Better Than Times Square
Gloworama promises to rock your plans for New Year's Eve
- If you thought the city's Gloworama was big last year, just wait for the NewYear's Eve version on Dec. 31.Photo by Bruce Bennett
- Vanessa Riley played "Mrs. Santa" in the inaugural Gloworama last November. Apromise of things to come this New Year's Eve.Photo by Bill Olive
- Imaginative light plays across the George R. Brown Convention Center will bepart of the fun.Photo by Bruce Bennett
- Creativity will know no limits at the New Year's Eve Gloworama.Photo by Bruce Bennett
- Santa and his reindeer are expected to return this New Year's Eve.Bill Olive
- Gloworama 2009 was a warm-up for the New Year's Eve version 2010.Photo by Bruce Bennett
- A lighted peacock joined the parade of more than 50 vehicles.Photo by Bruce Bennett
- An example of what to expect this New Year's Eve.Photo by Bruce Bennett
Make room New York City. Move over Paris. Houston is poised to launch a New Year's Eve celebration certain to put this city on the map of year-end countdowns. At least that's the plan of the city's Downtown District.
Gloworama, the inaugural illuminated Art Car parade that lit up the George R. Brown Convention Center and Avenidas de las Americas last November, has morfed into a major New Year's Eve celebration of light, blazing art cars, music and sophisticated outdoor partying that will spread across Discovery Green.
Highlight will be the midnight countdown with the "Big Glow" beginning at 11:30 p.m. The Downtown District and the Convention & Entertainment Facilities Department have planned a stunning 3D light show and a fireworks display at the convention center that will escort Houstonians into 2011.
The party action will begin at 7 p.m. with ice skating demonstrations on the ICE at Discovery Green, live music on the Anheuser Busch Stage, performances by America's Got Talent's ArcAttack and more. At 9:30, the art cars, light up like Christmas, and the accompanying illuminated bicycles, uncycles, buses, at least one hearse, a few incarnations of Santa and whatever else the zany art car artists can fathom start rolling.
If viewing it all from Discovery Green or along the street isn't your thing, a limited number of VIP tickets are available for the pre-Glow party at the George R. Brown. The tariff is $150 per person for access to some of the best views available for watching the parade and the light show, plus food and drink.
Insiders have already begun booking rooms at the Hilton Americas-Houston for a front-row view of the festivities. Those living in One Park Place, the luxury high-rise overlooking Discovery Green, will also have premium sight lines.