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

After dusk on Oct. 31, our streets will be filled with ghosts and goblins seeking treats in our community. Your local emergency department at University Medical Center would like to share a few health and safety tips for trick-or-treaters and party planners.

COSTUME TIPS

• Purchase accessories such as knives and swords that are short, soft and flexible.
• Check costume packaging to be sure it is flame-resistant.
• Masks, costumes and shoes should fit well to prevent trips and falls.
• Reflective tape fastened to the front and back of costumes helps a driver see trick-or-treaters.
• Lower the risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.

SAFETY TIPS

• Never trick or treat alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult chaperon.
• Carry a flashlight to help you see better and to help others see you.
• Look both ways when crossing the street and use established crosswalks when available.
• Use sidewalks at all times or walk on the far edge of the street facing on-coming traffic, if sidewalks are not available.
• Never enter the home of someone you do not know.
• Avoid eating home-made treats unless you know the person who made them.
• Examine all treats for choking hazards and check for tampering before eating them.

TRICK OR TREATER & PARTY PLANNING TIPS

• Provide healthy treats for trick-or-treaters, such as individual packs of pretzels, raisins or trail mix.
• Keep candle-lit pumpkins and luminaries away from doorsteps, sidewalks and landings. Place them on a sturdy surface, out of reach for pets and small children.
• Turn your outdoor porch/entry light ON. This lets trick-or-treaters know they are welcome and prevents trips and falls.
• Clear all walking areas of obstacles that could result in a fall.
• Use party games as an opportunity for children to get their daily dose of exercise.
• For party guests, offer a health snack such as a variety of fruits, vegetables and cheeses.

Keep your family safe this Halloween and enjoy trick or treating!

The Wilson County Convention & Visitors Bureau is pleased to announce the launch of its new and improved website at www.visitwilsoncounty.com. Along with an enhanced design, the new site features many impressive interactive elements, offering something for everyone.

Visitors and residents alike can browse pages dedicated to accommodations, dining, shopping, attractions, calendar of events and much more. In addition, the Wilson County CVB will soon release a mobile version of the website for use on electronic mobile devices. New and enhanced features of the site include:

• Social media interaction
• A visual slide show with larger photos
• Various sharing capabilities through e-mail, social media, etc.
• Enhanced listings for attractions, hotels and restaurants
• Travel Bag - a custom itinerary builder
• Random advertising
• Features that give authentic experiences, such as "What the Locals Love"
• Enhanced calendar features

"With the popularity of social media and mobile technology on the rise, it becomes more important to enable or engage the conversation with our visitors," said the Wilson County CVB's Ricky Rodriguez. The destination has changed dramatically in the last couple of years, and visitors will find our web services helpful in planning their next visit."

According to travel researchers, approximately 90 million American adults have used the Internet to plan travel during the past year, with 76 percent of online travelers planning leisure trips online. Importantly, most travelers see the Internet as a very useful or essential tool for planning many/most aspects of a trip, including where to stay overnight, planning travel routes, potential places to visit, attractions to visit, as well as learning about what to do. (Source: Travelers' Use of the Internet, 2009)

The Wilson County CVB encourages everyone to visit them online and get familiar with the content and see why Wilson County truly is "THE Place to Be!"

Sherry's Run is easily recognized by its signature lime-green color and famous flip-flops. New for this year, supporters of Sherry's Run are encouraged to "Paint the Town Green" by purchasing lime-green bows for $10 each.

"Paint the Town Green" by attaching a Sherry's Run Bow to your door or mailbox at your home and/or office. You may order Sherry's Run Bows by contacting Debbie Lamberson at 483-3208, or you may e-mail her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Sept. 6 is the deadline for ordering bows. Bows will be available for pick up at the Sherry's Run event site (west lawn of Wilson Bank & Trust - 623 West Main Street, Lebanon) on Friday, Sept. 3 from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.; Thursday, Sept. 9 from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m.; and on Friday, Sept. 10 from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m.

In addition, supporters are encouraged to convert up-lights, spotlights and flood lights on homes and businesses to the Sherry's Run lime-green color by safely installing lime-green laminate transparency material in light fixtures beginning Sept. 3 and leave displayed until after the Run is completed. Lime-green laminate will be available at bow pick-up times as well, or you are encouraged to install lime-green bulbs.

The seventh annual Sherry's Run is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 at 8 a.m. in Lebanon, beside the main office of Wilson Bank & Trust, located at 623 West Main Street. Mark your calendar and make a commitment to join us.

The mission of Sherry's Run is to benefit those affected by cancer, with an emphasis on colon cancer. Sherry's Run will help any family affected by any kind of cancer that lives, works, goes to church or seeks treatment in Wilson County or our surrounding communities that has a true need. Sherry's Run is a 501 (c)(3) organization. It was started in memory of Sharon "Sherry" Patterson Whitaker, who died at the age of 44 from colon cancer. Donations are tax-deductible and can be made online at sherrysrun.org. For more information on Sherry's Run, please call 615-975-1081 or 615-400-2032.

PICTURED, ABOVE: Over 1,000 Sherry's Run Bows were tied by volunteers in an effort to turn our town lime-green and enhance promotional efforts of the 2010 Run, scheduled for Sept. 11. A special thanks to Debbie Lamberson and her committee for introducing this fun, new promotion and fundraiser.

Three Forks Marketplace presents the Second Annual Watertown Art Crawl on Saturday, August 28 from 6 until 9 p.m. Event organizers are promising a fun, eclectic event while raising funds for a very worthy cause - New Leash On Life, a local not-for-profit animal welfare organization. The event is also sponsored by Nashville Lifestyles magazine, Royce Belcher, CPA and Holiday Auto Mart, Inc.

Event attendees will enjoy live music, food and drinks while strolling the historic and charming public square of Watertown. The Art Crawl will offer a vast assortment of art, ranging from paintings, photography, jewelry, pottery, woodwork, quilts and glass, just to name a few. Art demonstrations will also be performed throughout the event, and the evening will be capped off with a special live auction at 8 p.m. with Michael Walker of United Country Realty and Auction presenting several unique pieces to the highest bidders. The 2009 inaugural event drew nearly 500 attendees. Event organizers hope to draw even more attendees this year and raise funds for homeless animals in Middle Tennessee.

Participating galleries and shops displaying art will include: LuLu's Coffee House, Lew's Creation Station, Kake Haus Pastry Shop and Thornton Metal Studio. Food and wine will also be provided by Kake Haus Pastry Shop, LuLu's Coffee House and Mad House Wine Cellars.

Event tickets are $20 in advance or $100 in advance for groups of six and $25 at the door. Admission includes wine, live music, art demonstrations, appetizers and access to the live and silent art auction. Tickets may be purchased online at www.newleashonline.org/artcrawl.

Paricipating artists include: A. St. Philip, Amy Potter, Ann Shapiro, Arthur Kirkby (pictured, above, Kirkby's 'Pinky'), Brittany LeAnn Smith, Christine Corwin, Christy Donoho, Cynthia Johnson, Dave Colella, David Riemens, Donna Delmas, Douglas Lambert, Elia Maria Stewart, Ginny Edwards, Jana Frensley, Jason Dodson, Jeanne Richardson, Joe Bostick, Joni Bishop, Julie Ellison Anderson, Kim McDaniel, LeAnn Blevins, Lisa Albertin, Lucas Antoniak, Maggie Moore, Maribeth Wright, Mary Wright, Michael C. Carpenter, Natalie Andrews, Nina Kuzina-Farr, Paige Easter, Pat Millius, Patricia Bennett, Patrick Jackson, Rachael Ferrill, Ray St. Philip III, Rose Henderson, Sally Ham Govan, Susan Thornton, Susan Demay, Tracy Lynn, Victoria Boone, William Hunter, Lisa Cantrell-Wood, Terissa L. Cantrell and Lew Wallace.

According to information provided by Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) will perform some electric work this weekend, causing some Middle Tennessee Electric members in eastern Wilson County - including Watertown - to be without power for a brief period on Sunday morning, July 25.

The scheduled work will cause approximately 5,000 members to experience a short power outage, approximately five minutes in length, just after 12 a.m. (midnight) Sunday.

Specifically, the affected locations will be east of Lebanon, south of Trousdale Ferry Pike to the southern Wilson County line and east of Linwood Road and Cedars of Lebanon State Park to the eastern Wilson County line. The outage will also include the adjacent service locations in Dekalb and Smith counties.

The Tennessee Valley Authority generates power for 155 local power distributors across the Southeast, including Middle Tennessee Electric.

As the American Cancer Society's battle against cancer continues in Wilson County, participants in the overnight Relay for Life, which kicks off on Friday, June 25 at 6 p.m., will set aside a full evening to reflect on victories, honor lost friends and loved ones, celebrate fundraising efforts and even enjoy games and entertainment.

The annual Relay for Life event in Wilson County, which will be held at the Castle Heights track behind the Main Office of Wilson Bank & Trust (623 West Main Street) in Lebanon, offers something for everyone who wants to take part in the local fight against cancer. Among the activities early in the evening are a Survivor Lap to celebrate local victories over cancer; a Caregiver Lap to pay homage to the day-to-day supporters of cancer victims; a 'Fight Back' Ceremony for recommitting to the fight against the disease; a parade of teams to recognize group fundraising efforts; and after dark, a Luminaria Ceremony for honoring and remembering loved ones.

Also planned throughout the night are live entertainment from the Doug Collins Ridin' Shotgun Band; a silent auction, a live auction and other fundraising activities; a talent-optional talent show; karaoke; and team games on the field. Music and talent acts will take place on the entertainment stage sponsored by First Freedom Bank. Anyone interested is invited to attend and participate. The event continues through 6 a.m. on Saturday morning.

There is still time to help the Relay for Life cause by making a donation or purchasing a Luminaria in honor or in memory of someone. To give to the cause or learn more about participating in Relay for Life locally, please call Maliea Oakley at 470-1304 or Vicki Gordon at 444-6548, or visit www.relayforlife.org/wilson. Luminarias and other items can be purchased at the event as well.

Axa Advisors, Lochinvar, WANT 98.9 FM and Wilson Bank & Trust are the corporate sponsors for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in Wilson County this year. Rochelle, McCulloch & Aulds sponsored an annual breakfast for survivors on June 12 at the Event Loft in Lebanon.

Relay for Life began in 1985 with one man who walked and ran around a track for 24 hours and raised $27,000 for the American Cancer Society. This year, Relay for Life will take place in nearly 5,100 communities in the United States and 20 other countries and will raise funds to support the Society's mission of saving lives by helping people stay well, by helping people get well, by finding cures and fighting back. For more information about Relay for Life, please visit RelayForLife.org.

PICTURED, ABOVE: Local cancer survivors, including honorary chairperson Mamie Crutchfield, continued a tradition last year by participating in a victory lap at the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life in Wilson County. This year's Relay event begins Friday, June 25 at 6 p.m. at the Castle Heights track in Lebanon.

RELAY FOR LIFE OF LEBANON 2010: Activities and Entertainment Schedule

• 6 p.m. - Relay For Life begins
• 6:15 p.m. - Musical warm-up with the Doug Collins Ridin' Shotgun Band
• 7 p.m. - Silent auction opens; Opening Ceremony; Welcome by Robert Dedman; Presentation of Colors by the Lebanon Fire Department; Opening Prayer; Star Spangled Banner by CoCo Jones
• 7:30 p.m. - Survivor Lap
• 7:45 p.m. - Caregiver Lap
• 8 p.m. - Fight Back Ceremony by Lacie Tullock
• 8:15 p.m. - Parade of Teams
• 8:30 p.m. - Music provided by the Doug Collins Ridin' Shotgun Band
• 9:15 p.m. - Luminaria Ceremony; Silent Auction Ends
• 9:45 p.m. - Live Auction
• 11 p.m. - Relay's Got Talent by Mac Griffin
• 1:30 a.m. - Karaoke
• 2:30 until 4:30 a.m. - Field Games for Teams
• 5 a.m. - Closing Ceremony
• 6 a.m. - Ending of Relay For Life 2010
  

New Leash On Life is pleased to announce the start of the 5th Annual Calendar Contest. Supporters can submit up to three photos of their pet(s) to be in the running for a place in the 2011 New Leash On Life calendar. Photos of dogs or cats can be submitted until midnight on June 26, and this year marks the first time that there is no entry free. Contest voting begins on July 1 and runs through July 31.

The top twelve vote-getters will be featured in the 2011 New Leash On Life wall calendar, with the top winner being featured on the cover. Voting will cost $1 per vote - those submitting photos are encouraged to ask their friends and family to vote! To submit photos of pets and see the contest rules, please visit www.newleashonline.org/calendarcontest.

Proceeds from the calendar contest will benefit New Leash On Life and support operations at the Almost Home Pet Adoption Center.

New Leash On Life would like to give back to the community which so generously helped it to recover after floods on May 1, 2010 prompted an evacuation of the non-profit organization's animal adoption center and caused flood damage to buildings and supplies.

New Leash On Life has partnered with the Pedigree Foundation to offer assistance to flood victims and others in need of assistance with pet food.

Pedigree donated 1,000 lbs. of Pedigree dog food to New Leash On Life as part of their push to gain 1 million fans on Facebook. Thanks to Facebook fans, Pedigree has donated 1 million bowls of food to shelter animals across the country. The food donated to New Leash On Life will be distributed to pet owners affected by the flood as well as other groups helping flood animals, including Hickman Humane Society, Country K-9 Rescue and Lighthouse Refuge and Rehabilitation.

One bag of Pedigree dog food per family will be distributed beginning Friday, June 4 for as long as supplies last at the Almost Home Pet Adoption Center, located at 507 Jim Draper Blvd. in Lebanon. Distribution hours are Sunday from noon until 4:45 p.m. and Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4:45 p.m. with the exception of Wednesday, when the facility is closed to the public.

For more information, please call 615-444-1144.

Just in time for Memorial Day, the Wilson County Convention and Visitors Bureau announces the release of the new Tennessee Civil War Trails Guide and the dedication of the Battle of Lebanon marker.

The cover of the new Tennessee Civil War Trails Guide features the historic Neddy Jacobs Cabin on the Lebanon Public Square. The Battle of Lebanon marker was recently dedicated by Commissioner Susan Whitaker of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development along with local officials. The marker is one of 150 markers throughout the state.

Wilson County honors its sacrifices this month from the Civil War, when Confederate General John Hunt Morgan and his army were defeated on May 5, 1862 in the Battle of Lebanon by Union General Ebenezer Dumont and his troops. The Civil War Sesquicentennial begins in 2011 in America, when local chapters of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) and United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) are also planning to have special events around Lebanon.

"You invite people in, they learn about the heritage, and stay in local communities," Commissioner Whitaker said to the dignitaries from Wilson County such as Norm Hill, a member of Tennessee's Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee, in attendance at the May 17 festivities. "This is such a tribute to you that this made the cover."

Memorial Day is the perfect occasion for visitors to Wilson County to remember these soldiers, since the holiday began as "Decoration Day" around 1868 when Americans began adding more flowers to graves after the Civil War. A Tennessee governor, Union Brigadier General William Bowen Campbell is one of more than 150 men who are buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Lebanon. Nine of them were interred there from the Battle of Lebanon, besides Morgan's widow. "Confederate Memorial Day" is still observed in regions of the South like Alabama and Texas, some time between January and May.

Before you drive in Wilson County along the Tennessee Civil War Trails, "research and seek those areas that have an interest to you and your family be it in battle sites, letters, Native American or African American - all are included here," said Hill. "Find out how amazing it is that the early settlers survived, many of who still have descendants here."

Wilson County embodies the Civil War, which is why it was selected to be represented on the opening page of the Tennessee Civil War Trails Guide, of which 500,000 copies will be distributed this year, said Director Dr. Carroll Van West of the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area at the May 17 dedication. Two Civil War re-enactors, Martin Frost, as Confederate Gen. Robert H. Hatton, and Chad Mitchell, as an infantryman, also came in uniform from SCV Robert H. Hatton Camp #723 to the Square on May 17. Prominent SCV and UDC members Jack and Ruth Cato of Wilson County were also in attendance at the ceremonies.

From occupation to emancipation and reconstruction, Lebanon and the surrounding towns in Wilson County went through every period of the Civil War, said Dr. Van West, who is also the Director of the Center for Historic Preservation at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in Murfreesboro where he is a professor of history. Confederate General John Wheeler's unit was camped in Lebanon during a raid in August 1864 in Tennessee, when "a death-like stillness prevailed" along what is now Castle Heights Avenue.

Yet, Civil War artifacts from Wilson County and the Battle of Lebanon can be "extremely rare," or "specific items" are already in collections, Hill said. Workshops in all 95 counties are being held by the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) before the Sesquicentennial for anyone who wants to identify and preserve their memorabilia. In Wilson County, the date has not yet been scheduled.

Tennessee's Civil War Trails Guide is available for free at the 14 Welcome Centers just off the interstate in the Volunteer State. The public can also get them at city chambers of commerce or tourism offices, such as the Wilson County Convention & Visitors Bureau in Lebanon. In Middle Tennessee, drivers can take the Civil War Trails from Summertown through Gallatin.

Lebanon has four Civil War signs, which will be among the 150 displayed in Tennessee by the end of 2010 for the Civil War Sesquicentennial. In Wilson County, the other three can be found now at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Seawell Hill Camp and Hatton House.

"We want these markers to serve as a reminder that there are lots of things to see" in Wilson County along the Tennessee Civil War Trails, Hill told the crowd on May 17. "The whole world misses Tennessee if they stay on (Interstate) 40."

Tennessee's Civil War Sesquicentennial will officially begin Nov. 12-13 in Nashville with living history demonstrations by interpreters at the Bicentennial Mall, along with other activities at the TSLA, War Memorial Auditorium and the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC), Whitaker said.

For more information on Tennessee's Civil War Sesquicentennial, visit www.tncivilwar150.com. Wilson County is in the Cumberland River Corridor in the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area, which is the only state having this distinction by the U.S. Congress in which every county is represented from the Civil War. For more information, go to www.tncivilwar.org.