By Michelle Price
UCBJ Managing Editor
UPPER CUMBERLAND – Grab a cup of hot chocolate and a worm coat to enjoy the Christmas parades across the Upper Cumberland this weekend. There’s live music, a birthday party, shopping and great theater productions to explore and experience. Here’s what’s going on across the Upper Cumberland this week. For a complete list of events, visit tnvacation.com/calendar.
Dec. 6-7
Cookeville – The Quality Inn on Jefferson Avenue will be transformed with brightly decorated Christmas trees to be auctioned to the highest bidder following a wine & cheese party 6 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Festival of Trees. Proceeds benefit Camp Discovery.
Dec. 7 – 9
Carthage – Enjoy A Sanders Family Christmas presented by the Smith County Fine Arts Center/Theater at the Hull Theater inside the historic Smith County Courthouse. Tickets can be purchased at Smith County Drug Center, Carthage.
Dec. 7
Algood – Enjoy a night of winter whimsy in the small town of Algood with the Algood Christmas Parade + Tree Lighting Ceremony.
Crossville – Born in Rockwood, Tennessee, Craig Rollins brings his invigorating and innovative sound to Grinders Switch Coffee House 6 p.m. during the “In the House” singer-songwriter show.
Smithville – Christmas season is upon us which means it is time to celebrate the 17thAnnual Christmas on the Square! Enjoy a host of festivities around the Smithville Public Square from 5 – 8 p.m. including the lighting of the Downtown Christmas Tree.
Dec. 8
Cookeville – Enjoy an evening of cheer and festivities 6 p.m. at the Cookeville Christmas Parade. The parade will start at the corner of 6th Street & Washington Avenue to the square to Broad Street and to the Cookeville Depot Museum.
Crossville – The first annual Downtown Crossville Christmas Market will be held on the Courthouse lawn and Thurman Ave. beginning at 2 p.m.
Crossville – All Hearts Come Home for Christmas is the theme for the 2018 Crossville Christmas Parade that will begin at 4:30 p.m.
Granville – Experience a traditional Christmas with musicals, an antique toy show, Story of Christmas Trees, Taste of Granville, storytelling and a parade during the all-day celebration, A 1950s Granville Country Christmas in historic Granville.
McMinnville – Laced with bluegrass, country and folk, Mandolin Orange performs 3 p.m. in the famous Volcano Room at Cumberland Caverns Live 333 feet underground.
Monterey – Celebrate the quasquicentennial of the charming mountain town of Monterey with its 125th Birthday Party with events all day at Monterey City Hall.
Sparta – The Rotary Club of Sparta presents the 73rdAnnual Christmas Parade beginning at 4:00 p.m. This year’s theme is “A Storybook Christmas”.
Dec. 9
Alexandria – The Alexandria Christmas Parade will begin at 2:00 on W. Main St. For info (615)529-2171.
McMinnville – Nashville-based a cappella group Street Corner Symphony performs their Christmas show 333 feet underground 3 p.m. at Cumberland Caverns.
Spencer – The Van Buren County Annual Mountain Homecoming Christmas Parade will begin at 2:00 p.m. and go from the high school o the fairgrounds. This year’s theme will be “A Superhero Christmas.”
Dec. 15
Livingston – Join in the fun of the 53rdAnnual Livingston-Overton County Christmas Parade that will begin at 1:00 p.m. This year’s theme is “Holly Jolly Christmas.”
Ongoing
Cookeville – The largest Christmas Light Spectacular in the Upper Cumberland continues your family tradition with a tour of the lights, bonfires on Saturday nights and visits with Santa & Frosty at Hidden Hollow Park.
Crossville – Cumberland County Playhouse rings in the start to the holiday season with the delightful musical Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn inspired by the Oscar-winning 1942 film.
Crossville – It’s Christmas Eve, 1941 and the unpredictable Sanders Family gathers for one last holiday sing before son Dennis ships out for boot camp. A Sanders Family Christmas marks its final show at Cumberland County Playhouse.
For more information, contact Ruth Dyal, executive director for the Upper Cumberland Tourism Association, at 931-537-6347 or by email at uctourism@gmail.com.
