This week’s Upper Cumberland round up – Nov. 30

By Michelle Price
UCBJ Managing Editor

UPPER CUMBERLAND – The Christmas season and all its festivities have kicked off across the Upper Cumberland. There’s parades, open houses, live theater and still plenty of great football to take in.  Here’s what’s going on across the Upper Cumberland this week. For a complete list of events, visit tnvacation.com/calendar.

Nov. 29 – Dec. 1

Cookeville – The TSSAA BlueCross Bowl Tennessee High School Football Championships will take place again at Tennessee Tech University’s Tucker Stadium featuring the best-of-the-best of Tennessee’s young athletes.

Nov. 29 – Dec. 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 for the Festival of Trees. Proceeds benefit Camp Discovery.

Nov. 30

Byrdstown – Enjoy a Christmas Marketplaceat the Pickett Co. Library and join the Town of Byrdstown as they light the Christmas tree and enjoy an evening of community celebration with songs, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over an open fire, carriage rides, and probably
more.

Livingston – Christmas in the Country kicks off at 5 p.m. on the courthouse square with carriage and wagon rides, music, popcorn, hot cider, peanuts and hot chocolate. Stores will stay open late for Christmas shopping.

Red Boiling Springs – Ghost Hunt Weekend at the Thomas House.  Visit www.ghosthuntweekends.com or call 800-604-9101 for more information.

Nov. 30 – Dec. 1

McMinnville – The Park Theater will be presenting The Day before Christmas, a story that shows how the truth and the true meaning of Christmas can melt even the coldest of hearts! With over 30 of your favorite Christmas songs this Magical Musical Adventure is sure to get you in the Christmas Spirit! Shows begin each night at 7 p.m.

Nov. 30 – Dec. 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.1

Byrdstown – Celebrate A Storybook Christmas as the Byrdstown Christmas Parade kicks off at 1:00 p.m. For info call (931)864-6215.

Gainesboro – Come explore Christmas on the Cumberland as Gainesboro’s merchants hold their annual Christmas open house. Gainesboro Christmas Parade starting at 5:30 p.m. In case of rain, the parade will be postponed to Sunday, Dec. 2 at 2:00 p.m.

Jamestown – The 2018 Rotary Club Christmas Parade will kick off at 10:00 a.m. This year’s theme is “The Inspiration of Christmas.” For info call (931)752-2265.

Lafayette –Come celebrate the feeling of Christmas at the Lafayette Christmas Parade beginning at 1 p.m.

Monterey – The town of Monterey kicks off their Christmas Home & Hearth Celebrations 10 a.m. at the Monterey Depot with arts, crafts, baked goodies, unique gifts, holiday market and Santa at the Depot.

Monterey – Wrap up a day of holiday fun and festivities 6:30 p.m. in downtown Monterey with the 61st annual Monterey Christmas Parade.

Red Boiling Springs – Enjoy RBS’s NighttimeChristmas Parade beginning at 6 p.m.Visit www.vision2020inc.com for more details.

Smithville – Join friends from far and near as they gather for the Smithville Christmas Parade beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Woodbury – Woodbury’s Christmas Parade will begin at 12:00 in downtown Woodbury.

Edgar Evins State Park – The festivities at the 3rd Annual Lighting of the Tower will be from 5 – 8:00 P.M. This free, family friendly public event will include food, live music, tree trimming, a visit from Santa, and hayride (weather permitting.)

Dec. 1 and 8

Rugby – Watch historic Rugby come alive with holiday spirit and celebrate as if it were still 1880. Christmas at Historic Rugby features children’s activities, caroling, holiday shopping, music and pictures with Santa.

Dec. 2

Gainesboro – Continue your  Christmas on the Cumberland with the Gainesboro Christmas Parade at 2:00 p.m.

Liberty –The Town of Liberty will host their Christmas Parade beginning at 2:00 p.m.

Cookeville – Celebrate Christmas with fun, family-friendly events for Christmas in the Park at Dogwood Park. The Christmas Tree Lighting and Celebration kicks off at 6 p.m.

Livingston –The Exchange Club of Livingston will be hosting their Tour of Homes from 1 – 5 p.m. Tickets are available at the Stephens Center or First National Bank.

McMinnville – The McMinnville Christmas Parade will begin at 3:00 p.m. and “A Gingerbread Wonderland” is this year’s theme.

Dec. 3

Baxter – Join Baxter in celebrating Christmas on the Tracks as their Christmas parade kicks off at 7:00 p.m.

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 – 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.

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.”

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.”  

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.

Michelle Price is the former managing editor of the Upper Cumberland Business Journal and can be reached via email. Send an email.

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