Houston's heart gleamed brighter than a comet's tail this Saturday night as the 104th annual Reliant Lights Mayor’s Holiday Spectacular lit the fuse on the festive season. A cosmic 52-foot white fir from Grant’s Pass, Ore., now stands sentinel outside City Hall, a beacon wrapped with a bedazzling 99,680 LED lights and bedecked with 4,000 glittering ornaments, as per the City of Houston's official ledger, as reported by the Houston Chronicles.
Jordin Sparks, whose vocal prowess rocketed her to "American Idol" stardom and has snagged her a 2023 Grammy Award nomination, headlined the spectacular and belted mega hits such as “No Air” and “Tattoo.” Her presence indeed cast a spell on the throngs of Houstonians, as per the Houston Chronicle.
It wasn't just Jordin's show, though; an entire constellation of performers lit up the night, ranging from the agile Institute for Contemporary Dance to the melodious Segundo Barrio Children's Chorus. Dance of Asian America, Houston Children's Chorus, Theatre Under the Stars, and Houston Ballet added high kicks and pirouettes to the evening. Local mariachi sensation Eduardo Trevino, who recently basked in the glow of the "America's Got Talent" spotlight, joined the ranks of talents that brought magic to the Houstonian holiday start-up.
Mayor Sylvester Turner, the city's own Santa sans the beard, doled out the cheer himself: "The Reliant Lights Mayor’s Holiday Spectacular is an incredible event to kick off the holiday season," Mayor Turner praised in a statement that almost sounded like it was jingling all the way. The FOX 26 Houston quoted him, "We love hosting such an amazing family-friendly celebration for Houstonians, thanks to Reliant and our generous sponsors." And let's not forget Santa, who ho-ho-hoed for photos, and the promise of Christmas lists from the kiddos who've been nice.
The crescendo of the eve was undoubtedly the fireworks spectacular—Houston's own overture to a season filled with hope and light. For those who missed the stars falling on Houston, ABC13 will be rekindling the night's glitter with a one-hour special airing on Sunday, Dec. 10, at 4 p.m. And while the musical notes soared high, the night was not without its somber counterpoint; approximately 100 protesters advocating for Palestine were present, echoing in their silent demonstration the world's complexities that persist even as the holiday lights attempt to shine them away, according to a freelance photographer for the Houston Chronicle.
