With an expected attendance of more than 100,000 visitors, to call the annual Uptown Holiday Lighting celebration a popular event would be a gross understatement.

Half a million lights, nearly 100 decorated trees, fireworks, music and a special visit from Santa himself . . . one can see why the free family-friendly street party has such a loyal following every Thanksgiving.

As president of the Uptown Houston District, the management company that organizes the event, John Breeding has watched the festivities evolve since he helped launch the inaugural lighting ceremony 26 years ago. The Uptown Holiday Lighting event has grown to cover nearly half a mile of Post Oak Boulevard, which is blocked to car traffic between Westheimer and San Felipe for the show.

"For the longest time, my kids thought this was just how everyone celebrated Thanksgiving," he laughed. "It's our yearly tradition."

Breeding said the event has such a loyal following that he's beginning to see the arrival of a new generation, the children of the kids who visited in the 1980s.

Every year, the Hilton Houston Post Oak Hotel hosts a balcony-decorating contest whose winners are announced onstage during the lighting ceremony. Rooms facing Post Oak are booked at least year in advance to secure the best views of the festivities and the prime locations for the decorating contest.

"Some people have been booking rooms for the Holiday Light show every year since 1985," said Hilton guest coordinator Hannah Affram. "A lot of guests even like to have the same room if possible."

"It's the grand style of lighting ceremony that really gets people into the spirit of the holidays," noted Judson Robinson from the Houston Area Urban League, one the organizations that Uptown Holiday Lighting event will benefit. "It was windy and rainy last year, but that didn't stop anyone. Even with rough weather like that, you still see lots of smiling families."

To Breeding, the over-the-top fireworks finale has been a family favorite year after year.

"The coolest part about the fireworks is that they're set to music," he said. "We play some Trans-Siberian Orchestra as well as some very electronic holiday music, while the fireworks are launched from several buildings on Post Oak. These are definitely unlike any other fireworks in the city.

"We're hoping for a great crowd this year. There's a cold front coming through that should make it really feel like the holidays."

The Uptown Holiday Lighting and Fireworks Event kicks off at 4 p.m. this Thanksgiving Thursday on Post Oak Boulevard between Westheimer and San Felipe.