Programs and Events at Bayou Bend
Bayou Bend is open year-round, with programs and events for adults and families with children. In addition to the highlights listed below, Bayou Bend offers a July 4 Celebration annually, an Election Celebration every four years, joint events with Rienzi, and many more one-time and ongoing events. For additional information, contact Joey Milillo, programs manager, at jmilillo@mfah.org or 713.639.7759.
Are you interested in the docent program? Bayou Bend docents are nationally recognized volunteers who provide outstanding tours and education to visitors.
Family Days
Offered free of charge on the third Sunday of the month, from September through May, Bayou Bend Family Days feature music, games, crafts, and a host of other activities that are fun for both children and adults. Families with young children are invited to take guided tours, led by volunteers from the Houston Junior Woman's Club, of selected rooms of the house. Plus, guests may register for great giveaways from the MFAH and KUHF/KUHA Houston Public Radio. Visit the calendar for more.
Detective Days
There’s mystery afoot at Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens for sleuths ages 6 and older during the summer! Self-guided outdoor detective adventures feature educational themes ranging from plants and trees to sculpture and architecture. Indoor detective adventures are also offered, with tours of the historic mansion filled with antique treasures from the 18th and 19th centuries. Every Bayou Bend detective receives an Investigator’s Kit as well as a bottle of water for keeping cool during the hunt.*
*Water must be checked prior to entering the house for indoor hunts; no food or drink permitted in the house.
Book Club
Rienzi and Bayou Bend host a history book discussion series about life in America and Europe in the 1700s and 1800s. Meeting alternately at Rienzi and Bayou Bend, this book club offers free discussions on the second Wednesday of every month at 1 pm and 7 pm.
School and Group Tours
Bayou Bend offers a wide variety of school tours throughout the year.
Family Learning Days
Bayou Bend offers a school-tour experience designed especially for families with flexible activity schedules on weekdays.
The next Family Learning Day takes place in late fall/early winter. Advance registration is encouraged.
Click here to request more information.
Yuletide
Bayou Bend is renowned for its annual holiday Yuletide tradition, which features festive lights, decorations, and special room settings inside that bring historic American celebrations to life. Candlelight Tours are especially popular, as guests can tour the exhibition, then enjoy holiday refreshments and entertainment outside the house. Yuletide traditionally begins shortly before Thanksgiving and closes the Sunday following New Year's Day.
Speakers Bureau
The Bayou Bend Speakers Bureau, staffed by Bayou Bend docents, offers informative talks and lectures, illustrated with slides, for groups and organizations interested in learning more about antiques, gardens, history, holiday decorating, or the lifestyles of Americans in the past.
More than 60 topics are available. Presentations to educational institutions (teacher groups, colleges, etc.) are free of charge. Other groups pay a tax-deductible honorarium of $50 that is used to support the educational activities of Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens. Please call 713.353.1508 for more information.
Summer History Camp
Bayou Bend's Summer History Camp is a unique, interactive history camp that gives students a fun, educational opportunity to learn about life in 18th-century America.
Every student participating in Bayou Bend's Summer History Camp is awarded a full scholarship for the cost of the camp from the Houston Junior Woman's Club. This generous sponsorship makes it possible for any student with a real interest in American history to attend.
The application deadline for 2012 has passed. History Camp applications for 2013 will be available in late January or early February of 2013.
► For more information, contact Joey Milillo, Bayou Bend programs manager: jmilillo@mfah.org / 713.639.7759.
The Carol and Les Ballard Lecture Series
Twice yearly, Bayou Bend presents a remarkable opportunity to hear renowned scholars speak about interesting and important aspects of American decorative and fine arts.
The Carol and Les Ballard Lecture Series takes place in Brown Auditorium Theater at the MFAH. The event is open to the public with free admission (no reservations necessary). A reception follows. For more information, call 713.639.7759.
2012 Schedule
Tuesday, March 13
Tuesday, November 6
Concerts at Bayou Bend
Bayou Bend partners with innovative music companies such as Opera Vista and the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra (ROCO) to bring you outdoor concerts throughout the year. Check this space often for updates on the event schedule.
Sip & Stroll Evenings
Thursday evenings in October and March
Stroll through Miss Ima Hogg's historic estate at twilight. Newly renovated house interiors and 14 acres of gardens are open for self-guided tours. Enjoy light refreshments on the Diana Terrace. Before or after your stroll, stop by the Lora Jean Kilroy Visitor and Education Center to visit The Shop at Bayou Bend and Hogg Family Legacy Room.
Admission ($10) includes refreshments. Purchase tickets at the Kilroy Visitor Center. (last admission 7 p.m.)
Sip & Stroll Evenings at Bayou Bend are generously underwritten by Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.
Azalea Trail
Each March, Bayou Bend participates in Azalea Trail, presented by River Oaks Garden Club. Azalea Trail showcases the colorful azaleas at Bayou Bend, Rienzi, private homes, and the garden club's Forum of Civics. At Bayou Bend, guests are able to enjoy the splendor of spring among the woodland gardens and glimpse Bayou Bend's collection of American decorative arts while passing through the main hall of the house. For more information, visit the River Oaks Garden Club website or call 713.523.2483. Tickets are also available at Bayou Bend beginning in February. Azalea Trail admission is the only way to view Bayou Bend during this weekend. Proceeds support local organizations including Bayou Bend and Rienzi.
Spring House and Gardens Days
Every March, this weekend gardening extravaganza kicks off spring at the two MFAH house museums. Bayou Bend and Rienzi host tours and experts that showcase their celebrated gardens. This event is designed for adult garden enthusiasts. Both houses are available for a single ticket price, with two-day and one-day passes available. A shuttle runs between the two houses, and refreshments are provided.