Deck the Halls, Y’all: Parade Two-Steps through Westbury

What happens when a New Orleans native, holiday-loving mom wants her daughter to grow up with the tradition of fun neighborhood parades in her life? A Deck the Halls Parade is born, of course! 

Westbury mom and parade creator Ember Mandell shared some details about the first gathering in 1998 that was a one-street procession down Burlinghall Drive followed by a block party. “My husband, David Mandell, was Hanukkah Harry; our friends who joined in the festivities were Paul Cole as Santa and Robert Bray was the Kwanzaa King. Our seven-year-old daughter, Noelle Mandell, was a tap-dancing elf on a friend’s flatbed truck. Marilyn and Karl Fehrenkamp hosted a live nativity in their front yard and neighbor, Evelyn Perkins was the star ‘float’ pushing her cats [dressed up as a bride and groom] in a stroller!” 

Santa Claus with a friendly roller skating helper.

Two decades later, that simple inaugural event has grown into a neighborhood tradition in Westbury and Meyerland, proceeding through 15 blocks of neighborhood streets with more than 500 participants and approximately seven or eight thousand spectators. The Mandell family, Ember and David plus their three daughters Noelle, Lyric, and Sonnet Mandell, and grandmother Barbara Atkinson, work on the event all year long.

Ember said, “We all do some of everything, but basically Noelle (now 28) is planning and logistics. Lyric (19) is the photographer and stages everyone at beginning for photos. Sonnet (17) helps with costumes and social media. My mom, Barbara, has sewn and coordinated countless costumes for the parade over the years and organizes the beads that are thrown to spectators. And finally my husband, David, runs security teams and helps plan the volunteer food. We all ride golf carts the day of and manage the parade in real time.” 

The parade starts at 5500 Burlinghall and turns right on 11600 Ashcroft. It curves at 5800 Warm Springs and returns to where it began. This year, the parade will roll on Saturday, Dec. 14, 5-6 p.m. 

Iron Horse Guest Ranch participating in the parde, pulling their horse-drawn illuminated covered wagon.

Ember’s excitement is contagious. “Our theme this year is the mighty state of Texas, so it’s going to be a real throw down!” The parade will boast everything Texas from cities to colleges, landmarks, famous people, food, music, plants, animals, traditions, and historical characters. There will even be a special appearance by Tex, a real live giant Longhorn, who will thunder down the route to kick off the fun. Then, the Houston Pride Band will lead parade participants through the route. 

Participants come from local schools, teams, and community groups including the Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School, Westbury High School ROTC, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts from Meyerland, West U and Bellaire. Marching along will be skaters, bands, cyclists, bikers, costumed characters, musicians, dancers, cheer teams and neighbors of all ages. 

Bryan Taylor, a beloved art car artist, has been a longtime supporter of the parade.

In addition to neighborhood pets, be on the lookout for miniature pigs from Petite Porkers, horses from Iron Horse Guest Ranch and other livestock brought by the Lamar High School FFA and various other organizations. The grand finale will feature art cars from the Houston Art Car Klub, classic cars and motorcycles in a street-legal procession. Ember said, “Three very important men who helped the parade get going in the beginning were original parade art car participants, Bryan Taylor, owner of the Santa car; Paul McRae, owner of Niconic; and Dennis Dillow, owner of Aartvark.” 

The parade starts in the daylight at 5 p.m. but by the end at 6 p.m. the sun has gone down and the participants turn on lights, so it becomes an illuminated parade. Stringed lights, glow sticks and art cars are pre-lit and lights are sewn into many of the participants’ costumes.

Former mayor of West University, Susan Sample, a longtime friend of the parade, will be riding in the title float with her twins, Caroline and Thomas, along with Santa. Susan shared, “Deck the Halls is my favorite event of the season. Riding in the parade has become one of our family traditions because of the warmth, creativity, and spirit of celebration and generosity. Seeing a community come together in this way . . . neighbors welcoming visitors, people giving to those less fortunate, and many donating their time and talents is really what community is all about."

Pancho Claus cruising in his lowrider car waving at the crowd near sundown.

Spectators can bring a toy for Pancho Claus (Richard Reyes), described as the Tex-Mex cousin to Santa, who distributes toys to inner city children on Christmas morning and/or bring pet donations for Houston Cares Animal Rescue. Donations can be handed to parade organizers on golf carts during the event or in dropoff bins at various locations including Watershed and Cue’s restaurants.

Those who live along the parade route often add to the festivities by decorating their houses with Christmas lights and putting out tables with snacks or crafts.

Jessica Eagle moved to Westbury when she was 10 years old and, 15 years later, she and her family still enjoy watching the parade. Jessica said she always thought it was so magical since that first year when she saw an art car shoot flames. 

Jessica shared, “During high school, I wore a beautiful purple dress and was a princess. I’ll never forget having this little girl look at me and say, ‘Look, Mommy. It’s a princess!’”

Jessica now brings her 7-year-old son, Elijah, who attends Anderson Elementary. “It’s magical to have grown up watching the parade and to now be sharing this special holiday tradition with my son.” 

Sonnet Mandell (far left) and friends portraying Hansel and Gretel the year the theme was fairy tales.

Jessica shared a few spectator tips, suggesting viewers should consider bringing a chair and blanket plus a bag or deep pockets for the treasures spectators can collect like Mardi Gras beads, candy or other treats thrown from the floats. Parking can be found at Home Depot on Chimney Rock or on nearby side streets (not residential streets). 

Ona Adair, a music teacher at Parker Elementary, loves to participate in the parade with her family, husband Jeff Adair, sons Alex and Derek Adrion and daughter Reed Adair. They came up with some fun Texas themes for this year. “We have six people in our family and were going to be a six-pack of Dr. Pepper but my daughter is Miss Houston Lone Star Princess and got recruited to ride the armadillo float [Dillodolph Float created by Steve Martin] with other pageant girls. The rest of the family will now be representing Whataburger!” Ona added that she loves participating in the parade but being a spectator is a lot of fun too, with a lively, energetic crowd.

“I would love for more people to hear about the parade and come watch or participate,” said Ember. “We have so much fun, and we would love to extend an invitation to our neighbors in Bellaire, Houston and beyond.” 

So whether you’ll be whooping it up wandering down the Westbury trail or hooting and hollering from outside the corral, mosey on over to the 2019 Deck the Halls parade to get a Texas-sized serving of holiday spirit.