Sure, age is just a number. But there’s a reason coming-of-age celebrations exist. Something important happens during that fuzzy period between childhood and adulthood, something fundamental, worth marking and commemorating. Different cultures do this in different ways, of course, and because this is Houston, all of them can be found fêting their almost-adults—at quinceañeras, deb balls, b’nai mitzvah, Sweet 16 parties, and more—on any given weekend around town.

Collectively, these traditions say something about who we as Houstonians are, and who we want to be: our greatest hopes for the future. They also say everything about how to throw one heck of an awesome party in Houston. Intrigued? Read on.