Parade of Lights moving to Sunday before Thanksgiving
April 2,2015
Reposted from Star-Telegram
A decorated vintage Corvette drives past parade goers in the 2014 XTO Energy Parade of Lights in downtown Fort Worth. RON JENKINS STAR-TELEGRAM ARCHIVES
After 31 years of staging the Parade of Lights on the day after Thanksgiving, Downtown Fort Worth Inc. will break tradition this year and move the popular event to the Sunday night before Thanksgiving.
“It does change a tradition. This is one decision we didn’t enter into lightly,” said Andy Taft, president of Downtown Fort Worth Inc., the member-funded nonprofit advocacy group that promotes downtown. But, he said, “Friday nights are so busy in downtown. And with all of the retail coming in, the parade is stopping business for two hours.”
The idea to move the parade surfaced a couple years ago, but feedback from downtown merchants after the 2014 parade prodded the decision to make the move now, Taft said. The organization’s board approved the change at its March meeting based on its staff recommendation.
Taft said a separate survey done by Sundance Square of its merchants after last year’s parade also suggested a date change was needed. Merchants were indicating the parade crowd was so great, it was making it difficult for shoppers to make it to their stores.
The parade route closes several streets along a nearly two-mile route and the spectator crowd, sometimes a dozen people deep, can be difficult to maneuver. Moreover, downtown traffic is disrupted in the early afternoon as chairs are set up along the route. Friday tends to be the busiest day for downtown restaurants and shops, and Black Friday kicks off the holiday shopping season.
“Moving the date of the parade and then determination of when the tree lighting will be is evaluated on the best interest of the community and downtown Fort Worth,” said Carolyn Alvey, a spokeswoman for Sundance Square, the 35-block entertainment, residential, shopping and office district downtown. “The small businesses rely on Friday night, especially the day after Thanksgiving.”
Mike Micallef, president of Reata Restaurant at Third and Houston streets, welcomes the change. About 45 percent of the restaurant’s business comes on Friday and Saturday nights, and on the night of the parade they lose their valet parking, he said. Few groups book the restaurant’s large rooms on the night of the parade, he said.
Having the parade on Sunday night will be good for all retailers, because it tends to be a slower night.
“It’s going to be a really good thing,” Micallef said. “It will be an opportunity for growth, not only for us but for other retailers downtown. We will book the restaurant. It will be full.”
The Sunday before Thanksgiving makes the most sense because it falls at the start of the holiday season and it won’t interfere with school since many districts are idled the week of Thanksgiving, Taft said.
The Parade of Lights was started in 1983 and today attracts tens of thousands into downtown Fort Worth who watch more than 100 floats, antique cars, marching bands, decorated horse-drawn carriages and other entries, all decked in holiday lights.
The date for the lighting of the Christmas tree in Sundance Square has not been set yet for this year. Last year, more than 5,000 people showed up for the event, which was held the Saturday night before Thanksgiving to offer families a more intimate experience and to see Santa Claus arrive.
Sandra Baker, 817-390-7727
Twitter: @SandraBakerFWST