h-town All aglow

Houston's most spectacular winter light shows and events dazzle for the holidays

The plunging thermostats, decorations decking the halls of stores and homes, and wintry music all mean one thing: the holiday season in Houston is finally here.

For many, that means a merry tradition of donning warm winter wear and strolling through the dozens of holiday light displays around the city.

From cosmic Christmas at Space Center Houston to a wild affair at the Houston Zoo to wondrous spectacles at Houston Botanic Garden and downtown Houston, these festive events are sure to light up Yuletime. Here's our roundup of where to see dazzling lights with family, friends, and visitors — from new events to ongoing spectacles.

Four Seasons Houston annual tree lighting
Head to what's been called "Houston's Living Room" downtown for a beloved and grand affair in the Four Seasons' elegant lobby. The fun includes a hot chocolate station, TUTS Choir performance, eggnog and Champagne, and the lighting of the hotel’s stunning Christmas trees. The free event takes place iin the lobby, with a portion of the proceeds from Bayou & Bottle and Toro Toro benefitting Camp H-Town. Free. November 22. 5-7 pm.

Wortham Center Tree Lighting
The annual holiday kickoff offers pictures with Santa, kid-friendly activities, and a special performance by members of the cast of Houston Grand Opera's El Milagro del Recuerdo. Free. November 23. 11 am to 1 pm.

Uptown Holiday Lighting
The cherished Houston family tradition, now in its 34th year, takes place on Thanksgiving evening. Thousands are expected to gather for the illumination of Uptown’s 300 custom, 20-foot holiday trees along Post Oak Boulevard from the West Loop to Richmond Avenue. The free family event features a market with holiday shopping and treats, street entertainment, and a special appearance from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Following the ceremonial lighting of the trees, the evening will close with a brilliant light show and fireworks. November 24. 4-7 pm.

Post Oak Hotel
Registered guests can celebrate the hotel's annual tree lighting with festive beverages and live music. There's also a gift cart to find a special gift for everyone on the list. November 26. 5 pm.

Reliant Lights Mayor's Holiday Spectacular
Gloria Gaynor brigs some soul and sass to this annual event held at Houston City Hall. There will be a tree lighting, music and performances, and photos with Santa. Free. All are encouraged to bring something to donate to the Houston Food Bank or Toys for Tots. December 3. 6 pm to 8 pm.

Deck the Park at Memorial Park
Deck the Park brings thousands of lights along the park's half-mile promenade at the the Eastern Glade. A ticketed preview event on December 2 at 4 pm is a family-friendly affair, featuring crafts, treats, and more. The $85 family pack includes five tickets, five mugs of hot chocolate, and a picnic blanket. December 3 through January 1, 2023. Sundown.

Ongoing

Lightscape at Houston Botanic Garden
Lightscape (read our full story here) lets guest wander the garden's winding paths, exploring illuminated installations, a tunnel of lights, and other enchantments, all set to holiday tunes. $26 to $28, adults; $16 to $18 children ages three to 15. Through January 1, 2023. Timed entry begins at 5:30 pm.

Zoo Lights
The Houston Zoo transforms into a winter wonderland with this beloved annual event. "Snowy Slopes" features ski lifts near the Reflection Pool. Life-sized animal lanterns light the zoo's winding paths. Look for a 33-foot, color-changing holiday tree, perfect for photo opps. From $21. Through January 8, 2023. 5:30 pm-10:30 pm.

Dasher's Lightshow
Head to Humble for this multi-sensory experience featuring mesmerizing lights flashing in sync with music, light-adorned tunnels, and twinkling Christmas decorations along a mile-long route. Guests have the option of driving along the route or parking and watching curated segments of the show. $29.95 per car to drive; $9.95 per person to park and watch. Through December 31.

Galaxy Lights
Space Center Houston's annual spectacular is an immersive experience with space-themed light installations. The new Deep Space Backyard is a journey through the solar system. A crystal fireworks display showcases the colors of the galaxies, one of only two such displays in the world. Tickets start at $19.95. Through January 1, 2023.

Holiday Lights at Constellation Field
This Sugar Land event features more than three million lights, 10 themed areas, holiday shopping, and much more. It's family friendly, offering plenty to do for all ages. $15 adults, $12 children ages four to 12. Through January 1, 2023. 6 pm.

City Lights Downtown Holiday Magic
Explore all of downtown Houston through a variety of lighted displays and holiday attractions. (Read our full story here.) Check out the 30 illuminated Christmas trees in the George R. Brown Convention Center. Visit the Land of Sweets in the Hilton Americas Houston. Head over to Main Street for Santa's Village. See Market Square Park transformed into Mistletoe Square. And walk through 100,000 twinkling lights in the Theatre District. Download a pass with all the attractions listed and check off those visited for a chance to win prizes such as tickets to the Alley Theatre's A Christmas Carol. Through January 2, 2023. 5 p.m.

Texas Winter Lights
Head to the Marriott Marquis Houston in downtown for this interactive experience on the deck of the iconic Texas-shaped pool. Expect Insta-worth backdrops, light displays, and killer downtown views. Tickets start at $25. Through January 6, 2023. 5 pm to 10 pm. Weekends only for non-hotel guests.

Magical Winter Lights
Head to Houston Raceway Park in Baytown for this illuminated spectacular that features lantern displays, a caste-themed entrance, and fun for the whole family. For an extra fee, families can attend a performance by Circus Espana, which transports guests to a 1920s winter tale in a faraway place, a story told through jugglers, acrobats and a little magic. $25 adults, $17 children ages 2-12. Through January 7, 2023. 5 pm to 10 pm Sunday through Thursday; 5 pm to 11 pm Friday and Saturday.

Festival of Lights
Moody Gardens glitters up the holiday season, with this mile-long stroll lit by more than 2 million lights and accented by holiday music. Stops along the route feature a dancing Christmas tress, holiday-themed concessions, and more. Through January 7, 2023.

Christmas Village
Walk across an illuminated bridge and into a winter wonderland at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's Bayou Bend and Gardens. This immersive experiences includes tours of the historic Hogg mansion, holiday carols, sledding down a faux-snow slide, photos with Santa for an extra fee, and more. $15 adults $10 children ages five to 12. December 9- December 30. 5:30 pm to 9 pm.

Moody Gardens, Galveston, Festival of Lights, November 2012

Photo courtesy of Moody Gardens

Moody Gardens' Festival of Lights, also featured in USA Today's poll, is Galveston's premier holiday light destination.

Movie Review

Summer camp drama The Plague proves middle school is still pure horror

Photo courtesy of IFC

Everett Blunck in The Plague.

Anybody who’s attended elementary school in the last 100 years knows the concept of “cooties,” a fictional affliction that is typically caught when touched by a member of the opposite sex. A more updated version of the same idea is featured in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, this time called the “Cheese Touch,” making anyone who touches a moldy piece of cheese on the school’s basketball court an outcast.

A much more menacing version of this “disease” is on display in The Plague, which takes place at a summer water polo camp for tweens. The film focuses on Ben (Everett Blunck), a slightly awkward boy who struggles to fit in with the “cool” crowd led by Jake (Kayo Martin). That group has no problems making fun of others that they deem to be different, especially Eli (Kenny Rasmussen), who has been ostracized because of a rash he has that the kids call “the plague.”

Ben wants to be part of the main group, but his natural empathy leads him to reach out to Eli on more than one occasion despite Eli engaging in some uncomfortable behavior. With the camp’s coach (Joel Edgerton) not much help when it comes to the bullying tactics by Jake and others, especially those that take place at night, Ben is left to fend for himself. His vacillations between wanting to be accepted and wanting to do what’s right continue until his hand is forced.

Written and directed by first-time feature filmmaker Charlie Polinger, the film has all the feel of a horror movie without actually being a horror. The staging used by Polinger gives the film a claustrophobic feel as Ben can’t seem to escape the psychological torture inflicted by Jake and others no matter where he goes. He also employs a jarring score by Johan Lenox to great effect, one that’s designed to keep viewers on edge even when nothing bad is happening.

No matter how far removed you are from middle school, the film will likely bring up feelings you thought you had left behind. Much like with Bo Burnham’s Eighth Grade, Polinger finds a way to tap into something universal in his depiction of tweens, an age when everyone is still discovering who they really are. Some go along to get along, others don’t even attempt to fit in, but no one truly feels settled.

Whether the plague is real or not in the world of the film is up for debate. While most of the time it comes off as something made up to underscore the feeling of otherness felt by Ben, Polinger does literalize it to a degree. He even tiptoes up to the line of body horror before wisely retreating, although what he does show will still make some viewers squeamish. However, because he seems to be leaning one way before pulling back, there’s the possibility that some will be disappointed by the tease of something more intense.

The film’s biggest success is in its casting. Finding good child actors is notoriously tough, and yet Polinger and casting director Rebecca Dealy found a bunch who sell the story for all it’s worth. Blunck, Martin, and Rasmussen get the most play, but everyone else complements them well. Edgerton is the only well-known actor in the film, but he’s used sparingly and isn’t asked to do much, leaving the kids to carry the story on their shoulders.

Fitting in as a tween is hard enough without others actively trying to find ways to cast someone out. The Plague is an effective demonstration of the dynamics that can play out in a competitive environment that also includes a group that has yet to develop into fully-rounded people. It features discomfort on multiple levels, marking an auspicious debut for Polinger.

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The Plague is now playing in theaters.

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