Rob Salinas/Houston Public Media
Pictured is the 2025 Houston Art Car Parade. (Rob Salinas/Houston Public Media)
The 39th annual Houston Art Car Parade is set for Saturday, April 11.
The annual celebration starts revving up Thursday with a series of kickoff events.
For the past nearly four decades, the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art has put on the now-iconic parade in downtown Houston. The history of the Art Car Parade began in 1984 when Kit and Carl Detering donated a 1967 Ford station wagon to the Orange Show Foundation. The car was then transformed into an art piece by Houston artist Jackie Harris and subsequently auctioned off at the foundation’s yearly gala.
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That first art car, called the “fruitmobile,” was purchased and then donated back to the foundation, and soon inspired other artists to create their own art cars. According to the organizers, an art car is “a vehicle whose owner has modified its appearance in a way to suit their own aesthetic, personality, or creative inspiration.”
The first Art Car Parade took place in April 1988 and had 40 participating vehicles and approximately 2,000 attendees. The event now includes more than 250 vehicles from across North America and attracts more than 300,000 spectators, according to the organizers.
This year’s Art Car Parade will be preceded by several events throughout the week, beginning Thursday, April 9 and ending on Saturday, April 11. Some of the preview events are ticketed, while the parade is free and open to the public.
Here is a breakdown of this year’s scheduled events:
Thursday, April 9:
- 9 a.m.-1 p.m. — “Main Street Drag”
- The Main Street Drag will take place Thursday morning as art cars participate in “mini parades” across Houston. According to organizers, these mini-parades will take place at schools, hospitals, nursing homes, developmental facilities “and other spaces where residents may not be able to attend the parade themselves.”
- 6-9 p.m. — “Art Car Sneak Peek”
- For three hours on Thursday evening, Houstonians will have the opportunity to get an up-close look at more than 100 art cars. The Art Car Sneak Peek will take place at Discovery Green and along Avenida Houston, featuring live music and hands-on art activities. Food and drinks will also be available for purchase.
Friday, April 10:
- 6-11 p.m. — “Legendary Art Car Ball”
- The Art Car Ball will take place Friday night in downtown Houston, featuring what organizers describe as a “high-octane, after-dark spectacle.” Tickets are required for admission to the ball and are $53.46 per person.
Saturday, April 11:
- 11 a.m.-2 p.m. — Line Up Party
- From 11 a.m.-2 p.m., the cars in this year’s parade will begin lining up along Allen Parkway between Taft and Bagby streets. Food and drinks will be on offer as participants can watch the art cars get ready for the parade.
- A “Kids Creative Zone” will also be set up during the same time period at 1000 Bagby St. The zone will include free activities and performances.
- Noon-4 p.m. — “VIPit Party & Benefit”
- Taking place at Hermann Square near City Hall at 901 Bagby St., the private party and benefit offers VIP ticket holders a unique Art Car Parade experience. VIP tickets are, of course, required to attend, with proceeds funding the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art.
- 2 p.m. — The 39th Houston Art Car Parade
- The main attraction will feature a parade of more than 250 art cars. Attendance to the parade is free, with reserved seating available for purchase. The parade will begin at the intersection of Dallas and Bagby streets and make its way around Houston City Hall before heading down Allen Parkway and ending near Waugh Drive west of downtown.
