It’s that time of the year once again! There’s a chill in the air, leaves are falling, and families are gathering to celebrate and give thanks. In addition, Houston has quite a few events going on throughout the long Thanksgiving weekend. If you’re looking for something fun to do, keep reading to discover some of the city’s most iconic events.
76th Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade
All across the United States, cities have their own parades on Thanksgiving morning. You may have seen or heard of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, for example. We have our own parade here in Houston as well, which is one of the oldest of its kind in the nation!
This year is the 76th time the parade is being held, and each year, this free event brings many Houstonians together to watch the decorative and festive floats go by. As part of the parade, there are also performances from singers, bands, and dancers. Combine this with the chilly weather we can usually expect on Thanksgiving mornings, and it becomes an event people look forward to year after year!
Houston Methodist Turkey Trot
Another way Houstonians enjoy Thanksgiving day each year is by signing up for one of many races around the city. One of the most popular is the Houston Methodist Turkey Trot, which is held in the Galleria area. These are so popular, in fact, that every year, thousands of people of all skill levels sign up to run.
You’ll see a few different types of races in these Turkey Trots, from marathons to half-marathons and even races for kids. All racers who sign up receive some fun prizes, such as a t-shirt and a commemorative medal. Thanksgiving “Turkey Trots” such as this one are truly established Houston events for people all around the city to enjoy!
City Lights Downtown Holiday Magic
If you’ve driven anywhere around Houston in the past few weeks, you may have already noticed several places with holiday lights already on display. These holiday lights are another tradition that define the season in Houston, and many of the bigger displays are usually set up on Thanksgiving weekend.
One of these light shows is the Bayou Bend Christmas Village, which our Intensive English students got to enjoy last year! If you’ll be around Downtown Houston, though, you can also see the City Lights, a collection of holiday light displays and activities happening across the whole area.
The Winter Wonderlawn at The POST Houston gives visitors a wonderful view of the Houston skyline while walking through holiday lights and decorations. If you like ice skating, a big outdoor ice skating rink will be set up in Discovery Green, letting you show off your skills on the ice!
As you can see, there is a lot to do here in Houston to celebrate the season. From parades to ice skating rinks and from marathons to holiday lights, the city offers events that everyone can enjoy!
By Hadrian Barbosa