The Woodlands Township announced in a news release March 13 ithat two major events, the Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas North American Championship and The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival, have been postponed in compliance with local disaster declarations.
The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival was scheduled for April 3-5, and Ironman Texas was scheduled for April 25. The sold-out Ironman event typically brings participants from more than 25 countries and all 50 states, according to the release. The event has an economic impact on The Woodlands of about $13.5 million, according to information from Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas.
The township's convention and visitors bureau, Visit the Woodlands, is working with other township officials to find another date for the events in September, October or November, the release stated.
“The Woodlands and our parks system is in high demand for many events at that time of year,” said John Powers, township assistant general manager for community services.
Township officials also announced special events permits that had been issued through April 12 have been revoked in compliance with Montgomery County's declaration of local disaster March 12.
5:50 p.m. March 12
Following the Montgomery County declaration of a public health emergency due to concerns about the coronavirus March 12, The Woodlands Township announced in a news release it will cancel or postpone all township-produced events from March 12-April 12.
“The cancellation or postponement of these township-produced events will allow us to better address the public health concerns of the community and also allow us to redirect township public safety and other personnel in a more effective manner for preventive measures,” board of directors Chair Gordy Bunch said in a statement. “While this is a difficult decision to make, public safety has and will always be the top priority of The Woodlands Township.”
According to the release, the following events for March and April will be canceled or postponed:
March 14
- Arts in the Park
- Involvement Day at Golden Sage Park
- Creekwood Fishing Derby
March 19
- Walk in the Woods
March 21
- Earth Day GreenUp
- Father-Son Challenge
- Soggy Doggy Swim Day
- Public Safety awards
March 28
- Open Water Swim
- Emergency Preparedness event
- Camp Terramont (through March 29)
April 4
- Woodforest Bank Trip
In addition, the following recurring events are canceled:
- Concert in the Park (Sundays through April 5); and
- Rock the Row spring series (Thursdays, March 19-April 2).
Township-sponsored Easter events and programs, such as egg hunts and Breakfast with the Bunny, are also canceled, according to the release. The Woodlands Township will notify the public about any rescheduled events through its website and social media accounts.
In the event that these activities are rescheduled at a later date, the community will be notified through the township website, social media and other channels, according to the release.
According to the release, township officials are working with The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival organizers to reschedule the April 4-5 event for a fall date.
Among other area events that have been canceled or postponed as a result of coronavirus concerns outside of township-produced activities, The Woodlands First Baptist Church has canceled its Easter at the Pavilion event April 12, Texas Children's Hospital and the Houston Marathon Foundation announced they are canceling a May 2 Fun Run event at Texas Children's Hospital The Woodlands and Market Street has canceled its "Light It Up Blue" World Autism Awareness Day event April 2.
