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!

Get Active! Fun Running and Cycling Events to Kick Off 2011!

2011 is here!  What is your plan for the new year?  Let’s make this decade an active one!  There are a lot of great fun family and competitive athletic events in the Houston area during the first few months of the new year.  And what a great way to build memories with your family and friends!   I ran the Half Marathon at the Texas Marathon in Kingwood on 1/1/11 and set a personal record!  Before you get too impressed…I am NOT fast!  There were plenty of folks who finished before me, but I’m thrilled to say that I got up very early on New Years Day, drove to Kingwood and finished 13.1 miles much faster than I did 3 years ago before I was 40! 

So if you want to live a healthier life (and who doesn’t?)  Join me in a little challenge!  Pick an event or two (or more!) from the following list and take the next step to a healthy and active new life.  Whether you are a super competitive athlete or just regular everyday busy person (like me), there’s something here for everyone.  Come on, it will be fun!!  What do you say?

Surfside Shuffle - January 15, 2011 at Surfside Beach TX
5K, 10K & Kids’ Run on the beach!

USA Fit Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K – January 16, 2011 in Sugar Land TX
Everyone is welcome to participate.  Finish time for the marathon is a full 8 hours.

Gateway Academy Gryphon’s Flight Bike Ride - January 16, 2011 in Hockley TX
25 Mile & 40 Mile rides benefiting Gateway Academy.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.

Brazos Bend Keep On Truckin’ Trail Races - January 16, 2011 at Brazos Bend State Park in Needville TX
Half Marathon, Marathon & 50K Ultra on trails through the park!  8 hour time limit on all events.

Dawson Winter Dash 5K & Family Fun Run - January 22, 2011 in Pearland TX
Benefits the Dawson High School Eagle Band and Catalyst Color Guard.

Rockets Run 2011 – January 22, 2011 at Toyota Center in Houston TX
2 Mile Walk, 5K Fun Run, and Kids 1K.

Frost Ur Fanny Duathlon - January 23, 2011 at Bear Creek Park
3 Mile Run, 15 Mile Bike, 2 Mile Run.  Individual & Relay competitions.

Frost Bike 50 Bike Ride – January 23, 2011 in Cypress TX
17 Mile, 45 Mile, and 55 Mile routes.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.

Texas Children’s Hospital 3K & 1K Kids’ Fun Run/Walk - January 29, 2011 in Houston TX
Open to everyone in grades K-8 (ages 5-15 years) including children with special needs.

Bike Through The Forest – January 29, 2011 in Kingwood TX
12 Mile, 25 Mile, 33 Mile and 46 Mile rides.  A BP MS 150 Recommended Ride.

Chevron Houston Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K - January 30, 2011 in Houston TX
Host of the USA Half Marathon Championships and the 2012 US Olympics Team Trials Marathon.

Puddle for the Ducks Bike Ride – February 5, 2011 in Katy TX
30 Mile, 37 Mile, 48 Mile & 70 Mile rides departing Sun & Ski Sports at Katy Mills Mall.  Benefits Ducks Unlimited.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.

The Bill Crews Remission Run - February 5, 2011 in Conroe TX
5K, 1 Mile Kids Race, and 1 Mile Family Walk.

Golden Girls Gold Rush Cycling Classic - February 6, 2011 in Montgomery TX
25, 44, & 65 Mile routes.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.

Major Taylor Commemorative Ride - February 6, 2011 in Houston TX
35, 50, & 72 Mile rides benefiting the Houston Bicycle Museum.

Texas Med 5K Fun Run/Walk - February 12, 2011 in Houston TX
Benefits the Hospital District’s Mammography Services.

Piney Woods 10 Mile and 5K Trail Run - February 12, 2011 in New Caney TX
Run through the trails at Lake Houston Wilderness Park.

Pedaling the Prairie - February 12, 2011 at the Waller County Fairgrounds in Hempstead TX
24 Mile, 45 Mile, 55 Mile & 71 Mile routes benefiting Faith West Academy in Katy.  A BP MS 150 Recommended Ride.

Jail Break Run 1/2 Marathon - February 12, 2011 in Baytown TX
Benefits the Baytown Municipal Police Officers Association and the Marcus Lee Zaruba Criminal Justice Foundation Scholarship.

Run Away With My Heart Trail Run - February 12, 2011 in Spring TX
5 Mile Run, 3 Mile Run/Walk, and a 1 Mile Kids Run.

Counseling For A Cure - February 13, 2011 in Clear Lake TX
5K and 1K Family Fun Run at UH Clear Lake.  Benefits Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

Ride to the Rescue - February 13, 2011 in Manvel TX
33 Mile, 43 Mile and 60 Mile routes.  Benefiting animal rescue groups.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.

Humble Lions Club Bike Ride - February 19, 2011 in Humble TX
25 Mile, 46 Mile, 55 Mile rides.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.

Galveston Mardi Gras Marathon & Half Marathon - February 20, 2011 in Galveston TX
No time limit on the Half Marathon.  6 Hour time limit on the Marathon.

Bulldog Bike Ride & Pancake Breakfast – February 26, 2011 in Waller TX
25 Mile, 32 Mile & 50 Mile routes.  Benefits Waller Jr High.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.

ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run - February 26, 2011 in Houston TX
Kick off the Houston Rodeo by running down the parade route (before the horses).  5K & 10K.

Surfside Beach Marathon, Half Marathon & Crazy Hard 50K - February 26, 2011 at Surfside Beach
Starts and ends on the beach!

Gator Ride - March 5, 2011 in Baytown TX
33 Mile, 43 Mile, 51 Mile & 62 Mile routes.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.  + a 6.2 Mile Family Ride! 

Continental Airlines Cycling Classic - March 6, 2011 in Montgomery TX
25 Mile, 47 Mile & 67 Mile rides with hills.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.

Brookwood Benefit Bike Ride - March 12, 2011 in Brookshire TX
28 Mile, 42 Mile, 54 Mile & 70 Mile routes.  Benefits The Brookwood Community.

Bayou City Classic 10K Run & Walk - March 12, 2011 in Houston TX
Special categories for participants in costumes and centipedes (6 attached runners)!

The Great Escape Bike Ride – March 13, 2011 in Pearland TX
Details to be announced soon.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.

B-geO Magnolia Miles Bike Ride - March 19, 2011 in Magnolia TX
30 Mile, 41 Mile & 71 Mile routes.  A BP MS 150 Recommended Ride.

Seabrook Lucky Trails Marathon & Half Marathon - March 19-20, 2011 in Seabrook TX
Run the Half Marathon or the Marathon, or take on the Pelican Challenge by running the 1/2 on both Saturday and Sunday.  And then there’s the Trail Challenge: run the 1/2 Marathon on Saturday and the full Marathon on Sunday!  You can also compete as part of a relay team.

Galveston Beach 5K Run & Eco Duathlon - March 26, 2011 in Galveston TX
2 choices here:  a 5K Run or a Duathlon featuring a 2 Mile Run, an 8 Mile Bike, and another 2 Mile Run!

Schlumberger Education Expedition – March 26, 2011 in Missouri City TX
A BP MS150 Recommended Bike Ride benefiting Fort Bend Education Foundation.

Bluebonnet Express - March 27, 2011 in Waller TX
30 Mile, 54 Mile, 68 Mile, and 75 Mile rides.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.

Angie’s 1/2 Crazy 1/2 Marathon – March 27, 2011 in Clear Lake
Participate as an individual or as part of a relay team.  Time limit is 4 hours.

Gateway to the Bay Triathlon Festival – April 2-3, 2011 in Kemah TX
Choose from a Sprint Distance Triathlon:  500 Meter Swim, 12 Mile Bike, 3.1 Mile Run or an Olympic Distance Triathlon:  1,500 Meter Swim, 24.85 Mile Bike, 6.2 Mile Run.

Gateway 5K & Kids 1K – April 3, 2011 in Kemah TX
Enjoy the hype and fun of the Triathlon Festival without competing in a triathlon!

Gran Fondo: Texas TMCO – April 3, 2011 in Hockley TX
25 Mile recreational ride for all ages, and 42 Mile, 100K, and 100 Mile rides.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.

Katy Ram Challenge – April 9, 2011 in Katy TX
12 Mile, 35 Mile, 46 Mile, 62 Mile & 74 Mile routes.  Benefiting Mayde Creek High School’s Mighty Ram Band.  A BP MS150 Recommended Ride.

Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Lonestar Triathlon – April 10, 2011 in Galveston TX
A long distance triathlon:  1.2 Mile Swim, 56 Mile Bike, and 13.1 Mile Run.

Space Race – April 11, 2011 at Gulf Greyhound Park in Houston TX
20 Mile, 40 Mile, 62 Mile, 78 Mile and 101 Mile routes!  A BP MS150 Recommended Bike Ride.

BP MS 150 Bike Ride – April 16-17, 2011 departing Rhodes Stadium in Katy TX
The Granddaddy of local fundraising bike rides!  Ride from Houston to Austin to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Hippity ROC Half Marathon & 5K Run/Walk – April 23, 2011 in Cypress TX
5K is open to everyone ages 5+.  Half Marathon has a time limit of 3.5 hours.  Benefits Run Over Cancer.

Green 6.2 – April 23, 2011 at Town & Country CityCentre
An eco-friendly 10K Run/Walk and Kids 1K Fun Run.

Step By Step 5K & Kids 1K – April 30, 2011 in Houston TX
Benefits Trinity Lutheran School.

Whew!  That’s quite a list for the first 4 months of 2011!  So which one(s) will you pick?  Did we miss any?  If so, leave a comment and let us know so we can add to the fun!  Have a healthy 2011!!!

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!

Festival Season is Coming!!!

As we near the end of August each year one thing always springs to mind.  No, I’m not talking about the beginning of the new school year.  I’m looking forward to Festival Season!! 

As the Texas weather begins to cool off just a tad, the local festivals kick into high gear.  These events are the perfect opportunity to grab your family and friends and build some memorable traditions.  We make sure to hit as many of these as we can every year.  What are your favorites?

Katy Rice Harvest Festival – It’s hard to believe that this is the 30th Annual occurrence of this fun event!  They have it all:  craft booths, food, games, rides, entertainment…all right in Historic Downtown Katy!  October 9 – 10, 2010.

Fort Bend County Fair & Rodeo – Entertaining local families since 1933!  The Ft Bend County Fair is 9 days of fun:  carnival rides, nightly rodeos, concerts, livestock shows, art shows, food,…it’s a County Fair!  September 24 – October 2, 2010 at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds.  Click Here for discount tickets.

Waller County Fair – Katy resides within 3 counties which means that we’re close to 3 County Fairs!  The Waller County Fair has been going strong since 1945.  Rodeos, carnival rides, entertainment, food,…they’ve got it!  Think you’ve got the world’s best BBQ recipe?  Maybe you should enter the BBQ Cookoff.  September 25 – October 2, 2010.

Harris County Fair – The youngest of our 3 local County Fairs, the Harris County Fair is also the shortest in length.  But they pack a lot of stuff into a few days.  Calf scrambles, stick horse races, mutton bustin, livestock shows, and a BBQ Cookoff.  At the Houston Farm & Ranch Club at Bear Creek October 20 – 23, 2010.

Houston Hot Sauce Festival – They say some like it hot.  If that’s you, then check out the 10th Annual Houston Hot Sauce Festival at the Stafford Centre.  This is your chance to sample some of the best, most unusual, and yes in some cases hottest sauces around.  Go early for the best selection and to vote for your favorites.  And the music is pretty good too!    September 18 – 19, 2010

Dewberry Farm – Have you ever been lost in a giant corn maze???  It’s an experience everyone should have at some point in their life.  And thanks to the folks at Dewberry Farm, you don’t have to go far to begin your great corn adventure!  Just West of Katy in Brookshire, Dewberry Farm opens every Fall with tons of activities in addition to their fantasticly humongous cornfield maze.  Check out Golden Goat Bridge, pig races, rubber duck races, and singing chickens.  Blast pumpkins, shoot corn cannons, feed goats, rope calves, enjoy hayrides and mini train rides…there are enough activities here to keep the family busy all day!  The season opens September 25, 2010.

Katy Wine Fest – Wine lovers are represented again this year with the 5th Annual Katy Wine Fest hosted by Rotary Club of Katy Sunrise.  This is a charity event at Agave Road featuring live music, silent and live auctions, great food and, of course, wine tasting.  October 28, 2010.

And the great festivals aren’t just limited to West Houston, Katy and Brookshire!  Art lovers should definitely check out the Bayou City Art Festival (October 9 – 10, 2010) and Galveston’s ARToberFEST (October 16 – 17, 2010).  If you like learning about cultures, the Grand Taiko Concert (September 17 - 18, 2010) and the 32nd Annual Festa Italiana (October 15 – 17, 2010) are for you.  The Wings Over Houston Airshow is always thrilling (October 23 – 24, 2010).  And the Ballunar Liftoff Festival is simply amazing, especially when they light all of the hot air balloons at night (October 29 – 31, 2010).  And last but certainly not least:  No list of Fall Festivals would be complete without including the granddaddy of them all:  the Texas Renaissance Festival (October 9 – November 28, 2010).

There are so many things to do in the coming months that I’m not sure it’s even possible to hit them all!  But I hope you’ll get out there and choose a few to enjoy.  And let us know…which ones are your favorites?  What others should everyone know about?

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!