33rd ANNUAL XTO ENERGY PARADE OF LIGHTS’ RESERVED “STREET SEAT” TICKETS NOW ON SALE
August 18,2015
On Sunday evening, November 22, 2015, the 33rd annual XTO Energy Parade of Lights will take place in downtown Fort Worth, marking the City of Fort Worth’s official kickoff to the holiday season. The parade’s theme, “Let the Season Begin,” will be encapsulated throughout the 100+ float entries traveling the 1.58-mile parade route covered in over half million 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 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. The evening will conclude with the highly anticipated lighting of the 59-foot-tall Sundance Square Christmas Tree, a tradition that is being brought back for the 2015 parade.
There are many opportunities for participation in the 2015 XTO Energy Parade of Lights, including:
Reserve “Street Seats”
The parade’s popular “Street Seats” reservation program is back and seats are now available for purchase. In 2014, all Street Seats sold out several weeks prior to the event, so parade producers are encouraging all who want reserved Street Seats to “act fast.” Prices for all Street Seats remain the same as previous years and are available for sale online now at www.FortWorthParadeOfLights.org/Parade-Info/Street-Seats/.
Those interested in front row or other Street Seats can view the seating chart online, as well as the added sections of the very popular, "VIP Hot Seats," which feature padded chairs or bleachers, hot/cold non-alcoholic beverages and private portable restroom facilities. Discounts are also available for seniors (60 and older) and children (12 and younger), as well as for the purchase of Family Fun Packs (four tickets purchased at one time). Infants, as long as they can sit in a lap, will not need a reserved seat.
Enter a Float
Applications for entering a float, performance, equestrian group, marching band/walking unit, or a specially decorated vehicle in the 2015 parade are now being accepted. Entry fees start at $65 for nonprofit organizations and $950 for commercial businesses/organizations. The deadline to submit applications is October 3, and notices will go out to qualifying participants via email by October 17. Entry forms are available online at www.FortWorthParadeOfLights.org/Participate/Enter-A-Float.
Volunteer
The Parade of Lights wouldn’t be a success without the hundreds of volunteers year-after-year. Areas where volunteers are needed include the hospitality sections, Holiday Fun Zone section, parade walkers, review stand assistants and spotters, seating attendants, staging areas, volunteer and entry check-ins, and more. Volunteers can sign up easily online at www.FortWorthParadeOfLights.org/Participate/Volunteers.
Become a Sponsor
As a 501c (3) non-profit organization, Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc. seeks the support of corporate sponsors and partners to help maintain the quality of free Parade of Lights for the Fort Worth community. Funds are necessary to offset production costs-police barricades, volunteer recognition, advertising, and float construction, as well as to provide scholarships for the nonprofit organizations involved. Sponsorship opportunities, levels and benefits can be found online, here: www.FortWorthParadeOfLights.org/Sponsors.
Pre-Parade Festivities
Beginning at 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 22, Downtown Fort Worth will be filled with festive holiday décor, live music, traveling entertainment, and jolly good fun for guests to enjoy. The Cowboy Santas will also be collecting unwrapped toys (for up to 12 years in age) throughout the day to brighten the holidays of children in need. Arriving early gives paradegoers a chance to find the perfect spot to view the parade while getting into the spirit with photo opportunities and holiday cheer.
The official hashtag for the 2015 XTO Energy Parade of Lights is #2015ParadeOfLights. For the latest updates on the 33rd annual XTO Energy Parade of Lights, visit the Parade of Lights’ online at www.FortWorthParadeOfLights.org, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ParadeofLightsFW, and 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 33rd annual XTO Energy Parade of Lights, which is produced by Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc. Additional 2015 sponsors include Sundance Square, GM Financial, Hilton Fort Worth, and Atmos Energy. Media Sponsors include the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 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.