44th International Quilt Festival

Thru Nov. 11 | George R. Brown Convention Center

Yes, really! Featuring quilts that celebrate women, immigrants, human rights, and pretty flowers, the world's largest quilt festival returns to attract more than 55,000 attendees from 35 countries. New this year: Houstonia's very own (theoretical) quilt. We hope you enjoy.

Tickets from $15. George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida de las Americas. 713-781-6864. More info and tickets at quilts.org.

Houston Cinema Arts Festival

Thru Nov. 11 | Multiple Locations

Spread out across five days and multiple venues, this music and film festival screens classics like Dennis Hopper's The Last Movie to films from this year's batch of Oscar hopefuls, including Green Book (starring Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen) and Alfonso Cuarón's Roma. Eclectic programming also includes a Dazed and Confused–themed discussion with Richard Linklater, performances from Kronos Quartet, and a virtual reality cinema experience at Sawyer Yards. Check out the full line-up here.

Tickets from $12 (All-access passes $149). Various locations. Full schedule and tickets available at cinemahtx.org.

Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market

Thru Nov. 11 | NRG Center

Gird your loins for the city's most-storied (and hectic) holiday shopping experience. There's tailgating, 14,000 mimosas, and 270 vendors hawking all the kitsch your heart desires. Read our survival guide here.

Tickets from $18. NRG Center, 1 NRG Park. More info and tickets at houstonballet.org.

Islamic Arts Festival

Nov. 10–11 | Masjid Al Salam

Featuring a combination of 40 art vendors and live demonstrations of Ebru, calligraphy, and henna tattoo, this annual festival continues its mission of celebrating cross-cultural interaction and spreading the wonders of halal food. There will also be mosque tours.

Free. Masjid Al Salam, 16700 Old Louetta Road, Spring. More info at islamicartssociety.org.

Wye Oak

Nov. 11 | Rockefeller's

The ever-earnest Baltimore indie duo stops in Houston to light up the city's favorite bank-turned-venue and tour their most recent album, The Louder I Call, the Faster It Runs.

Tickets $15. Rockefeller's, 3620 Washington Ave. 713-862-4070. More info and tickets at rockefellershouston.com.