Helium Shortage Threatening to Shut Down Thanksgiving Parade in - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

(KCEN) -- Texas is the biggest producer of helium, but it's in short supply right now.

And the predicament could deflate a huge annual Thanksgiving day parade in Houston.

To make the annual parade happen, 22,000 pounds of helium are needed.

But suppliers say a shortage plus rising prices have made helium hard to come by.

So far, the idea of losing parade balloons is getting mixed reaction.

Organizers plan to press on and hope to find the helium jackpot before Thanksgiving day.