby Park this spring.

Game Night, sponsored by Rico’s Morning + Noon + Night, will take place every Thursday from 6pm – 9 pm, featuring some of the restaurant’s most popular games – everything from life-sized beer pong, to cornhole bags competition, bocce ball, and giant Jenga.

Also being planned at Bagby Park are Movie Nights, which provide a relaxing atmosphere to see a movie with family and friends. Be sure to check online for the movie schedule, which is still under development, Salinas said.

If you’re looking for something with a little more movement, be sure to check out Midtown in Motion, a community fitness series consisting of two classes taking place on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays. The first class is a high-intensity interval training class from 9:30am – 10:30am, and from 10:30am – 11:30 am is a yoga flow class to help you wind down with music and mindfulness. Both classes are free and open to individuals of all fitness levels.

“The fitness series allows our attendees to get a great workout with our instructor Roz Jones, and then relax with a yoga class right on the lawn,” Salinas said.

On the 4th Friday of the month from 4:30pm – 6:30pm, Bagby Park hosts the popular pet-friendly Yappy Hour where folks meet and socialize with their neighbors and other dog lovers.

“We have local pet vendors who bring free treats and giveaways for both the pets and their owners,” Salinas said. A major vendor for the event is Urban Tails, a fully licensed pet care facility located at 1618 Webster St.(at Jackson St.) in Midtown and has been a part of Yappy Hour since its inception.

Bagby Park’s Live at Lunch series is another crowd pleaser for the Midtown community. “We are moving our Live at Lunch series to the 2nd Saturday, 12:30pm – 2pm to give even more people an opportunity to experience our lunchtime series with live music and theater performances by some of Midtown’s own theater companies like The Ensemble Theater, MATCH, BalletForte, Core Dance Houston, and many more,” Salinas said.

What’s more, Bagby Park will continue its 1st Friday celebration, Wine Down, on April 7th from 5pm – 8pm, with live soul music from The Kiland Band. The band captivates audiences with one-of-a-kind tributes to artists including Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Sade, and Frank Sinatra.

The Wine Down Happy Hour series on the 1st Friday also includes live giveaways and games out on the lawn like cornhole, ping pong, mega beer pong, and more, Salinas said. Starting in May, Wine Down will shift its hours to 6pm – 9pm, right in time for its Cinco de Mayo celebration.

Baldwin Park, 1701 Elgin St.

The springtime fun continues at Baldwin Park, located near the central campus of Houston Community College.

On April 1st from 10am – 6pm, the park will hold its annual Midtown Art in the Park, a fine art festival featuring local and regional artists. The goal of the festival is to bring the cultural arts and entertainment community together, as well provide a unique experience to the community.

A Movie Nights also is being planned for Baldwin Park. Check online for the schedule, which is being developed, according to Salinas.

Midtown Art in the Park is underwritten and coordinated by the Midtown Management District – a State of Texas designated Cultural Arts and Entertainment District.

Glover Park, 3104 Austin St.

Beginning in April, Glover Park will hold a Yappy Hour on the 4th Saturday of the month from 10:30am – 12:30pm. There will be a food truck, pet vendors, and much more. “We have had many requests from our Yappy Hour attendees to add another Yappy Hour for those unable to attend on the 4th Friday,” Salinas said. “We’ll be kicking off Yappy Hour at Glover Park, and we invite everyone to come out and have fun.”