Investing in festivities From the cover
The framework
A closer look
Wooden said some of the new events have sprung from local business owners’ and residents’ involvement. Local business owner Darian Ortiz said she con- cocted Kids Day in the Park to draw more people to Downtown Humble after she opened her store, The Rowdy Chick, nearby in January 2025. Ortiz also operates as an event vendor.
local farmers,” Krystal Wertman said. In late 2024, JG Events also took over management of Kingwood Town Center’s annual heritage events, such as Christmas in the Park and the Mardi Gras Festival. In Humble, city ocials have partnered with local businesses to host a new monthly Sip & Shop event and a quarterly Kids Day in the Park event. Humble Civic Center Director Jennifer Wooden, who organizes many of the events, said the city and the volunteers want to “breathe life back into our downtown.” “For us, the growth really is coming from events, and it is what draws tourists to Humble,” Wooden said.
Free community events—from farmers markets to themed festivals—have been emphasized across the Lake Houston area over the last year to stir up economic activity, local stakeholders said. On Jan. 1, the Kingwood Farmers Market relaunched under new management— family-owned company JG Events, which acquired the Lake Houston Farmers Market in early 2025. Krystal Wertman, who owns JG Events with her husband, Timothy Wertman, said they want to expand and refresh the markets. “We want to bring people … here and keep our money local here in Humble and support our
Shopping local Vendors at the Lake Houston-area events oer a variety of products.
Sip & Shop
The Rowdy Chick Products: women’s clothing, jewelry and accessories The Hidden Chapter Products: blind date with a book/puzzle (mystery activity packages)
D
I
Recently revamped events Multiple Lake Houston-area events have been launched or revamped within the last year.
Kingwood
2
E. TOWN CENTER CIR.
59
Kingwood Farmers Market Sweet Wing Gardens
Products: fresh raw honey, beeswax soaps and lip balms, honey infusions At the event: beekeeping demonstrations
LAKE HOUSTON
Event frequency
4A
Weekly Semi-monthly Monthly Quarterly
Lake Houston Farmers Market My Grand Bites
W. LAKE HOUSTON BLVD.
FIRST ST.
1960
4B
Products: cookies, chocolate-covered Oreos, brownies SOURCES: INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES, JG EVENTS, VISIT HUMBLE, CITY OF HUMBLE COMMUNITY IMPACT
Humble
Atascocita
1 3
E. MAIN ST.
WALDEN FOREST DR.
N
Something to note
Assuming responsibility for established events has presented some challenges along the way, Krystal Wertman said. During JG Events’ rst Fourth of July event in Kingwood, attendees reported diculty viewing the reworks. Krystal Wertman said she has been working to ensure the next event goes smoothly. Nicole Jaimes, the marketing/operations direc- tor for Chachi’s Mexican Restaurant in Kingwood Town Center, said some of new management’s changes for the events have been frustrating. For example, Jaimes said she takes issue with JG Events charging vendors 20% of alcohol sales, plus an event fee. Event goers have also taken up local businesses’ parking lots, she said. Vendor charges help JG Events cover the cost of event insurance, permits, stang and more, the Wertmans said in a Feb. 6 email statement. They said they are working on improving event parking.
3 Sip & Shop Support local businesses while sipping a beverage. These events are hosted by the city of Humble and were launched in February 2025. • When: monthly on the second Friday • Where: Uptown Park, 310 E. Main St., Humble • Facebook: Sip & Shop: Humble TX 1 Kids Day in the Park Hosted by the city of Humble, families can enjoy activities, food and music outdoors. The event was launched in May 2025. • When: quarterly • Where: Uptown Park, 310 E. Main St., Humble • Facebook: Kids Day in the Park: Humble TX
4 Lake Houston Farmers Market JG Events acquired the markets in early 2025. • When: A weekly on Saturdays, B semi-monthly on the second and fourth Sunday • Where: A Bel Furniture, 20450 Hwy. 59, Humble; B Walden on Lake Houston Golf & Country Club, 2 Kingwood Farmers Market JG Events took over the farmers market Jan. 1. • When: weekly on Thursdays, monthly on the §irst Sunday • Where: Town Center Park, 2814 E. Town Center Circle, Kingwood • www.kwdfarmersmarket.com
18100 Walden Forest Drive, Atascocita • www.lakehoustonfarmersmarket.com
SOURCES: VISIT HUMBLE, JG EVENTSCOMMUNITY IMPACT
12
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Powered by FlippingBook