The Art Car Parade will take place on Saturday, April 12 with the lineup party running from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the actual parade beginning at 2 o’clock along Allen Parkway.

The Art Car Parade is back for its 38th year. This year’s parade will feature a lineup of 276 art cars from around the world, with more than 50 entries created by students and youth groups.

Free; 9 a.m., April 10 Art Car Sneak Peek: Get an early glimpse of nearly 100 art cars, contraptions, lowriders and SLABs featured in this year's parade, meet artists and enjoy kids' crafts and music.

From 6 to 9:30 p.m., the Art Car Sneak Peek at Discovery Green gives visitors an early preview of nearly 100 art cars, lowriders, SLABs and other mobile artworks featured in this year’s parade.

In 1988, the art car parade had its inaugural event with 40 cars. The event has grown to showcasing cars from 23 U.S. states along with Canada and Mexico, with more than 250 entries annually.

Novena Sanders, right, and Stephanie Stokes look over the detail on an art car before the annual Art Car Parade in downtown Houston, Saturday, April 12, 2025. Jason Fochtman / Houston Chronicle ...

The Art Car Parade is back for its 38th year. This year’s parade will feature a lineup of 276 art cars from around the world, with more than 50 entries created by students and youth groups.

An art car participates in the 36th Houston Art Car Parade in Houston, Texas, the United States, April 15, 2023. The yearly event gathered over 250 art cars and other exhibits, drawing in more ...

The Houston Art Car Parade is on Saturday, April 2, at 2pm. The event is one of the city's largest free public events, drawing more than 300,000 people each year.

Arts & Culture Photos: Houston Art Car Parade 2025 celebrates city’s culture This year’s event featured sunny springtime weather and more than 250 uniquely decorated cars and trucks.