Today's Vision

Grab your tankard of ale, your favorite Lord and Lady, and spirit your way to The Texas Renaissance Festival, named #1 Best Cultural Festival by USA Today. Take a step back in time to the nation's largest Renaissance-themed event, where you will experience a 60-acre 16th-century European village filled with kings, queens, knights, nobles, peasants, and all manner of fantasy creatures. The festival has 21 stages of continuous entertainment by clowns, acrobats, musicians, dancers, magicians, award-winning food and drink, wine and beer, and over 500 shops that showcase the work of master artists and craftspeople from around the world.

Rock out over a fabulous restaurant and romantic date destination, followed by an evening of excellent live music and dancing at Sambucca, located in the historic Rice Hotel. Sambuca is Houston's premier location for dining and live music nightly. Any evening is great for dining, drinking, and enjoying the show. Whether you need small plates for a bridal shower, a full grazing table for a large luncheon, or desserts for your whole office, let them handle the planning for you. Their staff will work with you to provide a customized menu with savory items complimented by personalized setups.

Catch a family-friendly production at Stageworks Theatre, where the mainstage productions include, A Christmas Carol, The Drowsy Chaperone, Sylvia, Harvey, Beehive: A 60s Musical, Mamma Mia!, and more. Stageworks Theatre produces eight theatrical works like dramas, comedies, and musicals each season, reflecting the high artistic quality and cultural diversity. They strive to inspire adults, teens, and children by providing a safe and encouraging environment that fosters creativity, respect, personal growth, and character development.

Dive into the wonders of the underwater world at the unique Downtown Aquarium, where you can interact with the ancient legends of El Dorado in the Sunken Temple, sink to the bottom of the neighboring sea, and catch glimpses of offshore rig divers in the Underwater Rig. Tour the marsh and bayous of the Gulf Coast and encounter the alligators, turtles, bullfrogs, and more in the Texas Bayou. Step inside the sunken hull of a 17th-century Spanish Galleon and see the giant octopus, a moray eel, clownfish, and the diversity of species the ocean world has to offer at the Shipwreck. Explore the lush environment of the dangerous tropical life of the red-bellied piranhas and venomous freshwater stingrays in the Rainforest. Step into Discovery Zone and come face-to-face with electric eels, seahorses, and a dazzling array of colorful fish. Interactive monitors let you further explore coral reefs, the arctic seas, and the mysteries of the deep ocean. You may even meet one of our Ambassador Animals up close during the daily Animal Encounters.