The Holcomb Family YMCA invites the community to join them for the grand opening of their facility on Saturday, December 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Holcomb Family YMCA is situated on the shores of the beautiful 100-acre Lake Holcomb on Imperial Promenade Drive, near Highway 99/Grand Parkway in the Falls at Imperial Oaks Development, located in Spring, Texas. The event will feature family games and activities, light snacks, Y Swag, Kona Ice for children (first 500 children), NERF Wars and fort building for the kids, group exercise class demonstrations, soccer clinics, sports agility and strength clinics in partnership with RedLine Athletics, and more and is open to all in the community.

This highly anticipated phase one project consists of a unique and innovative indoor/outdoor design that is open, welcoming and adaptable in all seasons and circumstances. Featured amenities include a 12,000-square-foot pavilion with turf, multi-purpose court for basketball, pickleball and other sports. In addition, there will be a one-of-a-kind outdoor fitness center with outdoor workout space for group exercise and other workouts and large multi-purpose sports fields for soccer, lacrosse, camps, and other programs designed to inspire youth to thrive. There will also be social and community areas nestled within the existing nature and will feature picnic tables, sloped lawn for seating, an area for food trucks and social gathering. Members will have the opportunity to participate in wellness activities, group exercise classes, soccer leagues, soccer clinics, youth enrichment programs and martial arts with personal and small group training beginning in late January.

"We are excited for the expansion of services to the greater Spring community with this location. The YMCA of Greater Houston was founded 135 years ago as a place where all people could find hope, fellowship and healing. By bringing together people from different backgrounds, perspectives and generations, we ensure that all have access to the opportunities, relationships and resources necessary to learn, grow and thrive. This Holcomb Family YMCA will be dedicated to this purpose and hopes to bring value to the Falls at Imperial Oaks residents and surrounding communities,” said Chris Butsch, District Executive Director. 

The expansion of YMCA services to the Spring community was the result of a donation of the 10.2 acres of land valued at over $3 million by developers Jim Holcomb, Dick Weekley and David Weekley. In addition to the land, the Holcomb and Weekley families donated $3 million toward the construction of Phase one of the project. The YMCA must raise additional funds to support future buildings for the project and is in the preliminary stages of a capital campaign.

Excitement is coming to Bear Branch Park, as the replacement of the inclusive playground is underway and will be complete in April. As of Monday, November 29, 2021, the old Bear Branch playground is closed. The entire play structure and rubber surfacing will be removed and redesigned.  

The new enhanced playground further expands the concept of inclusive recreation through implementing additional elements that afford additional individuals, with and without disabilities, to be able to access the playground. Individuals with disabilities related to visual, intellectual, physical and Autism will have elements and play features that more fully embrace their needs.

Anticipated re-opening will be April 1, 2022. As the only inclusive playground in The Woodlands, this will be a focal point for residents and guests for years to come. The primary pathway between the Recreation Center/swings and the playground will remain open during construction, as to not interfere with entry to the tennis courts, skate park, multi-purpose court or pathway to the Alden Woods neighborhood. The new amenity will include:

• Poured-in-place surfacing in primary play area
• Multiple elevated play structures with ramps and transfer platform
• Accessible merry-go-round
• Multiple elements include specific designs to engage sensory systems and motor, cognitive and social skills
• Five swing options
• Playhouse for 6 - 23 months old
• Playhouse for 2 - 5 year-olds

Bear Branch Park is located at 5200 Research Forest Drive in The Woodlands, TX 77381. For more information on parks and playgrounds in The Woodlands, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship/parksandrecreation  or call 281-210-3800.

Kick off the holiday season with The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion at Holly Jolly Jingle Thursday, December 2 at 7 p.m. This festive event includes a musical celebration of the season by local student performers and fun winter activities for all ages. Tickets are not required for this free event which is sponsored by KPMG.  Gates open at 6 p.m.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year as The Pavilion Main Stage features performances of familiar holiday medleys by the student musicians of The Woodlands High School, The Woodlands College Park High School, Oak Ridge High School and Grand Oaks High School. Sing along to classic seasonal tunes with a certain jolly elf rumored to make an early appearance at his favorite holiday celebration.

Concertgoers will be walking in a winter wonderland of activities when the gates open at 6 p.m. with holiday arts and crafts, photos with Santa Claus, The Grinch and Cindy Lou Who plus pre-concert performances by local schools in the plazas. All are invited to climb aboard the Candy Cane Express train in the Gold Lot starting at 5:30 p.m.

All guests are encouraged to review The Pavilion’s bag policy – clear bags sized 12” x 12” or smaller are permitted as well as non-clear handheld clutches sized 4.5” x 6.5” or smaller. This policy is in effect to ensure the safety of guests and staff members as well as eliminate the need for close personal contact. Medically necessary bags and diaper bags are permitted but will be searched and tagged. Please visit The Pavilion’s website for more information on these restrictions.

Preferred parking is available in the on-site Town Center Garage, located along Six Pines Drive. Parking is $10 per vehicle for this and most performing arts events. Tickets for on-site parking can be purchased in advance at Ticketmaster.com and The Pavilion Box Office. Guests also may park in any of the free parking lots off Timberloch Drive on the southwest side of The Pavilion.

With the holiday season fast approaching, Junior League of The Woodlands (JLTW) is proud to present its 19th Annual Holiday Market. The shopping extravaganza will be held November 18-21, 2021 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in The Woodlands, Texas.

Junior League of The Woodlands Holiday Market will feature over 100 unique merchants from across the country, selling an array of specialty holiday items, home accessories, clothing, gourmet foods, jewelry, and much more. Tickets are $15 for a one-day general admission ticket. General admission hours are: Friday, November 19th, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday, November 20th, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday, November 21st, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Strollers are welcome Friday and Saturday after 2:00 p.m. and all-day Sunday.  The Junior League Holiday Market will preview its “Making Spirits Bright” theme with a VIP event and Preview Party on Thursday, November 18^th, 2021, from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Along with shopping, the Preview Party features music, food and a cocktail party. Tickets are $100.00 per person and include a general admission ticket to Holiday Market. Holiday Market will also feature photo opportunities with Santa on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CLICK HERE for specific Santa photo times.

Junior League of The Woodlands, Inc. will follow all CDC guidelines and Marriott policies in effect at the time of the event.

The Howard Hughes Corporation® (NYSE: HHC) has announced that it will partner with Kirby Ice House, a popular Houston patio bar, to build its third  Houston region location on over four acres in The Woodlands® Town Center. Kirby Ice House is building its new location at 1700 Lake Robbins Drive, at the northeast intersection of Six Pines Drive and Lake Robbins Drive, across from The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.

The popular ice house will provide a similar format to its Upper Kirby and Memorial locations, with over 10,000 square feet of indoor bar space and over 18,000 square feet of backyard space with room for outdoor games, food trucks and events. Guests will find the same variety of draft beers, cocktails, wine, and spirits with a rustic look that features Texas signage, vintage movie posters, and plenty of seating. It will have over 70 HDTVs and 120 taps for beer—plus a 141-foot bar, claiming the distinction as the longest bar in Texas.

“As we add locations, we are looking to bring the same Kirby Ice House brand to more people by maintaining the experience and service that made our first location so popular,” said Russ Morgan, Kirby Ice House partner. “We are excited to create the ultimate gathering spot and event space in the center of The Woodlands’ vibrant community and commercial hub, to serve the area’s residents, companies and visitors.”


The Woodlands location will be the largest indoor area for Kirby Ice House, and its first indoor/outdoor bar with sliding windows, and its best AV/TV package to date.

“We are extremely excited to announce our partnership with Kirby Ice House to bring their best-in-class concept to the heart of The Woodlands Town Center,”  said Jim Carman, President - Houston Region for The Howard Hughes Corporation. “Our community has been looking for additional entertainment options, and I am looking forward to enjoying our first pre-Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion concert gathering or a big game watching event at Kirby Ice House in The Woodlands.”

“Kirby Ice House is a beloved Houston hospitality concept that is very thoughtful with their location strategy,” said Sydney Dixon with CBRE. “The proximity to greenspace, complementary retail, and corporate campuses in The Woodlands made this an ideal expansion location for their business, which hosts over 300 events a year at each location.”

The new Woodlands location is the first development outside of Houston for Kirby Ice House.

CBRE’s Sydney Dixon and Brian Ashby represented Kirby Ice House in the transaction negotiations while The Howard Hughes Corporation was represented in-house.

Main Street Theater’s holiday favorite returns this month with Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon. MST Founding Artistic Director Rebecca Greene Udden has long been a champion of Jane Austen’s work, even adapting Pride and Prejudice for the stage herself, which the company produced in 1988 and 1996. It seems only fitting, then, that Pride and Prejudice sequels would become MST’s regular holiday plays. MST has also produced The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley, the Gunderson/Melcon offering of what’s happening “downstairs” while the events of Miss Bennet are happening “upstairs” at Pemberley. “It’s a pleasure to bring back Miss Bennet,” says Ms. Udden. “Many people have told us that the whole Pemberley set of plays has become a mainstay of their holiday activities, so we are glad to be able to offer it once again!”

Original cast members Chaney Moore and Lindsay Ehrhardt will reprise their roles as Mary Bennet and Anne de Bourgh, respectively. Skyler Sinclair returns as well, but this time in the role of Elizabeth Bennet. The rest of the cast includes Yemi Otulana, Alexandra Szteo-Joe, B. Connor Flynn, Gabriel Regojo, Aaron Alford, Graham Childers, and Antonia Laverde.

The production opens Saturday night, November 20 at 7:30pm and runs through December 19 at MST – Rice Village, 2540 Times Blvd.  Performances are Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 3pm.  Tickets are $36 - $55, depending on date, section, and availability. THANKSGIVING WEEK PERFORMANCES: Wednesday, Nov. 24, Friday – Sunday, Nov 26 – 28.

All tickets are on sale via phone at 713.524.6706 or online at MainStreetTheater.com. Please visit www.MainStreetTheater.com for Main Street’s COVID-19 safety protocols.  

Main Street will also be streaming the production beginning the first week in December. Visit http://www.MainStreetTheater.com for the latest details.

About Miss Bennet: Christmas as Pemberley

A sequel to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Miss Bennet is set two years after the novel ends and continues the story, this time with bookish middle sister Mary as the unlikely heroine. Mary is growing tired of her role as the dutiful middle sister in the midst of everyone else’s romantic escapades. When the family gathers for Christmas at Pemberley, an unexpected guest sparks Mary’s hopes for independence, an intellectual match, and possibly even love.