Houston's Turkey Day parade

Helium shortage could threaten Houston's Turkey Day parade

These are indeed tough economic times, but inflation is not something that should ordinarily affect Houston's annual Thanksgiving Day parade.

But this year towering inflatable balloons such as Nemo or Papa Smurf might not manage to get airborne next week because of a persistent worldwide shortage of helium.

The gas shortage has organizers of the city's 63rd Annual Holiday Parade scrambling to find enough suppliers to fill up their diverse balloons that have become a trademark of the parade.

"We've secured helium to meet some of our parade needs, and we are working to secure more," Kim Stoilis, president and chief executive officer of the Houston Festival Foundation, said in an email Wednesday. "We're excited about this holiday tradition and our parade director assures me that all of our balloons will be flying high on Thanksgiving morning."

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