Texas Rose Festival facts for kids

The Texas Rose Festival is a super fun, three-day event that happens every year in Tyler, Texas. It celebrates how important the rose-growing business is to the city's economy. This exciting festival takes place during the third weekend of October and brings thousands of visitors to Tyler each year.

History of the Rose Festival

The very first Tyler Rose Festival was held in October 1933. It was started by members of the Tyler Garden Club, local rose growers, and the Chamber of Commerce. Their main goal was to show everyone how important the rose industry was to Tyler and to highlight the city's beauty.

The festival was renamed the Texas Rose Festival in 1936 during the Texas Centennial celebration. The festival has happened every year since then, except for a few times. It was paused during World War II and also in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Rose Queen and Her Court

Many of the festival's activities focus on the Rose Queen and her special court. They wear amazing, fancy gowns and costumes. These outfits often match the theme of that year's festival.

The people chosen for the queen and her court usually come from families who have been involved with the festival for a long time. Many of them have participated in different roles since they were little kids. The queen and her court are chosen by the President of the Texas Rose Festival Association. This person works with the organization for four years before becoming president.

Besides the Rose Queen, the court also includes:

• The Duchess of the Rose Growers: This person is from a family that grows roses. They are chosen by the Texas Rose Growers Association to represent them.
• Out-of-town duchesses and escorts: These guests are invited because they have connections with families in Tyler who are involved in the festival.
• Ladies in waiting: This is a special group of young women from Tyler. They are usually in their second year of college, and their families have been part of the festival for many years.
• Train bearers, scepter bearers, and attendants to the queen: These are usually elementary-school-aged children whose families are also involved in the festival.

Some of the recent Rose Queens include:

• 2020: Festival suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic.
• 2019: Hanna Claire Waits
• 2018: Amanda Elaine Hiles
• 2017: Emily Kaye Evans
• 2016: Mallory Kristine Curtis
• 2015: Madeline Shirley Wynne
• 2014: Kathryn Elizabeth Peltier
• 2013: Rachel Vanderpool Clyde
• 1933: Margaret Copeland (Donoghue), the very first Rose Queen from Palestine, Texas.

Exciting Rose Festival Events

The Texas Rose Festival has many exciting events that are open to everyone. Here are some of the main ones:

• A Vespers service: This is a special evening church service held at the Rose Queen's home church.
• The Queen's Tea: At this event, the public can meet and chat with the Rose Queen and her court at the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden.
• Luncheons: There are separate luncheons for men and ladies, which often feature interesting guest speakers.
• Queen's Coronation ceremonies: This is a grand event where the Rose Queen is officially crowned.
• The Rose Festival Parade: This is one of the biggest and most popular parts of the festival.
• A Rose Show and gardening seminars: Here you can see beautiful roses and learn more about gardening.
• The Rose Festival Arts and crafts Show: This show takes place at Tyler's Rose Garden and features many handmade items.

There are also other fun activities like an art show, a car show, doll and toy shows, and even symphony concerts in the park.

The Rose Parade

The Rose Parade is definitely the most exciting part of the festival! It happens on Saturday morning of the festival. The parade starts on Fifth Street and travels down Erwin Street, ending at the Rose Stadium.

You can watch the parade for free from the streets. However, if you want to sit in the shaded side of the stadium, you need to buy a ticket. People come from all over to line the streets of Tyler. They cheer for the girls in their amazing dresses. The girls participating in the festival ride on beautiful floats. The Queen and her court ride on the very last floats, with the Queen having her own special float. When the floats reach the stadium, they go around the track for one last viewing before the parade ends.

Private Parties and the Coronation Ball

Many private parties also happen during the festival. One of the most important is the Queen's Coronation Ball, hosted by the Order of the Rose. On the last night of the festival, families and friends watch each girl get presented. Girls from Tyler, Texas, wear white ball gowns. Girls from other cities wear jewel-colored gowns. The Queen is the last to be presented. After all the girls have been introduced, there is a big party with music and dancing.