TYLER, Texas (KETK) — East Texas is now two days away from the 92nd Texas Rose Festival Parade, but festivities are already starting to bloom in Tyler. Thursday started the 92nd Texas Rose Festival at the Tyler Rose Garden for this year’s formal ribbon cutting.

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“It’s been a year of hard work and a long process so I’m so excited it’s finally here and to see how it all looks,” Texas Rose Queen Avery Armstrong said.

Inside the event, guests were captivated by the beautiful library display made with Tyler-grown roses from ‘Flowers by Dylan’, fully bringing to life this years ‘Tapestry of Tales’ theme.

Remarks were made by Rose Festival President, Michael Youn, followed by a prayer from Michael Gossett with Green Acres Baptist Church.

Princess Mary-Michael Dial and Queen Armstrong spoke about the symbolism of the rose and their excitement for the weekend. Armstrong has been in shock since the moment she was elected for the position.

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“It’s a very surreal moment, no one ever expects to happen to them so when it finally happens and it’s your turn-it’s a very wild experience and I’m just trying to take everything in,” Armstrong said.

Later in the afternoon, 300 guests met at Hollytree Country Club for a luncheon honoring generations of Rose Festival royalty. The Rose Festival is not just a one time thing, its an event full of family traditions and creates a ‘sisterhood’ out of all participants.

Speakers at today’s luncheon were 1995 Rose Queen Martie Wolf Bigbie, and her aunt Nanette Oge Bernardini, the 1975 Rose Queen.

Bernardini was overwhelmed with the spotlight this event put on her hometown and the chance it gives her to connect with her family. She gave some strong words of advice to this year’s queen.

“Live and enjoy every moment! You may be hot, it may be cold. It doesn’t really matter. It’s your time to shine,” Bernardini said.

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The queen and her court will unveil their dresses on Friday at 2 p.m. during the coronation. The celebration continues on Saturday morning at the Tyler Rose Garden where families and visitors will all gather for the Queen’s Tea.

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