Department stores setting up wreaths and nutcrackers before freakin' Halloween aside, Houston has no official start to the Christmas season, but the annual Uptown Holiday Lighting is a good marker. Thousands of Houstonians will attend this year's event, which features half a million twinkling lights on 80 brilliantly lit trees standing over Post Oak Boulevard, holiday music, food, fireworks and an appearance by Santa himself (it's nice of him to show up in Houston during his busy time of the year). Benefiting the Sheltering Arms Senior Services and Be An Angel organizations, the Uptown Holiday Lighting is a great way to transition from turkeys to tinsel. 4 p.m. Post Oak Boulevard between San Felipe and Westheimer. For information, call 713-621-2504 or visit www.uptown-houston.com. Free.
Thu., Nov. 26, 4 p.m., 2009