West Side Story

April 20–May 6 | Resilience Theater

Think the classic Bernstein musical, but with dancing opera singers and a modern twist. Broadway choreographer Julio Monge gave HGO singers a crash course in movement for this singing-dancing-playing tale of star-crossed New Yorkers snapping it out for love.

Tickets from $25. Resilience Theater, George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida de las Amricas. 713-228-6737. More info and tickets at houstongrandopera.org.

51st Annual WorldFest Houston

April 20–29 | Memorial City Cinemark Theatres

This underrated cinematic gem has quietly boosted the careers of filmmakers ranging from Steven Spielberg to George Lucas, Ang Lee, and Ethan Hawke, who all screened their films in Houston. Hawke is back this year with Blaze, about an unsung Texas songwriter, which will screen alongside an international lineup of features and shorts encompassing documentary, sci-fi, horror, and more.

Tickets from $7.50. Memorial City Cinemark Theatres, 310 Memorial City Way. 713-467-9749. More info and tickets at worldfest.org.

San Jacinto Day Festival and Battle Reenactment

April 21 | San Jacinto Battleground

A ragtag band of Texas revolutionaries will fight to rout Mexican forces for the umpteenth time in this reenactment of the Battle of San Jacinto, the decisive dustup that secured independence for the Lone Star Republic way back on April 21, 1836. The free festival runs all day (rain or shine) to include mariachi music, free food, craft vendors, historical groups, and plenty more, all in the shadow of the towering, 567-foot San Jacinto Monument.

Free. San Jacinto Battleground, One Monument Circle, La Porte. 281-479-2421. More info at facebook.com/sjbattlereenactment.

Puppies for Breakfast

April 21 | Market Square Park

If your dog-loving heart can handle it, the seventh iteration of this event welcomes pups from across Houston to duke it out in the doggie costume contest while their owners enjoy Niko Niko's breakfast, brews, and whatever 50-plus local dog vendors have to offer.

Free ($5 suggested donation). Market Square Park, 301 Milam Street. More info at puppieforbreakfast.com.

5th Annual Crawfish & Brews

April 22 | 8th Wonder Brewery

Now that mudbug season is heating up, so is one of the best bang-for-your-buck crawfish events in town. A ticket will get you two pounds of crawfish, three beer tokens, a pint glass, and plenty of live music at the 8th Wonder taproom. All you need to do in advance is brush up on your peeling technique.

General admission tickets from $10. 8th Wonder Brewery, 2202 Dallas St. 713-229-0868. More info and tickets via Facebook.