Asia Society Texas is throwing open its doors for Diwali Lights!, a free festival of lights packed with food, dance, and hands-on crafts for the whole family. The celebration runs from 2 to 6 p.m. at the organization's Museum Park campus, and it comes with a full slate of activities meant to pull visitors of every age into the holiday's traditions.
The event is billed as a free, family-friendly festival of lights, according to the official Diwali Lights! 2026 listing from Asia Society Texas. Organizers describe a lineup of delicious food, hands-on activities, local vendors, and theatrical and dance performances spread across the venue at 1370 Southmore Blvd. As CultureMap Houston also notes, the festival is subject to change due to weather or other concerns, so guests may want to keep an eye on updates as the date approaches.
Hands-On Crafts and a Bollywood Dance-Along
The activity list is long: Bollywood dance workshops, carrom, a Diwali photobooth, diya painting, henna, Ramayana finger puppets, and rangoli are all on offer, per the same event listing. Tx2 Dance Company is set to perform Bollywood dances and lead a dance-along for guests of all ages, giving the afternoon a participatory centerpiece alongside the craft tables.
Because the event is free, registration is required to attend, organizers note. Guests who want more than the general festivities can opt into ticketed performances priced at $15, or $10 for Asia Society Texas members, according to the listing.
A Recurring Fixture on Houston's Fall Calendar
This isn't the first time Asia Society Texas has lit up Museum Park for the holiday. The organization also presented Diwali Lights! on October 26, 2025, according to a listing from houston.kidsoutandabout.com, which described that year's edition as featuring vibrant Indian fashion, food, hands-on activities, and a Ramayana performance. Coverage of the 2025 event from theleadernews.com detailed a music-and-storytelling performance from the Houston Music Festival and a cross-cultural retelling of the Diwali story by the Ramayana Project, plus complimentary ice cream courtesy of Gallivant Ice Cream.
Whether those exact performers or the ice cream giveaway return for this year's celebration isn't confirmed in current event materials. Listings do caution that activity dates and times are subject to change, a note that mommypoppins.com includes in its own rundown of the festival.
Where to Find It
Diwali Lights! takes place at the Asia Society Texas Center, located at 1370 Southmore Blvd., Houston, TX 77004 — in the heart of Museum Park. With free general admission, required registration, and an afternoon built around food, dance, and craft-making, the festival offers a low-cost way for Houston families to take part in one of the city's more colorful cultural celebrations.
