FEATURES0206

By JOYCE TURNER
Community Editor

The 75th Texas Rose Festival will get underway when Rose Queen Sarah Elizabeth Clyde and TRF President James Chester Wynne III usher in "A Royal Tribute to the Rose" with a snip of the ceremonial ribbon during Thursday morning's activities at the Rose Garden Center, 420 Rose Park Drive, Tyler.

The festival, Tyler's annual salute to the rose and the rose-growing industry, will continue through Sunday in Tyler. Reigning over the festivities will be Queen Sarah, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Clyde IV of Tyler. Members of her court are Duchess of the Rose Growers Elizabeth Katelyn Horton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth D. Horton of Tyler, ladies-in-waiting, out-of-town duchesses, escorts and attendants.

Following the official opening of the Rose Festival, Miss Clyde and other dignitaries will open the Palette of Roses Art Show with a second ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Mayfair Building on the East Texas State Fairgrounds.

The Rose Festival, with its colorful pomp and pageantry, attracts visitors to Tyler by the thousands each fall, and is credited with providing an annual economic boost.

Officials with the Tyler Conventions & Visitors Bureau and related chamber and economic groups say the festival pumps about $2 million into the local economy. The amount takes into account the money spent by both residents and out-of-town visitors directly related to the four-day Texas Rose Festival.

According to information from the Texas Department of Economic Development, the average day visitor to a festival typically spends at least $40 a day and the average out-of-town visitor will spend no less than $100 and often much more.

Hotels, restaurants, convenience store operators and gas stations all typically see a bump in sales because the Texas Rose Festival is in town. Other money is spent on tickets for various festival events and in purchasing souvenirs and related merchandise, economic officials say.

The festival, with its celebration of the rose and the city's rose-growing heritage, brings national attention to the city and serves as a key marketing tool for ongoing tourism efforts.

This week's Rose Festival activities include:

VESPER SERVICE: The Texas Rose Festival Vesper Service is scheduled at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Green Acres Baptist Church Chapel, 1607 Troup Highway, and will be officiated by Dr. David O. Dykes, pastor. Attendees should enter the chapel off Troup Highway. Parking is best around the Family Life Center or north of the main campus.

ROSE SHOW: The Rose Show opens at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Tyler Rose Garden Center, with a ribbon-cutting by Queen Sarah, accompanied by The Brook Hill String Quartet. After the ribbon-cutting, provided by Tyler Junior Garden Club, this year's Rose Show hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The theme is "Reflections of Rose Shows," and activities include a new addition of "Tablescape Displays" from various Tyler area garden clubs, a Variety Rose Display and Rose Show slides, depicting the history of the Rose Show. All three events are free and open to the public. For information, call 903-597-3130 or e-mail info@texasrosefestival.com.

ROSE MUSEUM: The museum, which opened in 1992, is home to memorabilia, lavish costumes and historic photos that preserve the history of the rose industry and pay homage to the festival. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $3.50 for adults and $2 for children, ages 3 to 11. For information, visit the Web site at www.tylerrosemuseum.com or call 903-597-3130.

CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU: The Convention & Visitors Bureau Information Center will be located in the Rose Garden Center, 420 Rose Park Drive. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

PALETTE OF ROSES ART SHOW: The Palette of Roses Art League is scheduled to present its 56th annual Art Show at the Mayfair Building at East Texas State Fairgrounds. The free exhibit is open to the public. Show hours are 10:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. For general inquiries, contact Robin Enneking at Freelanceartist@msn.com.

CORONATION PERFORMANCES: The matinee performance of the queen's coronation and court presentation is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center, The University of Texas at Tyler, 3900 University Blvd. Tickets are $21.50, and all seats will be reserved. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door.

The Queen's Coronation and Court Presentation is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Cowan Center. Tickets are $46.50 (main floor, rows C-HH) or $31.50 (main floor, row JJ-NN). Tickets will be available at the door.

The Queen's Coronation and Court Presentation also is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Cowan Center. Tickets are $46.50 (main floor, rows C-HH) or $31.50 (main floor, rows JJ-NN); $41.50 (balcony, rows A-D) and $26.50 (balcony, rows E-FF). Tickets will be available for purchase at the door.

ROSE GARDEN TOUR: Tyler Parks & Recreation Rose Garden Tour is set for 10 a.m. Friday at the Rose Garden Center. Call the Information Office at 903-531-1213 or e-mail cstainback@tylertexas.com for details.

LADIES' LUNCHEON: The 2008 Texas Rose Festival Ladies' Luncheon, featuring nationally ranked jewelry designer Dian Malouf, is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Friday at Villa di Felicita, 7891 Texas Highway 110 North. Ticket price is $40 per person. Advance tickets are required and tickets will not be available at the door.

MEN'S LUNCHEON: Nolan Ryan, thought to be one of the greatest pitchers of all time, now president of the Texas Rangers, will be the featured speaker. The event is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Friday at the Rose Garden Center, 420 Rose Park Drive. Tickets are $40 per person. An advance ticket is required and tickets will not be available at the door.

ROSE NURSERY TOURS: For information on Rose Nursery Tours on Friday and Saturday, call 1-800-235-5712, Ext. 229, or e-mail jturner@tylertexas.com.

QUEEN'S TEA: The Queen's Tea, "A Royal Tea Party," is set for 3 to 5 p.m. Friday at the Tyler Rose Garden, 420 Rose Park Drive. The tea, which is free and open to the public, provides the opportunity for festival visitors to meet Queen Sarah and members of the royal court in their costumes in a festive outdoor setting. Refreshments of cookies and punch will be served.

ROSE PARADE: Entertainment begins at 9 a.m. at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium and continues with more than 100 parade entries, including parade floats adorned with thousands of Tyler roses. Parade officially begins at the intersection of South Glenwood and West Front streets at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. There will be live parade commentary in the stadium. Tickets are $10 and $7 for reserved seats (west side); $5 for senior citizens (west side-lower reserved sections); and free general admission on the east side. Tickets will be available for purchase at the gate. For information, visit www.texasrosefestival.com.

ROSE THEATER: View the 2008 Queen's Coronation video presentation, sponsored and produced by KYTX-CBS 19, at the Rose Garden Center, 420 Rose Park Drive. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Event is free.

ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR: Dozens of vendors will be set up in the Tyler Rose Garden on Saturday and Sunday as part of the festival's annual arts and crafts fair. In past years, the fair has been held in Bergfeld Park. This year, it will be closer to the other events that take place in the Rose Garden and Rose Garden Center. The hours of the fair will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. For information, call 903-531-1370 or e-mail msellick@tylertexas.com.

ROSE CAFE: The cafe is in the Rose Garden Center. Hours are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

TICKETS: Tickets for all events are available online at www.texasrosefestival.com, by phone at 903-566-7424, or by going to the R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center Box Office, open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday on the campus of UT Tyler, 3900 University Blvd.

Sponsors for the 2008 Texas Rose Festival Association are KYTX - CBS 19, East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System, Royal Interests/Jack and Debra King, City of Tyler and the Tyler Morning Telegraph/ TylerPaper.com.

Also, AT&T, Austin Bank, Bank of America, Brighton/Laura and Michael Young, Brookshire Grocery Co., Classic Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Delk Photography, Dillard's Inc. "The Style of Your Life," Flowers Baking Co. of Tyler, LLC, KLTV Channel 7, Lamar Advertising, Oncor, Order of the Rose, RPR Construction Co. Inc., Betty Jo Riter, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Shoemaker III, Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Riter III, Samsung, Southside Bank, Trinity Mother Frances Health System, Nancy Bracken Walden/Bracken Resources, O.L.C., Willis Interests/Sherilyn and Patrick Willis.

Also, Cavender's Boot City, Mansions at Cascades Luxury Rental Townhomes, Citizens 1st Bank/Jim and Margaret Perkin, Martin Walker, P.C., Coca-Cola, Pilgrim's Pride, Crown Motor Co., Regions Bank, CVC - Tyler Cardiovascular Consultants, Mr. and Mrs. H. Lanier Richey, Dermatology Associates of Tyler, Linda and George Rowe/State Farm Insurance, Kenneth V. Dunn/RBC Wealth Management, Texas Bank and Trust, First Bank and Trust East Texas, Texas Filter Service Inc., Flowers Davis, PLLC, Texas State Bank, Holiday Inn Select Tyler, Tyler Packing Co., Horizon Transportation and Tours, U.S. Ag, Inc., KETK - TV and The University of Texas Health Science Center.

Also, Berry Irrigation, Perry B. Hall Company, Inc./Perry Hall Homes, Guaranty Bank, Reynolds & Kay, Ltd., Kitchen's Unique Inc., Sam's Town, Michael R. Lewis, M.D., TAABS Printing and Promotional Products, Overhead Door Co. of Tyler and Texas Rose Horse Park.

ROSE ROYALTY: 2008 Rose Festival Queen Sarah Clyde (left) and Duchess Elizabeth Horton pose at the Rose Garden in Tyler on May 12.
(Staff File Photo By Mark Roberts)