Having kicked off the holiday season in the Houston area for more than six decades, the HEB Holiday Parade has become a tradition in Southeast Texas as Thanksgiving Turkey and the Christmas lights. Although the parade has changed its name over the years, this is still the largest and longest-running Thanksgiving Day parade in Texas. Since its inception in 1949, the HEB Holiday Parade has wowed attendees (and watching on television) with an abundance of floats, high-flying balloon characters, marching bands, dance teams, and live entertainment.
Most of the time, the HEB Holiday Parade is accompanied by pleasant late fall weather, making it a perfect outing for families.
The 2016 edition, which is the 67th annual, promises to be even bigger than previous versions and is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving (November 24). The parade spans downtown Houston. The parade will begin at 9:00 am at Smith in Lamar, north to Walker, east to Milam, south to Pease, west to Louisiana, north to Clay, west to Smith and north to finish in Smith and Dallas. General admission is free, but the area fills up. Prices for reserved tickets range from $ 10 to $ 21, depending on when purchased and whether they are grandstand or “turkey” seats.
Parking is another consideration for those who wish to attend the HEB Holiday Parade. The best parking is located in the Theater District parking lot. Metro buses will also follow their normal schedule, allowing spectators to park and take the parade route.
