September 28, 2023

Today’s Forecast

97º | Sunny | 0% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:21 a.m. | Sunset 7:17 p.m.

Ribbons, charms, and flowers, oh my

In 2022, Arlington ISD set the Guinness World Record for the largest homecoming mum. | Photo by Arlington ISD

Homecoming season is here and if you’re from Texas, you know it’s more than just ribbons, football, and alumni events.

Homecoming mums have been a tradition in Texas since the early 1900s and have since become a statement-making hallmark of high school life in the Lone Star State.

What is a homecoming mum?

Mums are considered a token of affection — typically given to a girl by her date in honor of homecoming celebrations. Traditionally, students will wear a mum to school on homecoming Friday, the football game, and other alumni events.

Fact: Everything really is bigger in Texas

Last year, Arlington ISD set a new Guinness World Record for the largest homecoming mum. The district’s special education department achieved the feat last October while raising awareness for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The team created a pink and white mum with a plywood base, decorated in ribbons, flowers, and a teddy bear. It measured a whopping 22 feet long, beating the previous world record of 6.5 square meters.

Previously, beloved Texas fast-food chain Whataburger held the “World’s Largest Mum” record with its iconic orange and white creation.

Clocking in at 18 feet tall and six feet wide, the massive mum took 120 hours to build and was constructed with 1,250 flowers, 50 Whataburger drink cups, 100 fry containers, and 300 feet of ribbon.

FTW-Whataburger Mum — Whataburger got creative with their mum using stuffed burgers, ribbons, and footballs. | Photo via Whataburger

A blooming business

Today, Texans can turn to professional mum makers to create their homecoming masterpiece. Depending on size and accessories, mums can range anywhere from $10 to upwards of $600.

If you’re looking to get one made, here are a few local shops around Fort Worth.

Spotlight Homecoming Mums, 10381 Alta Vista Rd.
Smith’s Balloon Works & Homecoming Headquarters, 305 Forby Ave.
Mums and Kisses, 3708 County Rd. 920, Crowley

Share a photo of your mum for a chance to be featured in a future edition of the newsletter.

How did the tradition begin?

Question

What would Cowtown’s mum look like?

We’re going to put our best foot forward at designing a mum that represents Fort Worth. We want to know what color ribbons, charms, and other trinkets you would feature on a Cowtown-inspired mum.

Share your ideas by clicking the button below.

Start designing

Events

Thursday, Sept. 28

Zumba Class | Thursday, Sept. 28 | 5:30-6:15 p.m. | Burnett Park, 501 W. 7th St., Fort Worth | Free | Put on your dancing shoes and move to the rhythm of the beat at this Zumba class.
Taste of Thailand Cooking Class | Thursday, Sept. 28 | 6:30 p.m. | Indulge, 425 W. 3rd St., Fort Worth | $89 | Spice up your culinary experience and learn how to make green Thai curry paste from scratch.
Queen Bey Rooftop Party and Silent Disco | Thursday, Sept. 28 | 7-11:30 p.m. | Rooftop Cinema Club Downtown Fort Worth, 235 Throckmorton St., Fort Worth | $45 | Enjoy a Beyonce-themed dance party featuring a DJ, cocktails, games, and stunning views of downtown.

Friday, Sept. 29

Adam’s Army of Angels Golf Tournament | Friday, Sept. 29 | 7 a.m.-1 p.m. | The Golf Club at Fossil Creek, 3401 Clubgate Dr., Fort Worth | $175-$1,000 | Play a round of golf, then take part in a silent auction of sports memorabilia that will benefit military veterans and their families.
Luke Bryan | Friday, Sept. 29 | 7 p.m. | Dickies Arena, 1911 Montgomery St., Fort Worth | $53-$195 | The country star will be joined by special guests Chayce Beckham, Jackson Dean, Hailey Whitters, and DJ Rock.

Saturday, Sept. 30

Community Yoga | Saturday, Sept. 30 | 9-10 a.m. | Keller Farmers Market, 400 Bear Creek Pkwy., Keller | Free | Enjoy a relaxing and rejuvenating yoga session before you shop around for some artisan goods at the farmers market.
Party on the Porch | Saturday, Sept. 30 | 6-10 p.m. | The Carter, 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth | Free | The annual party will consist of live music from local artists, delicious food, and creating your own three-dimensional sculptural landscape.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Announced

TCU Athletics will host Grammy Award-winner Rick Ross during a basketball preseason event on Friday, Oct. 27. The rapper will perform at the second edition of Schollmaier Live featuring both the men’s and women’s basketball teams. The free event will start at 7 p.m. in Schollmaier Arena.

Opening

The Archibald — a rooftop bar taking over the former Houston Street Bar & Patio — will open in just a few days. The downtown bar said it will open in October featuring bites from Son of a Baker Pizzeria. Take a peek inside.

Award

Love Shack at DFW Airport is in the running for USA Today’s Best Airport Grab-and-Go Food. The burger joint, created by chef Tim Love, was chosen for its one-of-a-kind dining experience serving up favorites from its flagship location in the Stockyards. Vote before Monday, Oct. 2 at 12 p.m.

Eat

Great American Cookies opened a storefront in Sundance Square replacing the former Nestle Toll House Café. Owned by FAT Brands, the company said it plans to rebrand all Nestle locations into Great American Cookies. Stop by at 124 E. 4th St., around the corner from FunkyTown Donuts and Drafts.

Trending

AI robots were spotted hanging out among the crowd at Texas Motor Speedway over the weekend. Despite how real they might look, the futuristic fans were wearing makeup and prostheses to promote the new movie “The Creator.” The movie comes out Friday in theaters.

Fort Worthian

Local artist Abraham Alexander was named one of NPR’s Favorite New Musicians for 2023. His debut album “Sea/Sons” reflects on his upbringing as the son of Nigerian immigrants in Greece and the family’s eventual journey to the US. His headlining tour will come to Texas next month.

Sports

The Panther City Lacrosse Club released its schedule for the 2023-2024 season with 18 regular season games. The Panthers will take on the Vancouver Warriors on Friday, Dec. 1, and host their first home game at Dickies Arena against the Las Vegas Desert Dogs on Sunday, Dec. 10.

Real Estate

Construction has begun in the Village, Walsh’s newest neighborhood. Featuring luxury townhomes from Highland Homes, High Street Homes + Village Homes, the centrally located neighborhood is nestled right next to Walsh’s world-class amenities. Find your family’s home.*

Wellness

Why optimize hormones as you age? You can improve strength, bone density, libido, blood pressure, and mood. Learn about your testosterone levels with Wellcore’s At-Home Assessment Kit.*

Festival

💸 A bang for your buck

A wide shot of the ferris wheel at the State Fair of Texas

The State Fair of Texas is the longest-running fair in the nation. | Photo by FTWtoday

The State Fair of Texas will open tomorrow + we’re here to help you save money. Check out the daily deals ahead of your visit.

Opening Day deals
Get $10 admission at the gate when you bring two jars of peanut butter.

Everyday deals
Veterans, active service members + first responders can get $5 off on weekday tickets and $7 on weekend tickets with a valid ID.

Tuesday deals
Online tickets are $10 on Dr. Pepper Value Days (Tuesdays + Thursdays) when you sign up to be a Big Tex Insider.

Wednesday deals
Bring five cans of food for $5 admission.

Thursday deals
Guests 60 and older will get in for $5.

Pro tip: Parking can range from $20-$40 — save money and avoid traffic by taking the Trinity Railway Express.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Rebecca

From the editor

Growing up in Texas, I thought homecoming mums were a tradition for high schoolers across the country. You can only imagine how baffled I was when I left for college and no one knew what I was talking about.

I’ve since learned that the tradition is celebrated in other southern states including Louisiana, Alabama, and Oklahoma. Am I missing any? Let me know if you grew up outside of Texas and celebrated homecoming with mums.

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