Houston Unveils Holiday Lineup: Lizzo to Lead Thanksgiving Day Parade Nov. 26, Free City Hall Tree Lighting Concert Dec. 5
Houston, Harris County, Texas Mayor John Whitmire joined event sponsors at City Hall's Legacy Room (901 Bagby St) on October 26 to announce plans for the city's two signature holiday traditions: the 77th Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade downtown at 9 a.m. on Thursday, November 26, and Deck the Hall, the Mayor's Holiday Tree Lighting Concert, at Hermann Square in front of City Hall on Saturday, December 5, with gates opening at 4 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public.
The Mayor's Office of Special Events' official events calendar lists the Thanksgiving parade from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hermann Square and surrounding streets. Houston-born superstar Lizzo will serve as this year's Grand Marshal; an Alief Elsik High School alumna and former University of Houston student, she made a sold-out debut at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo earlier this year. Miss America 2027 Regan Hutsell will join as a special guest, and the Elsik marching band will march alongside its distinguished alumna.
"Welcoming Lizzo home as our Grand Marshal is a proud moment for Houston," Mayor Whitmire said. "Her journey reflects the talent growing in our neighborhoods and communities. We look forward to gathering downtown this Thanksgiving to celebrate with our families and share this Houston tradition." This year's parade features 15 floats and 10 giant balloons, including a 50-foot Popeye, a 50-foot Santa Elmo and a 40-foot Cookie Monster, plus returning favorites such as the 40-foot H-E-Buddy, the University of Houston-Downtown's 40-foot Ed-U-Gator and the 25-foot Howdy. Performers include RaeLynn paying tribute to Dolly Parton, Christian recording artist Micah Tyler performing "Little Drummer Boy," and the Apache Belles' signature kick line.
The December 5 tree lighting concert, presented by Reliant and produced by the Mayor's Office of Special Events in partnership with Houston Civic Events, Inc., will be headlined by R&B group En Vogue, joined by Houston native MAJOR. and "American Idol" standout Jessica Sanchez, with the Deck the Hall Band performing live; the evening features the lighting of Houston's official holiday tree. The city encourages residents to plan ahead and use public transit to reach downtown for both events.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：休斯顿市政厅与赫尔曼广场。摄影：Euthman，CC BY 4.0，来源：Wikimedia Commons / Photo: Houston City Hall and Hermann Square. Photo by Euthman, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
