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XTO ENERGY PARADE OF LIGHTS BRINGING HOLIDAY SPIRIT TO DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH ON NOVEMBER 28, 2014 Thousands of North Texans expected to gather at the 32nd annual Parade of Lights FORT WORTH, TEXAS (October 2014) – On Friday, November 28, 2014, hundreds of illuminated floats and tens of thousands of North Texans will fill the streets of Downtown Fort Worth for the 32nd annual XTO Energy Parade of Lights. 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 1.58-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 advocates ranging from city leaders such as Mayor Betsy Price, Fort Worth Police Chief Jeffrey W. Halstead, and Fort Worth Fire Chief Rudolph “Rudy” Jackson, Jr.; corporate sponsors such as XTO Energy, GM Financial, and Frost Bank; nonprofit organizations such as the Cowboy Santas Program, Inc., the Fort Worth Bicycling Association, and the Tarrant Regional Water District; and festival favorites 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 “Together for the Holidays!” “XTO Energy and its employees are pleased to support what has become a treasured Fort Worth tradition,” said John Podraza, business services manager at XTO Energy, the new title sponsor of the Parade of Lights. “It’s our holiday gift to the community, and we hope everyone is able to come out and enjoy the festivities.” New / Updated for 2014: • Street Seats, the parade’s popular reserved seating program, is back for 2014. 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. o Prices start at $9.50, and Street Seat tickets are available for sale online now. • The sought-after Gold Seats are also back, with perks including complimentary hot chocolate, padded chairs, and private portable restroom facilities. o Prices start at $26.50, and Gold Seat tickets are available for sale online now. • New for 2014 is a partnership with the Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth Hotel, which is offering elevated and tiered Renaissance Worthington Deluxe Seats on the west side of Houston Street at 2nd Street. There are only 240 luxury seats staged on six rows, as the entire system is elevated 48″ from the ground with incredible views. Perks include complimentary valet parking, hot chocolate, access to climate-controlled restrooms, and “grab & go” snack / beverage offerings available for purchase. o Prices are $85.50 per seat, and Renaissance Worthington Deluxe Seat tickets are available for sale online now. • Returning for the third year in a row 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. Participants will receive souvenir lights and reserved seating at the conclusion of the walk. o Prices to participate are $20 for children and $22.50 for adults, and online registration is available now. • Attendees may park at Farrington Field for free and ride The Fort Worth Transportation Authority’s (The T) Route 7 enhanced bus service to downtown, beginning at 2 p.m. and ending at 10 p.m. o Regular rates apply for this service, which are $1.75 (one-way) or $3.50 (round-trip). The full schedule of activities for the 2014 XTO Energy Parade of Lights is as follows: • 2 p.m. o The T’s enhanced bus service from Farrington Field to Downtown Fort Worth begins. o Restaurants and retailers throughout downtown will be open for revelers to enjoy holiday shopping, dining, décor, music and entertainment. • 4:30 p.m. o The world-famous Wheelie-ing Elvi begin their journey around the parade route, in addition to jugglers, stilt-walkers, and other street variety acts. o Parade seating begins. • 5:30 p.m. o The Cowboy Santas begin their trip around the parade route collecting toy donations. • 5:40 p.m. o The 3rd annual Mrs. Renfro’s Salsa Night of Lights Fitness Walk begins. • 6 p.m. o The 2014 XTO Energy Parade of Lights officially begins at Belknap and Throckmorton Streets. The parade will proceed east on Belknap Street, turn south on Commerce Street, turn west on 9th Street past the Convention Center, and turn north on Houston Street 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.’s grand finale float. • 7:01 p.m. o Volunteers from Reverse Litter will pass out recyclable litter bags along the parade route and encourage attendees to dispose of their trash to make it the “Cleanest Holiday Parade in America.” • 7:15 p.m. o The Reverse Litter volunteer cleanup crew will collect litter bags in a specially marked truck. • 7:30 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. • 10 p.m. o The T’s enhanced bus service makes its last departure from Downtown Fort Worth to Farrington Field. 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 XTO 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 XTO ENERGY PARADE OF LIGHTS XTO Energy Inc., a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation, is the Title Sponsor of the 32nd annual XTO Energy Parade of Lights, which is produced by Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc. Additional 2014 sponsors include Sundance Square, GM Financial, Hilton Fort Worth, and Frost Bank. Media Sponsors include the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, KTXA-TV / Channel 21, 98.7 K-LUV (KLUV-FM), 92.1 HANK FM (KTFW-FM), and 95.9 The Ranch (KFWR-FM). For more information, visit www.FortWorthParadeofLights.org, www.Facebook.com/ParadeofLightsFW, or www.Twitter.com/ParadeOf_Lights. 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 XTO 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. ABOUT XTO ENERGY INC. XTO Energy Inc., a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation, is a leading natural gas and oil producer in the U.S. with expertise in developing tight gas, shale gas, coal bed methane and unconventional oil resources. XTO has operations in all major U.S. producing regions, and holds more than 11 million acres. For more information, visit www.XTOEnergy.com. # # # |
