Photo: Houston Symphony

Summertime in the district means fun time, and there are so many things to do and see this season, both outdoors, and inside when the temperature gets too high.

Kicking off the citywide Juneteenth celebrations is the Juneteenth Culture Fest on June 13 at Miller Outdoor Theatre. From 8:30 to 10:30 that night you can enjoy live performances of gospel, blues, and R&B. Sponsored by the Third Ward Cultural District and the City of Houston, this is a free event, but tickets are required for the covered seating area. Juneteenth celebrates that summer day in 1865 when U.S. General Gordon Granger announced to the people of Texas that all slaves were free. For a calendar of all Juneteenth events this summer, click here.

No sleep-away camp for the kids this year? Why not enroll them in Emancipation Park’s STEM Learning Labs. Every Tuesday and Thursday from June 24 to August 7, kids 10 to 17 get to learn about science, technology, engineering, and math with hands-on experiments. This free experience also comes with snacks, project kits, and lunch. Space is limited so sign up early.

Or if your children are more into nature, you can send them to the Houston Zoo’s Camp ZooFari. This week-long camp offers kids a chance to connect to the animals and learn about conservation efforts. For ages 6 to 12.

Cool off by taking in a movie like Dinosaur Discoveries: A Holographic Adventure at the Houston Museum of Natural Science’s Wortham Giant Screen Theatre. It’s one of several movies running in June and July but this one is the first using three-dimensional holographic images. Fun and educational, be warned, dinosaurs on the giant screen are larger than life! See the full movie schedule here.

How about getting some steps in for a good cause? June 14 at Texas Southern University is the rescheduled Walk to End Lupus Now starting at 8:30 a.m. Sign up here and get your walking shoes ready.

Don’t forget one of the city’s largest and best July Fourth events happens right here in Houston Southeast. The Star Spangled Salute produced by the Houston Symphony. Grab a blanket or lawn chair and head to the hill at Hermann Park for this annual breathtaking concert at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Like all Miller performances, this is free although you can reserve tickets for the covered seating area. The symphony dazzles with such classics as

“America the Beautiful” and the “1812 Overture.” Besides a flag-waving worthy concert, there’s a fabulous fireworks display at the end (around 10 p.m.). It’s a wonderful way to celebrate our country’s birthday.

by Marene Gustin