Thanksgiving hasn’t even passed, but The City of Houston is already excited to announce plans for its annual holiday tradition.
Reliant Lights Mayor‘s Holiday Spectacular is set to return for its 105th celebration on Saturday, December 7 from 6 - 8 p.m. in Hermann Square at City Hall. It will be John Whitmire’s first celebration as Houston mayor.
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“This amazing family-friendly celebration is an incredible way to kick-off the holiday season for Houstonians,” he said in a statement. “I encourage everyone to join us for some holiday cheer and to celebrate the most festive and wonderful time of the year. I thank Reliant and our other generous sponsors for their support.”
Among the celebrations at the free event include live music, dance performances, and lighting the holiday tree. LeToya Luckett, two-time Grammy award winner and founding member of Destiny’s Child will co-headline the show with two-time Academy of Country Music New Female Vocalist nominee RaeLynn.
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This year’s tree is a 48-foot White Fir from Oregan, featuring nearly 100,000 LED lights and 4,000 ornaments.
“At Reliant, lighting up the holidays is one of our favorite ways to spread joy and make the season bright, which is why we’re thrilled to present Reliant Lights Mayor’s Holiday Spectacular,” Mark Parsons, senior vice president of Reliant added in a news release. “This free holiday tradition has something for everyone to enjoy – including our fan-favorite Reliant blinking Santa hats! – and we invite Houstonians to celebrate with us on Saturday, December 7.”
The holiday variety show also will include performances by several groups including Shepherd School of Music Mariachi Luna Llena, KIPP Sharp Singers, Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts theatre department, Playhouse 1960, Carver/Aldine High School Dance Company, Dance of Asian America, and Houston Contemporary Dance Company. The event finale will feature the lighting of the tree and the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah majestically orchestrated and timed with the fireworks.