New community events aim to boost economy in Lake Houston area

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 officials 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.

• Kids Day in the Park: Launched by the city of Humble in May 2025, families can enjoy activities, food and music outdoors.
  • When: quarterly
  • Where: Uptown Park, 310 E. Main St., Humble

• Sip & Shop: Launched by the city of Humble in February 2025, attendees can support local businesses while sipping a beverage.
  • When: monthly on the second Friday
  • Where: Uptown Park, 310 E. Main St., Humbl
• Kingwood Farmers Market: JG Events took over the farmers market Jan. 1.
  • When: weekly on Thursdays, monthly on the first Sunday
  • Where: Town Center Park, 2814 E. Town Center Circle, Kingwood

• Lake Houston Farmers Market: JG Events acquired the farmers 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, 18100 Walden Forest Drive, Atascocita

Wooden said some of the new events have sprung from local business owners’ and residents’ involvement.

Local business owner Darian Ortiz said she concocted 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.

Vendors at the Lake Houston-area events offer a variety of products, including:

• The Rowdy Chick, a Sip & Shop vendor, offers women’s clothing, jewelry and accessories.
• The Hidden Chapter, a Sip & Shop vendor, offers blind date with a book/puzzle (mystery activity packages).
• Sweet Wing Gardens, a Kingwood Farmers Market vendor, offers fresh raw honey, beeswax soaps and lip balms and honey infusions, as well as beekeeping demonstrations.
• My Grand Bites, a Lake Houston Farmers Market vendor, offers cookies, chocolate-covered Oreos and brownies.

Assuming responsibility for established events has presented some challenges along the way, Krystal Wertman said. During JG Events’ first Fourth of July event in Kingwood, attendees reported difficulty viewing the fireworks.

Krystal Wertman said she has been working to ensure the next event goes smoothly.

Nicole Jaimes, the marketing/operations director 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, staffing and more, the Wertmans said in a Feb. 6 email statement. They said they are working on improving event parking.

Quotes of note

• “It’s really important for ... the community to get together and really get to know your neighbor. But [also] get to know what’s going on in the community," Ortiz said.
• “The money that is spent at farmers markets ends up being put ... back into the community. It really benefits everybody that way. Also, you know what you’re [buying]," said Zac Stayton, owner of Sweet Wing Gardens.

The Wertmans said they are brimming with new event ideas they hope to debut soon in the local area. Plans include a spicy food festival in Kingwood, with the date to be determined.

“The community itself really appreciates the family-friendly events that we put on so they can come out and do something that’s affordable,” Timothy Wertman said.

Stayton—owner of honey shop Sweet Wing Gardens, a new vendor at the Kingwood Farmers Market—said he feels JG Events has done a good job of creating new interest in the markets and events.

Meanwhile, the organizers of the Humble city events are largely focused on continually improving their new events, including a new Flower Fest that will debut in April, Ortiz said.

“The events have been the spark for growth in our downtown along with so many improvements that the city has really invested in,” Wooden said.

Upcoming annual events, include:

• City of Humble/Visit Humble
  • March 27: Adult Easter Egg Hunt
  • April 11: Inaugural Flower Fest
  • Oct. 10: Good Oil Days
  • Early December: Christmas Parade of Lights (exact date TBD)
• JG Events
  • March 28: Kingwood Easter in the Park
  • April 25: Anime Foodie Festival
  • July 4: Fourth of July Festival
  • October: Bark in the Park (exact date TBD)
  • Oct. 10: In a Pickle Festival
  • Dec. 5: Christmas in the Park