A busy season of holiday programming kicks off at north Houston’s City Place with the annual tree lighting celebration, which culminates in a countdown to illuminate the shimmering – and floating – 35-foot Christmas landmark rising from City Place Park’s main pond.

The evening also marks the unveiling of City Place’s signature Giant Gingerbread Village, where a gumdrop, lollipop and candy-cane-lined path – guarded by two giant gingerbread men – leads to a raised clearing featuring cookie trees, a 16-foot-high gingerbread house, and 12-foot windmill.