This Weekend in Katy TX: September 30 – October 2, 2011

Have you been outside today?  It is absolutely GORGEOUS out there!  Maybe Fall is finally deciding to arrive here in Katy.  There are a lot of opportunities to enjoy the weather this weekend.  Here are just a few of the things going on in our area over the next few days…

High School Volleyball: 
Cinco Ranch vs Katy at Katy High School, September 30th
Seven Lakes vs Taylor at Taylor High School, September 3oth
Morton Ranch vs Mayde Creek at Mayde Creek High School, September 30th 

High School Football: 
Katy vs Strake Jesuit at Rice Stadium, September 30th
Morton Ranch vs Taylor at Rhodes Stadium, September 30th
Morton Ranch High School Tailgate Party before the game on the Visitor’s side
Faith West vs Brazos Christian at Faith West, September 30th
Pope John XXIII vs Ft Bend Baptist at Pope John, September 30th
Cinco Ranch vs Seven Lakes at Rhodes Stadium, October 1st (rescheduled from Sept 29)
Mayde Creek vs Memorial at Tully Stadium, October 1st

Fairs & Festivals:
Katy Rice Harvest Festival Parade in Historic Downtown Katy, October 1st
Fort Bend County Fair & Rodeo at the Ft Bend County Fairgrounds, through October 2nd
Waller County Fair at the Waller County Fairgrounds, through October 1st
Katy Rice Harvest Festival in Historic Downtown Katy, October 8th-9th

Active Events:
Zumba Fest at the Katy Family YMCA, September 30th
Susan G Komen Race for the Cure in Downtown Houston, October 1st
Du the Bear Duathlon at Bear Creek Pioneers Park, October 2nd
Swim Lessons for All Ages at the Katy Family YMCA, beginning October 3rd

The Arts:
KVPAC Presents “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” at the Katy Visual & Performing Arts Center, through October 2nd
Katy Area Artists present “Wild Landscapes” at V The Gallery in Villagio Center, opening October 7th

Other Family Fun:
Katy Heritage Museum & Historic Homes at Katy Heritage Park, Open October 1st-2nd
American Motor Cars Lone Star Regional Car Show at LaCenterra, October 1st
Dewberry Farm in Brookshire, Weekends through November 13th
Morton Ranch High School Family Fun Night at Morton Ranch HS, October 2nd
National Night Out at Katy City Park, October 4th

Did we miss anything?  Post a comment here, comment on our Facebook page, or send us a tweet to let us know about any other happenings that should be on this list.  One thing is for sure… you have no excuse to be bored! 

Fall 2011 Festival Season!

This summer has definitely been one for the record books!  For years I’ve compared summer heat to the Summer of 1980 and, until this year, no other summer temps have been able to compete.  But this crazy string of insane heat mixed with drought makes 1980 look like a beautiful Spring day!  I am definitely ready for some cooler Fall weather, so we can get back to enjoying the outdoors.  There are a ton of fun events coming up in the next few months!  (NOTE:  I’m sorry.  For some reason I’m having trouble embedding links, so I’m including the website address at the end of each entry.  When you are finished looking at the festival page, hit the back button to return here.)

15th Grand Taiko Festival, September 9-10, 2011 at Miller Outdoor Theatre  www.milleroutdoortheatre.com/

11th Houston Hot Sauce Festival, September 17-18, 2011 at the Stafford Centre  www.houstonhotsauce.com/

75th Fort Bend County Fair & Rodeo, September 23 - October 2, 2011 at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds  www.fbcfa.org/

66th Waller County Fair, September 24 – October 2, 2011 at the Waller County Fairgrounds  www.wallercountyfair.org/

Dewberry Farm, September 24 – November 13, 2011 in Brookshire  www.dewberryfarm.com/

45th The Original Greek Festival, October 6-9, 2011 at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral  www.greekfestival.org/

31st Katy Rice Harvest Festival, October 8-9, 2011 in Historic Downtown Katy  www.riceharvestfestival.org/

40th Bayou City Art Festival, October 8-9 in Downtown Houston  www.bayoucityartfestival.com/

37th Texas Renaissance Festival, October 8 – November 27, 2011 in Plantersville  www.texrenfest.com/

33rd Festa Italiana, October 14-16, 2011 at the University of St Thomas  www.houstonitalianfestival.com/

27th Wings Over Houston Airshow, October 15-16, 2011 at Ellington Field  www.wingsoverhouston.com/

34th Harris County Fair, October 19-23, 2011 at the Houston Farm & Ranch Club  www.hcfair.com/

18th Ballunar Liftoff Festival, October 21-23, 2011 at the Johnson Space Center  www.ballunarfestival.com/

28th Texian Market Days, October 22, 2011 at the George Ranch  www.texianmarketdays.com/

5th Puerto Rican & Cuban Festival, October 22, 2011 at Tranquility Park in Downtown Houston  www.prcfestival.com/

8th Gulf Coast Dragon Boat Regatta, October 22-23, 2011 in Sugar Land  www.texasdragonboat.com/

International Quilt Festival, November 3-6, 2011 at the George R Brown Convention Center  www.quilts.com/

1st Texas Yacht Show and Jazz Fest, November 11-13, 2011 at the Kemah Boardwalk Marina  www.texasyachtshow.com/

Via Colori Street Painting Festival, November 19-20, 2011 at Sam Houston Park in Downtown Houston  www.HoustonViaColori.com/

As you can see, there is truly something for everyone on this list!  As natives of this area, we have been to most of these events over the years and always have a great time.  Better yet, these events are just a few of the fun things going on around our area during the Fall.  Feel free to post information on any other fun festivals and community events in the comments section of this post.

Happy September everyone!

Literacy + Ecology = FUN!: KVPAC’s Nasty Gnarlies

The following story was provided by the Katy Visual & Performing Arts Center (KVPAC) regarding the latest production in their Books Alive! Literacy Through the Arts program.  Neat stuff!  For more information about KVPAC, their community programs and how you can get involved, visit their website.
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KVPAC Nasty Gnarlies Cast

Katy Visual & Performing Arts Center’s (KVPAC) Books Alive! Literacy Through the Arts is an innovative program that uses the magic of live theatre to promote literacy in communities where literacy and art programs are not present.  Books Alive! tours to underprivileged neighborhoods, children’s hospitals, homeless shelters and special needs workshops free-of-charge.  Carol Herron, Arts In Medicine Coordinator at Texas Children’s Cancer Center, says, “Our cancer patients were delighted when KVPAC visited earlier this year as part of our Arts In Medicine program.  We look forward to return visits, and the opportunity to have KVPAC work with patients both in our out-patient clinic and in-patient units.”

For many children, it is their first time to experience the magic of live professional theatre and they respond enthusiastically.  “The lights, costumes and performers dazzled their eyes and brought out expressions on their faces that I will never forget,” glowed Elizabeth Mace, music specialist at Morton Ranch Elementary.  Inspiring children to open a book and bring the ‘book alive’ is the goal Books Alive! surpasses at all venues.

This year KVPAC used the wildly successful Books Alive! program to promote another worthy cause: going green.  Books Alive!’s production of The Three Nasty Gnarlies employs music and creative storytelling to teach kids about the perils of our environment in a lighthearted atmosphere.  The Gnarlies practice what they preach as all costumes are made from plastic bags that would otherwise sit in a landfill for 500 years.  The plastic bags are given new life in the show and the costume pieces can be reused in future productions.

Books Alive! believes it is not enough to simply inform children of a problem but to give them ways to be part of the solution.  Each audience member receives a copy of The Kid’s Guide to Saving the Planet.  Produced by KVPAC, this original guide takes the Gnarlies from the stage to the page as they lead children through puzzles and games that educate and give them practical tips on saving the planet.  The Guide includes a convenient insert children can hang in their home to remind the whole family that little things can make a big difference.

Environmental Resources Management  (ERM) funded the creation of the unique, recycled costumes, the show’s set and the printing of The Kid’s Guide to Save the Planet.  Additional funding from Republic Services, Absolutely! Katy Magazine, Mickie C and Company, US Storage and the Houston Arts Alliance enabled this touring production to be taken to an additional 15 schools where it was seen by more than 7,000 children.

Nasty Gnarlies on Stage

Understanding the future of our world is in the hands of its children is what makes Books Alive! a success in all that it promotes.  Books Alive! delivers the gift of literacy to children while empowering them to change the world around them.  Using the performing and visual arts, Books Alive! tackles global issues with children all while they have a smile on their face.

Books Alive! is funded by generous local businesses, charitable foundations and private individuals.  Sponsors are invited to attend the Sponsor Gala on Saturday, January 29, 2011 at 10am at the KVPAC Studio.  Guests will enjoy The Three Nasty Gnarlies, a presentation by ERM with a reception to follow.

Katy Visual & Performing Arts Center (KVPAC) is located at 2501 S Mason Rd, #290, Katy, TX 77450 in the Great Southwest Equestrian Center Complex.

12 Days of Christmas Fun!

I can’t believe that it’s less than 12 days until Christmas!  Man, has this year flown by or what?!  The holidays are cruising by with all kinds of fun events passing every day.  But don’t worry, you still have time to take in some fun!  In honor of the 12 Days of Christmas, here are 12 ideas for you and your family to enjoy the rest of this season.  (and if you know of something we’ve missed, please leave a comment and let us know about it so we can add to our list!)

1)  Light Shows to Music
Cottage Charm’s Christmas Light Show & Food Drive,  5806 4th Street, Katy TX 77493

Christmas Katy, 24603 Stoughton Ct, Katy TX 77494

2)  Living Nativity Scenes
Living Word of the Nazarene, 16607 Clay Rd, Houston TX 77084:  December 16-19, 6:30-8:30pm

Victory of the Lamb, 23051 Cinco Ranch Blvd, Katy TX 77450: December 19, 5:30-8:30pm

3)  Neighborhoods Known for their Decorations
Pecan Grove, just South of Katy, West of the Grand Pkwy (99) and North of Hwy 90A

Prestonwood Forest, Off of Hwy 249 / Cypresswood / Prestonwood Forest Dr.

4)  Drive Through Displays
Richmond State Supported Living Center (formerly Richmond State School) Project Noel
2100 Preston, Richmond TX 77469

Santa’s Wonderland, 18898 Hwy 6 South, College Station TX 77845

Texas Hill Country Regional Christmas Lighting Trail, 11 towns in the Texas Hill Country covered in lights

5)  Holiday Events
A Katy Old Fashioned Christmas & Canned Food Drive, December 18, 10am – 6pm
In Old Town Katy.  Proceeds go to Katy Christian Ministries.  Hosted by Katy Market Days.  Call 281.391.1993 for details.

Santa’s Workshop at KVPAC (Katy Visual & Performing Arts Center), December 17-18
2501 S Mason Rd Ste 290, Katy TX 77450

Holiday Magic at the Houston Zoo, December 18, 11am – 2pm
6200 Hermann Park Dr, Houston TX 77030

Santa’s Workshop at the Houston Museum of Science in Sugar Land, December 18 & 20, 10am – 3pm
13013 University Blvd, Sugar Land TX 77479

Moody Gardens Festival of Lights, Nightly through January 1, 6 – 10pm
One Hope Boulevard, Galveston TX 77554

The Woodlands Winter Wonderland, Nightly through January 3, Dusk – 11pm
Northeast corner of Lake Robbins Dr and Six Pines Dr at the Woodlands Town Center

Seasons of Sharing at the Children’s Museum of Houston, Through January 9
1500 Binz, Houston TX 77004

6)  Amazingly Decorated Houses
Johnson’s Christmas Corner, 14811 Cypress Meadow Dr, Cypress TX 77429

The Southerland’s Love of Lights, 9306 Brentleywood Ct, Houston TX 77070

The Briers Family, 1306 Briarbrook, Houston TX 77042

7)  Outdoor Ice Skating
Discovery Green, through January 17
1500 McKinney, Houston TX 77002

The Woodlands, through January 17
Corner of Lake Robbins Dr and Six Pines Dr at the Woodlands Town Center

Moody Gardens, through January 1
One Hope Boulevard, Galveston TX 77554

8)  Performing Arts Shows
“The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of A Christmas Carol”, December 17-19
presented by KVPAC (Katy Visual & Performing Arts Center), 2501 S Mason Ste 290, Katy TX 77450

“A Tuna Christmas”, December 14-19 and January 4-9
at The Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice, Galveston TX 77550

9)  Christmas Movie Events
“Santa vs The Snowman” in IMAX 2D at the Houston Museum of Natural Science
One Hermann Circle Dr, Houston TX 77030

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” at Discovery Green, December 16, 6:30pm
1500 McKinney, Houston TX 77002

“It’s a Wonderful Life” at Discovery Green, December 23, 6:30pm
1500 McKinney, Houston TX 77002

“Home Alone” at Discovery Green, December 30, 6:30pm
1500 McKinney, Houston TX 77002

10)  Santa Sightings
Santa Visits Katy Neighborhoods, through December 15

Holiday Breakfast with Santa, December 18, 10am – 12pm
at LaCenterra, 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd, Katy TX 77494

Pet Photos with Santa, December 18-19, 11am – 4pm
at PetSmart, 19945 Katy Frwy, Houston TX 77094.  Benefits CAP (Citizens for Animal Protection)

Skate with Santa, Saturdays, 4 – 5pm
at Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney, Houston TX 77002

Breakfast with Santa, December 18-24
at the Downtown Aquarium, 410 Bagby, Houston TX 77002

11)   Fun Holiday Websites
Click2Houston Holidays 2010 (click on the Holiday Fun tab for games)

NORAD Tracks Santa

SantaClaus.net

NorthPole.com

12)  More Winter Fun!
Wild West Tour:  Ducks and Donuts, January 8, 2011, 6:30am – 12pm
at the Indiangrass Preserve of the Katy Prairie Conservancy

Magnificent 7 Ice Sculpting Competition, January 8, 2011, 10am – 7pm
at Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney, Houston TX 77002

Wild West Tour:  Sparrows, Sparrows, Everywhere, January 15, 2011, 7:30am – 12pm
at the Indiangrass Preserve of the Katy Prairie Conservancy

We hope that you enjoy exploring these events.  Please remember to post a comment here, or on Facebook or Twitter to let us know what we need to add to our list (especially great lighted houses that you find!)  Merry Christmas everyone!!

Building Traditions: Katy Area Fun with Purpose

Today is November 11…Veteran’s Day.  This time of year always brings to mind things that we are thankful for…our freedom, our family, our friends…  It’s a great time to share a little bit of yourself as well as build lasting family traditions.  Luckily, there are a lot of fun ways to do just that in our area.  Following are just a quick sample of the fun events that are coming up in the next few weeks that also benefit some great causes.  Which ones will you participate in?

Katy Visual & Performing Arts Center (KVPAC):  promotes the arts in Katy
Several great theater productions coming up including Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs (November 11-13), Honk! (November 19-20), and Mission: Improvible (family friendly comedy improv) every Friday night.  They also offer art & theater classes for all ages.

Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament: Cards For Clean Water hosted by Thrive Church
They say that more than 1.1 billion people around the world lack access to safe water.  On November 19th, Thrive Church is hosting a Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament to benefit Water Missions International, working to relieve the global water crisis.

Citizens for Animal Protection (CAP):  animal shelter
CAP will host their annual Celebrity Paws Gala on November 20.  They will also be hosting Photos with Santa at Petsmart on I-10 at Fry Rd on December 4, 5, 18 & 19.

The Katy Prairie Conservancy:  conservation education
KPC hosts Open Trails every Friday in November and will open their new Matt Cook Wildlife Viewing Platform on November 20.  Also on the 20th, enjoy Flat Out Fun Day on the Prairie.  And don’t forget about the Winter Raptors – Wild West Tour on December 11th.

Literacy Council of Fort Bend County: working to improve adult literacy skills
Hop on your bike and Bike the Bend for Literacy on November 21st!  The ride departs from Foster High School, just a couple of miles south of the Westpark Tollway.  Register by November 18th.

Katy Family YMCA:  provides community support and wellness education
Start your Turkey Day off right by participating in the annual Katy Family YMCA Turkey Dash hosted by the YMCA and The Fellowship at Cinco Ranch.  This is a fun event for the whole family featuring a timed 5K, a 1 Mile Kids Race and a 1 Mile Family Walk/Run.  It all happens Thanksgiving morning, November 25th.  Sign up by November 24th.

Katy Christian Ministries (KCM) :  provides support to the community
Sign up by November 26 to adopt a family or families for the holidays through KCM’s Santa’s Sleigh program.  Donate non-perishable food and toiletries to their food pantry, volunteer your time, or donate to their Christmas Toy Drive December 3-4th.

Christmas Light Show & Food Drive hosted by Cottage Charm
It has become a holiday tradition for many Katy area families…each year the McKenzie family converts the special events venue at 5806 4th Street in Old Town Katy into a fantastic Christmas Light Show set to music.  Shows start the weekend after Thanksgiving and run to New Years.  Shows are FREE!  Please bring non-perishable food items to be donated to Katy Christian Ministries Food Pantry.

I know this is not a complete list of all of the great charitable events happening in our area!  Please leave a comment to let us know about others.  And Thank You to everyone who served to protect us and keep us free!  Happy Veteran’s Day!

This Weekend in Katy: October 8-10, 2010

Wow!  It’s going to be another absolutely gorgeous weekend in Katy, Texas!  Gotta love this weather!!  And there are lots of opportunities to get out and enjoy it this weekend!  Check out these fun events…

Katy Rice Harvest Festival:  celebrate Katy’s heritage in Historic Downtown Katy!

Du the Bear Duathlon:  Bike & Run your way through a duathlon (or cheer on folks who do) at Bear Creek Pioneers Park.

Katy ISD Invitational Marching Festival:  One of our favorite things about football season…Marching Bands!  Come out and see some of the best compete at Rhodes Stadium.

Dewberry Farm:  A cornfield maze, barnyard animals, and lots of great outdoor activities just West of Katy in Brookshire.

Prairie Discovery Tour & The Big Sit Birding Event:  Enjoy the great outdoors with the Katy Prairie Conservancy…2 great events this weekend!

Hispanic Heritage Celebration:  Dancing, music & art from 1-3pm on Saturday at the Katy Library.

Bayou City Arts Festival:  The perfect outdoor activity for art lovers takes over Downtown Houston.

The Original Greek Festival:  Celebrating it’s 44th year…where everyone is Greek for a day!  In Houston.

Texas Renaissance Festival:  Opening weekend of one of the country’s biggest festivals…in Plantersville.

31st Annual Festival Chicano:  Billed as “one of the oldest events of it’s type in the world”…a celebration of music at Miller Outdoor Theatre.

Dinosaurs at the Houston Zoo:  Dinosaurs are still inhabiting the Houston Zoo and they’ll be there until the end of the month.  And while you’re there…say “HI!” to Tupelo, the zoo’s new baby Asian Elephant!

With all of this going on there’s no excuse to stay indoors!!  Get out and have a great time!!

This Weekend in Katy: September 25-26, 2010

Fall is officially here….YEA!!  And that means a busy weekend for folks getting out and about in our area.  Here are a few of the activities going on this weekend in and near Katy, TX…

The Fort Bend County Fair: opening weekend at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds.

The Waller County Fair:  opening weekend at the Waller County Fairgrounds.

Dewberry Farm:  opening weekend of this local favorite attraction just to the west of Katy.

Tour de Cure: benefiting the American Diabetes Association.

Nature Fest: presented by Bridgeland and the Katy Prairie Conservancy

Author Signing: Kimberly Morris will be signing her Disney Fairy Series – Rani: Two Friendship Tales, Fairy Rescue Team & Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue at Katy Budget Books.

Free Day at the Museums:  The Museum District is offering free admission Saturday to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Health Museum, the Contemporary Arts Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Menil Collection, and more!

And of course, I cannot leave out…

Texans vs Cowboys at Reliant Stadium, 12pm on Sunday!!

Whatever you choose to do, have a phenomenal weekend!!

Forbidden Gardens Named A Top Roadside Attraction by TIME!

Another great media mention for our area went online yesterday (July 28)…TIME Magazine named Katy’s own Forbidden Gardens to their list of Top 50 American Roadside Attractions!  Congratulations to them!  The tag line that the folks at TIME associate with the attraction is “Things You Don’t See Every Day”, and boy, it THAT the truth! 

If you’ve never visited Forbidden Gardens you might be amazed to find a 1:20 scale of China’s Forbidden City complete with an army of 6,000 terra-cotta soldiers on Franz Road!  Exhibits include a 1/3 scale of the Tomb of the First Emperor,  Qin Shi Huang-di, as well as replicas of ancient Chinese architecture and weapons.  A walk through Forbidden Gardens is like walking into imperial China 2,000 years ago.  Talk about history!

Forbidden Gardens is open Friday, Saturday & Sunday.  As I write this their hours are 10am-3pm, but can vary by season.  Check their website for current hours and admission prices.  Please note that this an outdoor museum which may close for inclement weather.

You can read TIME’s story and see the other 49 attractions (including Houston’s Beer-Can House) here.  You can also follow Forbidden Gardens on Facebook or Twitter.

Forbidden Gardens is located at 23500 Franz Rd, Katy, Texas 77493…just West of the Grand Pkwy (99).  Their phone number is 281.347.8000.  Go out and support this local treasure!

UPDATE JANUARY 14, 2011:  To make way for the expansion of the Grand Parkway, Forbidden Gardens will be closing their doors on January 30, 2011.  If you’ve never visited, here’s your last chance!  So sorry to see them go.

Making Memories…What Can Be Better Than That?

It’s been a CRAZY week!  Here it is 10pm on Friday night and I finally have a minute to sit down and blog…YEA!  With our hectic schedule this week, we’re definitely ready for some family time this weekend.  Have you been making fun memories with your friends and family so far this summer?  Well, if not…what are you waiting for??  Step away from the computer and get out there!  (Oh…but read this first…thanks!) 

So what do you like to do?  Now that Tropical Storm Bonnie has been demoted (sorry Bonnie) to a Depression, our chances of rain have subsided a bit over the next few days.  So here’s a few ideas for spending time outdoors…

• Bust out the kites and generate some wind power
• Play a few rounds of mini golf over at Katy Minature Golf & Batting Cages or Mary Jo Peckham Park 
• Go for a stroll around your neighborhood and chat with your neighbors
• Grab the bikes and head over to George Bush Park for a nature ride or meet other riders at Bike Barn Katy for a Saturday morning ride
• Is running more your thing?  Katy Fit is kicking off the training season this weekend!

And what about indoor activities?  There are plenty of those to choose from as well!  How about…

• Take in a performance over at Katy Visual & Performing Arts Center (KVPAC)
• Have a friendly bowling competition at Times Square Entertainment or Ten Pins Bowling (bumpers or no bumpers?)
• Check out a movie at AMC Katy Mills, Cinemark, Alamo Drafthouse or Rave Motion Pictures
• Show off your skating skills at Mason Road Skate Center or Bear Creek Roller Rink (you’ve still got it, don’t you?)
• And if you feel like a real adventure, take a drive over to the Houston Museum of Natural Science to see (and smell) Lois, the Corpse Flower bloom!

What other activities are you enjoying this weekend and for the rest of the summer?  Whatever you choose, have fun making lasting memories!