Expand / Collapse search
☰

68th Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade closures

By FOX 26 Houston staff
Published  November 23, 2017 12:43am CST
Traffic
FOX 26 Houston

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Mayor Sylvester Turner will launch the 2017 holiday season with the 68th annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday starting at 9 a.m.

Actress Chandra Wilson, a native of Houston and graduate of The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, will serve as the parade grand marshal. She is a fervent supporter of HSPVA with her scholarship program and acts as an advocate for the City of Houston.

"This year we are especially thrilled to bring the tradition of the annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade to Houstonians after the devastation our city has seen," said Mayor Sylvester Turner. "And, we are particularly eager to welcome home our very own Chandra Wilson as this year's grand marshal.. She may live in Hollywood - but we claim her wholeheartedly and look forward to giving her this honor."

Country musician RaeLynn will perform on the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo float. 

The parade will feature winners of the annual local artist float competition.

"H-E-B is proud to join Mayor Turner in uplifting the City at this grand event," said H-E-B public affairs director Cyndy Garza Roberts. "We truly have much to be thankful for this year despite our recent trials, and as we recover and rebuild we remain Houston Strong. It is our privilege to stand with Houston and share our bounty - from providing for our neighbors weathering the storm throughout the state to supporting this much-loved Thanksgiving Day tradition with Houston families."

The Houston Thanksgiving Day Parade tradition began in 1949 when Santa arrived at Union Station and rode his sleigh to the downtown Houston Foley's department store. The annual event, which is produced by the Mayor's Office of Special Events, will begin on Smith at Lamar, head north to Walker, east to Milam, south to Pease, west to Louisiana, north to Clay, west to Smith, and north to end at Smith and Dallas.

In addition to H-E-B, other event sponsors inlcude Highland Village Shopping Center, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Airgas, AirLiquide, Hyatt Regency Downtown, Magical Winter Lights, Wells Fargo, GOYA Food and Miri Piri Academy.

The following street closures for Thursday are the result of staging and disbanding between 6 a.m. until 2 p.m.:

  • Allen Parkway (inbound) between Taft and Bagby Street
  • Bagby Street (northbound) between Dallas and McKinney
  • Bagby Street (southbound) between Walker and Clay
  • Brazos (north/southbound) between Dallas and Lamar
  • Lamar between Louisiana and Allen Parkway (outbound) at I-45 overpass

Parade route between 6:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. / Parade begins at 9:00 a.m.

  • Smith Street between Lamar and Walker Street
  • Walker Street between Smith and Milam
  • Milam Street between Walker and Pease Street
  • Pease Street between Milam and Louisiana Street
  • Louisiana Street between Pease and Clay Street
  • Clay between Louisiana and Smith
  • Smith between Clay and Dallas / Parade concludes on Smith at Dallas

Parking will be available in Tranquility Garage, entrance #2 on Rusk St. and entrance #5 on Capital St. Please note, the garage is still in repair due to Hurricane Harvey and does not have elevator access. Anyone with special needs or families with strollers should park in Hobby parking garage, entering from Rusk St.