The merchants located on Lebanon's Town Square - or the Lebanon Commercial Historic District as it is called in the National Historic Register Application - are planning a Holiday Open House on Saturday, Dec. 4 from 5 until 8:30 p.m.

The historic buildings are decorated for the holiday season, Santa will be visiting and Historic Lebanon Tomorrow will have their Holiday Tour of Homes.

The merchants are opening their doors for holiday festivities!

Enjoy an evening of Shopping on the Square!

• The Historic Square will be lit by candle light to enhance the holiday spirit
• Enjoy the Holiday Open House from 5 until 8:30 p.m.
• Refreshments and holiday spirit!
• Santa will arrive on the Square at noon by horse-drawn carriage
• Visit with Santa at the Historic Cabin from noon until 3 p.m. (don't forget to bring your camera), and you can also visit with Santa at the Chamber from 6 until 8 p.m.
• Carolers will be strolling the Square
• Horse-drawn carriage rides available from the Cabin from noon until 8:30 p.m.
• Historical author Woody McMillin will be signing copies of his book, "In the Presence of Soldiers," at the Chamber of Commerce from 2:30 until 4:30 p.m. and from 6 until 8 p.m.
• Historic Lebanon Tomorrow Holiday Tour of Homes will be held from 5 until 8:30 p.m., tickets are available at the Capitol Theatre.

For more information, please visit the Lebanon Town Square Celebrates website

The Wilson County Convention & Visitors Bureau is pleased to bring you sample highlights of upcoming holiday events in our area. We have everything from parades to train rides with Santa, to holiday theatre musicals and amazing drive-thru light displays! Wilson County has something for everyone this holiday season!

Pack up your family and head to some of Wilson County's drive-thru Christmas light displays! The Festival of Lights is open from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m., every Thursday through Sunday inside historic Fiddlers Grove at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center from Nov. 26 through Dec. 26. Admission is $5 per car. Then visit one of the nation's largest Christmas light displays at Chad's Winter Wonderland, located just off Hwy. 109 in Lebanon. Admission is $10 per car. View over two million lights and visit the live Santa while you're there!

Another holiday favorite is the Tennessee Central Railway's North Pole Express Train with Santa. The train will run Nov. 27, Dec. 4 and 11. Tickets for the train sell out quickly, so get yours today! For train information and tickets, please contact the Tennessee Central Railway Museum at 615-244-9001, or visit www.tcry.org.

Experience the holiday cheer with marching bands, floats, Santa and so much more! Enjoy the City of Lebanon's Christmas Parade on Dec. 5, beginning at 2 p.m. The Jingle Jog 5K will take place prior to the Lebanon Christmas Parade. This fun run is sure to warm your heart! And don't miss the City of Mt. Juliet's Christmas Parade on Dec. 11, beginning at 11 a.m. The theme for this year's parade is "Toy Store Christmas."

If you love shopping during the holiday season, you're in luck! The Art Mill in Lebanon will host a Parent's Day Out "Shop 'Til You Drop" Kids Art Camp on Nov. 26 and 27. You can treat your kids to a fun painting class while you do some holiday shopping. Then head to Mt. Juliet for their annual Holiday Bazaar at the Mt. Juliet Community Center on Dec. 4 and 5. Get in the holiday spirit with caroling, carriage rides, hot apple cider and more at Providence Marketplace's annual Tree Lighting Celebration on Nov. 27. Also on Dec. 4 and 5, Providence Marketplace will host Snowfest. Enjoy outdoor ice skating and visit with Santa. You can also visit with Santa on the Watertown Square on Dec. 4 and 11.

Celebrate Christmas the old-fashioned way with the City of Watertown at their annual Christmas Tour of Homes on Dec. 11 and 12. You'll tour some of Wilson County's beautiful and historic homes. You also won't want to miss Historic Lebanon Tomorrow's 3rd Annual Tour of Historic Places on Dec. 4 and 5.

All dates and times are subject to change. For more information on these events and others, contact the Wilson County Convention & Visitors Bureau or visit www.visitwilsoncounty.com. You can also look for us on Facebook and Twitter!

PHOTO BY candrews

Two Rivers Ford presents the first-ever Turkey Trot 5K Race and Family Fun Run on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 2010. The one-mile Family Fun Run begins at 8 a.m. with the 5K Race starting at 8:30 a.m. from Two Rivers Ford (located at 76 Belinda Parkway in Mt. Juliet).

Registration for the one-mile Fun Run is $15 and $25 for the 5K Race. The 5K course is a USA Track and Field certified road course which will run through the Providence area and begin and end at Two Rivers Ford. Well-socialized, leashed dogs and strollers are welcome at the back of the pack.

Runners can register online at active.com where a course map is available. All runners who register by Sunday, November 14 will be guaranteed an event T-shirt and a special runner's packet. Online registration will be available through midnight on Sunday, November 21. Mail-in registration forms are available at www.newleashonline.org. Computerized race results will be provided for 5K runners. Prizes will be awarded to the Top 3 male and female winners in each category as well as an overall award.

"The race is a great way to start the holiday season. Come out and work off some of those calories that you'll eat later and celebrate the season by doing something that will bring your family together and help raise funds for homeless animals," remarked event organizer Amy Haverstick.

The event is sponsored by Two Rivers Ford, Total Family Physicians Center, Dr. William Nave Dental Studio, The Trailer Depot, Advance Signs and Graphics, Payment Express Systems, Vity-Mighty K-9 Gravy, Food Concepts, 103 KDF, The Lebanon Democrat, Mt. Juliet News, Wilson Post and Fox 17.

After a successful debut in 2009, 'Taste of Wilson County' organizers have added more icing on the cake for this year's edition, which is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 14 from 5 until 8 p.m.

'Taste' partners Wilson Bank & Trust, Performance Foodservice and the Lebanon/Wilson County Chamber of Commerce have added a number of upgrades in response to overflow crowds at last year's first-of-its-kind event. Among the improvements visitors will observe in 2010 are increased venue space, additional parking options, a new shopping area and activities for children.

'Taste of Wilson County' will occupy more than twice the floor space at The Mill in Lebanon, where visitors can sample food from many of the county's best eateries as they chat with the chefs themselves. A new marketplace area will allow guests to purchase gift items from both food and non-food vendors and will feature a book signing by legendary songwriter Curly Putman.

More parking options will make it easier for guests to get in and out at the event. Regular parking at The Mill and Liberty State Bank will be accompanied by a free trolley service to nearby parking lots at the Music City Star station on West Baddour, First United Methodist Church on West Main and Bank of America near the Public Square. Valet parking will also be available on a limited basis for a $5 donation.

There's also more for children to enjoy at 'Taste' this year. Kid-friendly foods will be offered by many vendors, and local artist Scott Harris will lead a workshop where children can create their own work of art for $10. Interested parents can pre-register their children for the art activity by calling The Art Mill at 444-8828.

Tickets for 'Taste of Wilson County' can be purchased in advance for $10 at the Lebanon Chamber and all area Wilson Bank & Trust locations. Tickets at the gate are $15. All proceeds from 'Taste of Wilson County' benefit Chamber education programs, including Wilson Books from Birth, TN Scholars, the Teacher Grant Program and area scholarships.

More than 1,200 tickets were sold last year for 'Taste of Wilson County,' with more than $9,000 raised. More information about the event is available at www.tasteofwilsoncounty.com.

Pictured, above: 'Taste of Wilson County' drew a large crowd and raised more than $9,000 for Chamber education programs in 2009. Several enhancements have been added for this year's event on Oct. 14 at The Mill in Lebanon, including increased venue space, more parking options, a new marketplace area and an activity for children.

A special weekend of events has been planned as Cumberland University prepares for Homecoming 2010 on October 2.

This year's Homecoming festivities will offer an opportunity to connect with former classmates, friends and faculty as well as members of the Lebanon community. Make plans to visit campus for a fun and event-filled, family friendly weekend! There will be something for everyone to enjoy during Homecoming 2010 - children's activities, reunions, tailgating, Bulldog football and two new events, the Dawg Dash 5K Run/Walk and the LIVE on the Lawn Homecoming Concert!

Homecoming morning kicks off with the University's inaugural Dawg Dash 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, Oct. 2 with registration beginning at 7 a.m. and the start at 8 a.m. Members of the community, as well as alumni and friends, are encouraged to participate in this run/walk benefiting student scholarships. Tickets are only $15 for CU students and children ages 8 to 18 and $20 for everyone 19 and over. If you are interested in taking part in this event, please register at www.active.com.

After the Dawg Dash 5K, everyone is invited to tailgate outside of Kirk Field/Lindsey Donnell Stadium prior to the kick-off against the Blue Raiders of Lindsey Wilson College. Beginning at 11 a.m., numerous campus and community organizations will have booths set up so that guests can enjoy games, food and drinks before the Bulldogs take on the Blue Raiders. There will also be a live band and family activities for all to enjoy.

After the game, the weekend will conclude with a concert on Memorial Hall Lawn. Great bands and entertainers will perform for the first-ever LIVE on the Lawn Concert. The event begins at 5 p.m. on Oct. 2 and will feature Capitol Nashville recording artist Walker Hayes as he performs his new hit single, "Pants." Other performances will include singer/songwriter Jessica Campbell and her band, Rye Mouth, who recently had one of her songs featured on ABC's "Ugly Betty." Chris Burke, who was selected from a contest sponsored by American Songwriter Magazine, will also perform at the concert as well as two local bands affiliated with Cumberland students - Flamingo and Sleepy Eyed Fox. Feel free to bring your blankets and lawn chairs as you relax on CU's historic campus. Advance tickets for LIVE on the Lawn are available at Wilson Bank & Trust locations and through the Cumberland University Alumni Office at 615-547-1253 for $10 per person. Tickets at the gate will be $15 per person, so be sure to purchase your tickets early! The concert will be free to Cumberland students with a valid student ID and to children 10 and under. LIVE on the Lawn is presented by Cumberland University, American Songwriter Magazine and WANT Radio.

For information about any of these events or to register or purchase tickets, please contact Meredith Thomas, Alumni Relations Coordinator, via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at 615-547-1253.

For the Lebanon and Wilson County community, Homecoming 2010 represents a great time to come and see what is happening at your university. Whether you are an avid runner, enjoy watching college football or just want to relax and listen to some great music, make plans to be a part of this year's Homecoming festivities. You may be surprised by all of the improvements and enhancements taking place. For example, did you know Cumberland now has a Papa John's pizza restaurant on campus? Come by and check it out.

And the events listed above are just the tip of the iceberg ... Cumberland will also mark Homecoming Weekend with a baseball alumni game, an art exhibit and the groundbreaking ceremony for a new residence hall! Here's a complete SCHEDULE OF EVENTS. Hope to see you there, and GO 'DAWGS!

From eagle dancers to turquoise jewelry and flute players to roasted corn, Native Americans will bring the spirit of their arts and heritage to the 29th Annual Mt. Juliet Pow Wow this Sept. 25 and 26 at Charlie Daniels Park.

More than 7,000 visitors are expected at the Mt. Juliet Pow Wow, some from as far away as Denmark. In feathered and bearded regalia, tribes will compete in eight styles of dancing for at least $11,000 in prize money. The Red Boys, from Saskatchewan, will be the host drummers while announcer Rob Daugherty will explain what the judges look for in timing and skill. Admission is $7 at the gate for ages 13 & up, $4 for six-to-12-year-olds and free for those five and under.

"American Indian Heritage Month" has been declared this September in Tennessee by Gov. Phil Bredesen through House Join Resolution 708, introduced by State Rep. Susan Lynn of Wilson County. The Mt. Juliet Pow Wow will host "The Trail of Tears 6th Annual Commemorative Walk" on Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. along Charlie Daniels Parkway, which will be preceded by a "Trail of Tears Memorial Service" at 8:45 a.m. at the Family Life Center of Grace United Methodist Church on North Mt. Juliet Road.

"We will tell the story of the Trail of Tears through tribal members by drumming, Indian hymns also sung in English and readings from the Bible," says its co-coordinator Melba Checote-Eads, a lay preacher for the United Methodist Church. "Muscogee Creek singers will perform during the ceremonies from Okmulgee, Oklahoma." Checote-Eads' great-great grandfather, Chief Samuel Checote, was the leader of the Muscogee Creek Nation three times from 1869 until 1879.

The Mt. Juliet Pow Wow will also be a celebration of the proud ancient and modern traditions of Native Americans. Grass-skirted Hawaiian Polynesians will demonstrate the hula, and the Navajo will make Indian tacos and fry bread with honey and sugar. Kids will be taught by intertribal (non-competing) dancers, and they can also listen to storytellers and watch hoop dance routines. Adults can observe a silversmith making jewelry and any other craftsmen at their booths. Families can also enjoy the giant turkey legs and barbecue and hot dogs and lemonade.

Two Native American landmarks - The Trail of Tears Commemorative Highway and the Sellars Farm State Archeological Area - are just minutes from the Mt. Juliet Pow Wow grounds. Since it was discovered at Sellars Farm in the 1930s, "Sandy," a three-foot sandstone statue from the Mississippian Period (1,000 A.D. to 1,400 A.D.) of a squatting man, has traveled on exhibit to dozens of galleries in the world through the University of Tennessee.

"Sandy is considered by many archaeologists as the best example of prehistoric stone sculpture found in North America - and it's from right here in Wilson County, Tennessee," says Professor Fred Heifner, a Native American who teaches anthropology, philosophy and religion at Cumberland University in Lebanon.

Because of the important cultural influences in the region, Professor Heifner encourages his students to go to the Mt. Juliet Pow Wow every year. "The American Indian - including the Five Civilized Tribes of the Southeast - developed a major symbiotic harvest known as the three sisters, (or) maize, beans and squash," he explains. "And, this certainly is also a continuing part of Wilson County's farming and agriculture today."

Mt. Juliet Pow Wow Weekend begins on Saturday, Sept. 25 with a free breakfast at 8 a.m. followed by the Trail of Tears Memorial Service. The public is invited, reservations are not necessary, and donations will be accepted at the Family Life Center. The sponsors are Cooks United Methodist Church, Mt. Juliet Pow Wow and the Native American Gatherers Fellowship.

Anyone can also join in The Trail of Tears Commemorative Walk, which starts immediately afterward at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25, from the Mt. Juliet Middle School parking lot and ends at Charlie Daniels Park. Because of state highway construction on North Mt. Juliet Road, it will take an alternative route on Charlie Daniels Parkway.

For the Five Civilized Tribes of the Southeast, The Trail of Tears is one of the darkest periods in history. Nearly 46,000 of the Muscogee-Creek, Cherokee, Chickasaws, Seminoles and Choctaws suffered intense hardships from 1831 until 1839 when they had to vacate nearly 25 million acres of their land to go to Oklahoma under the U.S. Indian Removal Act enforced by President Andrew Jackson.

Many Native Americans went barefoot, without blankets, and only had enough boiled corn for just one meal a day on the Trail of Tears. Some caught diseases, and others starved to death. Even the widow of Neddy Jacobs - an early pioneer of Wilson County - accompanied the Cherokee along what is now Highway 70 through Mt. Juliet on the journey of at least 1,000 miles to the West.

Since it was organized in 1981 by its late Muscogee-Creek founder Don Yahola, the Mt. Juliet Pow Wow has represented the best in Native Indian arts. Since his passing in 2002, his daughter Cindy Yahola has continued the fall festival in Wilson County in his memory. For more information about the 29th Annual Mt. Juliet Pow Wow, please visit www.mtjulietpowwow.com or contact Cindy Yahola at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Aaron Tippin, a country music legend and a crusader for working men and women across America, will headline an exciting concert set for Nov. 13 at The Mill in Lebanon. Tippin will be joined by local National Guardsman Darby Ledbetter, best known for his song "I Won't Let My Guard Down," and talented newcomer Nathan Young.

Tippin, a proud Middle Tennessee resident, stormed onto the country music scene in 1990 with the mega-hit, "You've Got to Stand For Something." In the years that followed, Tippin quickly became known for his honest lyrics and impassioned vocals, building a large and devoted audience with such singles as "There Ain't Nothing Wrong with the Radio," "My Blue Angel," "For You I Will," "Kiss This" and "Where The Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly." Tippin has seen five of his albums certified as 'Gold' and a sixth, Between the Lines, reach 'Platinum' status.

The upcoming concert will be presented by a newly formed local musical event promotion group called Vision Music, Inc. Founded by John Mires and Caleb Brock, the new company intends to coordinate, promote and execute musical events at both the regional and national levels.

Brock, a graduate of both Mt. Juliet High School and Cumberland University, said he and Mires are ecstatic to hold their first major event in Wilson County and to be able to showcase talents such as those of Tippin, Ledbetter and Young. Brock described Young as "a 17-year-old country newcomer with loads of talent."

"We're excited to team up with The Mill and WANT Real Country FM 98.9 to make this happen," Brock said of the Nov. 13 show.

Tickets for the concert will go on sale on Oct. 1 and may be purchased at www.visionmusicinc.com. The show kicks off at 6:30 p.m., and doors open at 5:30 p.m.

The Wilson County Convention & Visitors Bureau is pleased to bring you sample highlights of upcoming events throughout the month of September. From fall fun and festivals to 5Ks to car shows and more, there's something for everyone in Wilson County!

On Sept. 11, participate in the 7th Annual Sherry's Run. Sherry's Run is a 5K run/walk benefiting the fight against cancer. For more information about Sherry's Run, call 615-975-1081 or 615-400-2032, or visit www.sherrysrun.org. After the race, be sure to attend the first-ever Lebanon Tow Square Celebrates. Bring your family to this fun event honoring our community volunteers on the Lebanon Public Square from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Activities include games, live entertainment, food, sidewalk sales and more. For additional information about Lebanon Town Square Celebrates, visit www.lebanontownsquarecelebrates.com or call 615-444-8329 or 615-627-8487.

Another fun run will be held on Sept. 25 at Providence Marketplace in Mt. Juliet. The 4th Annual MJ5K, hosted by the Wilson County Search and Rescue K-9, will benefit Buddy Break, a charity geared at rewarding the caregivers of children with special needs and Speed the Light, an organization that provides worldwide relief after devastating events. To register or learn more about the MJ5K, please call 615-403-5612 or visit www.mj5k.com.

If you love cars, don't miss the Redneck Rumble on Sept. 17 and 18 at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center in Lebanon. Additional information about the Redneck Rumble can be found at www.bothbarrelspromotions.com or by calling 615-364-1828. Also on Sept. 18, Gladefest will feature a car show, booths, games, horse rides, crafts and SO much more! Contact Wilson Bank & Trust for more information at 615-443-6522. Car lovers can also show off their antique, classic, muscle, hot rod or any car or truck 25 years or older at the Mt. Juliet Cruise-In, happening every Saturday from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. through the end of October at Chick-fil-A in Mt. Juliet at Providence Marketplace ... or, just come and look at all of the stunning cars and trucks!

The fall celebrations continue on Sept. 18 and 19 at Cedars of Lebanon State Park at the Ole Time Farm Fest. Celebrate farm and farm life with farm equipment, horse-drawn equipment, animals, antiques, crafts and more! For additional information on this event and others at Cedars of Lebanon State Park, please call 615-443-2769.

Celebrate and honor Native American Heritage Month at the 29th Annual Mt. Juliet Pow Wow on Sept. 25 and 26. Enjoy authentic food, arts, crafts, music, dances and more at Charlie Daniels Park beginning at 10:30 a.m. each day. For more information about the Mt. Juliet Pow Wow, visit www.mtjulietpowwow.com or call 615-443-1537.

For additional information about these and other events, visit www.visitwilsoncounty.com or call the Wilson County Convention & Visitors Bureau at 615-453-9655.

Following the historic floods of May 1 and 2, 2010, volunteers inundated the Lebanon Commercial Historic District (the Lebanon Town Square) with help in cleaning, moving and sorting through debris and items damaged during the floods.

Now that the repairs of the affected buildings have been completed, the Town Square merchants want to give back to those who willingly gave time, money and muscle to aid in the clean-up and recovery efforts. Volunteers, business owners, workers, high school students and so many more came to The Square to lend a helping hand.

On Sept. 11, 2010, following the annual Sherry's Run, the Town Square merchants will celebrate the volunteers with a day of FUN! Food, games, entertainment and sidewalk sales are only a few of the events scheduled as the Lebanon Town Square celebrates giving back to the volunteers who meant so much! The event will take place from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

For more information, please contact Michael Ezsol (Michael's Cover-Up) at 444-8329, Helene Cash (Crystal Couture) at 627-8487 or Colleen Taylor (Historic Lebanon Tomorrow) at 934-7927. You may also visit the celebration's official website at www.LebanonTownSquareCelebrates.org.

Wilson Bank & Trust's 23rd annual Oktoberfest is set to return to Lebanon on Saturday, Oct. 16 (9 a.m. until 4 p.m.) and Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010 (noon until 4 p.m.).

This year's event will see the return of annual attractions like an antique car show, live music, games and inflatables for children, more than 160 vendors and demonstrators, free health screenings, art, quilt and craft displays, a youth talent contest, a tractor show, a variety of concessions and military and emergency vehicle displays.

New offers added for Oktoberfest 2010 include:

• A state-of-the-art mobile gaming theater
• A "generation walk" to open the event
• An expanded patriotic ceremony
• A toddler play area
• Cornhole games

Everyone is invited to come out for this terrific local event, and admission is free! Oktoberfest 2010 will be held at the main office of Wilson Bank & Trust, located at 623 West Main Street in Lebanon.

For more information, please call 615-444-BANK (2265).