Fort Worth has long held the tradition of embracing the festive spirit with as much gusto as a cowboy at a rodeo. This year, once again, the Texas city has aimed to outshine the stars, with its downtown turning into a veritable Christmas beacon. A chronicling by the City of Fort Worth walks us through the decorated past of downtown Fort Worth — from a single community tree to the current eighty-foot spruce majesties that capture the imaginations of young and old alike.
Post-World War II Fort Worth saw community leaders like Amon Carter spearhead the yuletide festivities, starting with a trend-setting tree in Burk Burnett Park in 1947. Department stores such as Leonard’s followed suit, constructing a "Toyland" that had children plastered against window panes in wide-eyed wonder. The City News article paints a nostalgic picture of an era where shopping "downtown" was as much a part of Christmas as opening presents. In these formative years, tradition was not just about the spruce, but the experiences it framed.
Moving along to the late '50s, the city’s skyline became an icon with amber bulbs outlining building tops to create a glow that seemed to herald the holiday season. Over time, these lights became a year-round fixture, defining the nighttime aura of Sundance Square. The Dual Tandy Center towers, adorned as giant candles, further embellished Fort Worth’s Christmas-lit skyline in the '70s and '80s, according to the City of Fort Worth.
The introduction of the Parade of Lights in 1983 marked a renewed commitment to revitalizing downtown as a hub of celebration. Incandescent floats and festive decorations infused the streets with a seasonal charm that continues to draw in crowds. Fast-forward to the end of the ‘90s, and the community tree secured its forever home in Sundance Square, which now beholds what City News declares to be the tallest live Christmas trees in Texas, towering at 80 to 86 feet and bedecked with locally crafted ornaments.
