As we head into the holiday season, cities across Texas are hosting Thanksgiving and light parades. See the descriptions below to learn where to go or how to tune in to see some of these annual events.
Houston Thanksgiving Parade map
Houston, 75th Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade
Thursday, November 28, at 9 a.m.
Located in the heart of downtown Houston, this event is one of the oldest Thanksgiving Day parades in the country. Each year, several hundred thousand Houstonians line the streets to cheer on participants. The parade will traverse over 20 city blocks and will feature elaborate floats, colorful marching bands, high-flying balloons and other uniquely Houston entries.
El Paso, Sun Bowl Thanksgiving Parade
Thursday, November 28, at 10 a.m.
The El Paso Downtown Lions Club organized the Parade in 1935. The parade was held on New Year’s Day from 1936 until 1978 when the event was rescheduled for Thanksgiving Day. The holiday pageant is planned, coordinated and produced by volunteer efforts and draws an annual crowd of over 250,000 spectators. The Sun Bowl Parade is the largest community event in the West Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico area and brings together service clubs and civic organizations as well as all sectors of business and industries within the community.
San Antonio Riverwalk Parade
San Antonio, 43rd Annual Ford Holiday River Parade and Lighting Ceremony
Friday, November 29, at 6 p.m.
This year’s theme, Toy Box Adventures, promises a whimsical and magical experience for all ages. Join us for our annual spectacle featuring 27 beautifully illuminated floats, 5 entertainment floats, and over 100,000 holiday lights (2,250 strands) that brighten the River Walk from sundown to sunrise until the weekend after New Year’s Day.
Held the day after Thanksgiving, the parade and river lighting ceremony begin on Friday, November 29, 2024, at 6 PM at the Tobin Center, with a live broadcast at 7:05 PM from the Arneson River Theatre.
Dallas Holiday Parade
Dallas, Holiday Parade
Saturday, December 7, at 9 a.m.
This festive parade, full of larger-than-life floats and spirited marching bands, travels through the streets of Downtown Dallas with over 450,000 onlookers, making it one of the largest parades in the country. The parade takes place on the first Saturday of December.
