Tom Tom Festival

“Garden Beauty” float showcases past Royalty Queens in 2025 Tom Tom Parade

  • Pictured are 1982 Elizabeth (Bet) Borchers, 1984 Pam Hickey Ward, 1985 Paula Dieringer Griffin, 1994 Amanda Ward Kurtz, 1996 Courtney Drost Welch, 2003 Tiffany Hale, 2015 Karli Beth Stehli, 2018 Kaci Herman, 2019 Gabrielle Moreno, the late 2016 Amber Bennetson, 1995 Jana O’Neill, 1997 Michelle Prause Alverez, 2021Julia Fojt, 2007 Candace Zimmerman, 2022 Raelee Schlegal, and 1977 Dawn Hickey. Contributed photo.
    Pictured are 1982 Elizabeth (Bet) Borchers, 1984 Pam Hickey Ward, 1985 Paula Dieringer Griffin, 1994 Amanda Ward Kurtz, 1996 Courtney Drost Welch, 2003 Tiffany Hale, 2015 Karli Beth Stehli, 2018 Kaci Herman, 2019 Gabrielle Moreno, the late 2016 Amber Bennetson, 1995 Jana O’Neill, 1997 Michelle Prause Alverez, 2021Julia Fojt, 2007 Candace Zimmerman, 2022 Raelee Schlegal, and 1977 Dawn Hickey. Contributed photo.
  • Past Tom Tom Royalty Queens YHM Float featured 16 riders in the recent 97th annual Tom Tom Parade. Contributed photo.
    Past Tom Tom Royalty Queens YHM Float featured 16 riders in the recent 97th annual Tom Tom Parade. Contributed photo.

    The Yoakum Heritage Museum (YHM) hosted the second biannual Past Queens Float with 16 riders floating down W. Grand Ave. in Yoakum for the 97th annual Tom Tom Parade. The visiting queens sported sparkling tiaras as well as tooled leather banners or satin sashes with their respective reigning year emblazoned. Each queen wore a brightly colored sundress amidst the garden of flowers. Each beauty queen was presented with a lap bouquet of flowers and multi-colored ribbons.

    The Queens’ Garden Beauty Float was pulled by Tim Bulot and Mary Bulot doubling as float photographer.

    The float won first place in the Tom Tom Parade.

    It was suggested at the first biannual event we remember our late 2016 Queen Amber Bennetson by placing an empty chair on the next float event. Amber’s empty chair was covered with a wreath/bouquet, her photo, tiara, and a leather banner as well as her parade attire. Since early childhood, Amber expressed a childhood dream to be a queen one day. In 2016, for the City of Yoakum she traveled 38 south Texas towns.

    Immediately following the parade, YHM volunteers hosted the Past Queens as well as the outgoing and incoming Royalties with a brisket box luncheon while the Yoakum High School Band entertained during the lunch hour. Amanda Fling and Emma Fling, assisted by Tom Kelley, made the lunch music possible.

    While looking forward to the third biannual Past Queens Float, it will occur in 2028.

    Yoakum will be celebrating its 100 years of Tom Tom Festivals. We are planning a fun Friday Night of Gathering, dinner, and lodging amenities for our Queens. Mark your calendars for June 2028. Hopefully, some Clydesdales will join us at the festival.

    We humbly thank our Queens that were able to join us this year.

    YHM hours are 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday.

    To schedule a tour or for more information, like YHM on Facebook or฀call฀361-293-7022.