Thanksgiving isn’t here yet, but Fort Worth looked a lot like Christmas on Sunday.

The festivities started with a crowd surrounding a 65-foot Norway spruce for the 76th Annual Fort Worth Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Sundance Square Plaza and then lining up to see the Parade of Lights.

Some took selfies with their partners and some awaited the tree’s lighting with family and friends, but all of them didn’t let the sub-40-degree weather chill their spirits.

Mayor Pro Tem Gyna Bivens kicked off the tree’s lighting at 5 p.m. with a speech thanking the people for their donations to Fort Worth, saying that if it wasn’t for philanthropist Ed Bass, a lot of things would not be happening in her hometown.

Bass predicted “this is going to be a bountiful Christmas season.

“In the past we’ve had fir trees and pine trees and their limbs come out and they kind of sag,” he said. “This is a spruce tree. The limbs come out and point up to heaven — they point up to how this Christmas season is going to be.”

About 150,000 people were expected in downtown Fort Worth for the Parade of Lights on Nov. 20, Sundance Square spokesperson Bryan Eppstein said. About 2,500 attended the tree lighting ceremony.

The Christmas tree lighting and parade with over 100 floats marked the beginning of the Christmas season in Fort Worth.

Cristian ArguetaSoto is the community engagement journalist at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him by email or via Twitter. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.

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Downtown Fort Worth shines with Christmas tree lighting, Parade of Lights

by Cristian ArguetaSoto, Fort Worth Report
November 20, 2022

<h1>Downtown Fort Worth shines with Christmas tree lighting, Parade of Lights</h1> <p class="byline">by Cristian ArguetaSoto, Fort Worth Report <br />November 20, 2022</p> <p>Thanksgiving isn’t here yet, but Fort Worth looked a lot like Christmas on Sunday.</p> <p>The festivities started with a crowd surrounding a 65-foot Norway spruce for the 76th Annual Fort Worth Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Sundance Square Plaza and then lining up to see the <a href="https://fortworthparadeoflights.org/">Parade of Lights</a>.</p> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter" data-effect="slide"> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container"> <ul class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper"> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-59352" data-id="59352" src="https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/CAS_treelighting-10-1024x683.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Guests line the streets for the Parade of Lights on Nov. 20 in downtown Fort Worth. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-59353" data-id="59353" src="https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/CAS_treelighting-11-1024x683.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">The first participants of the Parade of Lights lead the festivities with a banner on Nov. 20 in downtown Fort Worth. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-59354" data-id="59354" src="https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/CAS_treelighting-12-1024x683.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Paschal High School Marching Band members walk in the Parade of Lights on Nov. 20 in downtown Fort Worth. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-59356" data-id="59356" src="https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/CAS_treelighting-14-1024x683.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">A member of the Street Dreams Car Club participates in the Parade of Lights on Nov. 20 in downtown Fort Worth. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-59355" data-id="59355" src="https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/CAS_treelighting-13-1024x683.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">An All Star Dance Academy float makes its way through the streets of downtown Fort Worth on Nov. 20 for the Parade of Lights. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-59350" data-id="59350" src="https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/CAS_treelighting-8-1024x683.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Parade of Lights guests keep warm with a portable heater on Nov. 20 in downtown Fort Worth. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-59348" data-id="59348" src="https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/CAS_treelighting-6-1024x683.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Guests weather the rain with umbrellas at the Parade of Lights on Nov. 20 in downtown Fort Worth. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-59345" data-id="59345" src="https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/CAS_treelighting-3-1024x683.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Mayor Pro Tem Gyna Bivens gives a speech at the 76th Annual Fort Worth Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 20 in Sundance Square Plaza. Bivens thanked guests for their attendance and counted down the tree's lighting. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-59346" data-id="59346" src="https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/CAS_treelighting-4-1024x683.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Philanthropist Ed Bass takes the mic at the 76th Annual Fort Worth Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 20 in Sundance Square Plaza. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-59351" data-id="59351" src="https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/CAS_treelighting-9-1024x683.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Ballet folklorico dancer Claudia Tiffany Rodriguez performs on stage on Nov. 20 in downtown Fort Worth. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-59343" data-id="59343" src="https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/CAS_treelighting-1-1024x683.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">People gather around the 65-foot Norway spruce for the 76th Annual Fort Worth Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 20 in Sundance Square Plaza. The lighting lead into the Parade of Lights. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-59344" data-id="59344" src="https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/CAS_treelighting-2-1024x683.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Fort Worth leaders listen to speeches on Nov. 20 at the 76th Annual Fort Worth Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Sundance Square Plaza. From left to right: Philanthropist Ed Bass, Leah King, CEO and president of United Way of Tarrant County, Roy Brooks, Tarrant County Commissioner, Angela Ramsey, Fort Worth ISD superintendent. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-59347" data-id="59347" src="https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/CAS_treelighting-5-1024x683.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Mayor Pro Tem Gyna Bivens, left, and other Fort Worth leaders watch the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 20 in Sundance Square Plaza. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report)</figcaption></figure> </li> </ul> <p><a class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white" role="button"></a><a class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white" role="button"></a><a aria-label="Pause Slideshow" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause" role="button"></a></p> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white"></div> </div> </div> <p>Some took selfies with their partners and some awaited the tree’s lighting with family and friends, but all of them didn't let the sub-40-degree weather chill their spirits.</p> <p>Mayor Pro Tem Gyna Bivens kicked off the tree’s lighting at 5 p.m. with a speech thanking the people for their donations to Fort Worth, saying that if it wasn’t for philanthropist Ed Bass, a lot of things would not be happening in her hometown.</p> <p>Bass predicted “this is going to be a bountiful Christmas season.</p> <p>“In the past we’ve had fir trees and pine trees and their limbs come out and they kind of sag,” he said. “This is a spruce tree. The limbs come out and point up to heaven — they point up to how this Christmas season is going to be.”</p> <p>About 150,000 people were expected in downtown Fort Worth for the Parade of Lights on Nov. 20, Sundance Square spokesperson Bryan Eppstein said. About 2,500 attended the tree lighting ceremony.</p> <p>The Christmas tree lighting and parade with over 100 floats marked the beginning of the Christmas season in Fort Worth.</p> <p><em>Cristian ArguetaSoto is the community engagement journalist at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him by </em><a href="http://cristian.arguetasoto@fortworthreport.org/"><em>email</em></a><em> or via </em><a href="https://twitter.com/CrisArguetaSoto"><em>Twitter</em></a><em>. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy </em><a href="https://fortworthreport.org/about/fort-worth-report-editorial-independence-policy/"><em>here</em></a><em>.</em></p> <p>This <a target="_blank" href="https://fortworthreport.org/2022/11/20/downtown-fort-worth-shines-with-christmas-tree-lighting-parade-of-lights/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://fortworthreport.org">Fort Worth Report</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://i0.wp.com/fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/cropped-favicon.png?fit=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;"><img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="https://fortworthreport.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=59341&amp;ga3=UA-194640723-1" style="width:1px;height:1px;"></p> Copy to Clipboard

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