Houston Tax Free Weekend

Hooray for a weekend free of taxes!! The tax holiday starts August 17th at 12:01 a.m. and last until midnight on August 19th. The tax break is for items under $100 (It's done individually by each item, not based on your total sale), and mostly just applies to clothing and footware. Do not fret! Many businesses have added their own special sales this weekend to join the tax-free club.

Heather Staible at the Chronicle put together a fantastic list of your tax free opportunities for this weekend. Here they are:

The Woodlands, Willowbrook, Baybrook and First Colony malls are opening at 9 a.m. Friday (Aug. 15) and Saturday (Aug. 16) and closing at 10 p.m. both nights. Sunday (Aug. 17), the malls are opening at 11 a.m. and closing at 8 p.m.

Baybrook Mall. I-45 South at Bay Area Boulevard. 281-488-4620.

First Colony Mall: 59 South and Texas 6. 281-565-6255.

The Woodlands Mall. I-45 north at Lake Woodlands Drive. 281-363-3409.

Willowbrook Mall. FM 1960 and Texas 249.
Katy Mills Mall is opening early at 9 a.m. Friday (Aug. 15) and Saturday (Aug. 16) and closing at 10 p.m. both days. The mall will maintain regular hours Sunday (Aug. 17) and open at 11 a.m., closing at 6 p.m.Details: 5000 Katy Mills Circle. 281-644-5000.

Northline Commons is kicking off the tax free holiday with a Back-to-School Bash Friday (Aug. 15) from noon to 2 p.m. with face painting, balloons, live entertainment and other party delights. Marshalls, Foot Locker and Palais Royal are among the stores at the new open air mall.Details: 4440 North Freeway.

*There is a backpack full of kid's stores at The Galleria offering special sales for tax free weekend. Limited Too is taking 30 percent off select merchandise and opening at 9 a.m. Sunday (Aug. 17) and closing at 8 p.m. Pumpkin Patch is offering an additional 15 percent off for shoppers who sign up for the Patch eClub Friday (Aug. 15) through Sunday (Aug. 17). Gymboree is offering items for $10, $15 and $20 and up to 40 percent off for back-to-school clothing for babies and tweens.

*Kick Maternity is taking 15 percent off all designer denim including Paper Denim & Cloth, Habitual, Serfontaine, Maternal America and Momzee and serving tax-free treats to shoppers.
Details: 5709 Woodway Drive. 713-972-9096.

*Jewelry designer Marie Duncan is taking 20 percent off her already affordable jewelry during tax free weekend. Visit Pomp and Circumstance for the deal.

*Village Girls in Rice Village is taking advantage of the weekend to put all white dresses, satin tops, solid T-shirts and spaghetti strap dresses on sale. Cocktails will be served from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday (Aug. 15) and there will be a fashion show Saturday (Aug. 16) at 7:30 p.m.Details: 2509 Rice Boulevard. 713-533-1163.

*Design Rox, in the Galleria is holding a back-to-school bash Saturday (Aug. 16) taking 20 percent off everything in the store. Design Rox sells accessories, clothing and shoes, plus home decor. From 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. the lifestyle boutique will be serving champagne and light bites and a DJ will play. The shop is just outside Nordstrom in Galleria IV.Details: 5135 West Alabama. 713-850-8212.

*Tax free weekend is an excellent time to score items that would otherwise be too pricey for your every day budget. Upscale boutique M Penner in Uptown Park gets that and us marking the remaining spring and summer merchandise below $100 Friday (Aug. 15) and Saturday (Aug. 16). The men's and women's boutique will also feature racks with with items ranging from $25 to $99. The merchandise was originally $600 to $700. That's what I'm talking about!
Details: 1180-06 Uptown Park Blvd.713-527-8200.

*Em & Lee is already an It girls affordable place to shop, but during tax free weekend, the stores will featuring additional clothing and accessories to choose from. The sale rack will also be discounted from 50 percent off to 75 percent off. Details: Em & Lee River Oaks Shopping Center. 713-524-8485.Details: Em & Lee Midtown. 713-522-1900.