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Holiday in the Park 2018

Pooja Salhotra
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Anna Gregory, Ayden Syed, Benjamin Gregory, George Gips, James Gips

Winner of the annual coloring contest Anna Gregory (left) enjoys the festival with friends and her brother Benjamin. (From left) Anna Gregory, Ayden Syed, Benjamin Gregory, George Gips and James Gips. (Photo: Pooja Salhotra) 

Snowfall might not be on the radar for Houston this year — or anytime in the near future. But Houstonians still had a chance to make snow angels and ride down snow slides on Thursday evening during the 31st annual Bellaire Holiday in the Park event. 

Eli Shebay

Bellaire resident Eli Shebay poses with Santa under a decorated gazebo. (Photo: Pooja Salhotra) 

Held in the Bellaire Town Square, the festivities began with an address from Bellaire Mayor Andrew Friedberg, who also welcomed Santa to the stage. The winners of the annual coloring contest were then announced, and grand prize winner Anna Gregory, 11, was invited to help perform the official Christmas tree lighting ceremony. 

The crowd counted down: “10, 9, 8…3, 2, 1” at which point Anna flipped a switch to light the tree in front of a cheering crowd of families and children.  

Throughout the rest of the evening, various school choirs sang holiday music on stage while residents wandered throughout the park, stopping at arts and crafts booths and munching on carnival staples such as popcorn and funnel cakes. 

For the duration of the event, a long line of families and kids wrapped around the gazebo, where Santa sat in a throne patiently listening to children’s Christmas wish-lists and posing for pictures. 

Allegra Marx, Alana Marx, Emilia Marx

Sisters (from left) Allegra, Alana and Emilia Marx pause for a photo after playing in the snow. (Photo: Pooja Salhotra) 

Next to the gazebo were a number of booths hosted by local organizations. The Bellaire ER, for example, had a highly-trafficked booth where they handed out free tote bags and offered attendees a chance to pose for a picture with The Grinch. A few feet away, Bellaire High School students helped manage a booth where they sold hand-made holiday candy ornaments. The students said the set-up was part of a larger effort to fundraise for the school’s theater tech program. 

When asked what their favorite part of the event was, nearly all the kids pointed to the snow slides, a novelty for most kids here in Houston. 

For anyone who missed the event, check out our holiday happenings listing to find out about other holiday festivities this month! And see our event calendar here for all upcoming events. 

  • Megyn Celio, Emily Celio, Mackenzie Gunnels, Myla Hagee, CJ Davis, Ayden Celio

    Megyn Celio, Emily Celio, Mackenzie Gunnels, Myla Hagee, CJ Davis and Ayden Celio wait outside the gazebo to meet Santa. (Photo: Pooja Salhotra) 

  • Gabi Casas, Alex Slavik, Melony Davis, Michelle Asonye, Zak Phan

    Bellaire High School students from the tech theater program (from left) Gabi Casas, Alex Slavik, Melony Davis, Michelle Asonye and Zak Phan sold handmade ornaments to raise money for their school. (Photo: Pooja Salhotra) 

  • Tony Hefferin, Rachel Chapman, Iryna Quintanilla

    Seargent Tony Hefferin as well as (from left) Rachel Chapman and Iryna Quintanilla from Bellaire ER pose with The Grinch outside of their booth. (Photo: Pooja Salhotra) 

  • Cunningham Elementary students

    Students from Cunningham Elementary sang holiday music on stage. (Photo: Pooja Salhotra) 

  • Mural decorating

    Kids decorate a mural at the West U Pediatric Dentistry booth. The City plans to hang the completed mural in a park. (Photo: Pooja Salhotra) 

  • Toni Ann Martinez, Vincent Martinez, Angela Olmos, Mialeena Martinea, Adele Brustmeyer

    Bellaire residents Toni Ann Martinez, Vincent Martinez, Angela Olmos, Mialeena Martinea and Adele Brustmeyer enjoy attending the Holiday in the Park each year. (Photo: Pooja Salhotra) 

  • Herod Elementary students

    Students from Herod Elementary perform “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” (Photo: Pooja Salhotra) 

  • Anna Gregory

     Winner of the annual coloring contest Anna Gregory points out her winning artwork. (Photo: Pooja Salhotra) 

  • Sophie Everaard, Rachel Everaard, Jacob Everaard

    Bellaire residents (from left) Sophie Everaard, Rachel Everaard and Jacob Everaard (front) wait in line to get a photo with Santa under the gazebo. (Photo: Pooja Salhotra)  

  • Megyn Celio, Emily Celio, Mackenzie Gunnels, Myla Hagee, CJ Davis, Ayden Celio
  • Gabi Casas, Alex Slavik, Melony Davis, Michelle Asonye, Zak Phan
  • Tony Hefferin, Rachel Chapman, Iryna Quintanilla
  • Cunningham Elementary students
  • Mural decorating
  • Toni Ann Martinez, Vincent Martinez, Angela Olmos, Mialeena Martinea, Adele Brustmeyer
  • Herod Elementary students
  • Anna Gregory
  • Sophie Everaard, Rachel Everaard, Jacob Everaard

Megyn Celio, Emily Celio, Mackenzie Gunnels, Myla Hagee, CJ Davis, Ayden Celio

Megyn Celio, Emily Celio, Mackenzie Gunnels, Myla Hagee, CJ Davis and Ayden Celio wait outside the gazebo to meet Santa. (Photo: Pooja Salhotra) 

Gabi Casas, Alex Slavik, Melony Davis, Michelle Asonye, Zak Phan

Bellaire High School students from the tech theater program (from left) Gabi Casas, Alex Slavik, Melony Davis, Michelle Asonye and Zak Phan sold handmade ornaments to raise money for their school. (Photo: Pooja Salhotra) 

Tony Hefferin, Rachel Chapman, Iryna Quintanilla

Seargent Tony Hefferin as well as (from left) Rachel Chapman and Iryna Quintanilla from Bellaire ER pose with The Grinch outside of their booth. (Photo: Pooja Salhotra) 

Cunningham Elementary students

Students from Cunningham Elementary sang holiday music on stage. (Photo: Pooja Salhotra) 

Mural decorating

Kids decorate a mural at the West U Pediatric Dentistry booth. The City plans to hang the completed mural in a park. (Photo: Pooja Salhotra) 

Toni Ann Martinez, Vincent Martinez, Angela Olmos, Mialeena Martinea, Adele Brustmeyer

Bellaire residents Toni Ann Martinez, Vincent Martinez, Angela Olmos, Mialeena Martinea and Adele Brustmeyer enjoy attending the Holiday in the Park each year. (Photo: Pooja Salhotra) 

Herod Elementary students

Students from Herod Elementary perform “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” (Photo: Pooja Salhotra) 

Anna Gregory

 Winner of the annual coloring contest Anna Gregory points out her winning artwork. (Photo: Pooja Salhotra) 

Sophie Everaard, Rachel Everaard, Jacob Everaard

Bellaire residents (from left) Sophie Everaard, Rachel Everaard and Jacob Everaard (front) wait in line to get a photo with Santa under the gazebo. (Photo: Pooja Salhotra)  

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