students dressed as gingerbread men standing on sidewalk

Caldwell Arts Academy hosted its annual Reverse Christmas Parade to delight the community with music, dance, and student performances.     

The Tyler community lined up their cars around the streets to support their hometown school district and Caldwell Arts Academy to cheer on students as they performed Christmas songs and danced to holiday music. From the sidewalk, students in cute reindeer and sweet gingerbread costumes spread holiday cheer through choreographed songs and dances. The Caldwell dance, drill teams, and bands performed their best holiday songs in traditional costumes while other students held up hand-drawn poster boards of Christmas wishes.  

Those young and young-at-heart showed appreciation and joy as they drove by each street, smiling, waving, and photographing this special moment.  

“We would like to thank the City of Tyler and the Tyler ISD Police Departments for their support in making events like these possible for Caldwell Arts Academy,” said Bobby Markle, Principal of Caldwell Arts Academy.   “Our students get the opportunity to practice acts of service while spreading holiday cheer through these events.”  


Caldwell Arts Academy is widely regarded as East Texas' leading drama, music, and dance magnet school. Caldwell is a tuition-free Tyler ISD school with one campus offering elementary grades K-5 and middle school grades 6-8. To promote creativity, students are provided multiple opportunities to design, perform, and share as a community. Applications to attend Caldwell for the 2023-2024 school year open on January 1.