Mayor Whitmire Announces Details of Houston Holiday Events
HOUSTON — The holidays in Houston are set to shine brighter than ever as Mayor John Whitmire unveiled plans Monday for two of the city’s biggest seasonal celebrations — the 76th Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade and Deck the Hall: The Mayor’s Holiday Tree Lighting Concert.
The 76th Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade, returning to downtown Houston on Thursday, Nov. 27, will feature 15 floats, 11 balloons and appearances from Houston’s favorite mascots — Clutch, Diesel, Orbit and Toro — as this year’s Grand Marshals.
Performers include Christian artist Danny Gokey, rising country star Payton Howie, Theatre Under the Stars, the Apache Belles, Houston’s own Kam Franklin of The Suffers, local performance group Adams Davy, SoReal Dance Studio and more! The parade, beginning at 9 a.m., will once again fill the streets with color, music and hometown pride.
“Year after year, the H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade reminds us of what community truly means—joy, gratitude, and coming together to celebrate,” Lisa Helfman, Managing Director, H-E-B Public Affairs, Houston said. “As we step into the parade’s 76th year, we’re honored to continue this cherished Houston tradition that fills our city with holiday spirit.”
A little over a week later, Houstonians can keep the festivities going with Deck the Hall: The Mayor’s Holiday Tree Lighting Concert on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., in Hermann Square at City Hall. Mayor Whitmire will lead the official countdown to light the tree.
Presented by Reliant, the family-friendly event features Grammy-nominated R&B legend Brian McKnight headlining alongside other talent and The Ernest Walker Band. The concert portion of the event kicks off at 6 p.m. Other highlights include Reliant’s blinking Santa hats, the new Winter Wonderland Kids Zone, Santa’s Workshop and a fireworks finale set to falling snow.
“This event is one of my favorite holiday traditions,” Whitmire said. “It’s a wonderful time for Houstonians from every neighborhood to come together, share in the joy of the season, and celebrate the unity and spirit that make our city so special. I thank Reliant and our community partners for making this annual celebration possible.”
Both events are free and open to the public, inviting Houstonians to celebrate the season together in the heart of downtown. For more details, visit houstontx.gov or follow @coh_mayors_events on Instagram and @HoustonSpecialEvents on Facebook.
