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This holiday season, the Houston Downtown Management District (Downtown District) invites Houstonians and visitors to enjoy “Winter Wanderland,” a series of unique illuminated attractions along Bagby Street in western Downtown. Designed by Blachere Illumination, the decor comprises more than 100,000 twinkling LED lights installed between Lamar and Franklin Street, and will be on view from November 19, 2021, through January 2, 2022.

“Downtown Houston will be extra merry and bright this holiday season,” said Angie Bertinot, Downtown District Director of Marketing and Communications. “Blachere Illumination and Always in Season have created a truly spectacular experience for Houstonians and visitors to discover the magic of the season by embarking on a festive adventure under the stars and lights.”

[Photos by Johnny Than, courtesy of Theckpgroup.com]

Illuminated elements on Bagby Street will include an 80-foot-long tunnel of LED lights arching over the new bicycle and pedestrian walkway across from the Hobby Center, a series of 11 constellation arches on the boardwalk at Sam Houston Park, 3D trees at City Hall, 22 blinged-out arches across from Downtown Aquarium and giant illuminated angel wings at Central Library featuring Blachere’s exclusive Bioprint technology, which is an innovative 100 percent recyclable and biodegradable material.

The public is invited to celebrate Winter Wanderland’s Opening Night on Friday, November 19 at 6 p.m. Lights will officially turn on around 6:30 p.m., following remarks from Mayor Sylvester Turner, Downtown District and Downtown Redevelopment President Kris Larson and more. The event will feature live music, food and drinks, kids crafting zone and petting zoo, roaming carolers, historic home tours and a number of photo-worthy pop-ups along Bagby Street, including Texas’ largest Mistletoe Ball.

The “Winter Wanderland” installation coincides with the recent completion of the Bagby Street Improvement Project, which has converted the street into a multi-modal corridor with expanded pedestrian walkways, a bicycle lane, beautification elements and new trees. As the first street encountered when entering from the west, Bagby Street is a key gateway into Downtown Houston. The “Winter Wanderland” installation will connect Houstonians and visitors to the vast number of holiday events that Downtown has to offer, including festive performances from the city’s resident performing at groups in the Theater District, winter programming at Houston Public Library’s new Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza and City Hall’s holiday tree, which will be illuminated for the season beginning December 4th.

Evening light attractions on Bagby Street will be available through January 2, starting at dusk every evening. Photo renderings can be found at the press kit here.

ABOUT DOWNTOWN DISTRICT

The Downtown District was formed in 1995 for the purpose of revitalizing the urban core of the country’s fourth largest city. Over the past decade, the Downtown District has used a combination of public funds and private resources to catalyze area improvements focusing on the city blocks bordered by Interstate 10, Highway 59 and Interstate 45.

The Downtown District operates under the leadership of a 30-person board of directors who oversee the implementation of the District’s strategic initiatives. Funding for the Downtown District comes from a special assessment on all downtown property owners.