Rob Giardinelli
The Iconic Holiday Shopping Spectacular Toasts Decades Of Sparkle, Spirit, And Its Most Successful Fundraising Total To Date
By Rob Giardinelli Photography by Daniel Ortiz
THE SCENE: Over the course of three days, nearly 8,000 of Space City’s most notable community leaders, art patrons, sociables, and philanthropists turned out in full force for several VIP events, celebrating one of Houston’s most beloved, anticipated, and fun events. The crowd was on hand for the 45th Annual Nutcracker Market. Benefiting the Houston Ballet, the trio of events included fabulous fashions, dazzling performances, and great shopping opportunities for guests.
THE VIBE: During the events, guests donned an eclectic mix of ensembles, ready to get into the holiday and shopping spirit. In the crowd, one could spot cocktail attire, holiday ensembles, hats, and various forms of shoes, with many opting for cocktail casual to navigate the NRG Center more easily.
Kicking off the Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market festivities was the Wells Fargo Preview Party on Wednesday night. Here, 5,000 shoppers received a special sneak peek to purchase items from this year’s Nutcracker Market, which featured over 280 merchants from around the country, with each participating vendor donating 11% of their proceeds to the Houston Ballet. During the preview party, guests posed in front of the giant Christmas tree at the market’s entrance, sipped cocktails, and enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and desserts while purchasing must-have items. Complimenting the room were Houston Ballet Academy Students dressed in costumes from Stanton Welch’s The Nutcracker, as well as tunes by the David Caceres Orchestra, which had revelers celebrating in the whole holiday spirit.
Then on Thursday afternoon, 1,400 fashionistas headed back to NRG Center for the first of two must-see fashion events. The crowd was on hand for the Snow Queen’s Fashion Show & Luncheon. Upon entering the room, guests were transported to a Winter Wonderland, beautifully complemented by an array of classic Christmas songs. The afternoon included a fashion show with stunning designs courtesy of Sak’s Fifth Avenue and Italian National champion ballroom dancers Mirko Spano and Pamela Romano, who floated down the runway and brought the crowd to their feet.
Capping off the VIP events was the second of two epic fashion shows on Friday: the Sugar Plum’s Fashion Show & Luncheon. Also held at the NRG Center, guests were treated to a Macy’s runway show, which transformed the catwalk into a majestic winter landscape. The fashion show featured a mix of winter, holiday, and western looks that dazzled the crowd. The afternoon featured a special appearance by the Kilgore College Rangerettes and honored Jean May for her tireless support of the Houston Ballet over the years.
After all that fun, there was only one more thing to do. Head back to the NRG Center over the weekend and purchase more holiday goodies for friends and families. Many patrons who attended the VIP events found the gravitational pull and fun too tough to resist, highlighting why Nutcracker Market is one of the city’s must-attend events of the year.
THE NON-PROFIT: The 45th Annual Nutcracker Market was made possible by a powerhouse ensemble of community leaders. The Preview Party, which raised a record-breaking $1.5 million, was co-chaired by Susan Binney and Jennifer Kushner. The Snow Queen’s Fashion Show & Luncheon, which raised a record-breaking $450,000, was co-chaired by Jayne Johnston and Liliana Soltero. The Sugar Plum’s Fashion Show and Luncheon, which raised a record-breaking $450,000, was co-chaired by Elizabeth Connelly and Melissa Reihle.
In total, the three VIP events raised over $2.4 million for the Houston Ballet. Proceeds raised from the event series will fund programs and educational initiatives that provide world-class art and performance to Houstonians and beyond. Since its founding, Nutcracker Market has raised over $97.6 million for the Houston Ballet. We can’t wait for next year’s event when it hopefully crosses the $100 million all-time fundraising threshold.
