Try:
<?php if ( $the_query->have_posts() ) :?>
<?php echo '<h3>' . date('l, F jS') . '</h3>'; ?>
<?php while ( $the_query->have_posts() ) : ?>
// etc.
Try:
<?php if ( $the_query->have_posts() ) :?>
<?php echo '<h3>' . date('l, F jS') . '</h3>'; ?>
<?php while ( $the_query->have_posts() ) : ?>
// etc.