ABC13 will host the 76th Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade in downtown Houston

HOUSTON (KTRK) — ABC13 is proud to host the 76th Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade rolling through downtown Houston!

ABC13 morning anchors Rita Garcia and Samica Knight will host the parade, beginning Thanksgiving at 9 a.m.

“For more than seven decades, Houston families have gathered downtown on Thanksgiving morning to celebrate community, gratitude, and holiday cheer,” said Mayor John Whitmire. “We look forward to another magical morning filled with music, joy, and the spirit that makes this city so special.”

This year’s parade has not one, but four Grand Marshal’s – Houston’s beloved sports mascots! Clutch, Diesel, Orbit and Toro will lead the parade route.

There are several musical performances from all different genres, with something for everyone to enjoy on Thanksgiving Day! Christian music star Danny Gokey will perform on the KSBJ float, while rising country star Payton Howie performs on the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo float. Houston native Kam Franklin, lead singer of The Suffers, will also perform Thanksgiving morning.

Houston’s inaugural Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1949 when Santa arrived at Union Station and rode his sleigh to the downtown Foley’s department store. This year, the parade 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 ending at Smith and Dallas.

The Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade is free and open to the public. If you can’t make it in person, ABC13 will air the parade from 9-10 a.m. on ABC13, as well as all of its streaming platforms and on abc13.com.