City of Garland Wins two Statewide Awards for their adaptation and promotion of "MUMENTOUS"
Shared in partnership with the City of Garland, Texas; updated Sept. 22, 2025
Garland Heritage Crossing Wins Statewide Arts and Humanities Award for "MUMENTOUS" Exhibit
Garland's Heritage Crossing Department garnered statewide recognition on Feb. 27, 2025, having secured the 2025 Arts & Humanities Achievement Award in Class II of the Texas Recreation & Park Society.
Pictured left to right: Sara James, Carlotta Barnes, Emily Gray and Heather Lambert
This accolade acknowledges the department's commitment to cultural programs, specifically for this year's exhibit, "MUMENTOUS: Celebrating Tradition in Garland".
With more than 230 entries submitted for consideration, the awards committee faced a highly competitive selection process. The Mumentous exhibit stood out for its commitment to preserving local traditions and exemplifying excellence in cultural storytelling.
The exhibit aimed to faithfully chronicle the history and impact of homecoming mums, an enduring high school tradition steeped within Texas culture.
Garland's Heritage Crossing partnered with the Texas Historical Commission's Lakes Trail Region to meticulously curate an exhibit that would quickly become a community treasure.
It featured a vast array of artifacts, including over 100 mums and garters from the Garland Landmark Museum archive and the local community.
In addition to the display of spirit ribbons, cheer uniforms, and yearbooks, "MUMENTOUS" was also supplemented by a full gamut of activities. These ranged from free homecoming film series to mum masterclasses and workshops. There were also book signings and special lectures by the author of the book MUMENTOUS, Amy J. Schultz, contributing not only to the preservation of tradition but also to the continual education of the Garland community.
The success of this initiative is attributed to collective efforts. Heritage Crossing has made sure to publicly acknowledge and thank all who played an integral role in bringing "MUMENTOUS" to life. Contributors included various City of Garland departments, the Garland Independent School District, author and presenter Amy Schultz, and the Texas Historical Commission’s Texas Lakes Trail Region, along with the broader Garland community for their support.
Visit Garland Earns State Recognition for “MUMENTOUS” marketing
Visit Garland earned three first-place awards at the Texas Destination Excellence Awards during the Destinations Texas Annual Conference on Sept. 3, 2025. The awards recognize the team’s standout work in community engagement for the Día de los Muertos celebration, leisure marketing for last year’s MUMENTOUS exhibit, and meetings and events promotion for the NXL Paintball Tournament at Audubon Park.
These honors reflect strong collaboration across City departments and partners, measurable visitation and media impact, and continued momentum for Garland as a premier Texas destination.
