Smiling Faces Fill Town of Liberty for Sunday’s Christmas Parade (View Video Here)

December 4, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The Town of Liberty was filled with many smiling faces Sunday afternoon for the annual Christmas parade.

Right on Time, a popular local gospel group, served as the Grand Marshal of the parade.

Spectators lined both sides of West Main Street along the parade route from Salem Baptist Church to the reviewing stand near the Liberty Community Center anxious to view the sights and to catch a glimpse of Santa.

This year’s Liberty parade featured a showcase of holiday themed floats, vintage automobiles, horseback riders, Mr. and Mrs. DeKalb County Alex and Ashby Woodward, the DCHS Fighting Tiger Band, special entries from local businesses and utility companies, ATVs, emergency vehicles including the DeKalb County Fire Department’s Liberty Station, Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad, Liberty Mayor Audrey Martin and more including the star of the show, Santa Claus.

After the parade, awards were presented to the best entries and drawings were held for cash prize giveaways.

DeKalb Funeral Chapel took 1st place for their “Tender Tennessee Christmas” float entry. Second place went to Gallatin Fire Extinguisher of Woodbury. (The Vickers Family).

In the category old classic cars and trucks, Dale and Cameron Purcell of Liberty won 1st place for their entry of a 1966 Mustang convertible 289 four speed. Second place went to Steve Merriman of Smithville for his 1987 Chevrolet Silverado 4 x4.

In the entry for children, the Memorial Baptist Church took 1st place and 2nd place went to Toby Agee of Smithville.

First place in the entry for animals went to the Harvey Family & Grinch of Davis Hollow Road. Second place was awarded to Bill Stanton of Liberty

December 4, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

‘Twas a merry and delightful Saturday night in downtown Smithville as thousands of spectators celebrated the arrival of the holiday season during the Smithville Christmas Parade and Christmas on the Square.

It is believed to have been the largest parade in Smithville’s history in terms of participants with the long line stretching from the New Life Connection Center down Congress Boulevard to the public square.

Country music legend John Anderson served as Grand Marshal of the Parade with his wife Jamie riding with him. Mr and Mrs. DeKalb County Alex and Ashby Woodward were this year’s honorary Grand Marshals.

Although it was still somewhat cloudy and temperatures were chilly which is typical for a December day, the rain had ceased before parade time. Many onlookers parked along the route to see the show while others gathered downtown to get a closer look as the parade passed by and to scoop up some candy tossed to them by Santa and other participants. After the parade, many people stayed in town to shop and to enjoy all that Christmas on the Square had to offer including LIVE model window displays at several businesses, a reception by local public officials at the courthouse and city hall who served up refreshments, a photo shoot with Santa by the DeKalb Animal Coalition at the law office of Gayla Hendrix, a fun photo booth at the courthouse, and a visit with Santa at Justin Potter Library

DeKalb Funeral Chapel won 1st place for their float entry. Second place went to Hurricane Marina and the Memorial Baptist Church took 3rd place. The DCHS Fighting Tiger Band won the Spirit Award presented by the Smithville Business and Professional Women’s Club.

Winners of the Chamber of Commerce sponsored “Live” Windows Contest were: First Place-The Attic on Walnut Street; Second Place- The Purple Door Antiques and Uniques; and Third Place- Real Source.

The parade was sponsored by the Smithville Fire Department.

Santa will make two more appearances today (Sunday) in DeKalb County.

The Liberty Christmas Parade will be today (Sunday, December 4) at 2 p.m. The lineup begins at 1 p.m. on West Main Street near Salem Baptist Church. In addition to floats, the entries this year will include a category for kids and a separate one for animals/4 wheelers and then another for antique vehicles/tractors. Refreshments will also be served. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available for pictures.

The Alexandria Christmas Parade will be today (Sunday, December 4) at 5 p.m. The lineup begins at 4 p.m. on West Main Street near the car wash. For more information call the Alexandria City Hall at 615-529-2171 or obtain entry forms at www.townofalexandria.us.

December 3, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Christmas is the season for giving and for more than 125 children who participated in Saturday’s 8th Annual Regifting Event it was their chance to share in the experience of doing something special for others.

This year’s five-hour Regifting event was held at the county complex in the history room.

Regifting, an extension of the Patchwork UC ministry, gives children ages 4 to 12 an opportunity to shop for their parents or caregivers at no cost. The gifts are then wrapped, tagged, and prepared for Christmas giving. Kids also prepare blessing bags to share with others and quilt squares that are later used to make quilts for those in need. Donations are collected throughout the year for this event so that those who can’t afford to buy gifts can still share in the joy of giving by regifting something.

Kim Walker came up with the idea eight years ago.

“It got started by us trying to figure out a way to help people in the community during the holidays and to give others a chance to participate who otherwise could not afford to, so we named it the Regifting Event. We also wanted this to be a way of teaching children about giving”, said Walker

“The idea is to give people a chance to regift something they have but we also get donations from businesses. Kids ages 4-12 shop for their parents or their caregivers. They go around the room and select two gifts, one for a male and another for a female. The gifts are then wrapped. During the day’s event the children also participate in making a blessing bag for someone in the community. This year the blessing bags are for God’s Food Pantry. The kids also decorate quilt squares which are later assembled to make a quilt which is given to someone in the community. This year we will have three quilts for people in DeKalb County and we are taking nominations so if you know of someone who needs a special blessing due to hard times whether it be financial, medical, emotional, or whatever reason we will accept their nomination and pray for God’s guidance in who to give the quilts to. Our mission is to show our love for the people in this community. We get a blessing out of it and we think others do too,” said Walker.

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