The Caldwell Arts Academy Drumline performs during the City of Tyler’s 37th annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in 2022 at the downtown square. The 2023 tree lighting set for Thursday has been rescheduled to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 5.

1. WATCH, CBS19: Severe storms across East Texas are forecasted

The annual Christmas parade in Tyler has been canceled and will not be held in 2023.

According to Rotary Club officials, the 2023 Rose City Christmas Parade scheduled for this Thursday night was canceled due to weather. CBS19 predicts a 90% chance of rain and thunder with a high chance for severe weather on Thursday.

Three Tyler Rotary International clubs, South Tyler Rotary, Sunrise Rotary, and The Rotary Club of Tyler, sponsor and host the parade. Tiffany Damskov, Rotary public image director, confirmed the cancellation to the Tyler Paper on Monday afternoon.

“With hugely heavy hearts, in the best interest and safety of the participants and spectators, due to the adverse weather conditions predicted, the Rotary Clubs of Tyler along with the City of Tyler officials have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2023 Christmas Parade,” according to a statement provided by the Rotary Clubs.

The Rotary Clubs said the parade will not be rescheduled in 2023 and the clubs will host the 2024 parade next year on Dec. 5, 2024.

Rotary Club officials previously said over 120 parade entries were set to participate in the parade. Organizers also previously said there was a lot of interest in the parade this year. It is known as an event that kicks off the holiday season in Tyler.

Many within the community expressed disappointment about the cancellation.

The City of Tyler 38th Annual Tree Lighting on the Square, which is always held right after the parade, has been postponed following the cancellation of the Rose City Christmas Parade.

The city announced on Tuesday afternoon a new time and date for the ceremony, which is set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5.

The tree lighting ceremony will feature remarks from officials and the ceremonial flipping of the switch to light the tree by the 2024 Children’s Miracle Network Miracle Child.

Miracle Child River Hardy, 4, was born prematurely. His parents, Kyla and Kaleb Hardy, spent weeks in this hospital until Kaleb was discharged just in time for Christmas.

When River was 1, his parents realized he was not hitting the normal developmental milestones. He was diagnosed with Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL), a brain injury which is common in premature babies. River was also diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.

“He is a miracle,” Kyla previously said in an interview with the Tyler Paper. “… River has already overcome so many things,. He’s so joyous, even when he’s having hard days and hard times.”

Christmas is special to the Hardy family, and Kaleb and Kyla are excited to see River light up the 30-foot tree. Tyler Mayor Don Warren will stand next to River and help him flip the ceremonial switch. A Miracle Child has lit the city tree every year since 1987.

There are other Christmas parades and tree lightings scheduled across East Texas, including:

Parades

Henderson Christmas Parade: Originally set for Nov. 30, the city said it has postponed the parade and tree lighting until early next week due to weather.

Bullard Magic on Main: Dec. 1, 6 — 9 p.m. with the parade set for 5 p.m., downtown Bullard;

Lindale Rotary Christmas Parade: Dec. 2, 5:30 — 7 p.m., downtown Lindale; Note organizers said on Tuesday they are closely monitoring the weather and will make a decision later in the week about the potential to cancel. “If it is canceled, we will not reschedule due to TxDOT regulations,” the Lindale Rotary Club said.

Lighted Christmas Parade: Dec. 2, 6 p.m., downtown Marshall;

Longview’s AMBUCS Christmas Parade: 6:30 p.m., Dec. 7, downtown Longview;

Whitehouse Christmas on Main: Dec. 2, 3:30 p.m. parade with events including market, ice skating, tree lighting and more from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., downtown Whitehouse;

Yulefest Parade: Dec. 2, 6 p.m., downtown Gilmer;

Arp Christmas Parade: Dec. 2, 6 p.m., downtown Arp;

Big Sandy Christmas Parade: Dec. 4, 6:30 — 9:30 p.m., downtown Big Sandy;

Panola County Christmas Parade: Dec. 4, 7 p.m., downtown Carthage;

Troup Christmas Parade: Dec. 7, 6 p.m., downtown Troup; and

Gladewater Christmas Parade: Dec. 13, 6 p.m., downtown Gladewater.

Tree lightings

Christus Mother Frances Hospital at Tyler will have a tree lighting Dec. 6 at the main entrance on 800 East Dawson Street at 5:30 p.m. The tree will be lit by River Hardy, the 2024 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Miracle Child.

Oak Hills Terrace Memory Care Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Dec. 7 at 2651 Elkton Trail in Tyler. Their annual “Light the Tree” fundraiser event will donate proceeds to the Alzheimer’s Alliance of Smith County. Oak Hills Terrace will provide purple Christmas ball ornaments for people to write their loved ones names. In addition they will hold a candlelight vigil.

City of Bullard will host Magic on Main on Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. at Bullard Masonic Lodge, 113 N Phillips St, Bullard, TX 75757. Magic on Main will be located on the greenbelt in front of Hondo and Shorty’s in Downtown Bullard. The event will include food vendors, shopping at Mistletoe Market and kid’s activities and photos with Santa.

In Lindale, Little Russell Memorial Library, 200 E Hubbard St, Lindale, TX 75771, will host Lighting and Blessing of the Memory Tree on Dec. 1 from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. There will be a special blessing and prayer of the tree by Pastor Offett from Life Source. People can purchase ornaments to honor loved ones at the library for $5 before the lighting of the tree and after at Santa’s Bake shop the following day.

Edom Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Stroll on Dec. 2 will be at the Edom Historical Society Museum, Highway 279, Edom Texas, at 5 p.m. The event will include photos with Santa, holiday music, cookie decorating along with the tree lighting ceremony.

Whitehouse Christmas on Main tree lighting will be at 6 p.m. on Dec. 2 at 309 East Main Street, Whitehouse, TX 75791. The event includes a parade, food trucks, vendor markets and ice skating. Mayor of Whitehouse James Wansley will light the tree.

Arp Christmas Festival and Parade at Arp City Park on Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The parade starts at 6 p.m. and will end with the mayoral tree lighting. The parade will start at Gillispie/Arnold field and end at the park.

Longview Mall, 3500 McCann Rd Ofc, Longview, TX 75605, will host their Annual Outdoor Tree Lighting on Dec. 2 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. At the main entrance people can gather to watch the tree lighting. Children can decorate ornaments for the tree. The Gladewater High School Honey Bears will kick off the countdown. There will be Christmas music, games, hot chocolate and photo opportunities for families to celebrate.

Jefferson Texas Lions Club will host a tree lighting on Nov. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at Lions Club Park, 515 E Jefferson St, Jefferson, TX 75657. They encourage people to join in the flip of the switch. Santa will be present.

The Historic Downtown Henderson Christmas Parade will have a tree lighting and kickoff early next week. The date has not yet been announced, as it was postponed from Nov. 30 due to weather.

Holiday on the Square will host the Christmas tree lighting at the Henderson County Courthouse, 132 N Prairieville St, Athens, TX, on Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. Santa will light the tree and be there for the kids until 8 p.m.

Rusk Chamber of Commerce, will host Rusk’s Hometown Christmas in Historic Downtown Rusk and light the tree at sunset on Nov. 25. The event will be from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. and includes a walk-in human size snow globe, the FunRun train, a new ice skating rink, Santa and local entertainment.

Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, will host the annual Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, in downtown Jacksonville, beginning at Commerce/Bolton Street.