The Second Harvest Food Truck will be at the Smith County Agriculture Center on Friday, January 13th. The truck generally arrives approximately 8 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.

Please plan to give blood at the Smith County Chamber of Commerce – Community Room on Monday, January 9, 2023 from 12-6 p.m., 939 Upper Ferry Road, Carthage, TN. You can schedule your appointment by visiting RedCrossBlood.org and entering sponsor code Carthage19. Your pre-donation reading and health questions can be completed using your rapid pass visit RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass.

An exhibit of sculptural and functional ceramics from the Eads Museum Collection will be on display at the Carthage Junction Depot on January 7th 2023 from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Pieces displayed will be available for purchase.

The Carthage Junction Depot is located at 185 Gordonsville Highway.

The annual Alumni Basketball game is right around the corner. This year alumni cheerleaders will be added. If you would like to participate contact: Basketball Jonathan Bush at 615-633-1649, GHS Cheerleading Amanda Cripps 615-200-4471, and SCHS Cheerleading Mary Baker.

The following teams are invited to come and be honored that night: 14U girls Smith County all star state champs, 14U boys Smith County all star state champs, 16U boys Smith County all star state champs, 2022 GHS softball team for their state appearance, 2022 GHS baseball team for their state appearance, and 4-time Golf State champ Sophie Linder.

Aspire Home Group and Keller Williams Realty will host cookies and pictures with Santa on Saturday, December 3rd in the lobby of the Walton Hotel. The free event includes a visit with Santa, photos and cookies for each child. For more information call of text the number above.

The Smith County Drug Prevention Coalition will host photos with Santa at the Smith County Historic Courthouse on Tuesday, December 6th and Wednesday, December 7th from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. The event is free Bring the little ones to see Santa and capture family memories.

The Carthage Junction Depot will be hosting an Art Crawl on Saturday, December 10. Nineteen local artists and craftsmen will be partnered with local businesses in 8 locations in the Carthage/ South Carthage business district.

From hand forged metalwork to delicate watercolor paintings, there is something unique for everyone on your Christmas list! Visitors are encouraged to visit all of the crawl stops, collecting stamps in each location to fill an entry card for a  raffle of prizes from all participating artists and businesses.

Entries must be dropped off at the Depot before 4 pm for the drawing. You can pick up an entry at any of the crawl locations or print one from this article. More information about participating artists will be posted daily on the Carthage Junction Depot facebook event page. We hope to see you there!

To mark the start of holiday shopping this weekend many shops will be offering sensational deals and extended hours.  Additionally shoppers can participate in the Shop-a-Round Passport Event which encourages shoppers to visit various local shops and restaurants and enter to win cash prizes. Free shop local goodie bags will also be given away. Look for the shop local event table set up on Main Street this Saturday.

The Holiday Shopping event will start on Thanksgiving Thursday evening.  After enjoying family turkey and all the fixings venture out to Carthage Main Street.  Shops will open early in the evening and many are featuring night-owl shopping specials.  Shoppers can walk off the extra calories and collect on deals and  discounts.  On Black Friday more special offers and deals will continue.  Saturday after Thanksgiving has become known nationally as Small- Business Saturday.  Even more deals will be available.  Sunday, many shops will be open 2-4 p.m. just before the Hometown Christmas Parade on Main Street at 4:30 p.m.  Sunday evening children can visit with Santa on the steps of the Historic Courthouse and celebrate the lighting of the County Christmas Tree on the Courthouse lawn.

THANKSGIVING THURSDAY 11/24

• Rivers Edge Antiques 6- 9 p.m.
• Teresa’s Gifts open at 4- 9 p.m.
• The Rogue and Raven open 7-10 p.m.
• Stephanie McCaleb Interiors open until  6-10 p.m.
• #Holly’s open 6-10 p.m. for Friendsgiving event, deals, freebies and giveaways

BLACK FRIDAY 11/25

• The Rogue and Raven open 10 a.m.- midnight
• Rokabilly Coffee open 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Rivers Edge Antiques 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Smith County Antique and Flea Market (South Carthage) open 10 a.m. – 4.pm.
• Stephanie McCaleb Interiors open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• #Holly’s open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Teresa’s Gifts open 9 a.m.- 6 p.m.
• The Candy Bar 11 a.m.- 6 p.m.

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY 11/26

• The Rogue and Raven open 10 a.m.- midnight
• Rokabilly Coffee open 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Rivers Edge Antiques 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• The Candy Bar open at 9:30 until 6 p.m.
• Teresa’s Gifts open 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Stephanie McCaleb Interiors open until 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• #Holly’s open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Smith County Antique and Flea Market (South Carthage) open 10 a.m. – 4.pm.

HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS Open House

Several businesses will open between 2- 4 p.m.  for shoppers to enjoy time downtown before and after the Annual Hometown Christmas Parade.  Some include –

• #Hollys 2-5 p.m.
• Rokabilly Coffee 2-5 p.m.
• Stephanie McCaleb Interiors, 2-4 p.m.
• The Rogue and Raven 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
• Smith County Antique and Flea Market (South Carthage) open 10 a.m. – 4.pm.

Many of the local businesses have websites and facebook pages and may update their holiday shopping hours.  Shoppers should visit their individual  media platforms for additional information.  Enjoy a great shopping weekend in Smith County.

Smith County Humane will host their 2nd Annual “Paws-itively Magical Winter Ball,” Saturday, December 10th, 2022, 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm, at the Gordonsville National Guard Armory located at 101 Transport Drive Gordonsville, TN 38563.

Reserved seats are $100.00 dollars. It is a formal event and will feature Hor d’ ourves, a catered dinner by Chef Adam of Mantra Classic Café and will include a Taste of Home dessert table where all the desserts are made by local businesses and Smith County residents.

The event will host a silent auction and a live auction the night of the event. The live auction is brought to you by Digger Poindexter of Poindexter Realty. The Ball will encompass drinks, dancing, and phenomenal Christmas photo opportunities while raising funds for the programs of Smith County Humane and animals in the county.

Smith County Humane has recently expanded their services and raised the income requirement threshold to help even more residents and animals in Smith County. This event will help the organization to be able to better serve Smith County animals and low-income residents who love their animals, however, find the costs of their care at times, to be a luxury that some can’t afford. Smith County volunteers and fosters are currently housing stray, dumped, and neglected animals, since we do not have a shelter. Smith County Humane also investigates animal welfare concerns in the county and advocates for the animals that are suffering.

Smith County Humane is currently spending between $3000-5000 a month for vet services for animals in need while benefiting the community. At any given time, Smith County Humane houses over 100 animals between cats and dogs in need and the only way we can continue helping is to increase our funding.

“We encourage resident and business participation for this event, states, Irene Reichenbach, Vice President, and Event Chair for Smith County Humane, and the Paws-Itively Magical Winter Ball. If you are unable to attend, the event offers other options for you to get involved through available sponsorships, through live, and or silent auction donations, or becoming a friend or supporter of the Ball.” Tickets are available, as well as other ways to be involved can be found at www.smithcountytnhumane.com/ball . There is limited seating for this event, so get your tickets reserved for what is sure to be a night to remember, while helping your community. Save the Date!

A special Blood Drive has been added to the calendar to help satisfy a critical need on Friday, November 25th from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Smith County Chamber of Commerce Community Room. There is an urgent need for all types of blood and an emergency need for Type O blood.

Special Critical Day incentive for all donors will include an exclusive Red Cross knit beanie. Supplies are limited.

This will be the last blood drive in Smith County for 2022. The next date will be January 9th 2023 from `12-6 at the Smith County Chamber of Commerce.

Visit www.RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code: Carthage19 to schedule an appointment for either drive.