[Press Conference: "H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade and Reliant's Deck the Hall Tree Lighting Details" on October 27, 2025]
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I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU THE REMAKING OF THESE PARADES AND THE TREE LIGHTING INTO SOMETHING THAT ADDS ENERGY.
IT'S WHAT WE NEED ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND AS WE GO ABOUT OUR DAILY DUTIES OF PROVIDING FOR THIS GREAT CITY, WE NEED DAYS LIKE TODAY TO PAUSE AND REMEMBER WHAT'S IMPORTANT, HOW BLESSED WE ALL ARE TO BE LIVING IN HOUSTON, TEXAS COULDN'T TAKE PLACE WITHOUT OUR CITY EMPLOYEES.
EVENTS LIKE THIS, EVENTS THAT WE'RE GONNA ANNOUNCE DON'T JUST HAPPEN, COMES WITH A LOT OF HARD WORK THOUGHT.
AND LET ME JUST PAUSE FOR A MOMENT AND SAY, OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS PUBLIC SAFETY.
CHIEF DIAZ IS HERE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS PREPARED.
WE WANT EVERYONE TO ENJOY THE HOLIDAY SEASON, OUR PARADE, OUR LIGHTING OF THE TREE, AND WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE ALL HOUSTONIANS.
WE DON'T CARE WHAT COMMUNITY YOU COME FROM, WHAT CHALLENGES YOU'RE FACING, YOUR ANXIETY.
WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS WHY WE'RE HAVING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY TO BRING IT FORWARD.
WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT OUR PARTNERS.
HEB IS SO SPECIAL, THEY'RE ALWAYS THERE TO HELP US.
AND WE WILL HEAR FROM OUR STAKEHOLDERS BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT SOME EXCITING NEWS.
THEY'VE GONE BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND THEY'RE GONNA ANNOUNCE IT TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE YOU PROVIDE, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR EXCITING NEWS.
AND OF COURSE, CHRIS LAWSON WITH DOWNTOWN HOUSTON, PLUS OUR PARTNER ON A DAILY BASIS TO MAKE THIS CITY GREAT.
I THE SMILES THAT IT'S GONNA BRING THE THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT, AND THEN THE TREE LIGHTING.
I CAN'T WAIT TO BRING THEM, BUT ALSO IT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT EXCITES THE GROWNUPS.
AT THIS TIME, RICARDO, I'M GONNA YIELD TO LISA.
YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA REPEAT WHAT HE SAID.
IT'S LIKE THIS BRINGS THE ENERGY AND IT'S THE START OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON, AND WE'RE SO HAPPY TO ONCE AGAIN BE A PART OF THIS THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE YEAR AFTER YEAR.
THIS HEB THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE, IT REMINDS US OF WHAT COMMUNITY TRULY MEANS.
LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, EVERYBODY'S COMING TOGETHER TO SHARE JOY AND GRATITUDE AND CONNECTION ALONG THAT PARADE ROUTE.
AND IN OUR HOUSES, AS WE'RE COOKING THANKSGIVING DINNER AND WATCHING THE PARADE WITH OUR FAMILY, AND THIS IS OUR 76TH YEAR, WE ARE HONORED TO CONTINUE THIS TREASURED HOUSTON TRADITION THAT FILLS OUR HOLIDAY, OUR CITY WITH HOLIDAY SPIRIT, AND REALLY IGNITES THAT HOLIDAY SPIRIT THIS YEAR.
THE PARADE WILL FEATURE, OF COURSE, OUR FAVORITE FLOATS AND OUR BANDS AND OUR DANCE TEAMS AND BALLOONS, ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR, WE'RE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THERE WILL BE A 40 FOOT AGEY BUDDY BALLOON THAT ALL THE KIDS, INCLUDING THE MAYOR'S GRANDSONS, WILL HOPEFULLY ABSOLUTELY LOVE, ALONG WITH A 50 FOOT GOLDEN DRAGON AND MANY MORE.
AND I GET THE PLEASURE OF ANNOUNCING THIS YEAR'S 2025 HEB THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE, GRAND MARSHALS.
AND I THINK WE'RE IN FOR A SPECIAL TREAT THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE ARE HAVING HOUSTON'S BELOVED SPORTS MASCOTS, ALL OF THEM JOINING US HERE.
WE'VE GOT DIESEL, WE'VE GOT CLUTCH, WE'VE GOT TORO.
AND DON'T WORRY, ORBIT WILL BE HERE TOO.
HE JUST HAD A PRIOR COMMITMENT WITH THE KIDDOS THIS MORNING WHERE HE IS SO CHERISHED THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UM, AND OF COURSE, OUR HE BUDDY WILL BE RIGHT ALONGSIDE OF HIM BECAUSE HE HAS BECOME A WONDERFUL
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HOUSTON MASCOT AS WELL.BUT IF THESE GUYS DON'T BRING THE HOMETOWN SPIRIT AND THE ENERGY THE MAYOR'S TALKING ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW WHO WILL.
I MEAN, YOU CAN SEE MY ENERGY LEVELS RISING JUST FROM BEING AROUND THEM.
WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU WITH US AND WE CAN'T WAIT FOR THANKSGIVING.
IT'S EXTREMELY EXCITING, OBVIOUSLY, TO HAVE, UH, MY KIDS' FAVORITE MASCOTS ON HERE.
UH, BUT I DID WANT TO ADD, I WANT TO THANK RODEO, OBVIOUSLY MUFFY KING HERE REPRESENTING THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO.
UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS, UH, COMING.
WELL, 2026, UH, UH, RODEO PARADE.
BUT, UH, THANK YOU MUFFY FOR BEING HERE.
UH, NOW I WANT TO INTRODUCE, UH, ME, MEGAN MCCONNEY WITH, UH, RELIANT NRG, UH, TO COME AND SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT OUR UPCOMING HOLIDAY SHOW.
UM, AND THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE.
THIS IS SO EXCITING AND OBVIOUSLY THE START OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
AND THIS IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT A RELIANT WE LOOK FORWARD TO EVERY YEAR.
UM, MOST PEOPLE KNOW RELIANT, UM, AS BEING AN ELECTRICITY PROVIDER FOR THEIR HOME OR BUSINESS.
UM, BUT WE'RE ALSO SO COMMITTED TO, UH, THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY AND WE JUST REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THIS EVENT EVERY YEAR.
UM, WE'RE EXCITED TO PARTNER AGAIN WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR THIS FREE FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT.
UM, AND RETURNING THIS YEAR ARE OUR FAN FAVORITE TWINKLING SANTA RELIANT HATS.
I KNOW EVERYTHING'S BIGGER IN TEXAS.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE FLOAT WITH A 48 FEET TALL DECORATED TREE.
AND SO IT'S GONNA HAVE 4,000 ORNAMENTS AND JUST SHY OF 100,000 LED ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHTS.
SO WE WILL BE BRINGING THE ENERGY AND FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT THIS YEAR.
I'M SO EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE AN AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL TALENT HITTING THE STAGE.
GRAMMY NOMINATED R AND B LEGEND BRIAN MCKNIGHT WILL BE HEADLINING, WILL BE HEADLINING THE EVENING PERFORMING HOLIDAY FAVORITES AND CLASSIC HITS.
HE HAS RELEASED 21 ALBUMS TO DATE, INCLUDING FOUR CONSECUTIVE TOP 10 ALBUMS FROM MOTOWN WITH SEVERAL GOING TWO AND THREE TIMES PLATINUM.
AND HE HAS SOLD OVER 25 MILLION ALBUMS WORLDWIDE EARNING HIS PLACE IN HISTORY AS A TOP R AND B PERFORMER WITH HITS LIKE BACK AT ONE AND ANYTIME.
AND AS ALWAYS, WE'LL HAVE ERNEST WALKER AND THE OFFICIAL HOLIDAY BAND PLAYING THEIR CLASSICAL HITS.
THE ENTERTAINMENT AND ACTIVITIES DON'T STOP THERE.
WE'RE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSTON LIBRARY FEATURING A NEW WINTER WONDERLAND KID ZONE.
SANTA'S WORKSHOP IS GOING TO BE BACK TOO FOR PHOTOS WITH SANTA AND THE EVER POPULAR FIREWORKS DISPLAY WILL TAKE PLACE AS SNOW DRIFTS OVER HERMAN SQUARE.
WE ARE EXCITED TO WELCOME SUCH INCREDIBLE TALENT AND ACTIVITIES THIS YEAR TO WHAT WE KNOW WILL BE A REMARKABLE AND FESTIVE EVENT FOR HOUSTONIANS OF ALL AGES TO ENJOY.
UH, I KNOW IT'S BEEN, UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF LOVE GONE INTO PLANNING BOTH EVENTS BETWEEN THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE AND, UH, THE, UH, NEW HOLIDAY SHOW.
SO HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY WOULD, UH, IS GONNA ENJOY IT.
UH, NOW I INTRODUCE TO, UH, TO THE STAGE, UH, MR. CHRIS LARSON, PRESIDENT, CEO OF DOWNTOWN HOUSTON PLUS TO KINDA LET US KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN DOWNTOWN.
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER TO KICK OFF THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
WE ARE EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH A HOST OF DOWNTOWN ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING HOUSTON FIRST, DISCOVERY GREEN, THE HOUSTON ASTROS, AND THE THEATER DISTRICT IN CREATING ANOTHER EXCITING YEAR OF CITY LIGHTS, DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY MAGIC.
THIS YEAR'S PROGRAM WILL FEATURE NOT ONE, BUT TWO CLUSTERED ACTIVITY ZONES, WHICH WE'RE CALLING.
THIS IS VERY CL CLEVER, OUR NORTH AND SOUTH POLES
THE THEATER DISTRICT SHINES WITH HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES, DAZZLING LIGHTS AND MERRY MOMENTS AT LYNN WYATT SQUARE AND MARKET SQUARE PARK DOWN AT THE SOUTH POLE.
THE CELEBRATION CENTERS AROUND DISCOVERY GREEN'S, ICONIC ICE RINK SPARKLING
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ACTIVATIONS AT ANITA PLAZA, TREMBLEY PARK.AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE HOUSTON ASTROS OPENED THE GATES OF DAIKIN PARK FOR AN IMMERSIVE HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE CALLED LIGHT UP THE PARK.
TOGETHER, THEY CREATE A DOWNTOWN WIDE HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE WITH SOMETHING SWEET FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY, AND WE'LL BE KNITTING THEM TOGETHER THROUGH DECORATED FESTIVE CORRIDORS.
WE ARE CALLING THEM OUR CONFECTION CONNECTIONS THAT INVITE EVERYONE TO EXPLORE AND MAKE NEW MEMORIES.
THE LINK ALONG THE LINKS ALONG TEXAS AVENUE AND MCKINNEY STREET, TURN THE STROLLS INTO PART OF THE FUN WITH CANDY THEMED DECOR, TWINKLING LIGHTS, PHOTO OPS, AND SWEET SURPRISES ALONG THE WAY.
AS YOU MOVE THROUGH DOWNTOWN, YOU'LL ALSO FIND MORE CHEERFUL TOUCHES AND SPARKLING DECOR, WELCOMING, WELCOMING YOU TO ALL OF OUR FAVORITE UH, SPACES.
WE'RE ALSO BRINGING THE FESTIVITIES TO OUR DOWNTOWN PARKS TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS PLENTY OF FREE HOLIDAY CHEER FOR EVERYONE IN THE HEART OF THE THEATER DISTRICT, LYNN WYATT SQUARE WILL BE PROGRAMMED AROUND HOUSTON'S FAVORITE THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES, OFFERING NIGHTS WITH LIVE MUSIC MOVIES, A HOLIDAY MARKET MARKET, COZY COCOA POPUPS, AND POST SHOW FESTIVITIES LIKE DESSERT AND COFFEE.
TO TOP OFF A MEMORABLE NIGHT IN DOWNTOWN OVER AT MARKET SQUARE PARK, EXPECT SING ALONG CONCERTS, SANTA SIGHTINGS, AND A SPECIAL UGLY SWEATER EDITION OF OUR EVER POPULAR BLANKET.
AND DOWN AT TREMBLEY PARK, EVERYONE CAN ENJOY PUP FRIENDLY PHOTOS WITH SANTA.
TAKE PART IN WEEKLY HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS AND CATCH A MOVIE IN A DELIGHTFUL OUTDOOR SETTING.
NOW FOR THOSE WHO LOVE A CHALLENGE, THE ELF ON THE SHELF SCAVENGER HUNT IS BACK SENDING ADVENTURERS ACROSS DOWNTOWN IN SEARCH OF HIDDEN HOLIDAY MISCHIEF AND A CHANCE TO WIN WONDERFUL DOWNTOWN PRIZES.
TOGETHER WITH OUR PARTNERS CITY LIGHTS, DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY MAGIC TURNS DOWNTOWN INTO ONE BIG BOX OF HOLIDAY SWEETS EVERY STOP, A NEW FLAVOR, EVERY MOMENT, A LITTLE BRIGHTER AND EVERY VISIT, A REMINDER OF JUST HOW SWEET THE SEASON CAN BE IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
JUST HOPING THAT, UH, THE WEATHER WILL COOPERATE.
I'LL MAKE SURE TO, UH, SEND OUT A MEMO AND HAVE THE MAYOR STAMP IT.
SO, UH, NOW, UM, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR CHIEF OF POLICE, UH, NO DIAZ, TO THE STAGE, UH, TO TALK ABOUT HPD AND SOME OF THE INITIATIVES FOR THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.
IT HAS BEEN SUCH A, UH, REMARKABLE YEAR.
WE'VE HAD A LOT GOING ON AT THE, AT THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT WE'RE SUPER EXCITED FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
UH, THIS IS, UH, SOMETHING SO SIGNIFICANT FOR PEOPLE TO TRAVEL IN AND VISIT OUR JUST BRILLIANT CITY DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF THE FOO, UH, A FOOTPRINT THAT WE HAVE.
THE PARADE DAY IS ABOUT FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND TRADITION.
HPD IS PROUD TO HELP KEEP IT SAFE FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY.
WE ARE COORDINATING CLOSELY WITH OUR BROTHERS AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, EMS PUBLIC WORKS AND OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS TO ENSURE A SMOOTH AND SECURE EVENT.
WE HAVE PLANS IN PLACE AND RESOURCES TO ENSURE EVERYONE CAN ENJOY THE EVENT SAFELY, FOLLOW OFFICERS DIRECTIONS.
THEY'RE THERE TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE AND THE EVENT MOVING SMOOTHLY.
UNIFORM, AS WELL AS NON-UNIFORM PRESENCE WILL BE PRESENT IN AND AROUND THE PARADE ROUTES.
BE AWARE, BE ALERT, TAKE CARE OF YOUR LITTLE ONES.
DON'T MISPLACE THE LITTLE ONES.
AND ALWAYS REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY.
ANTICIPATE SOME STREET CLOSURES 'CAUSE WE WILL HAVE THAT SOME TRAFFIC DELAYS AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY.
WE'LL HAVE STRONG PRESENCE FOCUSED ON NOT JUST SAFETY, BUT ALSO ON HELPING FAMILIES ENJOY THE DAY.
WE'RE THANKFUL FOR EVERYONE THAT WEARS THESE UNIFORMS, BOTH US AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS THAT MAKE THIS THING HAPPEN, AND ALL THE VOLUNTEERS THAT JUST GIVE OF THEMSELVES TO MAKE THIS COMMUNITY BETTER.
SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY HERE.
THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR ALWAYS SUPPORTING THESE KINDS OF EVENTS.
76 YEARS STRONG, THANK YOU TO THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT ARE MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, 76 YEARS.
UM, IN CLOSING, I, I DO WANNA, AGAIN, JUST EMPHASIZE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF WORK HAS BEEN, UH, YOU KNOW, PUT INTO THESE, UH, BOTH, BOTH EVENTS AND WE WORK REAL CLOSELY WITH HPD, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS REALLY MAYOR.
[00:15:01]
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, SPENDS MANY, MANY HOURS, MONTHS, YOU KNOW, WORKING ON THIS WITHOUT THE COLLABORATION OF ALL YOUR DEPARTMENTS.I MEAN, WE, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE TO THANK YOU KNOW, AND TOO MANY TO MENTION, UH, SOME FOLKS IN THIS ROOM.
UM, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, UM, WANTED TO MENTION FOR THE HOLIDAY SHOW WE HAVE KBJ IS ALSO A PARTNER, UH, WITH THE EVENT THAT THEY HELP US EVERY YEAR.
UH, YOU KNOW, AND THEY'RE FANTASTIC TO WORK WITH, UM, FOR THE PARADE.
WE HOPE HOWDY, YOU KNOW, WE COULDN'T BRING HIM TODAY, BUT, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY HOWDY COULD DEFINITELY BE OUT THERE AT THE PARADE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HIM EVERY YEAR.
UH, THAT WOULD BE A FANTASTIC ADDITION TO OUR, TO OUR COLORFUL, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, EVENT.
UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE HOLIDAY SHOW.
UH, LINEUP, BRI BRIAN MCKNIGHT.
I THINK IT'S, IT'S GONNA PUT A HUGE WOW, UH, TO THE EVENT.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS HERE THAT REALLY ENJOY HIS MUSIC.
UH, BUT, UH, JUST PLEASE NOTE THAT SECURITY IS GONNA BE V VERY VIGILANT AROUND CITY HALL.
SO, YOU KNOW, SOME AREAS WILL NOT BE ACCESSIBLE.
BUT, UM, THAT'S IT FOR TODAY'S PROGRAM.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S, UH, ATTENDANCE, UH, PARTICIPATION.
UH, FOR THE HO UH, FOR THANKSGIVING.
SO FOR THANKSGIVING, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE ENTIRE PARADE ROUTE, WHICH IS IN OUR WEBSITE, IS ABSOLUTELY PUBLIC, UH, UH, ACCESSIBLE.
AND, AND THERE'S, NOBODY'S GONNA HAVE A BAD SEAT, BUT, UH, WE DO OFFER, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, SELECT TICKETED SEATS AROUND THE MAIN, UH, 50 YARD LINE.
SO FOR THAT INFORMATION, YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE, THE QR CODE, AND ACCESS THOSE.
THEY'RE VERY, UH, EASY TO GET.
THEY'RE FANTASTIC SEATS AND, UH, EVERYBODY ENJOYS IT.
IF NOT, YOU KNOW, ANYWHERES AROUND THE ROUTE.
AND, AND IT'S A GOOD VIEW FOR EVERYBODY AND YOUR FAMILY.
UH, AND THAT'S IT FOR EVERYONE.
IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
ANYBODY FOR THE SPEAKERS? NO, THANK YOU.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO, TO SEEING EVERYBODY.
AND IF WE CAN GET EVERYBODY TOGETHER, WE COULD DO A PHOTO OP.
UH, CARLOS, IF YOU CAN CUT THE, UH, MIC PLEASE.