Originally launched in 2009 as the Children’s Museum Gallery, this interactive play area has long been a place where the Museum’s youngest guests take their first steps into discovery. Designed for children ages 0 to 8 and their caregivers, this gallery will continue to spark curiosity and foster lifelong learning.

In 2023, the Museum began the process of planning a refreshed and redesigned space intended to inspire the next generation of explorers and future leaders. The gallery officially closed for renovation in the fall of 2025 and is now ready to open its doors and welcome families back into a space where children can develop valuable skills through pretend play and hands-on experiences.

Photo courtesy of Fort Worth Museum of Science and History

“Engagement with our home community is foundational to Texas Christian University. We are proud to support the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History through the TCU Children’s Gallery, which recreates iconic elements of our campus within this legendary local institution and fosters young learners’ interest in the sciences and the arts. Our hope is for this new space to serve visitors, children, families and future Horned Frogs across North Texas for years to come,” said TCU Chancellor Daniel W. Pullin.

The TCU Children’s Gallery is inspired by the people, places, and culture of Fort Worth, and seamlessly surrounds guests with the presence and partnership of TCU. Throughout the renovation, the Museum worked with valued Fort Worth partners like Trinity Metro, Cook Children’s, and Meta to design play areas that reflect everyday experiences in their community. These areas invite children to use their imagination, learn to cooperate with others, and step into the roles of doctors, farmers, performers, and more.

Photo courtesy of Fort Worth Museum of Science and History

“This is more than a renovation, it’s an investment that integrates education and community to encourage our youngest learners to be curious and dream big,” said President Regina Faden, Ph.D., of the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. “We are grateful to those who supported this project to ensure that our museum continues offering meaningful learning experiences for generations to come.”

This project was made possible through the generous support of Texas Christian University, Cook Children’s, Meta, Nicholas Martin, Jr. Family Foundation, Joe & Jessie Crump Memorial Fund, AKM Charitable Fund (North Texas Community Foundation), Amon G. Carter Foundation, The Ryan Foundation, Trinity Metro, Louella and Nicholas Martin Charitable Fund (North Texas Community Foundation).

The post Fort Worth Museum of Science and History Unveils Reimagined TCU Children’s Gallery first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

“This new space is on the ground floor of Moudy South, giving us agency visibility and an opportunity to showcase our work in a way that we couldn’t do before,” said Sarah Angle, Instructor of Strategic Communication and Faculty Director of Roxo. “Thanks to a grant from Roy and Jeannine Eaton, we can now expand our agency’s reach even further into the community and create partnerships that make Fort Worth stronger, healthier, and more supportive — all the while giving our students the ability to do real work that really matters.” 

Photo courtesy of Roxo

During the past five years, Roxo has doubled in size, now teaching, employing, and preparing 45 students for the real world each semester. It’s worked with nearly 150 clients and provided experiential learning opportunities to more than 450 students since opening its doors 13 years ago. The move to a larger space aligns with the university’s emphasis on experiential learning and community engagement. 

“Roxo’s new front-of-house space is a vital bridge between classroom and community, offering students real-world experience in developing innovative, effective, and responsible strategies and solving communication challenges for clients — a reflection of the Department of Strategic Communication’s commitment to our student-centered mission,” said Dr. Catherine Coleman, professor and department chair of strategic communication. 

Founded in 2011 through a corporate partnership with BNSF, Roxo gives students in the TCU Bob Schieffer College of Communication hands-on experience in a professional setting. The agency operates as a social enterprise, with all revenue reinvested into student learning opportunities.

Photo courtesy of Roxo

“Roxo is in its second decade of giving students hands-on, real-world experience, so it’s fitting that we’re moving into a new, dedicated space that reflects our continued growth,” said Russell Mack, Instructor of Strategic Communication and Faculty Advisor to Roxo. “It’s one of the crown jewels of our communication program.” 

Since its founding, Roxo has contributed an estimated $65,000 in donated services to local nonprofit organizations. In particular, the agency has supported initiatives focused on mental health awareness and suicide prevention among young people.

Roxo’s past clients include Cook Children’s, Fort Worth Report, MHMR of Tarrant County, Once Upon A Room, North Texas LEAD, TCU Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Greater Impact, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, GM Arlington, Project 4031, Righteous Foods, Empower Fort Worth, Leadership Fort Worth, and the Lake Worth and Flower Mound Police Departments.

“Roxo’s expansion is a powerful reflection of TCU’s strategic commitment to student-centered growth and community engagement,” Chancellor Daniel W. Pullin said. “Roxo not only supports experiential learning at its highest level but also deepens our students’ ability to serve Fort Worth through meaningful, community-driven work.”

Photo courtesy of Roxo

The ribbon-cutting ceremony takes place on Friday, Sept. 12, 11 a.m. in the Moudy South atrium located in the Bob Schieffer College of Communication building on TCU’s campus.  Award-winning journalist and author Bob Schieffer, namesake of the Bob Schieffer College of Communication at TCU, will attend.

About Roxo

Roxo Agency is a student-run full-service advertising and public relations agency located within the Bob Schieffer College of Communication at Texas Christian University. Since 2011, Roxo has served over 100 organizations and businesses across North Texas, winning numerous awards for creative work and innovative strategies. More than 400 students have been employed by the agency as “Roxstars,” gaining hands-on industry experience, portfolio pieces, and experience that goes beyond the classroom. We are “creativity for good.” Find us on Instagram @tcuroxo

The post TCU’s Student-Driven Roxo Agency Opens New Workspace Designed for Growth first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

TCU and Vanderbilt will begin the doubleheader at 11:30 a.m. CT and Texas A&M and Texas Tech will follow at 2 p.m. CT. The event precedes another basketball game with the TCU women’s team facing defending national champion South Carolina at 6 p.m. in the USLBM Coast to Coast Challenge featuring the Hoopfest Women’s Basketball Classic.

Texas A&M returns seven of its top eight players in scoring and minutes played from last season’s team that won 21 games and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Returning for the Aggies is two-time All-SEC pick Wade Taylor IV. Also returning is the SEC’s top rebounder from 2023-24, Andersson Garcia, who broke the Aggie record for total rebounds in a season. Texas A&M is mentioned in a majority of the “Way-Too-Early” Top 25 rankings, including as high as No. 11 by CBSSports and The Athletic. Coming off his third-straight 20-win season as the Aggies head coach is Buzz Williams, who enters his sixth season with Texas A&M.

Coming off its third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, TCU returns starting center Ernest Udeh Jr. Among the seven transfers added in the offseason are guards Vasean Allette, Frankie Collins, Noah Reynolds and Trazarien White. The Horned Frogs incoming freshman class ranked NO. 20 in ESPN’s latest rankings. Jamie Dixon returns for his ninth season as TCU’s head coach and is 12 wins away from 500 for his 21-year career.

Texas Tech is coming off a 23-win season and an NCAA Tournament appearance. The Red Raiders return two starters in All-Big 12 Conference player Darrion Williams and Kerwin Walton. Joining the Also returning is Chance McMillian, who was one of the first off the bench last season. Grant McCasland will begin his second season as the head coach.

Vanderbilt will begin its first year with Mark Byington as its head coach. Byington led James Madison to 32 wins last season including a first-round NCAA Tournament win over Wisconsin. The Commadores brought in 10 transfers during the spring including AJ Hoggard, who averaged 10 points and five assists in each of the past two seasons at Michigan State.

The post Get $14 Kids’ Tickets for USLBM Coast to Coast Challenge first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Photo courtesy of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden

• Carbon Storage: Estimated 490 tons of carbon stored, equivalent to taking 106 cars off the road per year.
• Carbon Sequestration (capture and conversion of carbon): Estimated 13.42 tons of carbon sequestered annually, comparable to the weight of over 13 male bison.
• Runoff Avoided: Estimated 176,002.87 gallons of runoff avoided annually, equivalent to filling 563,209 Stanley Cups.
• Pollution Removal: Estimated 11,977.47 oz of pollutants are removed annually, comparable to the weight of a large grizzly bear.
• Oxygen Production: Estimated 35.78 tons of oxygen produced annually, equivalent to the weight of 4.5 T-Rex dinosaurs.
• Replacement Value of South Woods: An estimated replacement value of $3.42 million, equivalent to the cost of an island for sale off the coast of Scotland.

Photo courtesy of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden

The post Don’t Pave Paradise: The Benefits of Urban Forests first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Roth was selected following a nationwide search that attracted an extensive pool of candidates from top-tier universities, TCU said in a news release.

“Merianne’s impressive array of skills and brand expertise will be instrumental in TCU’s quest to enhance our national reputation, elevate TCU’s brand and further strengthen our community engagement efforts,” said the university’s president, Daniel W. Pullin. “As a member of the president’s cabinet, the role of vice chancellor for marketing and communication is critical as we collaborate to develop TCU’s next strategic plan and even more so as we work to achieve our greatest aspirations and lead our university into the future.

Merianne Roth
Photo courtesy of Fort Worth Business Press

“Merianne’s vision for TCU’s marketing and communication strategies will play a pivotal role in how we connect with our current and prospective students, alumni, faculty, staff and the broader community, while navigating the ever-evolving landscape of higher education.”

Roth’s career spans corporate and community executive leadership roles that will be beneficial in leading the university’s division of marketing & communication, the news release said. As associate vice chancellor, she invigorated TCU’s communication strategies in the areas of internal and external communications, social media and multimedia engagement, events and community projects, crisis and issues management, TCU Magazine and the Endeavors research publication.

Before joining TCU, Roth held leadership positions at Visit Fort Worth, RadioShack and JPS Health Network. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi University for Women and an Executive MBA from TCU. She is an active member of the Fort Worth community and has served on various boards, including the Fort Worth Forum and Fort Worth Country Day.

“It’s been a privilege to be a part of the TCU team for the past five years, and I’m honored to serve as vice chancellor,” Roth said. “TCU is a place of values, community and academic mission, and, thanks to our leadership, we’re entering a remarkable era of innovation and growth. I’m proud to have a role in building an even stronger future for our university and ensuring that a TCU education continues to benefit our students and the broader community. There’s no better time to be a Horned Frog.”

The post TCU Names Vice Chancellor for Marketing & Communication first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Founded by brothers Addison and Randolph Clark during Reconstruction as AddRan Male and Female College, the College’s vision was as simple as it was progressive: to create a place where both men and women could earn a classical education while developing their character. It may be hard to believe that the original intentions of the College (the name was later changed to AddRan Christian University before becoming Texas Christian University) did not include plans for what would become a nationally recognized football program, but that minor oversight would be corrected before the turn of the century.

The student population at AddRan has grown significantly since the original 13 students and has undergone other seismic changes, but the brothers Clark would undoubtedly recognize the same dedication to providing young minds exposure to a spectrum of disciplines in preparation for a successful launch into the world. On the college’s website, in a mixture of jest and gravitas, is a rhetorical question with the perfect answer:

“What can you do with a liberal arts degree? Anything.”

A concise summation of what an AddRan education can do is found on a sign staked into the grass outside Scharbauer Hall that reads, “Unlock languages. Unlock the world.” This powerful and straightforward message comes from the college’s polyglot Department of Modern Language Studies (MLS), which offers undergraduate courses in six languages and the opportunity to major or minor in Chinese, French, German, or Italian. But the faculty of MLS provides students with more than just formal instruction. After all, any language department worth its sal knows that learning by immersion is the difference between correctly pronouncing the word for a buttery, flaky pastry and déguster un croissant en lisant Le Monde.

photo credit: Raquel Witt

Take it from junior Ella Mercer, an ambitious and contagiously cheerful journalism major and political science minor whose only exposure to Italian before choosing it as her foreign language was food-related.

“Other than eating pizza, I had no clue what I was getting myself into. I had never been out of the country,” recalls Mercer with a laugh.

The decision to choose to learn Italian was not one that Mercer spent much time contemplating. Nor was she looking to unlock a language to unlock the world. It was a basic equation. Credit requirements, plus a friend signed up for the class, plus a plan to get a stamp in her passport equaled Italian 101. But one study abroad trip later, and Mercer was hooked.

“I went on a two-week study abroad with my Italian professor, the study abroad coordinator, and a history professor. It was a fantastic trip, and we got to see so much of Sicily. There was a beginner Italian course for everyone, but my friends and I felt a little ahead of the curve because we were already a semester into studying the Italian language. We ate so much good food. We went to the beaches. We learned about Italian culture, about nonprofits helping immigrants – it was just a phenomenal experience,” gushed Mercer.

The Nashville native entered her sophomore year with an Italian minor.

Photo courtesy of Ella Mercer

Dr. Muriel Cormican, associate dean of undergraduate studies and professor of German, refers to Mercer’s experience as “the tipping point.” Having devoted her entire career to teaching foreign languages (prompted by a very similar undergraduate experience in Austria to Mercer’s), Cormican attributes this shift in a student’s attitude toward whatever language they are studying to an immersive experience like studying abroad.

Prior to joining TCU’s faculty five years ago, Cormican and her husband were German professors at the University of West Georgia for over two decades. Every summer, they would take students to Deutschland for 10 weeks, and every summer, she would witness the transformation. It was as regular as German clockwork.

“The first three weeks were really positive. It didn’t matter what level the students were because everything was new and exciting, and they were away from home,” said Cormican. Then came the dip in morale during weeks four and five.

“We seriously prepared for this. We knew it was going to be awful. [The students] are all going to be depressed. They’re going to be homesick. Their brains are going to hurt. They’re going to feel like they’ll never be able to do anything.”

But just as all hope faded, the inevitable shift occurred.

“It was about week six or seven when this turn came for students at every single level. There was a point as the departure home came into focus, and they realized that this was really an extraordinary experience. Maybe enough time had passed where they could see what they had learned and how far they had come. We brought back so many students from that program who wanted to complete a minor,” Cormican said with a big smile.

Mercer did not spend 10 weeks in Italy for her study abroad (and if she had, she might not have returned to Fort Worth), and it certainly wasn’t enough time to master her language skills; however, it was enough time for her to fully understand that “you can’t separate the language from the culture.” If she couldn’t live in Italy for the duration of her undergraduate studies, the next best thing was to enroll in TCU’s MOLA Language House Program.

The program has four language houses: Chinese, French, German, and Italian. All the language houses are located on TCU’s campus, and all welcome learners at every level of competency. Since the purpose of living in a language house is to further immerse yourself in your language of study, each house has assigned coordinators (native, near-native, or other competent speakers of Chinese, French, German, or Italian) to speak with the House residents, provide language tutoring, and organize cultural events for the residents and the university at large.

Cormican, who used to oversee the language house program when she was the department chair, says it’s essential that the coordinators employed in the house “encourage the students to stay in the languages as much as possible” since the intent is to replicate the study abroad experience.

“We’ve got two English native speakers in this apartment [Mercer’s apartment in the Italian House], as well as one Italian native speaker and one Spanish native speaker. So, there’s just a ton of languages going on all the time, especially when we’re on the phone calling home. You’ll have one of us speaking Spanish, one speaking Italian, and one speaking English. It’s just really funny. But we do try to speak Italian when we’re together, just talking to try and get that conversational aspect,” said Mercer.

Another critical aspect of the “educational experience” that Mercer enjoys is eating. And if there’s one country that’s synonymous with good food, it’s Italy. When asked where her favorite Italian food in Fort Worth is, she replied, “Our professor’s house. Honestly, she can cook extravagant Italian pasta meals. There are flavors that I’ve never even tried before and pasta shapes I’ve never even heard of before that she rolls out by hand. Or we make pizza by hand.”

Mercer is entering her second year in the Italian House, and her positive experience brings genuine joy to Cormican because she knows the effort that her department puts into its student programs.

Photo courtesy of Ella Mercer

“The faculty and the department are, by and large, incredibly dedicated to the students, wanting to interact with them in really holistic terms, not just as people in the classroom, but as human beings. Everybody takes a lot of joy in [their] foreign language. They so love the act of using it and hearing others use it and learn it. I think that’s a really strong aspect of the modern language studies department and TCU in general,” said Cormican.

Cormican also specifically credits Dr. Nick Albanese, associate professor of Italian and department chair, for the continued success of the language house program. “Nick is absolutely devoted to the Italian program…and he’s done a great job maintaining the tradition and strength of the houses since he took over as chair.”

When asked about her plans following graduation next May, Mercer is hopeful for another trip to Italy but has no intention (yet!) of making a permanent move to la bella Italia. Instead, she would like to pursue her other passion for storytelling and work in broadcast news as a producer for a local station while continuing to use the Italian language and all that it taught her.

“I think the whole point of college is to try to learn about other people and other perspectives. Without that, you get echo chambers and a social media world that’s dangerous to navigate. But with other perspectives and with a globally focused mindset, I think I’m setting myself up for a better future.”

Ella Mercer may not have intentionally planned to unlock the world, but she certainly unlocked something in herself that will help guide her through the next phase of what’s sure to be a very dolce vita.

Learning a language is a lifelong pursuit, according to Dr. Muriel Cormican. If you are up for the challenge, these expert tips can help get you started and keep you motivated.

Photo courtesy of Ella Mercer

Dr. Cormican’s five tips for learning a language as a working adult

1. Commit to a formal structure. A class, even one weekly tutorial (can be online); something to keep you accountable.
2. Don’t underestimate listening. It’s a crucial part of language learning. Spend 10 minutes of your commute or walk listening to something.
3. Don’t overestimate Duolingo. It’s gamified learning and has its pluses, but it also has many shortcomings.
4. Sing in the language. Find some songs, listen, sing along, learn the lyrics.
5. Persist and take risks. Appreciate that it’s like running and rerunning marathons. It’s a long process with good and bad days; you just have to keep going.

The post Unlock the World first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

As a Southern California native, I got to discover all the things Fort Worth had to offer when I started my college career at Texas Christian University. My favorite? Finding a Texas version of Cafe Du Monde in the middle of campus during my first week of school. Ever since, I have sought every opportunity to get my hands on their beignets. Now, as a senior, my love for the Beignet Bus is almost nostalgic.

Toby Tindall, owner of the Beignet Bus, is a fourth-generation restauranter. After serving four years in the United States Navy, he decided that he wanted to go back to doing what he loved: being a chef. Tindall humbly boasts an impressive 40-year career in the restaurant industry. He served as the executive chef for the Hilton and Ashton Hotels in downtown Fort Worth. Simultaneously. Juggling the demands of large banquets with restaurant diners was his forte, but his family was more important than the kitchen.

“I’m doing all of these things at once, two restaurants, an executive lounge, banquets… all while trying to navigate raising three little kids pretty much on my own [after a divorce],” Tindall recalls. He eventually met his now-wife, Rachel, who gladly stepped in as a mother figure for his children. Finally, he decided he would take a break from the restaurant business to spend more time with his family.

photo credit: Emma Dye

Tindall’s decision opened his eyes to the sobering reality of mental illness. He saw his two oldest daughters struggling after his divorce from their mother. Tindall’s oldest daughter lost her battle with depression, dying in 2016.

“It took a long time… for me to get myself back together,” Tindall said. “We’re still hurting.”

Tindall went back into the restaurant business, consulting for several local restaurants to get himself back into the game and to keep himself busy, but he knew it wouldn’t be permanent. He did know that he didn’t want to be an executive chef anymore.

“I’d wanted to own a food truck for a long time. I was looking on Craigslist one day and I saw this little bus that I liked, so I bought it.”

Tindall bought the Bus, painted it to his liking, and let family trips to Louisiana be the inspiration for the menu. In 2016, the Beignet Bus was born. As a career chef, he wanted to do something unique. The Beignet Bus is the only bus in the world selling beignets. Which, by the laws of default and of my personal bias, also makes it the best.

Running a food truck isn’t as easy as it looks. Every time you see Toby Tindall’s warm, inviting smile at the window, you’re only seeing a fraction of what goes into running the business.

“Ten percent of the time is seeing people at the window, the other 90% is everything else. It’s a one-man show. I’m the mechanic, electrician, cook, you name it,” Tindall said. “And I do it because I love it.”

Photo courtesy of the Beignet Bus

The story of the Beignet Bus is a prime example of a parent’s love. In the face of indescribable loss, Tindall found a way to lift himself and his family up. He started something that would allow him to spend more time with his family, while pouring his heart into creating a business that blankets its customers with love and joy. His daughters now work on the bus with him, learning the ins and outs of a family-owned business and the dedication it takes to be successful.

“If you put the passion in, it comes back even stronger.”

Fort Worth is a special place. Coming here from 1,200 miles away was supposed to be a scary thing, but instead, it has been the best decision I’ve ever made. I could say that TCU has been the main reason for this, but I don’t think that that’s entirely true. It’s businesses like the Beignet Bus, with gripping stories and a deep love for the community, that made Fort Worth go from the place I go to college to the place I call home.

Emma Dye is a student in Sarah Angle’s feature writing class at TCU. 

The post The Story Behind the Beignets first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Hosting the full-house event were Chancellor Victor J. Boschini and the TCU board of trustees. Attendees included other TCU officials; Fort Worth and Tarrant County community leaders; representatives of other local colleges and Big 12 Conference universities; and TCU students, faculty and staff.

In addition to formally conferring the responsibilities of president, the ceremony commemorated the first year of Pullin’s presidency – a year that coincided with TCU’s 150th anniversary.

“I am honored to have been entrusted with the role of helping lead TCU into its next 150 years,” Pullin said. “TCU’s vision of academic excellence and unrivaled student experience is a shared goal to which the entire Horned Frog community contributes. I look forward to working alongside Chancellor Boschini and all TCU leaders to ensure we reach our next level of distinction.”

TCU President Daniel W. Pullin at investiture (Photo courtesy TCU)

Boschini said TCU is “grateful for and strengthened by President Pullin’s dynamic leadership, innovative spirit and dedicated service. In a season of milestone celebrations, the investiture further celebrates our tradition of excellence and underscores the importance of our shared values as a community that strives for impact and the greater good.”

“Texas Christian University has a history of excellence and innovation,” said Kit Moncrief, chair of the board of trustees. “We are excited to welcome President Pullin as a leader who embodies these qualities and look forward to working with him and Chancellor Boschini to envision the next 150 years of TCU.”

TCU announced Pullin’s selection as the university’s president in December 2022 and he began his tenure in February 2023.

In addition to operational management, TCU said in a news release, Pullin’s “executive leadership and experience support and expand TCU’s focus on key goals, including academic excellence and reputation, student engagement and a culture of belonging.”

This article originally appeared in the Fort Worth Business Press and is shared with permission. 

The post TCU Celebrates New President first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

The design by Trevor Scott, a 2022 graduate of the graphic design program at TCU, will feature the message, “Fort Worth, Home of the Horned Frogs.” Campus icons are showcased, including Frog Fountain and SuperFrog, alongside hallmark Fort Worth locations such as Bass Performance Hall, the West 7th Street bridge and the downtown skyline.

The mural is a gift from TCU to the city in celebration of its historical and integral relationship with Fort Worth as TCU closes out its Sesquicentennial.

TCU Downtown Mural Rendering; Designed by Trevor Scott

“As we set our sights on the next 150 years, it’s fitting to celebrate our deep connection with our city that has done so much for and with TCU,” Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. said. “We are pleased to leave this tangible mark on downtown Fort Worth, just as Horned Frogs leave a lasting positive impact in our community.”

According to the Princeton Review, TCU ranks among the top 10 for “Town and Gown Relations,” an honor bestowed upon universities that maintain a strong and meaningful relationship between their campus and the community. This bond traces back to the early days of TCU’s founding when, in 1869, before founders Addison and Randolph Clark established what would become TCU in Thorp Spring, Texas, the first physical location for TCU in Fort Worth was in downtown Fort Worth. In 1923, during TCU’s Jubilee Year, university students and others gathered downtown for the TCU Jubilee Parade outside First Christian Church, located just a block away from the newest mural site.

Today, the ties between TCU and the city it calls home are stronger than ever. In addition to the mural near Sundance Square, visitors and locals can experience more exciting elements of TCU’s 150th-anniversary finale in the city of Fort Worth, including Frogs on Fourth: A Purple Pop-Up, Sonny Dykes as grand marshal of the downtown Parade of Lights, the annual TCU tree lighting, Botanic Garden’s Lightscape and more.

The post A Gift to the City first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Parade of LIghts 2022 (Photo by Brian Luenser)

The 41st annual event will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19, in downtown Fort Worth and a sold-out crowd is expected. This year’s theme is “Holiday Magic.”

The Parade of Lights was first staged by Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives Inc. in 1983 with 25 floats and drew a crowd of about 25,000. It now draws spectators numbering in the tens of thousands, organizers say, and has grown to become one of Fort Worth’s most cherished holiday traditions. It is Texas’ largest illuminated holiday parade with more than 100 professionally designed floats as well as marching bands, antique cars, equestrian units, horse-drawn carriages and carolers spreading Christmas cheer along the 1.59 mile parade route.

And, of course, the parade concludes with Santa and Mrs. Claus appearing on the specially designed, LED-lit, grand finale float.

Sonny Dykes and 2022 Heisman Trophy runner-up Max Duggan. (TCU photo)

“The Parade of Lights is such a great tradition and important part of Fort Worth. It is a true honor to be Grand Marshal and represent TCU,” Dykes said. “My family and I are most appreciative of this opportunity.”

“TCU is proud to sponsor the Grand Marshal float in recognition of the community and people that have supported TCU’s mission for 150 years,” said TCU Chancellor Victor J. Boschini Jr. “Coach Dykes is a great representation of the Horned Frog spirit and we are proud he will lead the beloved Parade of Lights.”

In his first season leading TCU, Dykes guided the Horned Frogs to their best season in program history. They finished 13-2 and defeated Michigan in the CFP semifinals before falling to Georgia in the national championship game as the Bulldogs won their second straight national title.

TCU is the first Texas team to qualify for the College Football Playoff and the first school in the Big 12 Conference to reach the CFP title game.

Fort Worth-based GM Financial has renewed its commitment to the parade for the sixth year in a row and will continue its title sponsorship through 2027.

“GM Financial’s culture is based on strengthening the communities where we live and work, which aligns with the Parade of Lights’ mission to bring people together in the spirit of community,” said Dan Berce, President and CEO of GM Financial. “As the largest employer in downtown Fort Worth, we are pleased to help preserve the special tradition of the Parade of Lights in the city we’ve been proud to call home for more than 30 years.”

There are many opportunities to participate in and attend the Parade of Lights, organizers said, including:

• Reserve “Street Seats”:While the parade is free and open-to-the-public, attendees can get the most illuminating experience by purchasing reserved tickets, or “Street Seats,” in advance. Tickets start at $15 for children and $17.50 for adults, and are available for purchase now. Visit the website to view all reserved seating options and discounted packaged ticket prices.
• Enter a Float: Applications are open until Friday, September 29, for those interested in entering a float in the 2023 parade. Entry forms and rates can be found online.
• Volunteer: Hundreds of volunteers are what make the parade a success year-after-year and opportunities are available in hospitality, merchandise sales, stand and seating assistance, staging areas, entry check-in, and more. Volunteers can sign up online.
• Become a Sponsor: As a 501c (3) nonprofit organization, Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc. seeks the support of corporate sponsors and partners to help maintain the free and high-quality production of the parade for the Fort Worth community. Sponsorship opportunities, levels, and benefits can be found online.

The post TCU Coach to Be Grand Marshall for 2023 Parade of Lights first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.