Duchesses parade across the stage during the coronation of Texas Rose Queen Frances Olivia Faulconer Friday, October 18, 2024, at the UT Cowan Center. (Les Hassell/Longview News-Journal Photo)

In a dazzling display of elegance, 91st Texas Rose Festival Queen Miss Frances “Franny” Olivia Faulconer, along with her court, showcased a breathtaking array of intricate gowns inspired by this year’s theme “Fanfare of Festivals” at the coronation.

“I thought it was one of the most beautiful I have ever seen,” said attendee Kristina Wrenn, who was in the 1994 Texas Rose Festival. “I was just stunned at the end. Everything was just so gorgeous — the train and the lights.”

For David S. Dial, seeing his daughter Princess Miss Merritt Elizabeth Dial was something that made the family swell with pride.

“My hands are still sweating, my wife had tears in her eyes … it was such a magical moment for us,” he said. “You get goosebumps… whether you’re watching your son score a touchdown or your daughter come across the stage in a beautiful gown, it’s always exciting.”

Also on the court is Duchess of the Rose Growers Alice Elizabeth Milton, local Ladies-in-Waiting, out-of-town Duchesses, Queen’s Attendants, and Escorts.

The ladies represented festivals from the Luling Watermelon Thump, Texas Butterfly Festival, Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, Keukenhof Tulip Fest, Bi-National Macaw Festival, and many more.

Wrenn’s favorite part was when the court came out to bow to the Rose Queen. “It was fantastic to be able to see that,” she said.

Queen Faulconer came out in a stunning 1930s Art Deco-inspired motif and adornments of lattice and roses. The train was embellished with 18 different fabrics, custom-printed sequin fabric, 20 pounds of bugle and seed beds, as well as crystals, stones, hand-rolled petals, and rhinestone leaves.

At the bottom of the train, a Fleur De Lis was featured as a symbol Queen Faulconer associates with her mother, the late Dr. Renée’ Yvette Faulconer, and their shared sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma. Her mother’s initials, RMF, also appear on the train.

Months of hard work by hundreds of volunteers and community leaders culminated in this vibrant celebration, reflecting the spirit that unites Tyler. The festival’s events not only draw in spectators but also boost local tourism and invigorate the economy.

While the coronation is a beloved event, so is the special community parade held the morning after the crowning ceremony each year.

“The parade has always been my favorite part and it still is,” said Wrenn. “What I love the most about the festival is how it brings so many people from out of town to Tyler and they get to see the pomp and circumstance and get to be a part of what we offer with the Rose Garden with all the wonderful things that happened in Tyler. There’s a great economic impact from the festival.”

The festivities will continue over the weekend, featuring the much-anticipated parade on Saturday at 9 a.m. starting at Front Street and Glenwood Boulevard, winding west on Front Street, and concluding at the Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium, 609 Fair Park Dr. The parade will be broadcast on KETK/FOX51 and streamed online through the KETK website and app, with Spanish coverage available via KTPN and Fuzion Radio.

Additionally, the Queen’s Tea will take place on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Tyler Rose Garden, located at 420 Rose Park Dr., offering the community a chance to meet and greet the court members. For a complete schedule of events, visit texasrosefestival.com.