New Year's Eve Canceled

No New Year's Eve for Houston! Mega party at Discovery Green dies due to funding issues

While this year's Thanksgiving Day Parade may have been spared, Houston's popular New Year's Eve Live event has been canceled due to funding issues.

Word of the cancelation first surfaced Friday morning with a note on the events calendar run by the Downtown District management group, which sponsored the last two New Year's gatherings along with the City of Houston, the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau and Houston First.

City of Houston spokesperson Janice Evans confirms for CultureMap via email that the $500,000 event was canceled "due to a lack of funding," but offers few other specifics.

"We just were unable to secure the necessary sponsorships for this year."

"We know it is an event that Houstonians have enjoyed the last two years," she writes. "We just were unable to secure the necessary sponsorships for this year. Several companies are discussing the possibility of providing the financial underwriting to bring it back in 2014.

"We remain hopeful those discussions will be successful."

Downtown District communications director Angie Bertinot tells CultureMap her organization posted the cancelation as soon as they were told it was getting called off by the City.

"This is a terrific event and I understand it's been a difficult decision," she says. "We're crossing our fingers that it can continue next year."

The annual New Year's event launched at Discovery Green on Dec. 31, 2010 as Gloworama — a family-friendly (and corporate-sponsored) bash including an art car parade, fireworks and live music performances. The event changed to its name to New Year's Eve Live for the last two celebrations, both of which were organized and funded under the auspices of City of Houston and its aforementioned trio of partners.

Those looking for some downtown fun still have the Thanksgiving Day Parade thanks to a last minute save primarily led by H-E-B with assistance from the Houston Arts Alliance and the nonprofit civic improvement group Central Houston.

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no more trips to Colorado

Bill to legalize marijuana in Texas filed by Dallas Democrat

Photo courtesy of Texas Original

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Texas Rep. Jessica González (D-Dallas) has filed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Texas. House Bill 1208 would legalize the cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, and sale of cannabis.

The bill would allow adults 21 and older to use, possess, and transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal use. Adults could also keep up to 10 ounces of cannabis in their residence, as long as it is stored in a secure location.

Smoking or consuming cannabis while in a public place or in a car on a public road would not be allowed.

Gonzalez filed the bill in mid-November, one in a suite of bills that also included expanding insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization for LGBTQ couples; and requiring landlords to disclose all fees before a rental lease is signed.

Her bill was filed prior to an initiative launched by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on December 4 to ban THC products in Texas entirely.

In addition to legalizing recreational use, the bill also makes provisions for its production and sale including requiring that the packaging be child-resistent and clearly labeled, so that it's not confused for candy.

Businesses looking to grow, transport, test, or sell cannabis would need to be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A 10 percent tax would be imposed on the sale of all cannabis and cannabis products. Some of the profits would go towards funding public schools.

If passed, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2025.

Medical cannabis is currently legal in Texas under the Texas Compassionate Use Program, which allows low-THC cannabis to be prescribed for conditions such as epilepsy, MS, autism, cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Some cities have also approved decriminalization for the possession of four ounces or less of marijuana, including Austin, Bastrop, Dallas, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and Lockhart.

politics marijuana