Lights in the Heights
Friday, December 21st, 2007
A few weeks ago, we went to the Lights in the Heights. It was the evening of course, so I apologize for all the dark and blurry pictures. We live so close that we just had to go over I45 and turn at Houston AVe, but we drove because it’s a longer walk than we would like to make otherwise, and it’s not a very safe walk since once you get to the park side of the bridge, there’s no sidewalk and no lights until you get to Houston Ave anyway. Plus, we had Eli with us and he can’t walk very fast yet.
The event was extremely well attended. There must have been thousands of people walking all up and down Bayland, Woodland. Dozens of different musical performances played on the porches or driveways of some of the homes. Lots of kids, lots of parents, and lots of other adults in santa hats pulling little red wagons with coolers from which they would stop every now and then to grab another beer as they continued to press on. Families of vendors pushed carts selling little glowing bracelets and other toys. We saw at least three HPD Mounted Patrol officers and few other officers using their vehicles to block off the streets from car traffic. I heard there was also a Police armored tank on display, but we didn’t see it. We saw artcars that were decorated with poinsettias and garlands and lights. Parents would put their kids on the cars and take pictures. I overheard one old guy say to someone else that this was turning into some kind of festival.
I do believe it originally started as just a community get-together. Word got out, and others began to attend. I heard somewhere that this was the 20th anniversary of the event. Personally, I think it’s one of those great, local ideas and events that remind us Houstonians that there is something to be proud of in this city and something to love about ourselves. I hear all the time about how Houston doesn’t have an identity. I think we do have an identity, but it’s probably not something that the tourism industry can promote. Just something that we are and don’t think much about.
