Midsummer Festival show set for July 16

Queen Nation, the Chee-Weez and the Bo Phillips Band are set to perform at the Midsummer Festival. In addition to the live music, the festival features a country fair, food trucks, and fireworks show. Proceeds from the event benefit The Ballard House, Compassion Katy and Christ Clinic.

The festival is from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 700 Westgreen. For tickets, visit the website midsummerfestkaty.com.

Community helpers at Katy Branch Library

Come learn more about the helpers in the Katy community. Katy Police officers will be visiting the Katy Branch Library, 5414 Franz Road, at 1:30 p.m. July 22. This event is open to children of all ages.

Date Night on Downtown Katy Plaza

The Downtown Katy Plaza hosts Date Night from 6-10 p.m. July 22. The event features live entertainment, a photo booth, dinner, and more.

The city is partnering with Tippi Toes Dance to host Parents Night Out at the city’s Woodsland Community Center so parents can enjoy the evening while the kids enjoy the night out with the Tippi Toes teachers.

The kids can arrive in their jammies and can bring their pillows and sleeping bags. The night is filled with lots of fun, including pizza, dancing, movie, games and sometimes even a little karaoke. Parents are asked to let organizers know if their child has any allergies, and they will need to bring their child’s own dinner.

Pricing is $50, and participant and sibling discounts are available. Limited space is available. To enroll, visit the website, the abbreviated URL for which is bit.ly/3yguGmQ.

The Arc of Katy to hold “Achieve with us” gala

The Arc of Katy will host its annual gala with an “Achieve with us” theme to benefit programs that empower and enrich the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families.

The gala is from 6:30-11 p.m. Sept. 23 at Beckendorff Farms, 28533 Morton Road.

The Arc of Katy invites individuals, businesses, and organizations to register as sponsors, underwriters, auction donors and attendees for the fun, fund-raising gala event, said Cherie Duddridge, president of The Arc of Katy.

Intellectual and developmental disabilities are disorders that usually present themselves at birth and impact the trajectory of an individual’s physical, intellectual, or emotional development including their ability to learn, reason and problem-solve, Duddridge said.

“With funds raised through our annual gala, The Arc of Katy provides opportunities for our family members, friends and neighbors diagnosed with IDD such as Down syndrome or autism spectrum disorders to be active, respected and fulfilled members of our community,” Duddridge said.

Duddridge recognized gala chair Fran Dahl and committee members Fred Shafer and Mary McGovern, who are working in tandem with Joni B’s Events to plan the event.

“They are planning a wonderful evening of festive entertainment and divine dining that embraces the bountiful harvest of the autumn season in the beautiful fall foliage of Beckendorff Farms,” Duddridge said.

The event guest speaker is Roderick Batson, philanthropist and native of the Houston area, serial entrepreneur, and partner in Katy’s Howdy Homemade Ice Cream franchise. He will share his story, including the inspirational focus and employment practices of his business that are complementary to the mission of The Arc of Katy.

Entertainment will include surprises for guests from The Arc of Katy participants as well as live and silent auctions, a wine pull and music for dancing. Event sponsors and auction donors to date include Beckendorff Farms, Margaritaville Lake Resort in Conroe, Hungry’s Café & Bistro, Total Wine and More, Houston Dynamo Football Club, Houston Interactive Aquarium, Nice Winery and Crayola Experience.

“This event will not be possible without the help of our community donors and sponsors,” Duddridge said. “We are excited for their support and a special thank you goes out to each.”

Those interested can sign up and find additional information about the event at the website, the abbreviated URL for which is bit.ly/3yrj3tg.

The deadline for sponsor and donor recognition in event communications is Aug. 6. For more information, visit the website thearcofkaty.org, or send an email to info@thearcofkaty.org.