FORT WORTH, Texas--The 26th annual Chesapeake Energy Parade of Lights presented by CHASE and produced by Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc., will open the holiday season Friday, Nov. 28 and illuminate the sights and sounds of the season.

Applications are now being accepted to enter floats, marching units, walking units, comedy units, equestrian units and motorized units in the top-ranked holiday parade in North Texas, which is held annually the day after Thanksgiving.

Companies may create their own floats or have professional float builders design and produce a spectacular, full-scale float complete with thousands of lights. Non-profits and other organizations are also encouraged to apply. Applications must be time-stamped or postmarked by Friday, Oct. 10 to be eligible for entry.

Reserved, festival-style seating will again be available along sections of the parade route. Group sales of 26 or more reserved seats are underway; individual and family reserved seats go on sale Sept. 15.

“We are proud that this event has been the start of the holiday season for so many families in Fort Worth for more than a quarter century,” said incoming festivals and events committee chairman Dick Ruddell. “We are also pleased to welcome Chesapeake Energy as the new title sponsor of Downtown’s signature holiday event.”

“The Sights and Sounds of the Season” is a fitting theme for this year’s Parade of Lights. Downtown streets decked for the holidays will be aglow with illuminated floats and marchers, all leading the way to the annual lighting ceremony ‘round the city’s Christmas Tree.

"The Parade of Lights is a fantastic family tradition in Downtown Fort Worth, and Chesapeake Energy is thrilled to help sponsor the 2008 event," James Geiser, Director of Marketing Communications at Chesapeake Energy Corporation, said.

Apply online at www.FortWorthParadeofLights.org. Entries accepted will be acknowledged via e-mail on or before Saturday, Oct. 24. Criteria for entry include illumination, such as light strands, flashlights, fluorescent materials, etc.; musical programming; artistic merit; creativity; costuming and overall entertainment value, with complete details on the website.

Parade of Lights History

First staged in 1983 by Downtown Fort Worth, 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 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.