There are several events going on this weekend around the Conroe and Montgomery area. Check them out below. This list is not comprehensive and events are subject to change.

‘A Christmas Carol’
The Players Theatre Company is putting on performances of Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol,” which follows Ebenezer Scrooge as he meets the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.

• Dec. 5-6, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 7, 2 p.m.
• $18-$27
• The Owen Theatre, 225 Metcalf St., Conroe

• Dec. 6, 4-8 p.m.
• Free (admission)
• 12165 Hwy. 75 N., Willis

• Dec. 6, 6-8 p.m.
• Free (admission)
• Cedar Brake Park, 2135 Eva St., Montgomery

Walden Coffee House closed in Montgomery, according to an Oct. 31 Facebook post from the business. Owner Laurie Brown cited the economy, competition and the shop’s location as some of the contributing factors to the closure.

Quote of note: “I have met such wonderful people in Walden, lifelong friends, and will forever cherish memories with you all,” Brown said via Facebook.

• 12724 Walden Road, Ste. C, Montgomery

A new $617 million natural gas power plant is slated to be built in east Houston after the project was selected for a loan by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

About the project: North American power company NRG Energy’s 455 megawatt power plant will provide power from the company’s Greens Bayou Generating Station to Electric Reliability Council of Texas' grid beginning in 2028. The new plant will connect with ERCOT’s Houston Load Zone, which provides power to Houston, Pasadena and The Woodlands, and is one of Texas’ largest electricity centers.

Quote of note: “Our investment at Greens Bayou reflects NRG’s commitment to delivering dependable, dispatchable generation when Texans need it most,” said Robert J. Gaudette, NRG executive vice president and president of NRG business and wholesale operations. “These units will strengthen grid resilience, create local jobs and support economic vitality.”

In a Dec. 2 news conference, officials with Airbnb announced that Houston will receive a $1 million investment that will go toward supporting major community initiatives, expanding green infrastructure and increasing youth access to soccer.

Airbnb's sponsorship will specifically help support two major initiatives—The Green Corridor and Grow the Game.

The Green Corridor: The Green Corridor will be a 14-mile sustainable transit loop that connects key FIFA World Cup 26 venues, including the FIFA Fan Festival site in East Downtown and NRG Stadium.

Grow the Game: Part of Airbnb's $1 million sponsorship will go toward the Grow the Game program to renovate soccer fields in underserved communities, launch free or low-cost youth clinics and tournaments, and create certification pathways for coaches and referees.

One more thing: The 2026 World Cup draw is set for Dec. 5 in Washington, D.C., at noon Eastern Standard Time. The draw will determine the groups and matchups for next summer's tournament.