Everyone kisses under the mistletoe, but one lucky couple will be getting married under a giant mistletoe ball Dec. 8 at Market Square Park and YOU are invited!
It’s all part of Macy’s Mistletoe on the Go! project in collaboration with the Downtown District where a mistletoe ball — hung form a 15-foot candy cane — is traveling around to five stops in downtown Houston. For every couple’s “kiss-mas” photo under the ball that is posted on facebook.com/visitdowntownhouston or tweeted to @downtownhouston with the hashtag #MOTG!, Macy’s will donate a dollar (up to $5,000) to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a non-profit that grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses.
Houston-based commercial decoration design company, Always In Season, has spent months pruning, primping and preparing the four-foot mistletoe ball for its tour around Houston. Trendsetters in progressive holiday decorating for twenty years, the Always In Season creative team has produced fun and functional holiday décor to adorn downtown Houston this holiday season. And they’ve really outdone themselves with this mistletoe.
“It all started last week at the Mayor’s 2012 Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting Presented by Reliant on Nov. 30 at City Hall’s Hermann Square,” said Angie Bertinot, director of marketing and communications for the Downtown District. “And the giant mistletoe ball was a big hit! We know we’ll get a similar response to it now that it’s at Market Square Park through Dec. 9.”
Market Square Park, at 301 Milam, was donated to the city in 1854 by Augustus Allen and was used as an open-air produce market and was the site of three city halls. The downtown business district grew up around it. The little square languished in modern times but a renovation in 2010 made it once again a vibrant outdoor space for Houstonians. New fixtures include a shady walkway, a fabulous dog run and a Niko Niko’s eatery serving delicious Greek and American food, wine and beer.
And speaking of beer, Houston’s own Saint Arnold Brewing Company — the oldest craft brewery in Texas — will light up Market Square Park with love on Dec. 8 starting at 5 p.m. Saint Arnold Mistletoe Madness at Market Square Park kicks off with live music from the Lords of Kool, a slice of Saint Arnold wedding cake and of course, there will be lots of Saint Arnold beer and delicious food from Niko Niko’s.
Wedding cake? That’s right, at 6 p.m. Sean Lamb and Nena Reith, chosen from a Saint Arnold online competition based on their vows, will get married under the mistletoe in a pop-up wedding! Following the ceremony, more music from The Lords of Kool and Alamo Drafthouse Rolling Roadshow’s presentation of the romantic holiday-themed movie Love Actually will begin at 7:30 p.m.
“Market Square Park is one of our favorite places in Houston and we jumped at the chance to share the love when we were asked to participate in this event,” says Lennie Ambrose, Saint Arnold’s head of events and marketing. “We hope some of our fans will get a kick out of being joined in matrimony and really good beer. Should be a blast!”
And if that’s not enough for you, check out these other events downtown this week:
Dec. 2-8: Enter to win $250 in Macy’s Money by registering next to the first floor up escalator in the downtown Macy’s only (1110 Main).
Dec. 7-9: The Heritage Society hosts its 50th annual Candlelight Tours at Sam Houston Park. Take a step back in time and tour eight of Houston’s oldest historic homes, trimmed to perfection in traditional 19th century décor.
Dec. 8: Check out Architecture Center Houston’s (ArCH) 4th Annual Gingerbread Build-Off at Hermman Square Park! Using the provided gingerbread, gumdrops, candy canes and other holiday treats, Houston architects and designers are challenged to create the most innovative and interesting gingerbread house.
Dec. 9: Shed that extra Thanksgiving weight and raise funds and awareness for the Tellepsen Family Downtown YMCA Partners Campaign during the 2012 Total Jingle Bell Run and Walk.
