From holiday celebrations and live music to outdoor movie screenings and magicians, The Woodlands will once again become a spot for residents and visitors to gather as The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau unveils an exciting roster of family-friendly events for 2010.

Catch some of the hottest, live music acts as “Live at Night” debuts at The Fountains at Waterway Square every Wednesday, March 24 thru April 28 from 6 pm - 8 pm. Enjoy everything from “TX Blues Brothers Tribute and Show Band” to rock and roll favorites from bands around the region. Picnics, coolers, chairs, and blankets are all welcomed at this free event. Enjoy more live music as “Live at Night” returns to Waterway Square this fall, every Wednesday September 8 thru September 29 from 6 pm – 8 pm. “Live at Night” is sponsored by The Woodlands Development Company, Ace Parking, State Farm Insurance - Kyle Sherburne and Berripop. The popular group “Fidelity Maxx” will take the stage on March 31.

The entertainment continues in April with more than 200 national and regional artists showcasing original works of art along The Woodlands Waterway® and Town Green Park during the 5th Annual Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival, April 10 - 11. The Festival features interactive art activities for children, student art exhibitions by public and private schools in Montgomery County, entertainment on two stages, and cuisine from P.F. Chang's China Bistro and Jasper's Gourmet Backyard Cuisine. Festival hours are 10 am - 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $10 for adults. Children 12 and under are admitted free of charge. Two-day tickets are $15. For more information on The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival, visit www.woodlandsartsfestival.com.

More events are scheduled throughout the year including “Movie Night” at Waterway Square, beginning in May; Independence Day events including the Star-Spangled Salute free concert at The Pavilion and the Red, Hot & Blue Festival complete with fireworks; “Waterway Nights” beginning in July; “Trick or Treat Trail” at Waterway Square on October 10; Lighting of the Doves and International Winter on the Waterway (iWOW)™ on Saturday, November 20; and many more.
Source: TWT

The Southwest Region of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) recently honored The Woodlands Township, The Woodlands Development Company (TWDC) and Clark Condon Associates with an award at the Texas Recreation and Park Society Annual Conference.

The Outstanding Park/Facility Design Award recognizes a park or facility project that displays a high degree of professional design quality. The Rob Fleming Aquatic Center, located in the Village of Creekside Park, was an initiative of TWDC and designed by Clark Condon and Associates. It opened to the public in 2008.

“We had high expectations of what the Rob Fleming Aquatic Center should be--from the initial vision and the incredible site, through programming, design, and construction,” said Joel Deretchin, Vice President of Public Affairs for The Woodlands Development Company. “This collaborative effort resulted in an incredible facility and user experience. The kid fun-o-meter is off the charts! This is a great asset not only to the residents of the Village of Creekside Park, but to the entire Woodlands’ community.”

Other companies that helped the Rob Fleming Aquatic Center become an award-winning facility include MCCM Architects, Spaw Glass and Water Technology, Inc.
Source: TWT

Contracts for the first two months of 2010 continue with the U-shaped activity.

The homes priced under $300,000 are seeing the impact of the First-Time Buyers program that expires the end of April. This activity will have a future positive impact on the real estate market since 25% of the homes bought in The Woodlands are current resident move-up buyers.

The $1 million plus home listings are seeing a surge in activity possibly due to a number of factors that include interest rates, available jumbo loans, corporate relocations, unrest in Mexico, etc.

The bottom of the contracts curve will see significant activity as we approach the peak contract months of April & May plus the end of spring school.

With the arrival of spring also comes The Woodlands Township’s annual Concert-in-the-Park series, presented by Munday Chevrolet. The spring concert series runs every Sunday evening between March 28, 2010, and April 25, 2010, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Northshore Park, 2505 Lake Woodlands Drive.
The spring schedule is as follows:

March 28, 2010 Cold Shot (Variety)
April 4, 2010 Jimmy Needham (Christian)
April 11, 2010 Kyle Hutton Band (Country)
April 18, 2010 Toast and Jam (80s/90sVariety)
April 25, 2010 Nigel Edison Band (Country)

Concerts are also held in the summer and fall. The summer concert series runs every Sunday between June 6, 2010, and July 4, 2010, from 7 to 9 p.m. The fall series runs Sundays, from October 3, 2010, to October 24, 2010, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The summer schedule is:

June 6, 2010 Level One Band (Motown Review)
June 13, 2010 Miss Leslie & Her Juke Jointers (Country)
June 20, 2010 Fab 5 (British Invasion)
June 27, 2010 Patricia Vonne (Spanish Roots Rock)
July 4, 2010 Troy Hess & Texas Heartbreakers (Country)

The fall schedule is:

October 3, 2010 Akina Adderly (Jazz)
October 10, 2010 Swing Thing (Country Swing)
October 17, 2010 Fab 5 (British Invasion)
October 24, 2010 Johannes Linstead (Smooth Jazz)

Bring a blanket, picnic dinner and lawn chairs to enjoy leisure time with your family! Northshore Park offers plenty of lawn space for tossing balls and Frisbees®, a large playground, two sand volleyball courts and pathways. All bands are family-friendly.

The stage sponsor for the 2010 season is courtesy of Liberty Mutual. For more information on the Concert-in-the-Park series, please call The Woodlands Township’s Parks and Recreation Department at 281-210-3900.

For more information on The Woodlands Township government, please call 281-210-3800 or visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.
Source: TWT