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VERY GLAD TO BE WITH YOU HERE, UH, THIS MORNING.THIS IS ACTUALLY GONNA BE MY FIRST HOLIDAY SEASON HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING WITH YOU AND, UH, BEING THE HOST FOR THE MAYOR'S, UH, HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA.
UH, WE WILL BEGIN THIS PROGRAM, UH, AS I INTRODUCE, UH, THE HONORABLE JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND THANK EVERYONE FOR, UH, PARTICIPATING IN THIS PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF AN EXCITING DECEMBER 7TH DATE WHERE WE WILL LIKE THE OFFICIAL HOLIDAY TREE AND BE WITH OUR FAMILIES, FRIENDS, PARTNERS, YOU NAME IT.
WE'RE GONNA BRING THE DIVERSITY OF HOUSTON TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE A HOLIDAY SEASON, AND WE COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT OUR PARTNERS AT, UH, RELIANT AND HERE REPRESENTING RELIANT.
SOMEONE THAT'S GONNA HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN IS MARK PARSONS, THANK YOU FOR THE SPONSORSHIP.
THANK YOU FOR CENTRAL HOUSTON.
I CAN'T GO ON AND ON AND TALK ABOUT HOW GREAT HOUSTON IS BECAUSE OF COMING TOGETHER WITH OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY, WITH OUR SPONSORS IN THE CORPORATE COMMUNITY.
IT'S JUST AN EXCITING TIME TO BE A HOUSTONIAN.
I'M HONORED TO BE THE MAYOR BECAUSE THIS IS GONNA BE A SPECIAL HOLIDAY SEASON BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR HAVING COME THROUGH THIS YEAR'S STORMS AND OTHER CHALLENGES.
BUT THAT'S WHAT HOUSTON DOES BEST, COME TOGETHER, CELEBRATE OUR BLESSINGS, AND BRING OUR FAMILIES TOGETHER.
SO I KNOW WHERE I'LL HAVE MY FAMILY ON DECEMBER 7TH, AND I WANT YOU TO FEEL VERY WELCOME, REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU CAME FROM OR WHAT YOU'RE CELEBRATING.
THIS IS A HOUSTON HOLIDAY TO REJOICE ABOUT.
LET ME YIELD TO YOU AT THIS TIME.
THANK YOU, MAYOR WHITMEYER, UH, THIS PRESS CONFERENCE ALWAYS SIGNALS THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS IN FULL SWING AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BRING PART BEING PART OF IT EACH YEAR.
WHILE MOST PEOPLE ARE RELIANT AS THE ELECTRICITY PROVIDER FOR THEIR HOME OR BUSINESS, WE'RE ALSO PASSIONATE ABOUT SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND LIGHTING UP THE HOLIDAYS RIGHT HERE IN OUR HOMETOWN.
WE'RE SO EXCITED ONCE AGAIN TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AS WE CELEBRATE 105 YEARS OF THIS HOUSTON HOLIDAY TRADITION.
RE RETURNING THIS YEAR WILL BE OUR FAN FAVORITE TWINKLING, RELIANT SANTA HATS, AND A BEAUTIFUL WHITE FIR TREE IN FRONT OF CITY HALL STANDING 48 FEET TALL WITH 4,000 ORNAMENTS AND JUST UNDER A HUNDRED THOUSAND ENERGY EFFICIENT LED LIGHTS.
TODAY, I'M THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE WILL HAVE NOT ONE, BUT TWO MUSICAL SENSATIONS FROM THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA TO, TO HEADLINE THIS YEAR'S EVENT, COUNTRY STAR AND FORMER THE VOICE CONTESTANT RAYLIN WILL REPRESENT BAYTOWN WITH THEIR DISTINCTIVE MUSICAL STORYTELLING AND VIBRANT PERSONALITY.
SHE CAPTIVATED FANS WITH HER LATEST BALLAD, FUNNY GIRL EARLIER THIS YEAR.
OVER THE PAST DECADE, SHE HAS BUILT A DIVERSE CAREER AS A SINGER.
CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR AND ACTOR WILL ALSO HAVE LATOYA LUCKETT, A HOUSTON NATIVE TWO-TIME GRAMMY AWARD WINNER AND MULTI-PLATINUM RECORDING ARTIST WHO WAS FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE BAND DESTINY'S CHILD.
SHE'S ALSO A PUBLIC SPEAKER AND A BRAND AMBASSADOR WITH ROBUST ACTING, WITH, WITH ROBUST, ROBUST CREDITS IN THE ACTING SPACE, INCLUDING SEVERAL, UH, MOVIES AND RECURRING TV ROLES.
THE ENTERTAINMENT DOES NOT STOP THERE.
ALSO, PERFORMING WILL BE THE RIGHT SCHOOL.
MARIACHI LUNA YNA, KINDER HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS AND VISUAL ARTS.
KIPP SHARP SINGERS PLAYHOUSE, 1960 CARVER ALDEEN HIGH SCHOOL DANCE COMPANY, DANCE OF ASIAN AMERICA, HOUSTON CONTEMPORARY DANCE COMPANY, AND ERNEST WALKER IN THE OFFICIAL HOLIDAY BAND.
WE ARE EXCITED TO WELCOME SUCH AN INCREDIBLE LOCAL TALENT AGAIN THIS YEAR TO WHAT WE KNOW WILL BE A REMARKABLE AND FESTIVE EVENT FOR HOUSTONIANS OF ALL AGES TO ENJOY.
SO OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE LINEUP OF SINGERS AND MUSICIANS AND PERFORMERS, UH, FOR YOU THIS YEAR.
AND NEXT WE WILL TALK ABOUT, UH, SOME MORE FESTIVITIES THAT YOU'LL BE SEEING HERE IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.
I WANT TO INTRODUCE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF DOWNTOWN HOUSTON PLUS MR. CHRIS LARSON.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AS WE KICK OFF DOWNTOWN HOUSTON'S EXCITING HOLIDAY SEASON.
THIS YEAR WE'RE THRILLED TO PARTNER WITH MAYOR WHITMEYER AND HOUSTON.
FIRST IN BRINGING BACK CITY LIGHTS, WHICH TRANSFORMS DOWNTOWN INTO A FESTIVE WONDERLAND.
IF YOU'VE BEEN TO THE HISTORIC DISTRICT RECENTLY, YOU'VE NOTICED NEW HOLIDAY BANNERS SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE CELEBRATION WITH CITY LIGHTS.
WE INVITE HOUSTONIANS AND VISITORS TO SOAK UP THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT ACROSS
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OUR FAVORITE PARKS AND GATHERING SPACES.AGAIN, THIS YEAR, DOWNTOWN HOUSTON PLUS WILL UNDERWRITE A HOLIDAY TROLLEY, SO TICKETS ARE AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYONE VISITING FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
LOOK FOR THE DISTINCTIVE RED DOUBLEDECKER BUS ON WEEKENDS FROM NOVEMBER 22ND THROUGH DECEMBER 28TH WITH TROLLEY STOPS AT DOWNTOWN'S HOLIDAY VILLAGES, SOME OF WHICH INCLUDE MARKET SQUARE PARK, TRANSFORMING INTO TENSILE TOWN, FEATURING A DAZZLING 40 FOOT HOLIDAY TREE WITH LIGHTS SYNCHRONIZED TO MUSIC EVERY NIGHT.
PLUS UNIQUE EVENTS LIKE PET PHOTOS WITH SANTAS OF DIVERSE CULTURES.
SILENT NIGHT DISCOS ON FRIDAY NIGHTS AND MOVIES UNDER THE STARS.
TREMBLEY PARK BECOMES TWINKLE TOWN, WHERE YOU'LL FIND THE LARGEST MISSILE TOE IN TEXAS AND A SPARKLING HOLIDAY TREE DECKED OUT IN STYLE.
FROM FAMILY FRIENDLY FILM SCREENINGS TO MULTICULTURAL CELEBRATIONS PLUS AN UGLY SWEATER JAM SESSION, TREBLE PARK IS SURE TO BECOME A FAVORITE FOR HOLIDAY CHEER.
FOR THE ADVENTUROUS, OUR HEALTH ELF ON THE SHELF SCAVENGER HUNT WILL TAKE YOU ON A JOURNEY ACROSS CITY LIGHTS, DESTINATIONS, OFFERING A CHANCE TO WIN PRIZES FOR THE ULTIMATE DOWNTOWN STAYCATION EXPERIENCE.
WE'RE ALSO EXCITED TO SEE OUR DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORS JOIN IN ON THE FESTIVITIES FAVORITES LIKE THE ICE RINK AT DISCOVERY GREEN AND SPECTACULAR WINTER LIGHT DISPLAYS AT THE MARRIOTT MARQUEE HILTON AMERICAS.
WE'LL ADD TO THE HOLIDAY MAGIC THIS SEASON.
FINALLY, I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE OUR NEW CITY LIGHTS EXPERIENCE SNOW GLOW ON THE BAYOU, AN IMMERSIVE LIGHT AND MUSIC SPECTACULAR THAT WILL DEBUT THIS YEAR AT ALLEN'S LANDING, RUNNING FROM FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20TH THROUGH SATURDAY DECEMBER 28TH.
SNOW GLOW ON THE BAYOU WILL ILLUMINATE OUR HISTORIC BAYOU WITH FOUR STORY TALL, SIX STORY WIDE DIGITAL PROJECTIONS AND SOUNDSCAPES THAT CREATE A HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER IN HOUSTON.
SNOW GLOW ON THE BAYOU CELEBRATES ONE OF HOUSTON'S MOST UNIQUE FEATURES, OUR HISTORIC WATERWAY AT THE CONFLUENCE OF THE WHITE OAK AND BUFFALO BAYOU, AND IN A WAY THAT'S TRULY UNIQUE, INVITING EVERYONE TO ENJOY THE BEAUTY AND SPIRIT OF DOWNTOWN THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ALL OF THESE WONDERFUL ACTIVITIES AROUND DOWNTOWN, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE@DOWNTOWNHOUSTON.ORG.
WE THANK YOU AND WISH YOU A HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM DOWNTOWN HOUSTON PLUS.
SO OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF DECOR AND DECORATIONS THAT YOU'LL BE SEEING BRIGHTEN UP THE DOWNTOWN AREA AS WELL.
NEXT, UM, IS NOT ONLY THE DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTS, BUT SHE ALSO PRODUCES CITY EVENTS, INCLUDING THIS ONE THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HELP ME BRING TO THE STAGE NOW, MS. SUSAN CHRISTIAN.
YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR, UH, THE HOLIDAY LIGHTS DOWNTOWN JUST GETS BETTER AND BETTER.
AND I WANNA THANK, UH, I WANNA THANK OUR PARTNERS, UH, FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN.
CHRIS, UH, YOU HAVE OUTDONE YOURSELF THIS YEAR, SO THANK YOU FOR GETTING US ALL IN THE MOOD.
SO, UH, DECEMBER THE SEVENTH, UH, 6:00 PM UH, IS RELIANT LIGHTS MAYORS HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR.
THIS IS THE 105TH YEAR THAT HOUSTON HAS CELEBRATED, UH, THE HOLIDAYS.
AND SO I WANT TO ENSURE THAT, UH, OUR SPONSORS HAVE, UH, COME TOGETHER TO PRESENT AN INCREDIBLE SHOW.
WE, OF COURSE, HAVE THE GINGERBREAD VILLAGE, ALONG WITH ALL OF OUR INCREDIBLE TALENT, UH, THAT MARK ANNOUNCED ON THE STAGE ONE THAT WE DID.
MISS MARK WAS OF COURSE, FREE PHOTOS WITH SANTA IN THE GINGERBREAD VILLAGE AND ALSO SANTA WILL APPEAR ON STAGE.
OUR FINALE, OF COURSE, AFTER ALL OF THESE INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE PERFORMERS, VERY DIVERSE, UH, GENRES OF MUSIC IS OF COURSE, UH, AN INCREDIBLE FIREWORKS DISPLAY SET TO THE TUNE OF THE HALLELUJAH CHORUS.
SO I'M GONNA TELL YOU, JUST COME OUT AND HAVE A GREAT TIME.
BRING YOUR FAMILY, BRING GRANDMA, BRING THE THE GRANDKIDS, BRING YOUR NEIGHBORS BECAUSE THIS IS TRULY THE BEST OF A FAMILY CELEBRATION.
AND I WE WILL NOT DISAPPOINT YOU THIS YEAR WITH ALL THE GREAT TALENT THAT HOUSTON HAS TO OFFER.
UH, WE ALSO, I ALSO WANNA REMIND YOU THAT AROUND CITY HALL WE WILL HAVE STREET CLOSURES, BUT VERY SMALL, UH, VERY, UH, SMALL STREET CLOSURES, BOTH WALKER AND MCKINNEY STREETS, AS WELL AS SMITH STREET, UH, WILL BE CLOSED AROUND CITY HALL.
WE HAVE PLENTY OF PARKING IN THE THEATER DISTRICT, PARKING AND SURFACE LOTS.
UH, SO PLEASE COME DOWN, ENJOY YOURSELF.
I WANNA THANK NOT ONLY ALL OF OUR SPONSORS, OF COURSE, RELIANT, UH, MARK, I DO NOT RECALL.
AND I'VE BEEN HERE, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE 105 YEARS.
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RELIANT HASN'T BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS SHOW.ACTUALLY, THAT WOULD BE 39 YEARS.
BUT, UM, BUT I REALLY, WE CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT OUR SPONSORS AND WE CHERISH THEM.
WE CHERISH OUR PARTNERS YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.
THEY COME THROUGH FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR HOUSTONIANS TO ENSURE THAT OUR CIVIC EVENTS ARE SPECTACULAR.
CARPEN WHIT AND HERMAN SQUARE, FIRST DOWNTOWN HOUSTON, PLUS THE COUNTRY MARIA CANES.
IF THERE, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE CAN ANSWER? HAVE WE THOROUGHLY GONE THROUGH RELIANT LIGHTS, MAYOR'S, HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR? IF NOT, HEY, ENJOY THE COFFEE AND THE PASTRIES OVER IN THE CORNER AND THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT AND ALL OF US, IF WE COULD, UH, ON THE STAGE, IF WE COULD JUST TAKE A QUICK PHOTO, CARLOS, IF YOU'LL HELP US GET THIS PODIUM OUT OF THE WAY.