FORT WORTH, Texas – December 3, 2008 - The Chesapeake Energy Parade of Lights crowned new champions, and crowd favorites took honors in awards recognizing the best entries in Fort Worth’s 26th annual holiday parade held Nov. 28.
Floats were designed around variations on the parade theme, “The Sights and Sounds of the Season,” and lined up for review by the judges as well as applause from the crowd the day after Thanksgiving in downtown Fort Worth.
“Entries in the Chesapeake Energy Parade of Lights are gifts to the community, and we honor the winners with thanks to every group, from Fortune 500 companies to Boy Scout packs, who invested time, energy and holiday spirit in their entries this year,” said Richard Ruddell, president/executive director of the T, as well as festival and events committee chair for Downtown Fort Worth, Inc., producer of the parade.
This year’s Founders Award winner for best nonprofit float went to SPJST, the Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Statu Texas, for its winter wonderland entitled “Christmas is Snow Much Fun!” SPJST, a fraternal benefit society, has been serving Texas families since 1897, and members of SPJST Lodge 154 of Fort Worth manned the winning entry.
Judges awarded an honorable mention in the nonprofit category to the Texas Girls’ Choir for its float, a concert on wheels featuring choir members, and selected Chesapeake Energy’s float, entitled “O Christmas Tree”, as the best commercial entry. The crowd itself gave high honors to perennial favorite Bell Helicopter, whose tribute to men and women in uniform drew a standing ovation from parade-goers who packed downtown Fort Worth.
A complete list of winners includes:
Founders Award - Non-Profit Float
- Best of Class – SPJST
- Honorable Mention – Texas Girls’ Choir
Classic Award – Commercial Float
- Best of Class – Chesapeake Energy
- Honorable Mention – Babe’s Chicken House, Bell Helicopter
Holiday Spirit Award - Vehicle
- Best of Class – The Wheelie-ing Elvi
- Honorable Mention – Fort Worth Model A Club
Cowtown Spirit Award - Equestrian Unit
- Best of Class – Glory Riders
- Honorable Mention – The Wells Fargo Wagon
Craftsmanship Award - Special Unit
- Best of Class – Fort Worth Unipsychos
- Honorable Mention – Mayfest, Inc.
People’s Choice
- Tie – All Saints Catholic School and the Star-Telegram
The Chesapeake Energy Parade of Lights is presented by CHASE and supported by Sundance Square, Coors Distributing Company, XTO Energy, the Star-Telegram, AmeriCredit, Courtyard by Marriott/Blackstone Hotel, KSCS 96.3, Platinum 96.7, and Clear Channel Radio stations 106.1 Kiss FM, Lone Star 92.5, 102.1 The Edge, 97.1 The Eagle, and Mix 102.9. The Fort Worth Christmas Tree is presented courtesy of Sundance Square, with carbon-neutral power provided by Green Mountain Energy.
Parade of Lights History
First staged in 1983 by Downtown Fort Worth, Inc., the Parade of Lights began as a way to brighten perceptions of the Central Business District. At that time, downtown stakeholders realized that a unifying event like 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 a tradition more than a quarter-century old, this family-oriented event ushers in the holiday season in Downtown, a district that is the envy of the nation and provides an environment where close to 96 percent of the available office space is occupied, where downtown living opportunities are available and affordable, and where people from throughout the Metroplex gather to have a wonderful time in the restaurants, clubs and entertainment facilities.
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