The 83rd annual Texas Rose Festival, a four-day celebration of Tyler's rose growing industry and its history in this community, is less than a week away. Texas Rose Festival Queen Mallory Kristine Curtis is pictured here with her attendants and Duchess Mary-Birdsong Gabriel, at left, and Texas Rose Festival President Kenneth Waits, at right. (GLORIA SWIFT/focusinon.me)

The 83rd annual Texas Rose Festival, a four-day celebration of Tyler’s rose growing industry and its history in this community, is this week with a full slate of events beginning Thursday. 

The Texas Rose Festival runs Oct. 13 to 16, with many activities for East Texans to enjoy, including the Texas Rose Festival Rose Show, the 64th Palette of Roses Art Show and guided tours of the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden, in addition to luncheons, the Rose Queen’s Coronation, parade and Queen’s Tea. 

The Rose Show features 8,000 rose blooms arranged to the theme to this year’s festival theme of “Museum of the Majestic.”

Events include: 

RIBBON CUTTING & PRAYER SERVICE

Festivities will officially kick off with the Texas Rose Festival Ribbon Cutting and Morning Prayer Service at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Tyler Rose Garden Center, 420 Rose Park Drive. 

The event is free and marks the opening of the festival, including the Texas Rose Festival Rose Show at the garden, which will be open to the public for viewing from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday to Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. 

Additionally, there are free Tyler Municipal Rose Garden Guided Tours set for 1 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. Friday at the garden. Friday’s tour will be followed by a free talk by  Mark Chamblee, of Chamblee Roses, at 11 a.m. on how to select roses for your garden.  

At 1:30 p.m. Friday is a walk and talk in the rose garden on rose varieties, planting, pruning and general rose care. 

 

LUNCHEONS

The longtime tradition of the annual men’s and women’s luncheons are set for Friday. 

The Men’s Luncheon begins at 11:15 a.m. Friday and will feature Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as the guest speaker at the Cascades Country Club, 4511 Briarwood Road.

India Hicks, a former Ralph Lauren model, designer and entrepreneur of a lifestyle brand she founded in 2015, will be the guest speaker at the Ladies’ Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Friday at Green Acres Baptist Church CrossWalk Conference Center, 1607 Troup Highway.

“We are looking forward to our dignitaries coming out to celebrate the beauty and culture of Tyler with us,” Texas Rose Festival Executive Director Liz Ballard said.

Tickets to the luncheon are $50 each. 

 

CORONATION

The festival coronation is scheduled for 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday, at the R. Don Cowan Fine & Performing Arts Center, 3900 University Blvd. on The University of Texas at Tyler campus.

Attendees will hear the story behind each costume, watch the crowning of the rose queen, the presentation of the duchess and the introduction of the ladies in waiting and escorts. By the end of the program, the queen and her entire court all will be on stage.

“Costume designer Winn Morton of San Antonio has been designing the costumes since 1982,” Ms. Ballard said.

 

PARADE & QUEEN’S TEA

Those who prefer the outdoors have the opportunity to see the entire court and more at The Texas Rose Festival Parade at 9 a.m. Saturday, which starts at Front Street and Glenwood Boulevard and ends at the Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.

The Queen’s Tea is scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. in the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden, 420 Rose Park Drive in Tyler. There, the public can meet the 2016 Texas Rose Festival Queen Mallory Kristine Curtis, Duchess of the Texas Rose Festival Mary-Birdsong Gabriel and the members of the court. All will be in their full coronation costumes.

“This is an opportunity to meet the queen and her court and for people to take pictures,” Ms. Ballard said. 

The theme, “Museum of the Majestic” will be showcased with classical decor and works of art from famous artists and famous museums.

Raymond Krueger, of Jerry’s Flowers, will use thousands of roses to design the courtyard for the event. 

Suzanne and William Bradly Curtis, the queen’s parents, and the Texas Rose Festival, represented by President Kenneth S. Waits, will host the Queen’s Tea in honor of Queen Mallory.

“We’re hoping for a bright day with sunshine and great weather,” Ms. Ballard said. “We’re hoping for the community to come out and participate. We’re looking forward to celebrating the history of the rose industry and volunteerism in Tyler.”

For information about the festival, visit www.texasrosefestival.com.

 

THE FULL SCHEDULE INCLUDES:

Thursday, Oct. 13 

10 a.m.

83RD TEXAS ROSE FESTIVAL RIBBON CUTTING & MORNING PRAYER SERVICE

Rose Garden Center, 420 Rose Park Drive

Free admission, open to the public 

 

9 a.m.  to 5 p.m.

TEXAS ROSE FESTIVAL ROSE SHOW

Rose Garden Center, 420 Rose Park Drive 

Free admission 

 

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

64TH PALETTE OF ROSES ART SHOW

Rose Garden Center, 420 Rose Park Drive

Free admission 

 

1 p.m.

TYLER MUNICIPAL ROSE GARDEN GUIDED TOUR

Tyler Rose Garden, 420 Rose Park Drive

Free admission 

 

Friday, Oct. 14 

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

TEXAS ROSE FESTIVAL ROSE SHOW

Rose Garden Center, 420 Rose Park Drive 

Free admission 

 

10 a.m.

TYLER MUNICIPAL ROSE GARDEN GUIDED TOUR

Tyler Rose Garden, 420 Rose Park Drive 

Free admission 

 

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

64TH PALETTE OF ROSES ART SHOW

Rose Garden Center, 420 Rose Park Drive

Free admission 

 

11 a.m.

“HOW TO SELECT THE BEST ROSES FOR YOUR GARDEN”

Mark Chamblee of Chamblee Roses will talk about new and interesting varieties that have been introduced recently.

Rose Garden Center, 420 Rose Park Drive

Free admission 

 

11:15 a.m.

TEXAS ROSE FESTIVAL MEN’S LUNCHEON

The Cascades, 4511 Briarwood Road 

Tickets required: $50 and up 

 

11:30 a.m.

TEXAS ROSE FESTIVAL LADIES’ LUNCHEON

Guest Speaker: India Hicks; Celebrated Author, Model and Designer

CrossWalk Conference Center, Green Acres Baptist Church 

Tickets required: $50 and up 

 

1:30 p.m.

“ALL ABOUT ROSES”

Walk and talk in the rose garden.

Tips on varieties, planting, pruning and general care of roses.

Rose Garden Center, 420 Rose Park Drive

Free admission 

 

2 p.m.

TEXAS ROSE FESTIVAL MATINEE CORONATION

R. Don Cowan Fine & Performing Arts Center, 3900 University Blvd. 

Tickets required: $10 to $30 

 

7 p.m.

TEXAS ROSE FESTIVAL EVENING CORONATION

R. Don Cowan Fine & Performing Arts Center, 3900 University Blvd.

Tickets required: $15 to $65 

 

Saturday, Oct. 15  

9 a.m.

TEXAS ROSE FESTIVAL PRE-PARADE ACTIVITIES

Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium

 

9 a.m.

TEXAS ROSE FESTIVAL PARADE

Sponsored by CBS19

West from Glenwood Boulevard and Front Street

Free 

 

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

TEXAS ROSE FESTIVAL ROSE SHOW

Rose Garden Center, 420 Rose Park Drive

Free admission 

 

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

64TH PALETTE OF ROSES ART SHOW

Rose Garden Center, 420 Rose Park Drive

Free admission 

 

9 a.m. to 5p.m.

ROSE FESTIVAL ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR

Southside Park/Rose Rudman Trail, 455 Shiloh Rd.

Free admission 

 

10 a.m. to 4p.m.

“TYLER’S OLD ROSE” Open House

The 1859 Goodman-LeGrand House & Museum, 624 N. Broadway Ave.

Free admission 

 

1 to 3 p.m.

TEXAS ROSE FESTIVAL QUEEN’S TEA

Tyler Municipal Rose Garden, 420 Rose Park Drive

Free admission 

 

Sunday, Oct. 16  

11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ROSE FESTIVAL ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR & PLANT SALE

Southside Park/Rose Rudman Trail, 455 Shiloh Rd.

Free admission 

 

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

TEXAS ROSE FESTIVAL ROSE SHOW

Rose Garden Center, 420 Rose Park Drive 

Free admission