September is here!
September usually means beautiful fall weather, outdoor festivals, and pumpkin spiced everything. While it is going to look like a totally different September than we are used to, we are going to make the best out of it with some awesome in person and virtual family friendly events around town.
The kids are back in school, sort of, and we are trying to piece together a new routine that can benefit everyone. We have the most up-to-date information on schools re-opening for the 2020-2021 school year and a really great our back-to-school guide for more tips and tricks that can aid you in this transition. If your child needs some extra help, please check out our comprehensive list of great tutors and school assistance programs.
Check out the calendar below for the fun happenings around town!
Current COVID Information
At the point of this post being published on September 1st, restaurants are at 50% occupancy. The Governor’s face mask Executive Order is still in effect, covering the nose and mouth in public spaces in counties with 20 or more positive COVID-19 cases.
Many of our popular Houston hot spots are open! Here is a round up on that information::
Texas State Parks:: All state parks that can be are currently open for day use and limited camping. Day pass reservations are required – reserve day passes online or by calling (512) 389-8900.
Houston Zoo:: The zoo re-opened June 3rd! Online reservations are required and can be found on their website. Health and safety are their highest priority, so follow these guidelines::
- As recommended by the Houston Health Department and the CDC, and for the safety of our animals, staff and other guests, visitors are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering while visiting the Zoo.
- All Zoo staff are required to wear masks.
- The Zoo has visual social distancing reminders placed to ensure guests maintain a safe social distance along the pathway.
- Free hand sanitizer stations are positioned at the entry, exit, restrooms, and food locations.
- Zoo staff is continuously cleaning high-touch surfaces like vending machines, tables, chairs, and more.
- If a guest feels sick before their reservation, we ask that they not visit the Zoo.
Houston Museum of Natural Science:: HMNS opened on May 15th. They are currently operating at 25% capacity or less and will be monitoring the number of visitors in and out. They are currently emphasizing reservations and online ticket purchasing, including timed tickets for the Butterfly Exhibit and the main exhibits. They box office is open to assist with printing pre-purchased tickets. They currently require face masks for all staff and visitors over the age of 10. Hands-on exhibits, like the experiences in Weiss Energy Hall are currently closed. The Burke Baker Planetarium, Wortham Giant Screen Theatre and their satellite locations (HMNS at Sugar Land and the George Observatory in Fort Bend) will remain closed at this time. Opening dates to be determined at a later date.
For the full list of museums open, check out the Houston Museum District website.
The Children’s Museum of Houston:: The CMH opened to Members in June. Tickets are on sale now. Visitor flow will be maintained through timed entry tickets. Timed entry tickets for 2.5-hour visit will ensure a consistent flow of families at a 20-percent reduced capacity. They will check your temperature before entry using thermal scanners like in airports. Proceed to the hand sanitizing bars and then scan your online reservation at the box office. It’s all contactless! Plus, remember to rock the mask! Grownups, children ages 2+, and Museum staff must wear masks that cover the nose and mouth to enter the Museum. And now, let your mind come out to play!
Houston Downtown Aquarium:: The Downtown Aquarium and Restaurant are open and ready for business.
Space City Houston:: Space City Houston re-opened mid June at limited capacity and online reservations. All guests, including members, must have a timed admission tickets to enable staggered, capacity-limited guest entry to the museum. Face coverings are required for employees and guests ages two and older. There are some new live shows and outdoor exhibits, as well as new guest journey experiences. Download the free Space Center Houston mobile app to select a new NASA Tram Tour virtual boarding pass to board the tram tour during your visit. The NASA Tram Tour takes guests behind the scenes at NASA Johnson Space Center. For a complete list of the reopening procedures, guests are encouraged to review the center’s Know Before You Go Guide for tips on planning a visit and a list of what to bring and what to not bring.
Continuing Events:: Virtual and In-Person
August 1st – September 7th :: Houston Restaurant Weeks 2020
Houston Restaurant Weeks is the city’s largest for-charity dining event held simultaneously in hundreds of restaurants in the greater Houston area. It is also the largest single annual fundraiser for the Houston Food Bank. Updated:: HRW has been so successful that they have extended it to the end of September!
Daily | 11am :: Children’s Museum of Houston’s Virtual Learning
If you cannot or do not wish to visit the Children’s Museum during their first days back, they completely understand and look forward to welcoming you when you feel more comfortable returning to the Museum. In the meantime, keep visiting, connecting, and learning with their online stars by tuning into their Forbes-approved Daily Virtual Learning Broadcast Schedule on their social media pages. So far, their Virtual Learning has generated nearly 3-million views on all platforms combined! And Forbes said, “the warm personalities of their employees and community members jump right off the screen and make for an engaging and informative experience.” If you haven’t already, you can find all of their content on their YouTube channel.
Every Wednesday | 11am :: Houston Zoo’s Facebook Live
Each weekday, the zoo is hosting an 11:00 a.m. CST Facebook Live to bring the Zoo to YOU! They will be sharing daily updates of what our furred, flippered, and feathered friends are up to and how our zookeepers are caring for them while we are closed. Follow along and check out the fun at-home-learning activities below!
Virtual and In Person Events
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Please Note :: While we make every effort to crosscheck current links and event details on our guides, we always encourage you to do the same before making final plans. If details are missing or incorrect, please let us know so that we can make every attempt to correct them. And if you know of any other events happening this month, include them in the comments to keep the list going!
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