Houston is gearing up for the 76th Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade, set for Thursday, Nov. 27, starting at 9 a.m.
This year’s parade will feature a 40-foot H-E Buddy balloon, a 50-foot Golden Dragon, and appearances by Houston sports mascots Diesel, Clutch, Toro, and Orbit, who will serve as grand marshals. Hundreds of thousands of spectators are expected to line the route for one of the city’s most beloved Thanksgiving traditions.
Featured performers
Christina Wells
Gloria Prince
Bridgjette JacksonAldine Dance
Apache Belles
Carver Aldine Dance Group
Designed 2 Dance
GabrielDe La Fuente
BACKGROUND: Everything you need to know about this year’s Thanksgiving parade in Houston
Marching bands
Westbury High School- Marching Band
Klein Forest Golden Eagle - Marching Band
Stephen F. Austin Sonic Boom - Marching Band
Milby High School - Marching Thunder
Stratford High School - Spartan Band
Waltrip High School - Ram Band
Street closures
Street closures in Houston are scheduled from Nov. 24 through Dec. 8, though dates are subject to change.
- Walker between Bagby & Smith (north & south curb lane) at 7:00 a.m.
- McKinney between Bagby & Smith (north curb lane) at 7:00 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025 to Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025 Parade staging (floats)
- McKinney between Bagby & Smith and McKinney between Smith & Louisiana (all lanes) at 9:00 a.m.
- Brazos between Dallas & Lamar (two center lanes) at 11:30 a.m. - Note: East & West curb lanes will remain open, the floats are to arrive by 11:30 a.m.
- Lamar between Smith & Bagby (two south curb lanes) at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025 Parade staging/load-in/rehearsal
- Walker between Bagby & Smith (two south curb lanes from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
- Louisiana between Dallas & Lamar (east curb lane) at 11:00 a.m. until 11/28 at 5:00 p.m.
- Smith between Walker & Lamar (all lanes) from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. on 11/28
- Smith between Rusk & Dallas at 6:00 p.m. (all lanes) until 3:00 p.m. on 11/28
- Brazos between Dallas & Lamar (all lanes) at 6:00 p.m. - Note: East curb lane will remain open
- Walker between Louisiana & Bagby (all lanes) at 6:00 p.m.
- Lamar between Louisiana & Bagby (all lanes) at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025 Parade staging/disbanding between 6:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Corner of Sabine at Allen Pkwy re-directing traffic coming from Hwy 45 Off Ramp into Sabine towards Memorial Dr (6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. only)
- Allen Parkway (inbound) between Taft & Bagby • Bagby (northbound) between Dallas & McKinney
- Bagby (southbound) between Walker & Clay
- Lamar between Louisiana & outbound Allen Parkway at I-45 overpass
- Gillette St. (close midblock - beginning north of The Federal Reserve Bank to Allen Parkway) Parade route between 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. / Parade begins at 9:00 a.m.
- Smith between Lamar & Walker
- Walker between Smith & Milam
- Milam between Walker & Pease
- Pease between Milam & Louisiana
- Louisiana between Pease & Clay
- Clay between Louisiana & Smith
- Smith between Clay & Dallas / Parade concludes on Smith at Dallas
Reserve parade seat details
The 76th annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade is set for Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, with entertainment starting at 8 a.m. Seating opens at 7 a.m., and attendees must be in their seats by 8:15 a.m. to enjoy the festivities. Paradegoers should plan for heavy traffic and street closures in downtown Houston, and allow extra time for parking, as access along the route will be limited. Ticketed spectators can enter seating areas from Louisiana and McKinney or Smith and Walker.
Tickets are first come, first served, for general seating only. Children must have a ticket unless in a carrier or on an adult’s lap. Rain or shine, tickets are non-refundable. Once purchased, confirmation emails include a map of seating areas and arrival instructions, and ushers will scan tickets at each section. Seating areas will close once they reach capacity, and all tickets must be purchased in advance with no door sales available.
This year will feature a 40-foot H-E Buddy balloon, a 50-foot Golden Dragon, and other floats. Beloved Houston sports mascots Diesel, Clutch, Toro, and Orbit will serve as the 2025 grand marshals.