The festivities get rolling this weekend (Dec. 2-3) with the sixth annual Levy Park Holiday Festival, featuring a holiday shopping market with vendors selling jewelry, fragrances, candles and more; a craft station for kids of all ages; and a photo booth where the whole family can have their photo taken with Santa. Also expect exciting live performances by River Oaks Dance, our favorite blues, jazz and rock saxophonist Evelyn Rubio, and soap-bubble virtuosos The Texas Bubblers. (The complete lineup and a full schedule of performances is available on the Levy Park website.)
‘Tis the season for eating, and throughout the six-acre park, there will be plenty of handheld food and beverages, as well as treats for your four-legged friends courtesy of Gaspachos Mexican Bites.
Looking ahead, on Saturday, Dec. 9, Architecture Center Houston presents the 14th annual Gingerbread Build-Off at the park, where teams using gingerbread, candy, and other sweets, compete to see who can construct the most creative and mouthwatering architectural masterpiece. (Note to those with a sweet tooth: All leftovers will be composted!) The all-day event includes a construction zone for kids and, of course, Santa.
On Sunday, Dec. 10, at 4:30pm, Rhythm Energy presents the Prelude Family Concert Series, a 45-minute, holiday-themed “music experience” designed for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers to inspire self-expression and development through a variety of musical styles. And on Friday, Dec. 15, at 7pm, there will be a free screening of the holiday classic The Polar Express, based children's book by Chris Van Allsburg. Pajamas and blankets are encouraged.
Ben Racusin, Mica Piro, Bailey Blocker, Brian Reynolds
The highlight of the evening, as always, was the rocking runway show, where local notables and the night's honorees strutted their stuff alongside their prized pets. This year's models included Carson Brown, John Cangelosi and Natasha Minor, Angela Hernandez, Daniel Irion and Kirk Kveton, Brigitte Kalai, Sharron Melton, Sarah Pepper, Roxy Riefkohl, Kenny Webster, and Rebecca and Anthony Yanez. Other awards distributed at the gala were the Social Influencer for Animals award, which went to Madeline Garis Smith, and the Melcher Humanitarian of the Year accolade, which was given to Nicolette St. Angel.
The Mission: Pawsible party, attended by a whopping 800 supporters, also included an exciting raffle for a 2024 Subaru Outback, donated by famously animal-loving West Houston Subaru. Emcee Owen Conflenti and auctioneer Johnny Bravo conducted the live auction, which contributed to the total till.
Amy Stengel, Nicolette St Angel
Angela Hernandez and Buckley winner of 2023 Celebrity Pet of the Year
Tony Ackerman and Sandi Mercado
Brigitte and Bashar Kalai with Max
Suzanne Klein and Edna Meyer-Nelson
Caron Brown and Pepper
Steve and Christine Johnson
Charlie and Janice Hall
Clark Whitty and Mary Kenner
Sharron Melton with Omorede and Idrissa
Clint and Meghan Conroy
Daniel Irion and Kirk Kveton with Biscuit
Ross and Bryn Talkington
Debra Laws, Beth Wolff, Anna Kaplan
Roxy Riefkohl and Olive Marie and Ruby Rose
Odilia and Owen Conflenti
Frank Billingsley and Kevin Gilliard
Greg Brown, Brandy Minick
Pamela Srpouse and Gregory Miller
Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees
Rebecca and Anthony Yanez with Harvey and Houston