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CHESAPEAKE ENERGY PARADE OF LIGHTS CELEBRATES 31 YEARS IN DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH ON NOVEMBER 29, 2013 Tens of thousands of North Texans expected to attend the largest illuminated holiday parade in Texas FORT WORTH, TEXAS (October 1, 2013) – On Friday, November 29, 2013, nearly 100 illuminated floats and tens of thousands of North Texans will fill the streets of Downtown Fort Worth for the 31st annual Chesapeake Energy Parade of Lights presented by CHASE. First staged in 1983, Fort Worth’s signature parade has grown to become Texas’ largest illuminated holiday procession, with nearly 100 professionally-designed-and-produced floats (each with more than 12,000 lights), brilliant antique cars, lively marching bands, precision equestrian units, decorated horse-drawn carriages and casts of strolling carolers prancing through the 1.5-mile parade route. Santa and Mrs. Claus will again be making their appearance on the specially designed, LED-lit, grand finale float, sponsored by parade producers, Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc.. This year’s parade has already received a generous outpouring of support from across the Fort Worth community, with participants ranging from Mayor Betsy Price and other city leaders, corporate sponsors such as Chesapeake Energy, CHASE, XTO Energy, and Coors Distributing Company, nonprofit organizations such as the Cowboy Santas Program, Inc. and the Fort Worth Bicycling Association, and novelty entries such as the DFW Unicycle Club’s UniPsychos and the world-famous Wheelie-ing Elvi, all donning lights and the season’s regalia to celebrate this year’s theme of “Our Christmas Traditions!” “We’re committed to best practices that responsibly develop our country’s natural resources while enriching the communities where we operate,” said Heather Scoggins, community relations manager at Chesapeake Energy, the title sponsor of the Parade of Lights for the 6th year in a row. “The Chesapeake Energy Parade of Lights is the highlight of the season for Fort Worth, and we are pleased to help make this year’s ‘Christmas Tradition’ a reality for thousands of families throughout the Metroplex.” New / Updated for 2013: • The parade’s incredibly popular reserved seating program, “Street Seats,” is back for 2013, and seats are currently for sale online at www.FortWorthParadeOfLights.org. Parade producers are encouraging all who want reserved Street Seats to “act fast,” as they have sold out several weeks’ prior to the event in previous years. Brand-new for 2013 are “Gold Seats,” which include complimentary, non-alcoholic beverages, padded chairs and private portable restroom facilities. Prices for Street Seats remain the same as previous years, starting at $9.50. • Activities officially kick off at 2 p.m. with the Holiday Fun Zone presented by XTO Energy in General Worth Square (located on Main Street between 8th and 9th Streets), where attendees can enjoy entertainment, children’s holiday craft making, food and beverages from Downtown restaurants, lighted parade merchandise, and more. The “Cowboys Santas” volunteers will again be accepting donations (either cash or unwrapped toys for up to age 12) for underprivileged children in the Holiday Fun Zone, as well as in the food and beverage areas. • Returning for its second year is the Mrs. Renfro’s Salsa “Night of Lights Fitness Walk,” a 1.58-mile walk around the parade route in front of thousands of spectators prior to the beginning of the parade (appx 5:40 p.m.). Registration includes a lighted baton, as well as reserved seats at the walk’s conclusion. • Attendees may ride The T’s FREE “Parade of Lights Shuttle” to-and-from Farrington Field and the parade, beginning at 2 p.m. and ending at 10 p.m. • KTXA-TV / Channel 21 will broadcast the parade in its entirety in high-definition on Friday night, November 29 (following their broadcast of the Dallas Stars’ game), with an encore broadcast scheduled for either November 30 or December 1. • A free showing of the box office holiday hit, “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” starring Jim Carrey, will take place in General Worth Square post-parade (appx. 8 p.m.). The full schedule of activities for the 2013 Chesapeake Energy Parade of Lights is as follows: • Throughout the day o Guests are encouraged to take advantage of and enjoy these Downtown offerings: • Come early to get a great seat, enjoy some hot chocolate or a leisurely meal, and visit the shops throughout Downtown. • Wander through the new Sundance Square Plaza and view the beautiful Sundance Square Christmas Tree, or make reservations at one of the 40+ restaurants in Downtown. • 2-6 p.m. o Holiday Fun Zone presented by XTO Energy opens in General Worth Square, located on Main Street between 8th and 9th Streets. o Food and beverage areas open in General Worth Square. o Cowboy Santas begin collecting donations. o The T’s “Parade of Lights Shuttle” service begins from Farrington Field. o Exciting, live holiday entertainment will take place at the Main Stage in the Holiday Fun Zone. • 4:30 p.m. o Houston Street and Commerce Street close for pre-parade entertainment. • 5:40 p.m. o Mrs. Renfro’s Salsa “Night of Lights Fitness Walk” begins. • 6 p.m. o The 2013 Chesapeake Energy Parade of Lights officially begins at Belknap and Throckmorton Streets. The parade proceeds east along Belknap Street, turns south on Commerce Street and goes all the way to 9th Street. At 9th, the parade turns west, proceeds past the Convention Center to Houston Street, and then turns north on Houston all the way to Weatherford Street. • 7 p.m. o Santa begins his trip along the parade route on the Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc. float. • 8 p.m. o Photos with Santa will be taken under the Sundance Square Christmas Tree, with proceeds supporting the Scholarship Programs of Fort Worth Sister Cities. o The holiday movie favorite, “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” starring Jim Carrey, will be shown on a large screen in General Worth Square. Viewers are encouraged to bring their own chairs or take their reserved “Street Seats” chairs over to the square. History First staged in 1983 by Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc., the Parade of Lights began as a means to help change perceptions of the Central Business District. At that time, Downtown stakeholders realized that a unifying event such as the Parade of Lights would provide an opportunity for residents and visitors alike to see Downtown as a place of celebration, entertainment, fun and relaxation. Now known as one of the top illuminated parades in the U.S., it has grown from 25 entries and a crowd of 25,000 in 1983, to nearly 100 entries and thousands in attendance today. For additional event information, visit the Chesapeake Energy Parade of Lights’ website at www.FortWorthParadeOfLights.org, “like” its Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/ParadeofLightsFW, or follow it on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/Paradeof_Lights. ABOUT THE 2013 CHESAPEAKE ENERGY PARADE OF LIGHTS Chesapeake Energy is the Title Sponsor of the 31st annual Chesapeake Energy Parade of Lights, which is produced by Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc. and presented by CHASE. Supporting sponsors include Coors Distributing Company, XTO Energy, Sundance Square GM Financial, Atmos Energy, and Frost Bank. Media Sponsors include the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, KTVT-TV / CBS 11, KTXA-TV / Channel 21, KLUV-FM / 98.7 K-LUV, KTFW-FM / 92.1 HANK FM, and KFWR-FM / 95.9 The Ranch. For more information, visit www.FortWorthParadeofLights.org._ ABOUT DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH INITIATIVES, INC. Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 organization formed in 1988 to complement the work of Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. and the Public Improvement District by providing a funding pathway for charitable, educational and public-purpose activities, such as community festivals, residential development and park management. Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc. produces the annual MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival and the annual Chesapeake Energy Parade of Lights. These events have an economic impact of more than $27 million annually and attract thousands of visitors to Downtown Fort Worth each year. For more information, visit www.DFWI.org. |
