* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [Press Conference: "Reliant Lights Mayor's Holiday Spectacular"] [00:00:18] BUT WELCOME. I'M SUSAN CHRISTIAN, DIRECTOR OF MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS. AND YOU KNOW, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CHERISH GROWING UP ARE THE TRADITIONS THAT WE MAKE, RIGHT? UH, WHETHER WHEN WE GREW UP AS KIDS WITH OUR FAMILIES, UH, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS ICONIC TO OUR CIVIC CELEBRATION PROGRAM IS THIS SIGNATURE EVENT, RELIANT LIGHTS, MAYOR'S, HOLIDAY CELEBRATION. UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR GENERATIONS, LITERALLY, AND WE'VE REALLY UPPED THE GAME ON, UH, THIS SHOW OVER THE YEARS. I WANNA THANK, UH, THE MAYOR FOR THE SUPPORT OF NOT ONLY THE CIVIC CELEBRATION PROGRAM, BUT HE LOVES THIS EVENT, AND WE'VE HAD, AND WE'VE REALLY UPPED THE, UH, TALENT AS WELL. SO I CAN'T WAIT FOR, UH, Y'ALL TO KNOW ABOUT THAT. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU, UM, GETTING THE WORD OUT ABOUT THIS FREE FAMILY EVENT. AND WITH THAT, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO MY BOSS, UH, MAN THAT I RESPECT VERY MUCH AND WHO REALLY SUPPORTS TRADITIONS IN THIS CITY, MARI SYLVESTER TURNER. THANKS. UM, LET ME THANK SUSAN. IT'S, IT'S AN HONOR TO, UH, TO WORK FOR SPECIAL EVENTS. UM, AND, UM, AND I WANT TO THANK HER AND HER ENTIRE TEAM, AND WE'RE ALL EMPLOYEES OF, UM, SUSAN CHRISTIAN. SO, UM, THIS IS MY JOB THIS MORNING, AND THEN STANDING RIGHT ALONGSIDE IS THE MAYOR PRO TEM DAVE MARTIN. YOU KNOW, SO LOOK, IT'S THE HOLIDAY SEASON, AND IF YOU LIKE ME, IT'S MY FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR. I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE RELIANT LIGHTS MAYOR HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR WILL TAKE PLACE RIGHT HERE AT CITY HALL, UH, IN HERMAN SQUARE SQUARE ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER THE SECOND. UH, THIS IS A LONG STANDING TRADITION, AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO LIGHTING THE OFFICIAL HOLIDAY, UH, TREE FOR THE 104TH YEAR. UM, THAT'S A, THAT'S, THAT'S A LONG TIME. I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK ELI ELIZABETH INGER, UH, FOR GENEROUSLY SPONSORING THIS EVENT, UH, FOR 18 YEARS. GIVE IT UP TO RELIANT. 18 YEARS, UH, DOWNTOWN WILL BE A PLACE TO BRING YOUR FAMILY TO ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL HOLIDAY DECOR, UH, YOU'RE IN FOR A SPECIAL TREAT AS WE WATCH HOUSTON'S FAMOUS SKYLINE COME TO LIGHT WITH LIVE MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT AND THE LIGHTING OF THE OFFICIAL HOLIDAY TREE. THERE WILL BE SINGING AND DANCING FROM BOTH PROFESSIONAL AND AMATEUR PERFORMERS, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND YOU GOT THAT ONE. NEITHER AND SANTA CLAUS WILL BE IN HIS NORTH POLE THEME BOOT, UH, TO TAKE THE PHOTOS WITH THE KIDS. AND I'M HAPPY TO WELCOME HCA HOUSTON HEALTHCARE, UH, TO THIS EVENT AS THE NEW SANTA BOOTH SPONSOR. I APPRECIATE THEIR SUPPORT OF THIS FREE FAMILY, UH, HOLIDAY EVENT. IT TAKES A LOT OF TALENT, UH, FOR A SHOW LIKE THIS, BUT WITHOUT OUR SPONSORS, WE COULD NOT FUND IT. SO PLEASE HELP ME THANK ELIZABETH INGER AND RELIANT ONE MORE TIME FOR THEIR SPONSORSHIP. I ALSO WANNA THANK CIGNA, OUR VIP SPONSOR, RAISING KING, UH, WHO SPONSORS THE GINGERBREAD VILLAGE, THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION, AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT FOR ALL THEY DO TO MAKE DOWNTOWN A BEAUTIFUL HOLIDAY DESTINATION. THANKS CHRIS LAWSON. WE ARE BLESSED TO BE SURROUNDED WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILIES TO REMIND US OF THE TRUE MEANING OF THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT. AND I ENCOURAGE ALL HOUSTONIANS TO GIVE FROM YOUR HEART TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO NEED A HELPING HAND, UH, THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2ND AT 6:00 PM HERE AT CITY HALL. AND IF YOU CAN MAKE IT IN PERSON, THE SHOW WILL BE LIVE STREAMING ON ABC THIRTEEN.COM. AND NOW IT IS MY HOLIDAY PLEASURE, UH, TO INTRODUCE MY GOOD HOLIDAY FRIEND AND BEYOND ELIZABETH INGER, PRESIDENT OF RELIANT AND NRG RETAIL. PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO ELIZABETH. THANK YOU, MARY TURNER. THIS PRESS CONFERENCE ALWAYS SIGNALS THE HOLIDAYS ARE QUICKLY UPON US. AND ONE OF THE THINGS SUSAN MENTIONED, TRADITIONS, UH, MY FAMILY ACTUALLY STARTED A NEW TRADITION AT THE EVENT LAST YEAR BECAUSE MY NOW [00:05:01] SON-IN-LAW ASKED MY OLDEST DAUGHTER TO MARRY HIM AT THAT EVENT. SO THE EVENT WAS SPECIAL BEFORE, AND NOW, UH, IT'S AN ANNUAL, UH, ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR ENGAGEMENT. UM, ANYWAY, WE AT RELIANT AND NRG, WE ARE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT LIGHTING UP THE HOLIDAYS, BRINGING THAT CHEER AND THAT JOY INTO THE COMMUNITY. AND THIS EVENT IS THE PERFECT EVENT FOR THAT. WE'RE BRINGING A WHITE FUR TREE TO THE FRONT OF CITY HALL. IT'LL BE 52 FEET TALL THIS YEAR WITH ABOUT 4,000 ORNAMENTS AND ALMOST A HUNDRED THOUSAND LED LIGHTS. AND OF COURSE, SUSAN MENTIONED, AND THE MAYOR MENTIONED TOP-NOTCH ENTERTAINMENT FROM NEAR AND FAR. AND I AM THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THAT AMERICAN IDOL AND GRAMMY NOMINEE, JORDAN SPARKS WILL HEADLINE THIS YEAR'S EVENT. JORDAN BEGAN AS A YOUNG CHILD TOURING WITH MICHAEL W. SMITH IN 2006 AND ROSE TO FAME IN 2007 WHEN SHE WON AMERICAN IDOL. SHE, TO THIS DAY, IS THE YOUNGEST WINNER OF AMERICAN IDOL. SHE WON AT 17 YEARS OLD THIS MONTH. SHE WAS ALSO NOMINATED FOR A GMA DOVE AWARD, AND THE NUMBER ONE SINGLE SHE DID WITH THE BAND KING AND COUNTRY CALLED LOVE ME, LIKE I AM, THE ENTERTAINMENT DOESN'T STOP THERE. ALSO PERFORMING MARIACHI PRODIGY, EDUARDO TREVINO, HOUSTON CHILDREN'S CHORUS, KINDER HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE PERFORMING IN VISUAL ARTS DANCE OF ASIAN AMERICA THEATER UNDER THE STARS, SEGUNDO BARRIO CHILDREN'S CHORUS, AND OF COURSE, ERNEST WALKER AND THE OFFICIAL HOLIDAY BAND. WE'RE EXCITED TO WELCOME SUCH INCREDIBLE TALENT THIS YEAR TO, AND WE KNOW IT WILL BE REMARKABLE AND MEMORABLE FOR EVERYONE WHO JOINS BOTH IN PERSON AND WATCHES ON TV. AND DON'T WORRY, WE'LL BE BRINGING THE FAMOUS SANTA HATS FOR ALL TO PARTICIPATE IN LIGHTING UP THE EVENT. THANK YOU ALL, AND LET ME INTRODUCE CEO AND PRESIDENT OF THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT, MR. CHRIS LARSON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ELIZABETH. UM, AND TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR THEIR ONGOING SUPPORT AND REALLY PRODUCTION OF THIS PHENOMENAL EVENT. UM, THIS WILL BE MY THIRD, UH, EVENT, UH, WITH WORKING WITH THE CITY WITH THIS. UM, BUT I JUST, IT'S SO REMARKABLE TO HEAR THAT IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR 104 YEARS. THAT'S JUST SO TREMENDOUS. UM, BUT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THE HOLIDAYS ARE BETTER WHEN YOU CELEBRATE THEM WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AND THAT'S WHY DOWNTOWN HOUSTON AND HOUSTON FIRST AREN'T HAVING SEPARATE EVENTS. INSTEAD, AGAIN, THIS YEAR WE ARE PARTNERING TO PRODUCE CITY LIGHTS, DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY MAGIC. UH, AND, AND WHILE WE ARE SUPPORTING THIS EVENT, WE'RE ALSO INVESTING ANOTHER OVER $1 MILLION IN DECOR AND OTHER PROGRAMMATIC ELEMENTS TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS, UH, THIS YEAR. SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND WHAT YOU'LL FIND IS WE'LL HAVE 11 HOLIDAY VILLAGES SCATTERED AROUND DOWNTOWN, AND THERE'S TRULY SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. WE'LL HAVE HOLIDAY THEMED FILMS FOR FAMILY MOVIE NIGHTS, A SANTA THEMED PUB CRAWL, HOP ON, HOP OFF BUS TOURS, MILLIONS OF TWINKLE LIGHTS FOR GAZING, AND OF COURSE ICE SKATING. WHAT'S MORE, WE'LL ALSO FEATURE NEW MUSIC BOXES THAT WILL BE SPRINKLED AROUND DOWNTOWN, PARTICULARLY CENTERED IN THE THEATER DISTRICT, VENDOR MARKETS, UM, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO GET THOSE COVETED KIT KID AND PET PICTURES WITH SANTA CLAUS. AND NOW SANTA PAW. WE'LL ALSO BE BRINGING BACK OUR SPECTACULAR INSTAGRAM READY LIGHTING AND DAY DECOR ON BAGBY STREET. OUR EVENTS AND INSTALLATIONS WILL ALL KICK OFF WITH A COORDINATED LIGHTING CEREMONY ON NOVEMBER 17TH, AND OUR PROGRAMMING WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE NEW YEAR. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ALL THAT WE'RE DOING THIS YEAR, PLEASE GO TO DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.ORG/HOLIDAYS. HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE. I WANNA THANK ALL OF OUR SPONSORS AGAIN. UH, FOR A LIST OF THE, UH, IN ENTIRE ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP, PLEASE GO TO HOUSTON SPECIAL EVENTS DOT UH, ORG. AND, UM, AGAIN, I WANNA THANK MY STAFF FOR WORKING ON THIS, UH, ALL THESE YEARS. UM, I WANNA THANK MAYOR AGAIN, UH, FOR SUPPORTING THE CIVIC CELEBRATION PROGRAM. WE NEED LEADERSHIP, LIKE, LIKE HIS TO, UH, CONTINUE OUR CIVIC CELEBRATION PROGRAM, WHETHER THAT'S THE NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTS, UH, IN ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN HOUSTON, OR THESE BIG CITYWIDE EVENTS, UH, AND NATIONAL EVENTS THAT COME INTO TOWN. IT TAKES, UH, A GREAT, UM, LEADER CHEERLEADER, UH, TO SUPPORT HOUSTON WITH ALL THESE EVENTS. AND HE HAS DONE A REMARKABLE JOB. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THANKING HIM. SO, UH, BRING THE FAMILY, BRING THE BRING GRANDMA, BRING ALL THE KIDS. WE'RE [00:10:01] GONNA HAVE A GREAT TIME. IT'S THE HOLIDAY SEASON. THIS HAS TO BE THE BEST ONE. ALL RIGHT. AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE HOUSTONIANS COMING TO MAKE IT THE BEST ONE. I I ALSO WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT YOU CAN WATCH IT. IF YOU CAN'T, UH, GET DOWNTOWN, YOU CAN WATCH IT ON A, B, C STREAM STREAMING. BUT ALSO THEY'LL TURN THE SHOW IN AS THEY DO EVERY YEAR. THEY'RE OUR TELEVISION PARTNER. THEY'LL SHOW, TURN THE SHOW INTO A ONE HOUR SPECIAL THE FOLLOWING WEEK. AND SO BE LOOKING FOR, UH, THAT, UH, SCHEDULE, UH, AFTER THIS SHOW. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE WORD, HELP YOURSELF TO REFRESHMENTS, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.