HOUSTON — One of Houston's favorite events is back after the pandemic put the brakes on it the last couple of years.
The 35th annual Houston Art Car Parade will will feature more than 250 wild and wacky works of art on wheels.
It's the oldest and largest art car parade in the world, according to organizers.
The mobile masterpieces roll through downtown and along Allen Parkway Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. and tens of thousands of people are expected to line the streets to watch it.
Houston hip hop artist and hometown hero Bun B is this year's grand marshal.
“It’s a great thing for families and we haven’t had a lot of opportunities in Houston to really have a great event where everyone and their family could come out and enjoy it, but the art car parade is going to provide us that and I’m so proud to be the grand marshal," said the Houston legend when the announcement was made.
Art Car Parade route
Be prepared to navigate around these street closures starting Friday.
The parade is free but you'll have to pay for parking in some spots.
Chairs are welcome but you'll need to get there early to scope out a spot to park them. You can also purchase reserved seats here for $40.
The parade route opens at 11 a.m.
The parade starts at 2 p.m. Saturday in the inbound lanes of Allen Parkway/Dallas. It will head east on Bagby, north onto Smith, west onto Walker, south onto Bagby, west onto Lamar/outbound Allen Parkway and ending at the Waugh St. Bridge.
Here's an interactive map of the parade route. Click on the icons for more information.
There will be food trucks, drinks and restrooms along the route.
Art Car Parade street closures
Friday, April 8
- Festival Site Set Up McKinney from Bagby to Smith (Two north curb lanes) at 8:00 a.m.
- Walker from Bagby to Smith (North and south curb lanes) at 8:00 a.m.
- Outbound Allen Parkway (North bike lane only) between Bagby and I-45 overpass at 8:00 a.m.
- Bike Lane on Bagby between Walker and McKinney at 8:00 a.m.
Saturday, April 9
Additional street closures
- McKinney from Smith to Bagby from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Louisiana (West curb lane) from Lamar to Walker at 7:00 a.m. for Uber/Lyft drop off.
- Walker from Smith to Bagby at 7:00 a.m. Smith (Two west curb lanes) from Dallas to Rusk at 7:00 a.m.
- Heiner from Allen Parkway to Dallas at 7:00 a.m.
- Allen Parkway Exit Ramps at I-45 North and Southbound Exits at 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
- Walker (North curb lane) from Louisiana to Smith at 9:00 a.m.
- Lamar (North curb lane) from Smith to Brazos at 9:00 a.m.
- McKinney Exit Ramp at I-45 Southbound at 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Parade and Staging Closures
- Staging will start at 7:00 a.m. on Inbound Allen Parkway from Taft to Bagby.
- Inbound Allen Parkway from Shephard to Bagby (all lanes) 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Outbound Allen Parkway from Bagby to Waugh (all lanes) 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Bagby from Walker to Dallas (all lanes) at 7:00 a.m.
- Smith between Dallas and Rusk at 1:00 p.m.
Other Art Car Weekend events
APRIL 8
The Legendary Art Car Ball: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
This is the ultimate kickoff to the Houston Art Car Parade. The Legendary Art Car Ball takes place on the eve of the parade and is considered the place to show off your weird, colorful and creative side.
Photos: 2018 Houston Art Car Parade
APRIL 9
Come to the starting line party for live music with food and drinks nearby as spectators wait for the start of the parade. This event is free for all!
The HEB Kids Creative Zone is a great pre-parade spot for families. There will be interactive art activities for kids of all ages.
HEB Kids Creative Zone: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1000 Bagby Street
APRIL 10
Art Car Parade Award Ceremony: 11 a.m. at The Orange Show Headquarters
Each year the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art awards over $15,000 in prize money to artists, schools, and teams through a judging process. The public is invited to come cheer on those winners whose entries have wowed and amazed the judges and the crowds.
Art Car Parade history
"Powered by the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, one of the leading folk and outsider art organizations in the country, the Houston Art Car Parade celebrates the artist in everyone and the "drive to create," its website says.
Art Car Museum
Can't make it to the parade? No worries. You can see art cars all year long at the Art Car Museum in the Heights.
KHOU 11 digital anchor Brandi Smith takes us on a tour of this Hidden Gem.
RELATED: HIDDEN GEM: Art Car Museum