Miller Outdoor Theatre
Miller Outdoor Theatre
4.5
About
Miller Outdoor Theatre, in Hermann Park, offers an 8-month season of free outdoor performances. See concerts, theater, dance, and children’s programming.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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  • SophiaB
    London, United Kingdom135 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Enjoyable Classical Performance
    I enjoyed a classical musical performance at the theatre and thoroughly enjoyed the performance and the atmosphere. I didn’t drive to the event so it was a tad bit concerning walking to the metro station through the park at night. Just be mindful of this if you are not driving and are alone.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written October 7, 2023
  • luna c
    39 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    funsies
    an amazing experience while living in Houston. if you want the seats, make sure to reserve on the dot, as they get taken in a second. not sure who grabs the seats, since a lot of the spots are still empty. shows are hit or miss sometimes, but still a nice time out
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written May 7, 2024
  • AustinH6913
    273 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Always a good go-to
    I've been several times and it never disappointed. I've heard jazz here, I've heard gospel music here, I've heard ethnic music here, and the list goes on. There's a concert happening at some point that anybody can enjoy. You can sit on the hill with your lawn chairs and blankets or under the cover if you reserve a seat ahead of time. Free either way though. And if the audience isn't too full underneath, they will even announce that you can sit under the cover regardless of whether you reserved seats. There is a snack bar and free parking nearby is plenty.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 27, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles354 reviews
Excellent
257
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79
Average
11
Poor
2
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5

Jet10745
houston1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
This was an increditable event. It was like looking at the special performances during the Grammy's or BET Awards. It was absolutely spectacular. Moreover, it was free and fun to the entire audience.
Written July 17, 2005
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AWBPOPPIN
Houston, TX11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2014 • Friends
If you are ever in the city and looking for something different, but incredibly awesome to do, Miller Outdoor Theater is the place I suggest you go! When my friends come to Houston this is one of the places I like to show off. It is an outdoor theater with a covered pavilion and seating. That is one perk about this place, but the hidden treasure is what they call "Hippie Hill". Behind the pavilion is a big hill that can seat thousands, (yes I have witnessed thousands). What do they do here? Concerts, outdoor movies, ballets, symphonies, you name it, they have it! My friends and I take a nice big blanket, and a cooler. Inside the cooler we have snacks, food, alcohol (shhh), drinks and whatever else the occasion calls for. We all sit on "Hippie Hill" and enjoy whatever show we are there to see while laughing, talking, drinking, eating. I can attest that this place has lured me to events I'd probably never attend on my own. ex: concert halls, operas, or other appropriate venues, but the atmosphere of MOT continually brings me back. I enjoy sitting on the hill with good company, hearing good music, watching great theater, and laughing while enjoying a beverage of my choice, and tasty food I packed to go along with it. They even have concession stands, but I hardly ever go to them, (free fun). There is something about sitting on the hill, hearing good music or watching a good show that keeps me coming back every time. What's also amazing is they have events that you can bring that special someone to for a date, events you can bring the kids and family to, or those nights when you just want to fly solo and be alone, that's ok too. I especially recommend the Motown Review they do every year around Memorial weekend! Great music, and fun, this is definitely a family & friends event! However, you must get there early, and I mean hours early-literally. This is when the crowds swarm in by the thousands, but totally worth it. I can't say anything bad about this place because I've yet to experience a bad time, and you won't either!
Written November 14, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Spoonermomma1
League City, TX401 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2013 • Family
We recently moved to Houston from Canada and were told by our friends to see 4th of July here. You have to go early in the day, pack snacks, water and a blanket. We camped out on top of the hill behind the seating and had a wonderful view of performances and the city. The evening ended in AWESOME fireworks and 1812 Overture for the cannons booming! Fantastic show. Also, parking was easy, probably because we were early. Traffic seemed to leave seamlessly with police directing traffic.
Written May 21, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TonyTigr
1 contribution
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2019
My wife and I love going to the MOT and have enjoyed just about everything we have seen there, except the show last. The Houston’s Jazz fest (09/21/2019) was a disaster from the get go. They introduced a trio, each of whom appeared to have a great pedigree. They mentioned that this was the first time they have appeared on stage together. You didn’t need to be a member of a band as I am, to realize that this band were playing for their own entertainment. They just didn’t know when to end any of the excruciatingly long numbers they played. Consistently, every time the number reached a logical ending, it was like a fire that wouldn’t go out. They all kept rekindling and going on with each of them doing yet another round of solo’s, before repeating the same thing all over. They played absolutely nothing that was recognizable by their audience. They must have been paid by the number of notes.

Worse, way worse was when the wife of the Sax player was invited to join the trio for a ‘voice over’. The ‘voice over’ turned out to be a talking rap diatribe filled with racial and divisive overtones. It was an unnecessary and unappreciated preaching to the members of the audience that didn’t fit the ethnic profile of the narrative. Numerous members of the audience left in the same type of disgust my group of five felt at this uncharacteristic addition to the ‘entertainment’. The Rap included statements like ‘we want our identity back, our colors back and metaphoric implications that rain only falls on Black heads. This, only two days after rain fell on all houston heads of every color across the city.

Houston is proud of being united, strong and color blind, particularly in times when the citizenry comes together to save lives, no matter what color they are. We enjoy attending shows that illustrate the color culture and diversity of our great city and have attended everything from Mexican Fiesta events and Bollywood. Nobody want’s to be preached to by any of these cultures. Yesterday, it was allowed. If people feel the need to make statements while holding the stage, let the standard be positive, especially since Houston is reeling from another flood disaster. We left at the intermission and had an unexpected early night. I hope MOT takes note and takes steps to ensure this type of lapse doesn’t happen again, and that the entertainment engaged isn’t made up of those considering it a first practice session.
Written September 22, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

FamilytravellerTX
Biloxi, MS83 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2017 • Family
Lovely outdoor theatre near the Houston Zoo and Museum District. They have a wide selection of events. Check the calendar on their website.
Written August 13, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

teresa0401
Houston, TX76 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2017 • Family
Very good line-up! They have shows featuring Houston Ballet, Houston Symphony, and Houston grand Opera all for free. You can either sit on the lawn or chairs - tickets for seats can be obtained on the day of the performance (~10 am -1 pm).
Written June 22, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

texascajun1
Houston, TX179 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2014 • Friends
We LOVE this venue and consider it one of the best things about Houston. Free shows including top acts from all over the world including a broadway production, symphony, ballet, Chinese acrobats, Japanese drummers just to name a few. Seats are available - you can pick up free tickets day of performance or get empty seats immediately prior to the show. We prefer to sit on the hill where you can bring chairs or blankets and picnic and wine - no glass so bring plastic cups. Even in the heat of the summer, there is a nice breeze that keeps it cooler. You'll see all ages here loving these performances. Located in the museum area of Houston which has many incredible museums and gardens.
Written November 4, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hazelnuttruffle
Dallas, TX3 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2014 • Friends
I was at the Miller Outdoor Theatre today for a performance. Without notice, a guy sitting next to me grabbed me and shoved me out of my seat so that his wife could sit there instead. He didn't even ask me to move beforehand. I told the management and they did absolutely nothing about it. There were multiple witnesses who all thought it was completely inappropriate. If you want to come here, be warned. It's a free for all. You may get assaulted.
Written July 23, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

hayleyhibbert
Houston, TX106 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2014 • Couples
F-R-E-E, FREE! Miller Theatre puts on great events that are free to patrons 100 percent of the time due to generous funding by individuals and companies around the city. All you have to do is show up when tickets are released (or, for highly anticipated events, begin to queue in the hour(s) beforehand) and wait in line to snag some. I *believe* there is typically a limit on how many tickets you can get (possibly 4 max?), but this may vary by event.

If the box office runs out of tickets or you just feel like being more social during the performance than you'd be able to by sitting in an assigned seat, you have the option of sitting on the hill to view the show. Despite being farther away, the view is still pretty good and the sound is plenty loud. You can bring a blanket or a chair and not worry about your view being obstructed as ground-sitters are relegated to one side of the hill, and chair-sitters on the other.

You may bring your own food and alcohol in non-glass containers - 21 and up drinkers only, please, as it's not a pretty sight watching an underage lush stumble and slur (his or) her words. You should also bring a garbage bag and properly dispose of your trash after the event.

Once the event begins, any unclaimed seats are released to others who may not have been able to get a ticket. SO, if you've got tickets and you don't show up early enough, you're out of luck and must sit on the grass if all other available seats have been claimed.

To the east of the stage are the restrooms as well as concessions that sell beer, wine and snacks, but you can save a lot of money buy bringing your sundries from home. Packing a picnic is sooo romantic, too, and will surely score some points with your date. For those who are unable to decant their wine at home/transfer it to a non-glass bottle, boxed wine (the fancy award-winning versions - Black Box or Bota Box) are a godsend in this situation. You can also buy wine with twist-off tops that come in cardboard bottles, too. Neat!

In general, when sitting on the hill, you should try to arrive early to find a good place to set up camp. Parking fills up quickly, too (regardless of whether you are sitting hillside or in an assigned seat). The most parking options are on the north side of the hill next to the Museum of Natural Science, or on the south side of the stage near the Houston Zoo. Since you will be outdoors, keep the weather in mind and pack any necessary bug spray, rain gear, jackets, etc. Have fun!
Written July 22, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Colleen R
Houston, TX36 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2014 • Friends
We have attended two free concerts here and enjooed each one. You are allowed to bring your own food and drink Ino glass) and the pavillion is spacious and clean. We will attend concerts here just as often as they have them.
Written July 14, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Miller Outdoor Theatre - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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