Parade of Lights kicks off holiday season in Fort Worth

by David Alvey

It looked a lot like Christmas on the Friday after Thanksgiving in Sundance Square. As dusk fell over downtown Fort Worth, the 26th annual Chesapeake Energy Parade of Lights presented by Chase lit up the streets.

Themed “The Sights and Sounds of the Season,” the evening parade featured illuminated floats, marching bands, horseback riders and performers to herald the holiday season. The parade began at Throckmorton and Belknap Street, and wound its way through downtown Fort Worth and Sundance Square.

A few of the crowd favorites included the Tarrant County Sheriff's Posse on horseback, a motorized group of Elvi (a half dozen illuminated Elvis impersonators doing stunts on mini-bikes) and several marching bands. The crowd rose to its feet with rousing applause when the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl float passed, carrying representatives of all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Patriotism, much like the holiday spirit, is alive and well in North Texas.

The Parade of Lights also offered a chance to donate unwrapped toys for low-income Tarrant County families via Cowboy Santas.

After the parade, Santa Claus and performers from the North Central Civic Ballet Company’s Nutcracker production presided over the lighting of the 54-foot blue spruce Christmas Tree at Main and Third Streets in Sundance Square.

A host of friendly elves are available every weekend throughout the holiday season to take pictures with Santa for a $5 charitable donation benefiting the Fort Worth Sister Cities scholarship fund. Santa's hours are 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Fridays; and 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. In addition, extended Santa hours are listed at http://sundancesquare.com/events/Snowflakes,_Sugarplums,_and_SANTA!.aspx.

This article was submitted by a member of the Pegasus News community.