h-town All aglow

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

These welcome, cooler temps beckon weather-weary Houstonians outdoors with a host of holiday light displays all over the city. These showcases are a fun — and family-friendly — way to get into the winter groove…and maybe even get some Clark Griswold inspo for home lighting projects.

Look for classics like Zoo Lights, which immerses visitors in a dazzling spectacle on zoo grounds, and relative newcomers like City Lights Holiday Magic 2023, a follow-up to the wildly popular downtown event highlighting 11 themed settings.

Photo via Houston Botanic Garden

The dazzling Radiant Nature at Houston Botanic Garden.

Consider this a handy checklist as Houston gets lights it up for the holiday season; we’ll update this list as more events open this season.

Lighting up now

Head downtown to "Houston's Living Room" as The Four Seasons presents its annual tree lighting on Friday, November 17. The grand affair in the Four Seasons' elegant lobby includes a hot chocolate station, TUTS Choir performance, eggnog and Champagne, and the lighting of the hotel’s stunning Christmas trees.

Four Seasons Houston holiday lighting Four Seasons Houston throws an elegant holiday lighting affair each year.Photo via Four Seasons Houston

Also downtown, City Lights Holiday Magic 2023 runs November 17 to December 31 with 11 different themed villages across dozens of city blocks, allowing guests to create their own experiences.

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 to see and check off all the attractions. Christmas music on Fridays at Trebly Park's Twinkle Town makes for another holiday treat. Most activities are free.

Winter Wonderland Houston downtown 2022 This City Lights Holiday Magic Winter Wonderland feature is an IG fave. Photo courtesy of Central Houston

Even more downtown fun comes with the return of Texas Winter Lights at the Marriott Marquis Houston's Altitude Rooftop & Pool with more than 1,500+ glittering lights, dozens of Instagram-worthy displays, and experiences to surprise and delight all the senses. The hotel's iconic Texas-shaped lazy river comes alive with floating orbs, colorful archways overhead, and a nearby grove of trees adorned in bright white lights. Free to hotel guests; tickets start at $25 for non-hotel guests.

A cherished Houston favorite, Zoo Lights, is now running at the Houston Zoo through January 7, 2024. Explore the zoo after dark, with lighted trails taking visitors through an Enchanted Forest, stopping for selfies at a color-changing tree and taking part in other festive activities. Pro-tip: Wander quietly and peek at some of the slumbering beasts, like a majestic, snoozing tiger. There are timed entry slots every evening, with prices starting at $27.95.

Or, wander through more nature at Radiant Nature at the Houston Botanic Garden, a winding trail of more than 50 Chinese lantern displays. On view from November 17 to February 25, 2024, they showcase the beauty of nature and celebrate the tradition of the Lunar New Year. The cost is $28.50 per person with timed entry every evening.

Peek into 'Zodiac' at Radiant Nature at Houston Botanic Garden.Photo via Houston Botanic Garden

Sugar Land's Constellation Field is transformed into a winter wonderland in the 10th Annual Sugar Land Holiday Lights presented by Houston Methodist through January 1, with over 3.5 million lights. There are movie nights, photo opportunities with Santa, giveaways, theme nights and more. Tickets start at $12.

Further south, 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, 2024.

Galaxy Lights Space Center Houston Blast off with Galaxy Lights at Space Center Houston. Photo courtesy of Space Center Houston

After Galaxy Lights, head to Galveston for Moody Gardens' Holiday in the Gardens, a multi-activity extravaganza with something for everyone.

Take an enchanting train ride at Moody Gardens Holiday in the Gardens.Photo via Moody Gardens

There's the Ice Land and Festival of Lights, with a stroll along a mile-long trail of twinkling lights that transform the space into a fairy land. A train ride though the lights is a must-try island holiday experience.

The 3rd Annual Energy Corridor Tree Lighting, held at the Hyatt Regency West Houston on November 30 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., this is a chance to hear holiday holiday music, wonder at the dazzling 50-foot Christmas tree and shop for unique gifts at the Candy Cane Lane Holiday Market. The event is free to attend.

Magical Winer Lights at Katy Mills is a winter wonderland for all ages, with thousands of lanterns creating worlds of all shapes and sizes. The display is on view from November 17 through January 7, and tickets are $25, with discounted admissions for seniors. There's also a separate carnival ticket, available for $25.

Holiday Lights at Constellation Field in Sugar Land features more than 3,000,000 lights, 10 themed areas, holiday shopping, and much more. One of Sugar Land's iconic holiday happenings, this showcase is completely family friendly, offering plenty to do for all ages. $15 adults, $12 children ages four to 12. Through January 1, 2023. 6 pm.

Looking ahead

Deck the Park at Memorial Park
Deck the Park brings thousands of lights along the park's half-mile promenade at the the Eastern Glades. For the first time, the event will be free to the public. Opening on Friday, December 1, the event is a family-friendly affair, featuring crafts, treats, and more. Event runs through January, 2024. Sundown.

Reliant Lights Mayor's Holiday Spectacular

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will preside over his final Reliant Lights Mayor’s Holiday Spectacular at City Hall. The 104-year-old, family-friendly tradition is free and features live music and the lighting of the holiday tree. This year’s holiday tree is 52-foot White Fir shipping in all the way from Grant’s Pass, Oregon. The towering tree will be adorned with 99,680 LED lights and some 4,000 ornaments. Saturday, December 2. 6 pm. Free.

$Reliant Lights Mayor\u2019s Holiday Spectacular$ Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will preside over his final\u00a0Reliant Lights Mayor\u2019s Holiday Spectacular. Photo courtesy of City of Houston

Movie Review

New thriller Crime 101 majors in cool with Hemsworth at the wheel

Photo courtesy of Amazon Content Services

Chris Hemsworth in Crime 101.

The career of actor Chris Hemsworth is a curious one, as it feels like he’s a huge star (mostly from playing Thor in Marvel movies) and not at the same time, with most of the non-MCU movies featuring him in a lead role failing to become big successes. But he still has a certain presence about him, which is why he’s being given another chance to prove his star power in the new thriller, Crime 101.

Hemsworth plays Davis, a talented thief who knows how to get what he wants without resorting to violence. When a job early in the movie turns slightly sideways, it makes him think twice about working with his handler (Nick Nolte), who seems to prefer someone with a stronger touch, like the up-and-coming Ormon (Barry Keoghan).

Davis is the main character, but two others who come into his orbit get their own subplots. Lou (Mark Ruffalo) is a slightly schlubby LAPD detective who’s convinced he knows the pattern of an unknown thief that likes to hit places close to Highway 101. Sharon (Halle Berry) works for a high-end insurance agency known for working with ultra-wealthy clients, the types who might be a great target for a thief like Davis.

Written and directed by Bart Layton, the film has a decent propulsion to it that comes with most crime thrillers. Davis and Ormon represent the yin and the yang of criminal approaches, and and it’s interesting to see the juxtaposition between the two as their simmering rivalry heats up over the course of the film. When the film commits to actually showing its crimes, it has an excitement that’s worth watching.

Unfortunately, Layton displays a real lack of focus, taking the audience into subplots with each of the three main characters that prove unnecessarily distracting. Lou’s marriage problems may explain his disheveled appearance, but there’s no need to see him deal with them with wife Angie (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Sharon’s troubles with her male-dominated company prove slightly pivotal, but still don’t merit the time put into exploring them.

The most baffling subplot is Davis pursuing a relationship with Maya (Monica Barbaro), a woman he randomly meets. At different points in the movie, including many of his interactions with Maya, Davis seems like the most uncomfortable, antisocial person in the world. And yet he somehow morphs into a suave smooth-talker who’s able to convince anyone to do what he wants at other key points, making it unclear exactly what kind of person he really is.

Hemsworth does relatively well in the lead role, but he’s still missing that certain something to make his character, and therefore the movie, truly compelling. The rest of the cast is fine, too, but each of them seem to be putting in just the minimal amount of effort to make the film watchable. Ruffalo and Barbaro come off the best, but with the talent in the cast (11 Oscar nominations and one win), they could have been used better.

Crime 101 has most of the ingredients to be another great entry in the genre, and it succeeds when it actually decides to deliver on its promise. But too much of the film is spent on things that have no real bearing on plot or character development, leaving the movie in the middle of the pack.

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Crime 101 is now playing in the theaters.

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h-town All aglow

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

Movie Review

New thriller Crime 101 majors in cool with Hemsworth at the wheel

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