The Texas Rose Festival, a three-day event held annually in Tyler, Texas, celebrates the role of the rose-growing industry in the local economy. The festivities, taking place during the third weekend of October, draw thousands of tourists to the city each year.
History
The first Tyler Rose Festival was organized by Tyler Garden Club members, local rose growers and the Chamber of Commerce in October 1933 for the purpose of focusing attention on the importance of the rose industry to Tyler, and to showcase the towns elegance; it was renamed the Texas Rose Festival during the Texas Centennial in 1936. Aside from the festival's suspension during World War II & in 2020, it has been an annual event.
Many of the festival's events center on the Rose Queen and her court, who wear lavish gowns and costumes that are often in keeping with the theme of the year's festival. These participants generally come from wealthy backgrounds and often have long family histories with the festival; many have played various roles in the events since childhood. The queen and her court are chosen by the President of the Texas Rose Festival Association who works in the organization for 4 years before taking on the role as President. In addition to the Rose Queen, the court includes:
The Duchess of the Rose Growers, a member of a rose-growing family selected by and representing the Texas Rose Growers Association.
Out-of-town duchesses and escorts, sponsored by a family involved in the Rose Festival and invited because of relationships with Tyler residents.
Ladies in waiting, a select group of young women from Tyler, in their sophomore year of college, whose families have been involved in the festival for several years.
Train bearers, scepter bearers and attendants to the queen, usually elementary-school-aged children whose families are involved in the festival.
The Rose Festival Arts and crafts Show at Tyler's Rose Garden.
There are also many other events such as an art show; a car show; doll, bear and toy shows; an arts and crafts fair; and symphony concerts in the park. The Rose Parade is easily the biggest part of the Rose Festival. This parade takes place on the Saturday morning of the festival, and starts on Fifth St. and travels down Erwin to the Rose Stadium where it ends. It is free to watch the parade on the streets, but you must buy a ticket to be admitted into the shaded side of the stadium. People all over come and line up on the streets of Tyler to see the girls in their magnificent dresses and cheer them on. The girls participating in the festival ride on floats depending on their presentation party, with the Queen and her court riding on the last few floats. The Queen gets her own float. When the floats get to the stadium, they go along the track for one last viewing, and then end. A number of private parties also coincide with the festival, including the Queen's Coronation Ball hosted by the Order of the Rose. On the last night of the festival, the families and friends of the girls participating sit and watch each girl get presented. The girls who are from Tyler, Texas wear white ball gowns, while the girls from out of the city wear jewel colored gowns. The Queen is the last to be presented, and after all the girls are done there is a party with music and dancing.
