Houston Thanksgiving Day Parade Taps Lizzo as Grand Marshal

HOUSTON, Texas – Grammy Award winner Lizzo will serve as grand marshal of the 77th Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade in Houston, Mayor John Whitmire announced Monday. The Houston Thanksgiving Day Parade starts at 9 a.m. Thursday, November 26.

The city also named R&B supergroup En Vogue as the headliner for Deck the Hall, the Mayor’s Holiday Tree-lighting and Concert, on Saturday, December 5, at City Hall in downtown Houston. Both events are free.

Lizzo returns to Houston

Lizzo is a four-time Grammy Award-winning and Emmy Award-winning recording artist, author and actress. The city honored her earlier this year with a proclamation recognizing her achievements and contributions to music education, according to the Mayor’s Office.

Whitmire announced the lineup with representatives from H-E-B, Reliant, RODEO HOUSTON, BP America and Downtown Houston Plus.

Deck the Hall returns December 5

Reliant presents Deck the Hall, which brings live music and holiday traditions to the front of City Hall. The centerpiece is the lighting of a 52-foot holiday tree decorated with 4,000 ornaments and nearly 100,000 energy-efficient LED lights.

The event also includes family activities, treats and a fireworks finale. Vocalists Jessica Sanchez and MAJOR will perform, and En Vogue will close out the night.

What the mayor said

“One of the real pleasant parts of being Mayor is the holiday season,” Whitmire said. “Most days myself and my team members work on challenges to fix some of the neglect from years past to prepare to go forward, and this is a big part of going forward.

“Everyone is welcome. I encourage all Houstonians to attend, no questions asked. Please join us and be part of our family.”

Whitmire said the season is a time to celebrate the progress Houston is making as it takes on its challenges. The Mayor’s Office said city planning and collaboration aim to keep both events safe and welcoming.

The Mayor’s Office of Special Events website lists detailed schedules, performers, parade routes and road closures. The city also posted a video of the full announcement.