thankful for h-town

Houston is one of the best Thanksgiving destinations in 2025

Houston has the 8th best Thanksgiving celebrations and traditions in the country, WalletHub found.

Houston has many things to be thankful for this year, including being named one of the best places to go for Thanksgiving, according to a just-released WalletHub study.

H-Town ranked as the No. 12 best Thanksgiving destination, moving up three spots from its former rank as No. 15 in 2024.

WalletHub's annual "Best Places to Go for Thanksgiving" ranking compares the 100 largest U.S. cities to discover which have the ultimate Thanksgiving celebrations and traditions, and the best holiday weather, affordability, safety, and accessibility.

A total of 18 relevant metrics were measured for each city's ranking; factors that were considered include the number of pumpkin patches per capita, the cost of a Thanksgiving dinner, the share of delayed flights around the Thanksgiving holiday, the number of volunteer opportunities per capita, and more.

The Texas city that rose through the ranks to claim the top spot as the best Thanksgiving destination for 2025 is none other than San Antonio.

Houston has been on the rise since 2023 when it ranked as the 32nd best U.S. city for celebrating Turkey Day festivities.

WalletHub says Houston has the 8th best Thanksgiving celebrations and traditions in the nation, which may come as no surprise given the dozens of local restaurants hosting their own Turkey Day feasts this year. Plus, locals can get into the festive spirit with all the holiday events taking place around Houston this winter season.

Houston additionally earned high marks in the categories for weather (No. 19), affordability (No. 23) and "giving thanks" (No. 34). The city's lowest-ranked category was for safety and accessibility (No. 97).

Other Turkey Day destinations in Texas
The North Texas cities of Dallas (No. 4), Irving (No. 6), and Plano (No. 7) also claimed spots among the top-10 best destinations for Thanksgiving this year. Garland (No. 21), Arlington (No. 41), and Fort Worth (No. 50) all ranked among the top 50.

Other Texas cities that made it in the top 100 best places to go for Thanksgiving in 2025 include Corpus Christi (No. 11), Austin (No. 16), Lubbock (No. 37), Laredo (No. 73), and El Paso (No. 77).

Laredo and Corpus Christi also earned extra nods for having the cheapest and second-cheapest costs for a Thanksgiving dinner, respectively.

Source: WalletHub

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a new record

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo commits over $30 million to education

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo cattle exhibition

Courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

The money supports studies in fields such as animal husbandry.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo continues its annual tradition of breaking its own record when it comes to educational endowments. On Giving Tuesday, the organization pledged to disburse $30,353,380 in 2026 in the form of scholarships, grants, and other funding.

“This milestone moment of reaching $30 million in a single year highlights the Rodeo’s unwavering dedication to Texas youth and education,” HLSR president and CEO Chris Boleman said in a statement. “Thanks to our loyal donors, sponsors, more than 36,000 volunteers and dedicated attendees, 2026 will reach historic heights in supporting the next generation of leaders, agricultural professionals and organizations that share the Rodeo’s mission.”

This brings the total of education funding provided by the Rodeo since 1932 up to $660 million. Last year's $28 million commitment also set a new record.

One innovation this year is the establishment of the Area Go Texan Vocational Scholarship, a program that expands on the relationship with 68 Texas counties through the Area Go Texan affiliate program. One student from each county will receive $6,000 toward a degree or certificate in a vocational field at a Texas nonprofit college or university. Another $500,000 in vocational scholarships will awarded to 10 schools in 2026. Guidelines for applying can be found at this link.

In total, the Rodeo will hand out $15,126,000 in scholarships, $11,273,500 to junior exhibitors, $3,430,880 in grants, and $523,000 in graduate assistantships. Grants will be awarded to 82 Texas institutions and organizations, such as Arts for Rural Texas, BridgeYear, The Bryan Museum, Diversity in the Arts and Entertainment, Greater Houston Partnership Foundation, Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA), Space Center Houston, Texas State University Development Foundation, and University of St. Thomas at Houston.

Money for the annual endowment is raised through the annual auctions, sales of livestock and art, and through charitable donations. The goal of the endowment program is to promote study and research in agriculture, animal husbandry, and other fields that directly benefit the Rodeo.

The Rodeo is scheduled to run from March 2 – 22, 2026. More information on performers, attractions, and vendors can be found at RodeoHouston.com. Scholarship applications are open through February 2, with funds being awarded in summer 2026.

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