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Best things to do in Houston in January

January Slump? Best things to do in Houston in January

Image of a park in Houston with buildings on the landscape

January is a pretty mixed bag as far as months go… On one hand, it’s the start of a new year — a brand new beginning – full of optimism and all the jazz. On the other hand, it is furthest month away from the next Christmas and New Year, and it can be a bit of a let-down after all the Holiday excitement to just get back to work, business as usual. Because we’re passionately pro fun here at Pedal Saloon, we thought we’d put together a short guide to some of the best ways to brighten up your January in Houston. If you don’t live in Houston and you’re reading this blog, then our first piece of advice is come visit this brilliant city! 

Have a January Pedal Party!

Clients enjoying a Pedal Saloon tour in Houston

We are Pedal Saloon, and we specialize in pedal parties. 

“What the heck is a pedal party?” we hear the uninitiated ask. 

Well, put as simple as possible: it’s a small bar/saloon/pub on wheels that riders pedal as they explore a city. Still confused? Just look at the picture above and you might get a better idea… Houston is a really pretty city and its midtown area has many of the city’s best bars. That’s why Pedal Saloon runs pedal parties in Houston’s Midtown, as it allows us to help guests experience the ultimate bar crawl: pedalling your own bar as you visit Houston’s finest watering holes. We think that January can be a little bit of a drag and that a fun time out with your family or buddies on one of our bike bars is a great way to tackle the January blues! Need more inspiration? Check out our Houston Bar Highlights.

The 11th Annual Yaga’s Chili Quest & Beer Fest

Like chili? Like beer? Like festivals? If you answered yes to all these questions, then we’re supremely confident you’ll love Yaga’s Chili Quest & Beer Fest in Galveston (not technically Houston, but it’s definitely close enough). This festival occurs on the 17th and 18th of January and it’s a fantastic way to spend the weekend, or at least part of it. As well as food and drink, you can look forward to live music, a fun run (5K), and a margarita contest. 

The Houston Marathon and Half Marathon

Runners during the marathon in Houston in January 2011
Image from the Houston Marathon 2011 (SourceLicense)

On Sunday, the 19th, huge crowds of people will flock to Houston for the annual Marathon and Half Marathon. It’s too late to apply to run in the race, but it’s more fun just to cheer everyone on and enjoy the spectacle. It’s inspiring to see so many people pushing their bodies to the limit and it’s fun to be part of the festivities. Much of Houston is completely transformed during the Marathon, so it’s a great time to be in the city. If you live in Houston and you’re looking for a completely different experience, the Marathon is perfect for you!

The Lunar Chinese New Year Festival

Not ready to wait an entire year for another chance to celebrate the New Year? Well, the good news is that you won’t have to as Chinese New Year is on January 25th this year. As the Chinese calendar is lunar, it runs according to the moons, so the date changes each year. Luckily, this year it falls on a Saturday, so the celebrations can occur over the weekend. If you live in Houston and you want to celebrate Chinese New Year with the Chinese community, you can head down to the Chinese Community Center’s Lunar New Year Festival from 10am until 4pm. Expect family-friendly activities, such as lion and dragon dances, as well as plenty of incredible food. 

26th Annual MLK Grande Parade in Downtown Houston

A scene with the performers a the MLK Day Parade in January 2019
Scene from Houston’s MLK Day Parade 2019 (SourceLicense)

Martin Luther King Day is on January 20th, but the big Houston parade is on Saturday the 26th. If you want to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King and to listen to some excellent brass bands, then head down to Houston’s Midtown between 10am and noon. The parade starts on Holman Street, San Jacinto Street & Elgin Street. This is completely free to attend, so it’s the perfect event to check out at the end of the month (before payday). Find out more about the MLK parade here.

There are so many other great things to do in Houston in January, and we’re sure we’ll write another guide similar to this ahead of January 2021. But we hope we’ve helped a few readers find joy in Houston this January. If you have any questions about Pedal Saloon’s bike bar experience, please feel free to get in touch!

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