Two Texas Cities Throw Massive Thanksgiving Day Parades – And Both Are Free

Forget watching parades on TV. Texas has its own Thanksgiving morning traditions with hundreds of thousands of people lining the streets in Houston and El Paso to watch floats, balloons, and marching bands roll by.

Both parades happen Thanksgiving morning, November 27. Both are free. Both draw massive crowds. And both give you a reason to get dressed and actually leave the house before the turkey goes in the oven.

Houston: 76 Years of Thanksgiving Tradition

The 76th Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off at 9 a.m. in downtown Houston. This is one of the oldest Thanksgiving parades in the country, running since 1949 when Santa first arrived at Union Station and paraded to what was then Foley’s department store.

Several hundred thousand spectators line the streets every year to watch the parade traverse more than 20 city blocks along Smith, Walker, Milam, and Louisiana streets. You can stake out your free spot along the route, or buy premium reserved seats for $28.25 if you want guaranteed sightlines.

This year’s grand marshals are Houston’s sports mascots – Clutch from the Rockets, Diesel from the Dynamo and Dash, Orbit from the Astros, and Toro from the Texans. All four will lead the parade together, representing Houston’s championship sports culture.

The lineup includes 15 elaborate floats and 11 massive balloons. One float pays tribute to iconic Houston artist David Addickes, creator of the “We Love Houston” sign, the President Heads, and the towering Sam Houston statue. H-E-B’s signature 40-foot H-E Buddy balloon returns, along with a 50-foot Golden Dragon that’s going to look incredible floating above downtown buildings.

Expect colorful marching bands, performances throughout the route, and that uniquely Houston energy that turns a parade into a full-blown celebration. The Mayor’s Office of Special Events has been running this parade since 2013, building on decades of tradition.

Streets start closing as early as 6 a.m. for parade staging, with the route itself shutting down around 8 a.m. Plan to arrive early if you want good viewing spots – by 9 a.m., prime locations will be packed.

El Paso: Where 250,000 People Show Up for Thanksgiving

The 89th Annual Glasheen, Valles & Inderman Injury Lawyers Sun Bowl Parade starts at 10 a.m. on Montana Avenue, running from Ochoa Street to Copia Street. This is El Paso’s largest single-day attended event, drawing an estimated 250,000 spectators every Thanksgiving morning.

The parade started in 1935, originally held on New Year’s Day until 1978 when it moved to Thanksgiving. Now it’s the largest community event in the West Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico border region. Over 700 volunteers help produce this parade, bringing together civic organizations, businesses, and community groups across the borderland.

This year’s grand marshal is Chef Aarón Sánchez, the El Paso native who’s a judge on FOX’s MasterChef and MasterChef Junior. He’s also the chef/owner of Johnny Sánchez restaurant in New Orleans and runs the Aarón Sánchez Impact Fund, which provides culinary scholarships to aspiring chefs from underserved communities.

The 2025 theme is “Childhood is Where Dreams Are Born,” celebrating the imagination and potential of young people. Expect floats celebrating that theme, along with marching bands, dancers, and community groups showcasing El Paso’s rich border culture.

KTSM News Channel 9 televises the parade live, so if you can’t make it in person or want to watch from the warmth of your home, you can catch the broadcast. But standing along Montana Avenue with a quarter-million other people, watching your city come together on Thanksgiving morning – that’s an experience TV can’t replicate.

El Paso Police block traffic on Montana from Mesa to U.S. 54 starting at 5:30 a.m., with towing enforcement beginning at 5 a.m. Get there before 8 a.m. to claim the best viewing spots along the two-hour parade route. Bleacher seats are available for $10 at Vista Market locations if you want guaranteed seating in front of Emergence Health Network on Montana Avenue.

Why These Parades Matter

Thanksgiving morning parades aren’t just entertainment – they’re community traditions that bring entire cities together before families scatter to their individual celebrations. You stand shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers who become neighbors for a couple hours, everyone bundled up against November morning chill, sharing excitement when the floats appear.

Kids sit on parents’ shoulders to see over the crowd. Families stake out the same viewing spots year after year, creating their own traditions within the larger tradition. High school bands march with pride, knowing their whole community is watching. Local organizations spend months building floats, pouring creativity and effort into something that rolls past in minutes but creates memories that last.

Both Houston and El Paso kept these parades running through world wars, economic downturns, and even found creative ways to continue during the pandemic. That persistence speaks to how deeply these events matter to their communities.

Planning Your Parade Morning

Dress in layers. November mornings in Texas can start chilly and warm up fast. Comfortable shoes matter when you’re standing for hours. Bring lawn chairs or blankets if you’re claiming sidewalk space early.

Pack snacks and water, especially if you’re bringing kids. Parades run for hours, and little ones get hungry. Portable phone chargers help since you’ll be taking photos and videos.

Arrive early. Both parades draw enormous crowds, and the best viewing spots fill up fast. Getting there an hour or two before start time means better sightlines and less stress.

Check parking and street closures ahead of time. Houston shuts down major downtown streets starting at 6 a.m. El Paso starts towing at 5 a.m. Plan alternate routes and parking locations before you leave home.

If you have mobility concerns, both parades offer reserved seating options. Houston’s premium seats give you guaranteed viewing without the scramble. El Paso’s bleacher seats provide elevation and support. Worth the small fee for comfort and accessibility.

The Real Thanksgiving Morning

Sure, you could stay home and watch the Macy’s parade on TV while prepping your meal. Or you could make your own tradition by joining hundreds of thousands of Texans who start Thanksgiving by celebrating community, creativity, and the simple joy of watching giant balloons float past downtown buildings.

These parades represent what makes Texas special – cities that honor tradition while building new memories, communities that show up in huge numbers to support local celebrations, and the understanding that some experiences just work better when you’re there in person.