A bigger show set for revived Thanksgiving parade

This map shows the route for the 2013 Houston Thanksgiving Parade, which will feature 12 new floats, five new marching bands and Santa Claus. Houston on Parade, the city's 64th annual Thanksgiving Parade, will wind through 20 downtown blocks Thursday morning. The parade will begin at 9 a.m. at Smith and Lamar. less This map shows the route for the 2013 Houston Thanksgiving Parade, which will feature 12 new floats, five new marching bands and Santa Claus. Houston on Parade, the city's 64th annual Thanksgiving Parade, ... more Image 1 of / 74 Caption Close A bigger show set for revived Thanksgiving parade 1 / 74 Back to Gallery

On the endangered species list just months ago, Houston's Turkey Day parade will strut through downtown streets Thursday with feathers flying.

With nine-time Tony Award winner Tommy Tune leading the way as grand marshal, the 64th annual parade will feature 12 floats, 13 parade balloons and five marching bands. Along with the expanded lineup will come common-sense amenities - food trucks and restrooms - for the 250,000 spectators expected to line the 20-block route.

Even the weather should smile, with Wednesday night's near-freezing temperatures moving toward the high 50s on Thursday.

"This is a phoenix rising," said Susan Christian, director of the Mayor's Office of Special Events. Christian's office assumed production responsibilities for the parade three months ago after the previous producer, Houston Festival Foundation, announced it lacked funds to continue the event.

"I understand the parade's importance to our residents, and that is why I was adamant that it must continue," Mayor Annise Parker said Tuesday. "Whether your favorite part is the balloons or the floats and bands or Santa, this is a free and fun event to enjoy before sitting down with loved ones to give thanks for the many blessings that grace our lives."

Thursday's parade - "Houston on Parade" - will feature twice as many floats and three times as many parade balloons as last year, Christian said. New, too, will be increased opportunities for spectators to see the performing groups in action. Each time a performing unit stops before Channel 11's cameras - broadcasting live - every performing group in the parade also will stop to go through its routine.

Among the new floats - the festival foundation sold the old floats to Hidalgo - will include entries from H-E-B, featuring a children's choir; Houston Ballet, with a scene from "The Nutcracker"; and Theatre Under the Stars, with performing elves.

Beginning at 9 a.m. at Smith and Lamar, the parade will unwind in five themed segments: Houston is Artistic, Houston is Cookin', Houston is Global, Houston is Adventurous and Houston is Grateful.

H-E-B, the San Antonio-based supermarket chain, will be the parade's lead sponsor. Others include Houston Arts Alliance, Central Houston Civic Improvement, CHCI Top Turkeys, Goya Foods, Houston Astros, Houston Ballet, Houston Chronicle, Jack in the Box/Texas Sentinels, KHOU-TV, Radio Disney, Magic 102-FM, Sunny 99.1, Sports Talk 790, McDonald's, Theatre Under the Stars and Wells Fargo.

As of Tuesday, Christian said, the parade's $500,000 budget goal nearly had been reached. An additional $1 million in in-kind services has been pledged, she said. The city will provide police, post-parade cleanup and salaries for Christian's staff, but no direct funding. Some 700 volunteers have been assigned Thursday-morning duties.

The Thanksgiving Day parade traces its history to 1949, when Santa Claus made a sleigh ride from Union Station to Foley's department store, then the sponsor.

"I think that one of the most significant parts of the parade as its executive producer is the knowledge that generations of families have grown up on this parade," Christian said. "To continue that tradition is very important for Houston. It touches on that aspect of a historic community that every great city has.""