Christmas lights are moving downtown this holiday season, and the Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival is getting help promoting its upcoming event.
Conroe City Council approved both items Sept. 24, renewing a reduced-cost contract for holiday lighting and awarding a $20,000 marketing grant to the festival.
The details
Council approved renewing the city’s annual contract with The Christmas Kings for $126,210, down from $300,000—a savings of $173,790. The renewal begins Oct. 1 and is the second of five available renewals, according to the purchasing department’s recommendation.
The lower price comes as the city moves its holiday display from Candy Cane Park, where it was a drive-through attraction last year, to Founders Plaza.
“We’re going to have them in Founders Plaza, and it'll be a walking tour,” Jodi Willard, the city’s executive director of downtown development and tourism, said.
Willard said the city is partnering with the Downtown Conroe Association to coordinate the lighting design, incorporating traditional Christmas decorations and an Americana theme.
The lights are planned to debut Dec. 1 after the tree lighting ceremony, with Thursday-Saturday evening displays continuing through Dec. 26, she said. Moving the attraction downtown is intended to encourage visitors to explore nearby shops and restaurants.
Council members welcomed the savings and the opportunity to bring visitors into downtown businesses. Discussion also included interest in eventually extending the Christmas destination effort to other parts of Conroe.
Also on the agenda
Council also approved a $20,000 special marketing grant for the Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival through Visit Conroe. The grant is funded by hotel occupancy tax revenues and falls within the city’s $125,000 special events grant budget, Willard said.
The Friends of Conroe’s 37th annual festival is scheduled for Oct. 9-11 at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, marking its second year at that location. The festival took place in downtown Conroe before relocating to the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in 2025, as previously reported.
The grant is paid after the event, and organizers must document eligible marketing expenses and hotel stays before receiving reimbursement, Willard said.
According to its application, the festival anticipates 10,000-15,000 attendees and 450 hotel room nights. Organizers also listed new entertainment and children’s activities among this year’s changes.
During the discussion, Willard disclosed that she previously served on the Friends of Conroe board and continues to volunteer with the organization. She said the festival had received city funding beginning in 2011 but had not received it in the past few years.
