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March of Moving Art
  
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By Kim Hogstrom
The H-E-B Holiday Parade marks the offical beginning of the holidays. As kids, we knew the colorful procession and cold morning were preludes to the warm gatherings of family and the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of all things wonderful. This year’s parade holds no less promise ... perhaps even a bit more for children of the Internet age. This year, the 59th Annual H-E-B Holiday Parade is Nov. 27. from 9 to 10 a.m., admission is free and spectators can expect to see many parade favorites with a few modern twists.
From Texas Avenue and Hamilton, to Rusk and Crawford in downtown Houston, thousands of folks will line the streets as giant balloons float by. SpongeBob Squarepants, Barney, a BIG retriever puppy and others will bob and hover above city streets to the delight of all.
Marching bands and a myriad of musical entertainment are in store including the Rice University’s Marching Owl Band, the Morton Ranch High School Maverick Marching Band and Ambassadors International Ballet Folklorico to name only a few of many.
And floats, you ask? You bet, this parade is famous for its floats. Expect to see the Ronald McDonald Shoe Car, the Jello-O Brigade float, and a giant shopping cart from H-E-B. Of course, as tradition dictates, Santa will make a special personal appearance on his anxiously awaited float near the end of the parade.
While the parade’s floats are some of the finest in the U.S., it’s no easy task managing these large, moving works of art.
“Each (float) is about 30 feet long and stands almost 30 feet high,” said Tracy Golden, Parade Director. “They are so big we can’t find a warehouse for them so their final assembly is done under the freeway downtown. It’s really something to see.”
This year, Houston is rolling out the red carpet with its “Hooray for Hollywood” theme including a big float of the same name celebrating the magic of movies and television. In keeping with the theme, “tween” idol Mitchel Musso will preform live on the float.
The 17-year-old Musso is originally from Texas and is best known for his role of Oliver Oken on Disney’s “Hannah Montana,” and his starring role in the TV movie “Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire” alongside Chuck Norris.
Local star Deborah Duncan will also delight the crowds from on board the Tom Turkey float. Duncan, who will be singing, is best known for her work at Channel 11 but she has also won national awards for entertainemnt including two Emmies and two Grammies. As most who know her will agree, only the Tom Turkey float would do for this funny, extremely talented and good-natured Houstonian.
And if all that’s not enough, this year’s parade will feature performances by long-time, celebrated, gospel music artist, James Fortune, the cast of White Christmas from Theatre Under the Stars, and a performance by 250 (yes, 250) UCA cheerleaders.
Estimates are that about 400,000 people will attend the parade while several million more will watch it on TV in cities across the state including Dallas, Austin and San Antonio – cities do not even have a Thanksgiving Day parade.
From every angle, Houston’s annual Holiday Parade is a remarkable event, made all the more so when one considers it’s organized and executed by fewer than a dozen people each year.
That’s correct — this parade is a nonprofit venture with no full-time employees. Fortunately, for the millions who enjoy it, H-E-B underwrites much of the expense while a cast of no less than 6,000 volunteers appear early every Thanksgiving morning to keep the massive event running smoothly.
“The best part of all of the planning and work comes the morning of the parade,” said Golden. “Looking up from the street and seeing the faces of the children, that’s where the reward is. No matter how old you are, the parade will makes everyone feel like a kid.”
H-E-B Holiday Parade
This year, the 59th Annual H-E-B Holiday Parade is Nov. 27 in downtown Houston starting in front of Minute Maid Park. The parade is from 9 to 10 a.m., admission is free and spectators can expect to see many parade favorites with a few modern twists.
From Texas Avenue and Hamilton, to Rusk and Crawford in downtown Houston, thousands of folks will line the streets as giant balloons float by. SpongeBob Squarepants, Barney, a BIG retriever puppy and others will bob and hover above city streets to the delight of all.
Marching bands and a myriad of musical entertainment are in store including the Rice University’s Marching Owl Band, the Morton Ranch High School Maverick Marching Band and Ambassadors International Ballet Folklorico to name only a few of many.
And floats, you ask? You bet, this parade is famous for its floats. Expect to see the Ronald McDonald Shoe Car, the Jello-O Brigade float, and a giant shopping cart from H-E-B. Of course, as tradition dictates, Santa will make a special personal appearance on his anxiously awaited float near the end of the parade.
While the parade’s floats are some of the finest in the U.S., it’s no easy task managing these large, moving works of art.
“Each (float) is about 30 feet long and stands almost 30 feet high,” said Tracy Golden, Parade Director. “They are so big we can’t find a warehouse for them so their final assembly is done under the freeway downtown. It’s really something to see.”
This year, Houston is rolling out the red carpet with its “Hooray for Hollywood” theme including a big float of the same name celebrating the magic of movies and television. In keeping with the theme, “tween” idol Mitchel Musso will preform live on the float.
The 17-year-old Musso is originally from Texas and is best known for his role of Oliver Oken on Disney’s “Hannah Montana,” and his starring role in the TV movie “Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire” alongside Chuck Norris.
Local star Deborah Duncan will also delight the crowds from on board the Tom Turkey float. Duncan, who will be singing, is best known for her work at Channel 11 but she has also won national awards for entertainemnt including two Emmies and two Grammies. As most who know her will agree, only the Tom Turkey float would do for this funny, extremely talented and good-natured Houstonian.
And if all that’s not enough, this year’s parade will feature performances by long-time, celebrated, gospel music artist, James Fortune, the cast of White Christmas from Theatre Under the Stars, and a performance by 250 (yes, 250) UCA cheerleaders.
Estimates are that about 400,000 people will attend the parade while several million more will watch it on TV in cities across the state including Dallas, Austin and San Antonio – cities do not even have a Thanksgiving Day parade.
From every angle, Houston’s annual Holiday Parade is a remarkable event, made all the more so when one considers it’s organized and executed by fewer than a dozen people each year.
That’s correct — this parade is a nonprofit venture with no full-time employees. Fortunately, for the millions who enjoy it, H-E-B underwrites much of the expense while a cast of no less than 6,000 volunteers appear early every Thanksgiving morning to keep the massive event running smoothly.
“The best part of all of the planning and work comes the morning of the parade,” said Golden. “Looking up from the street and seeing the faces of the children, that’s where the reward is. No matter how old you are, the parade will makes everyone feel like a kid.”
H-E-B Holiday Parade
This year, the 59th Annual H-E-B Holiday Parade is Nov. 27 in downtown Houston starting in front of Minute Maid Park. The parade is from 9 to 10 a.m., admission is free and spectators can expect to see many parade favorites with a few modern twists.
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