A Day Of Majesty In Tyler
(Staff Photo By Tom Turner)
2007 Texas Rose Queen Grace Hartley Ramey shows off her beautiful dress as her float makes its way down the parade route Saturday.
By Lauren Grover
Staff Writer
Little girls watched eagerly for jeweled dresses. Moms hooted at their sons on the drum line. Guys ogled the vintage cars.
College kids bit into juicy turkey legs, and grandparents waved American flags.
The Texas Rose Parade was an occasion for everyone.
And its glitz and tunes, clowns and well-known faces revealed Tyler's charm on Saturday morning and drew the community together, from Front Street to Rhode Island.
"I think it's the most important thing we have in Tyler," said Pam Chelsey, who watched from the curb with four generations of her family.
Staff Writer
Little girls watched eagerly for jeweled dresses. Moms hooted at their sons on the drum line. Guys ogled the vintage cars.
College kids bit into juicy turkey legs, and grandparents waved American flags.
The Texas Rose Parade was an occasion for everyone.
And its glitz and tunes, clowns and well-known faces revealed Tyler's charm on Saturday morning and drew the community together, from Front Street to Rhode Island.
"I think it's the most important thing we have in Tyler," said Pam Chelsey, who watched from the curb with four generations of her family.
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Mrs. Chelsey's mother, 75-year-old Elsie Palmer, marched in the Rose Parade in 1949.
Mrs. Chelsey's two daughters, Tricia Chelsey-Kelly and Catherine Chelsey, were ladies-in-waiting on the Rose court in 1989 and 1996.
And Tricia's daughter, 7-year-old Chelsey Kelly, attended her first Rose Festival coronation Thursday.
Mrs. Chelsey's two daughters, Tricia Chelsey-Kelly and Catherine Chelsey, were ladies-in-waiting on the Rose court in 1989 and 1996.
And Tricia's daughter, 7-year-old Chelsey Kelly, attended her first Rose Festival coronation Thursday.
(Staff Photo By Jaime R. Carrero)
2007 Texas Rose Festival Queen Grace Hartley Ramey waves at the crowd during the Texas Rose Parade on Saturday.
"I liked the nature theme, especially the ladybug dress," she said.
After parking their truck at 6 a.m. to get good seating, all seven family members snuggled in lawn chairs and on the tailgate, ooing and ahhing at each float.
Tricia said she couldn't imagine not coming.
"It's just a family tradition," she said.
Thousands watched the parade from curbs, lawn chairs, grassy hills and stadium seats Saturday morning, blessed with sunny, breezy weather.
"It's a beautiful, fine day," said Ava Choice, a Tyler resident. "And the crowd looks great."
Mrs. Choice and her family watched for daughter Angelica, who plays clarinet in the Moore Middle School marching band.
After parking their truck at 6 a.m. to get good seating, all seven family members snuggled in lawn chairs and on the tailgate, ooing and ahhing at each float.
Tricia said she couldn't imagine not coming.
"It's just a family tradition," she said.
Thousands watched the parade from curbs, lawn chairs, grassy hills and stadium seats Saturday morning, blessed with sunny, breezy weather.
"It's a beautiful, fine day," said Ava Choice, a Tyler resident. "And the crowd looks great."
Mrs. Choice and her family watched for daughter Angelica, who plays clarinet in the Moore Middle School marching band.
Nearby, Billy Beasley, of Chandler, rested on the curb, enjoying their company.
"It's just a fun affair," said the retired Brownsboro school principal. "I like to see people happy, and you come out here and see so many smiles, so much happiness."
Beasley said the parade is not much of a local event anymore since people come from all over the region.
Glenda Blakeslee drove from San Antonio so her daughter Emily could attend her first Rose Festival.
Emily broke her gaze from the street to say she was mesmerized at Thursday's coronation.
"It's just a fun affair," said the retired Brownsboro school principal. "I like to see people happy, and you come out here and see so many smiles, so much happiness."
Beasley said the parade is not much of a local event anymore since people come from all over the region.
Glenda Blakeslee drove from San Antonio so her daughter Emily could attend her first Rose Festival.
Emily broke her gaze from the street to say she was mesmerized at Thursday's coronation.
(Staff Photo By Jaime R. Carrero)
Duchess of the Rose Growers Amanda Joan Henson relaxes before the start of the Texas Rose Parade on Saturday.
"I liked the River Nile princess best," she said, keeping watch for another glammed-up duchess. "Her hair was like the Egyptians did, with a crown."
Mrs. Blakeslee and her sister, Melodie Clifton, of Dallas, said it's been a joy to return to the festival they attended as little girls.
Tiarra Jordan, 16, danced through the parade before sitting down to watch it.
Her Robert E. Lee High School Southern Belles drill team performed a pre-game grandioso for the crowd.
Ms. Jordan's red and gold leotard and tights flashed among the parade-goers lining the street.
"I like the floats and being in the parade best," she said, her cheeks pink with blush.
Other spectators sought out friends to take to the event.
Tyler resident Sue Ponder recruited her pastor's two boys, Jonathan and Gerson Toj.
"You have to go to parades with children," Mrs. Ponder said with a smile. "My grandchildren are all grown, so you have to borrow someone else's kids."
She reminds the boys she had to wake them up early to go, but they shrug it off.
We like the cars and marching band music, they say shyly.
"The drums are too loud," 7-year-old Addie Macinez exclaims nearby, her arms curled over her knees on the curb.
Dad Alex Macinez, a Tyler native, stood with his wife, Ashley, and their two little girls, Addie and 8-year-old Hanna.
He's been attending since he was a small boy.
"It brings everyone together," he said.
For one resident, the parade almost walks through her yard each year.
Tamala Timmons has lived on Front Street across from the Rose Garden for two years and said some of Tyler's biggest events happen outside her window.
"It's exciting being right here," said Ms. Timmons, who gets calls from people asking to park in her yard.
As a little girl, she sat on the curb in front of the house watching the parade, and later worked at Rose Garden teas in high school.
"I've grown up all around this," Ms. Timmons said.
Other parade-goers trekked cross-country to arrive in Tyler this weekend.
Barbara and Dan Mills are full-time RVers who hail from Rhode Island - they were surprised to find such a festive occasion.
"We really didn't realize this was a big rose area," Dan Mills said.
The two ducked into a gallery where local artwork was displayed by the Palette of Roses Art League.
Even parade workers caught sight of the entertainment.
From behind a grill, Eloy Gonzalez barbecued turkey legs and got an earful of requests from float-riders.
"Everybody kept saying, 'Throw us a leg! Throw us a leg!'" he said.
The parade finished at about noon as floats made their final circle in the Rose Stadium, just one of many main events during Rose Festival weekend.
Mrs. Blakeslee and her sister, Melodie Clifton, of Dallas, said it's been a joy to return to the festival they attended as little girls.
Tiarra Jordan, 16, danced through the parade before sitting down to watch it.
Her Robert E. Lee High School Southern Belles drill team performed a pre-game grandioso for the crowd.
Ms. Jordan's red and gold leotard and tights flashed among the parade-goers lining the street.
"I like the floats and being in the parade best," she said, her cheeks pink with blush.
Other spectators sought out friends to take to the event.
Tyler resident Sue Ponder recruited her pastor's two boys, Jonathan and Gerson Toj.
"You have to go to parades with children," Mrs. Ponder said with a smile. "My grandchildren are all grown, so you have to borrow someone else's kids."
She reminds the boys she had to wake them up early to go, but they shrug it off.
We like the cars and marching band music, they say shyly.
"The drums are too loud," 7-year-old Addie Macinez exclaims nearby, her arms curled over her knees on the curb.
Dad Alex Macinez, a Tyler native, stood with his wife, Ashley, and their two little girls, Addie and 8-year-old Hanna.
He's been attending since he was a small boy.
"It brings everyone together," he said.
For one resident, the parade almost walks through her yard each year.
Tamala Timmons has lived on Front Street across from the Rose Garden for two years and said some of Tyler's biggest events happen outside her window.
"It's exciting being right here," said Ms. Timmons, who gets calls from people asking to park in her yard.
As a little girl, she sat on the curb in front of the house watching the parade, and later worked at Rose Garden teas in high school.
"I've grown up all around this," Ms. Timmons said.
Other parade-goers trekked cross-country to arrive in Tyler this weekend.
Barbara and Dan Mills are full-time RVers who hail from Rhode Island - they were surprised to find such a festive occasion.
"We really didn't realize this was a big rose area," Dan Mills said.
The two ducked into a gallery where local artwork was displayed by the Palette of Roses Art League.
Even parade workers caught sight of the entertainment.
From behind a grill, Eloy Gonzalez barbecued turkey legs and got an earful of requests from float-riders.
"Everybody kept saying, 'Throw us a leg! Throw us a leg!'" he said.
The parade finished at about noon as floats made their final circle in the Rose Stadium, just one of many main events during Rose Festival weekend.
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