HOUSTON — There are some changes coming to White Linen Night in the Houston Heights this year. For the first time, there will be a fee.
The event, which has always been free, will now cost $10 to enter.
Organizers said it's to help with safety measures and amenities for the event. We're told proceeds will benefit the 19th Street Merchants Association.
What is White Linen Night?
If you're not familiar with the event, White Linen Night happens on the first Saturday in August. Attendees walk a two-block stretch of West 19th Street while wearing white and celebrating art and culture. It was inspired by a similar event in New Orleans and has been going on in the Heights since 2005.
In a KHOU 11 story last year, Alli Jarrett, owner of Harold’s Heights Restaurant explained to KHOU 11’s Deevon Rahming how it came to be.
"When we had Hurricane Katrina, there were many folks that ended up in Houston that had to relocate and they said, 'Hey, let's do something like we have in New Orleans and create a White Linen Night,'" he said.
It was scaled back in the COVID years but came back in full force the last couple of years.
This year's White Linen Night will be on Aug. 3.