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Register your child! 19th Annual YMCA Kids Triathlon 2022

triathlon
Registration is now open for the 19th annual YMCA Kids Triathlon to be held on Saturday, July 16, 7:30 am at the Branch Crossing YMCA location. Youth, ages 6-12, are eligible to register and experience the fun and excitement of a triathlon. It will be a morning of friendly competition and physical activity that can lead to a lifetime of wellness. The event is designed for all levels. Previous triathlon experience is not required. Registration closes on July 11. Register early as this event sells out. 

Swim/Bike/Run for a CAUSE. Presented by Texas Children's Hospital The Woodlands, the Kids Triathlon benefits the YMCA Annual Campaign, which ensures everyone, regardless of age, income or background has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive at the Y. Proceeds from the event will help The Y to create a stronger community, multiply their impact, and bring about meaningful change.

Swim+Bike+Run = FUN! Triathlon is an exciting event for young children because they involves three activities that every child enjoys - swimming, cycling and running. Triathlon is an individual event with segments running consecutively until all three elements are completed.

Distances will vary per age group. Children ages 6 - 9 years will swim 50 meters, cycle for 1 mile and run ¼ mile. Children, ages 10 - 12 will swim 100 meters, cycle for 2 miles and run ½ mile. All participants must provide their own bike. Training wheels are not allowed. Helmets must be worn for the bike course and shoes must be worn for the bike and run courses.

The 2022 event will feature timing straps/tags for faster and more accurate finish line results. The event features 7 age divisions: 61 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 years. Boys and girls will compete separately in their age groups. The top 3 finishers, male and female, in each age group will receive a special award. All participants will receive a goodie bag, t-shirt, finisher medal and refreshments at the conclusion of their race.

Race day check in begins at 5:30 am at Branch Crossing Y, located at 8100 Ashlane Way in The Woodlands. All participants are encouraged to arrive no later than 6:30 am to park, unload equipment, check in, ready your transition area, and review the course. Post race activities will include refreshments, face and balloon art, mascots, music, games, photo booth, awards ceremony and sponsor booths. Concessions will be available for purchase.

Thank you to the event's generous sponsors: Texas Children's Hospital The Woodlands, SelecTRI, Kelsey-Seybold The Woodlands, Raising Cane's, Alight Solutions, Haynie & Company, Two Men & A Truck, The Woodlands Township, Swim Labs The Woodlands, Hunter Family Orthodontics, Valorem Insurance, The Woodlands Chamber of Commerce and H.E.B.

Kids Triathlon is Race #2 of the new YMCA Summer Race Series for Kids and Teens. Registration is now open for the 1st Annual YMCA Kids Duathlon, scheduled for August 13. For more information and online registration visit ymcahouston.org/ymca-kids-tri. Sponsor and volunteer opportunities still available. For more information contact Roxanne Davis at 281-36 7-9622 ext 230.

Market Street hosts 4th of July Parade, July 4

4th of July Parade
Celebrate our nation’s birthday in Market Street.  Join the fun this 4th of July beginning at 9:00 am as the community gathers at Market Street for the 46th Annual South Montgomery County 4th of July Parade - a patriotic tradition featuring marching bands, parade floats and local dignitaries.  Additionally, the shopping and entertainment destination will host a live performance from the Mo Jiles Band July 4th from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.

Disney's Winnie thePooh: A New Musical Stage Adaptation coming to Houston!

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The acclaimed, record-breaking run of Disney's Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation, created and directed by Jonathan Rockefeller, will be arriving in Houston beginning October 4. The celebrated show for families of all ages, will bring Pooh, Christopher Robin, and their best friends Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit, and Owl (and Tigger too!) to Houston, with performances running through October 9 at the Hobby Center’s Zilkha Hall. Tickets will go on sale on June 17. For tickets and more information, visit thehobbycenter.org.

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Inspired by the beloved books by A. A. Milne and the classic Disney featurettes, Disney's Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation was welcomed in New York beginning in October 2021 garnered rave reviews where it was called "A perfect introduction to live theater. It's a captivating adventure with spectacular puppetry," (Mommy Poppins); "Charming and whimsical stage show that Pooh surpasses every expectation I had for it," (The Laughing Place); "Winnie the Pooh is delightfully first-rate," (Theatre Pizzazz); "Irresistible.," (DC Metro Arts); "An hour of bountiful joy," (New York Theatre Guide); "Mesmerizing life-size puppets and original Sherman Brothers tunes, the beautiful new Winnie the Pooh musical is must-see," (Theatrely); “The new 'Winnie the Pooh' musical Is sweeter than honey." (Toy Insider), and "Enchanting!" (Time Out).

"The music, the spectacular life-size puppets, and the charming performances are the perfect way to introduce (or re-introduce) audiences to live theatre, and this is a must-see show for Winnie the Pooh fans of all ages. We are excited to bring the Hundred Acre Wood across the United States so that audiences of all ages can join us for this heartwarming production," said Jonathan Rockefeller.

In a new story from the Hundred Acre Wood, this fresh stage adaptation is told with impressive life-size puppetry, telling exciting new stories featuring characters that have played iconic roles in the lives of children for generations. Accompanying the magical, modern narrative is an original score from Nate Edmondson, which features some of the songs written for the animated feature from The Sherman Brothers', including Winnie the Pooh, The Blustery Day, The Wonderful Thing About Tigger’s, Whoop-De-Dooper Bounce, and A.A. Milne's The More It Snows. 

Casting will be announced shortly. The creative team includes set design co-designed by Jack Golden and Joshua Warner, lighting design by Jamie Roderick, costume design by Lindsay McWilliams Original music and orchestrations by Nate Edmondson, and puppets built by Rockefeller Productions (lead builder Matthew Lish).

For tickets and information, visit www.thehobbycenter.org

Celebrate 4th of July in The Woodlands - July 3 & 4, 2022

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Residents in The Woodlands will have the opportunity to celebrate American’s Independence freedom with a variety of festivities and fireworks for the Fourth of July holiday.

The 2022 holiday schedule offers entertainment and activities for everyone to enjoy, beginning with the Star-Spangled Salute on Sunday, July 3, 2022.

On Sunday, July 3, at 8:30 p.m., The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion welcomes Houston Symphony Orchestra to the Main Stage for the Star-Spangled Salute, sponsored by the Howard Hughes Corporation. Tickets are not required for this free event. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. Please visit www.woodlandscenter.org for more information.

Festivities continue on Monday, July 4, 2022, at 9 a.m. with the South County Fourth of July Parade in The Woodlands Town Center. The 1.3-mile parade features marching bands, fire engines, clowns, floats and more! Please note the roads will be closed during the parade. For parade map and more details please visit www.4thofjulyparade.org.

After the Parade, Red, Hot & Pool offers a fun cool down at all Township pools from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The lifeguards at each pool will provide fun activities from noon to 4 p.m. Light refreshments will also be available while supplies last. Red, Hot & Pool 2022 is presented by Kroger. Please note, daily fees will apply for residents and non-residents. Entry is free for season pool pass holders.

The celebration will continue into the evening with the 25th annual Red, Hot & Blue Festival featuring entertainment at five locations in The Woodlands from 6 to 10 p.m. All locations, with the exception of Hughes Landing, will feature strolling entertainment and concessions.

  • Northshore Park will feature musical entertainment by Johnny and the Spinsations. Please be advised, Northshore Park vehicular access will be affected on the following dates for the event. For the most up to date information regarding access, residents should visit www.redhotblue.org:
    1. July 2 through 3: Limited, minimal vehicular traffic for additional set-up. 
    2. July 4: No vehicular access for safety and security.
    3. July 5: Reopening with limited vehicular access.
  • Town Green Park will have two stages for music from Rock Hound and Redd Sky Band.
  • Waterway Square Park will include live music by Time Warp and the Fourth of July Parade Awards at 7 p.m.
  • Rob Fleming Park will have live music by Common Ground. Due to limited parking in the Rob Fleming Park area, residents are encouraged to walk or bike to the event. 
  • Hughes Landing will feature musical entertainment from John Barraza Project. 

The annual celebration will culminate with an 18-minute Fireworks Extravaganza at approximately 9:30 p.m. with four launch locations. Residents can enjoy both the sights and sounds of the fireworks extravaganza by tuning into KSTAR Country 99.7 FM, which will broadcast the choreographed patriotic soundtrack for the 2022 event.

  • Adjacent to Northshore Park: Primary fireworks display near Lake Woodlands.
  • Town Green Park: Secondary close-proximity (special effects) display. Please note there may be limited visibility of the primary display at Town Green Park due to trees and buildings. 
  • Waterway Square District: Fireworks display near Timberloch Place and Waterway Avenue.
  • Rob Fleming Park: Fireworks display in the Village of Creekside Park. 

Coolers, picnic baskets and lawn chairs are permitted. A variety of concessions and beverages will be available for purchase. Glass, oversized beach umbrellas and pop-up tents are prohibited. 

The Red, Hot & Blue celebration is sponsored by Waste Management, The Howard Hughes Corporation® and America’s ER + Urgent Care. 

Disney’s Frozen, The Hit Broadway Musical, coming to the Hobby Center

Company of the Frozen North American Tour photo by Deen van Meer
Frozen
has been created for the stage by an award-winning team and features the songs you know and love from the original Oscar®-winning film, plus an expanded score with a dozen new numbers by the film’s songwriters, Oscar winner Kristen Anderson-Lopez and EGOT winner Robert Lopez. Joining them on a creative team that has won a cumulative 16 Tony Awards are Oscar winner Jennifer Lee (book), Tony and Olivier Award winner Michael Grandage (director), and Tony winner Rob Ashford (choreographer).

Caroline Bowman as Elsa and the Company of Frozen North American Tour photo by Deen van Meer

Collin Baja Sven and F. Michael Haynie Olaf in Frozen North American Tour photo by Deen van Meer

Heralded by The New Yorker as “thrilling” and “genuinely moving,” Frozen has joined Disney Theatrical Productions’ megahit The Lion King on tour across North America, and the critics agree, “It’s simply magical!” (LA Daily News).

“Disney’s struck gold! Sumptuous sets, gorgeous costumes, and plenty of special effects to wow the audience!” raves the New York Post. “With the magic, the dancing, and all those iconic tunes, Frozen was born to be a stage musical!” writes the Evening Standard. The Los Angeles Times declares “the North American tour is irresistible in its creativity and verve” and The Hollywood Reporter proclaims that Frozen is “thawing hearts from coast to coast!”

Start at $35 and are available by phone at (800) 982-2787; online at www.TheHobbyCenter.org or www.BroadwayAtTheHobbyCenter.com; the Hobby Center Box Office (800 Bagby, Houston, TX 77002) and all Ticketmaster outlets. Discounts available for groups of 10 or more. For more information, please call (888) 451-5986 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Photo Credit: Deen van Meer

Magical Dads Day at Woodlands Children's Museum, June 18

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AbracaDAD! The Woodlands Children’s Museum is celebrating Father’s Day with a magical twist! On Saturday, June 18, children can create a magical day with dad by enjoying a magic show and other spellbinding activities at the museum.