The Second Harvest Food Truck will be at the Smith County Agriculture Center on Friday, December 15th. The truck generally arrives approximately 8:30 a.m. Volunteers work to unload the truck and get the food ready for pick-up shortly after. Food is distributed until it is gone. Cars line up around the Ag Center early. Those hoping to receive food at this distribution are encouraged to be in line no later than 10 a.m.

The food trucks are sponsored by the Hunger Relief Fund of Smith County and grants from Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle TN. Churches, businesses and individuals donate to the hunger relief fund all year. Generally two dates are scheduled each month. For more information feel free to contact the Smith County Chamber of Commerce 615-735-2093.

Enjoy a day full of Holiday family friendly fun in Granville on Saturday, December 9th. Activities begin at 10 a.m. and continue throughout the day. The Juliet’s, pictured above, will perform in the “White Christmas in a Hallmark Movie Town” at the Granville Methodist Church at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Some attractions have an admission fee. Tickets for the day are $7 includes all attractions through the day. Children 12 and under are FREE.

The Annual Christmas Parade will take place at 3 p.m. Visitors can also enjoy the 250 characters decorated in “Hallmark Movie Fashion” and positioned along historic Clover Street and in Pioneer Village.

This Saturday, December 9, Christmas shoppers and art lovers will find area artists and craftsmen in pop-up shops in  9 local businesses around Carthage for the yearly Christmas Art Crawl.   Visitors who stop at all of the locations can get their maps stamped at each stop and  drop off their completed maps at the Carthage Junction Depot for a chance to win a prize basket full of items donated by the artists.  Enjoy a wonderful day of celebrating the creativity within our community and  supporting  local businesses while  finding unique gifts to complete Christmas shopping along the Art Crawl path!

Community business hosting artists include:

1. Rogue & Raven: Artist and author, Charles Cole

2. Sun, Moon & Stars: Artist, Patricia Tenpenny

3. Stephanie McCaleb Interiors: Sunflower Pyrography, burned wood art & ornaments

4. #Holly’s Boutique: Soap Bahhs by Ashton

5. Rokabilly Coffee: Grant Condren, lathe turned wood ornaments and bowls

6. Hotel Walton: Lamint Woodworking, furniture and fine cutting boards

7. Hometown Christmas Craft Event, multiple craftsmen, Smith County Ag Center

8. Buddy’s Art & Music: artist, Barcley Rhea, wood crafts by David Dulworth

9. Carthage Junction Depot: Lori Greer- felting, Erica Apple- Tie Dye, artists Morgan Penny, Jenn Ramsey, Keith Williams, Jenny Penuel

The Art Crawl ends at 4 at the Depot, but participating business hours may vary. Be sure to check the map for further details posted on the Carthage Junction Depot facebook page.

Please join Gordonsville Church of the Nazarene for our Christmas play on December 9th at 6pm. The church is located at 168 Main St E, Gordonsville, TN.

You will be transported back to a simpler time when the small town of Juneberry gets a new view of the true meaning of Christmas as burglars and kidnappers wake up this sleepy little town. Some unexpected villains take things into their own hands to take advantage of a very trusting and unaware citizens of Juneberry! You may even meet some familiar characters like Sheriff Randy, Deputy Arnie Nife, Hopie, and Aunt Pea. This take on a favorite small town, will have you laughing and crying as they realize the true meaning of this the greatest of holidays!

Come expecting a fun night of fellowship and fun as we celebrate this season!

Underwood Hometown Realty will host a special holiday event at their office at 14 E. Main Street Suite D in Gordonsville TN. Sam Macklem, author of her first ever self-published children’s book “Poppy Goes on Tour” will be available for a book signing. The first 20 children will get a free book signed. After touring the world with artists like Justin Bieber, Morgan Wallen and Kane Brown as a tour production coordinator, Sam decided to share the world of live music and touring with a younger generation. The story touches on everything from tour bus etiquette and being backstage to what it takes to make the magic of the live show happen. Books are $10.

In addition to the book signing, hot chocolate, cookies and pictures with Santa will be part of the holiday fun. Join the realty team at Underwood Realty from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

On Saturday, December 9th and Sunday, December 10th, Brush Creek Baptist Church will host a Life of Christ Christmas Drive-Thru for all to enjoy.

This event will take place from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. each night.

Donations for the church’s Hats of Love Ministry are greatly appreciated!

For more information, please call 615-683-8249, or email bcmbc@dtccom.net. In case of inclement weather, please call the above number and listen to the recording.

Brush Creek Baptist Church is located at 26 School House Circle in Brush Creek, Tennessee.

If you are looking for something handmade, local, or just unique for those one-of-a-kind friends and family members on your Christmas list, you are in luck!

On December 9, fourteen area artists and craftsmen are preparing to sell their work within 9 local businesses along the Carthage Junction Depot Art Crawl path. A welcome addition to the Crawl is The Little Sunshine Academy’s Christmas Craft Village to be held at the Ag Center featuring even more talented local creators. The last stop on the Crawl will be the Carthage Junction Depot where dedicated shoppers who have visited all of the Crawl locations can drop their entry ticket to win a basket full of art from all of the Depot’s participating vendors.

Be sure to keep an eye out on the Carthage Junction Depot facebook page for more information about featured artists and participating businesses. Art Crawl Maps will be available at all of the participating locations.

Volunteer State Community College will host an Open House on November 30th from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Smith County Chamber of Commerce, 939 Upper Ferry Road, Carthage TN.

A representative will be available to talk about programs available including Adult Education, EMT, OSHA, Workforce Development, Fiber Optics, Google Certificates and more.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Smith County and the Upper Cumberland area! As we continue into the Christmas season, several area Christmas Parades will be held for you to enjoy.

The Carthage Christmas Parade is the first in the lineup, beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 26, 2023. Smith County Hometown Christmas will also be held in Downtown Carthage on Sunday beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The Gordonsville Christmas Parade is set for Saturday, December 2, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.

Look below to see a list of other Christmas parades happening in and around the Upper Cumberland:

• Smithville – Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 4:00 p.m.
• Lafayette – Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.
• Watertown – Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
• Woodbury – Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 12:00 p.m.
• Red Boiling Springs – Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.
• Lebanon – Sunday, December 3, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.
• Liberty – Sunday, December 3, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.
• Alexandria – Sunday, December 3, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
• Hartsville – Saturday, December 9, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
• Mt. Juliet – Saturday, December 9, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.
• Cookeville – Saturday, December 9, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.

Know of any more Christmas parades in the area? Let us know! Send us a message on Facebook with the location, date, and time of the parade, and we will add it to our list!

The Smith County Shop-A-Round Holiday Passport is back by popular demand! This year’s event has been updated with citizen and business input to make it even easier and more rewarding to shop local during the holiday season.

Here’s how it works:

1. Pick up a Shop-A-Round Holiday Passport at any participating business or the Smith County Chamber of Commerce from November 25th to December 9th.
2. Shop at any local business (or even nonprofit) and save your receipt or invoice.
3. Turn in your receipt(s) to the Chamber of Commerce or a drop box by December 16th.

New for 2023:

• No stamps required! Simply save your receipts.
• Two weeks of shopping!
• One week to turn in your receipts.
• No added work for local businesses at checkout!

Prizes:

• Most points earned = $300
• Random Draw from all entries = $250
• One free point is available to all Smith County residents upon request and submission of a passport to the chamber!!