Houston’s Best Parties For Young Professionals: 8 Fall Events That Millennial Movers and Shakers Will Not Want to Miss

While partying with baby boomers and Gen X-ers has its merits, sometimes you just wanna hang with your millennial contemporaries, your buddies who are more familiar with Siri and Aurora than with Susan Sarandon and Aquanet. Happily for Houston’s young professionals, there are a host of charitable events on the horizon where they are sure to be in the majority.

The options for party-hungry millennials range from a black-tie gala or two to a blast at the Houston Zoo. Herewith, eight options for partying. But you had better act fast as one of the best is this Thursday night.

Big Brothers, Big Sisters intends to raise the roof at the Royal Sonesta Thursday night with its “A Celebration of Human Potential” gala. Not exactly young professionals themselves, Kristina and Paul Somerville are chairing the evening that honors Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Paul is a Lifetime Director of the rodeo, which not only supports BBBS but also is a gateway for young Houstonians into the city’s active social life, as is BBBS.

In fact, BBBS Lone Star CEO Pierce Bush met his bride, Sarahbeth Melton, through the non-profit’s mentorship program. Details: Rosalind Moore rmoore@bbbstx.org.

The Children’s Museum of Houston enjoys wide support from young parents who appreciate the museum’s learning experiences tied so effectively to childhood fun. Thus, the crowd attending the annual gala, set for October 13, will be flush with thirtysomethings (OK, and some grandparent types as well). Always loads of energized fun, the gala theme “El Día del Muertos” theme promises a colorful backdrop of marigolds, sugar skulls, alebrijes, and ofrendas.

Don’t be surprised to find a few Frida Khalo look-alikes in the black-tie crowd that takes over the Corinthian Houston. Chairs Caroline and Andrew Bean and Caroline and John Harrell are orchestrating the fun. Details: Hunter Reynolds, hreynolds@cmhouston.org.

Texas Children’s Hospital draws a healthy crowd of young professionals, as many as 400, each fall with its wildly-popular “Toss for Texas Children’s” fundraiser.  The October 18 bean bag tournament is a serious (kinda) competition with guys and gals testing the pitching skills at the posh Houston Polo Club. Casual food and drink fuel the partying and the competition in which the winning team wins honors and plaques specially made by TCH patients. Nine young couples chair the fun. Details: waystogive.texaschildrens.org/events.

The Ronald McDonald House “Boo Ball: Hocus Pocus,” set for October 27 at the Hilton Americas-Houston, reigns as one of the most colorful costume parties of the year. What young professional wouldn’t want to join the zany dinner-dance-costume fun supporting such a worthy institution. The evening honors the Houston Junior Woman’s Club and will feature The Society Band.

Chairs: Stephanie and Anthony Milam, honorary chairs Christine and David Underwood. Details: Diana Lewis, www.rmhhouston.org/booball

The Houston Zoo‘s “Feast with the Beasts” is so popular with the young profession/millennial crowd as well as boomers that 3,000 or so tickets sell out within days of hitting the market. Pre-sale tickets at $119 each are available here beginning at 9 am Thursday (September 6). On September 21, the cost jumps $10.  This event turns zoo grounds into an after-dark hot spot with rockers Everclear on stage. The adults-only bash on November 2 marks the 13th year that the zoo has entertained with food and drink offerings from 50 of the city’s hottest restaurants and with entertainment from hot party bands. Details: Here.

“The Jungle Book Gala,” organized by the Young Professionals Group (YPG) of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, is a rocking night of mixing and mingling. Don’t let the black-tie dress code discourage you. This is a casual evening of light bites and libations punctuated by the sounds of Matchmaker Band out of Austin. Your favorite meteorologist in a skirt, KHOU Channel 11’s Chita Craft serves as emcee.

The group takes over The Revaire for the night of November 9. Chairs: Amy and Kyle McCully and Morgan Stautzenberger and Cameron Stubbs; honorary chairs Erin and A.J. Hinch, Astros manager who could be celebrating a second World Series title by this time.

Art on the Avenue loads Winter Street Studios on November 3 with contributions from more than 250 artists making this the largest silent art auction/juried show in the city. DJ G-Funk provides the spins while guests peruse the artwork, which can be surprisingly affordable, and nosh on light bites while enjoying liquid refreshment. The crowd is young and hip. Tattoos are de rigueur and body piercings fully expected.

For a higher ticket price and first dibs on the artwork, the preview party on November 1 is your ticket.  Honorary chairs: Bill Baldwin and Fady Armanious, preview party hosts Chris Silkwood and Kelly Simmons, guest juror Gus Kopriva, culinary curator Shepard Ross. Details: Here. 

Citizens for Animal Protection invites your four-legged friends to join the 32nd annual  “Celebrity Paws Gala” at the Royal Sonesta on November 17. With youthful movers and shakers such as Holly and Austin Alvis and Frances Moody among the honorees, the turnout is guaranteed to be not only animal-friendly, but also millennial-friendly.

Chairs: Julie and Brook Brookshire, cochairs Carol and Bill Simmons and honorary chairs Cora Sue and Harry Mach. Details: Kappy Muenzer, kappycap@comcast.net.