Sidewalk Prophets Coming to Cookeville

Good morning, Cookeville.

This week is packed with holiday magic in Cookeville! Whether you're looking to network with local business owners, snap photos with Santa, or enjoy an evening of Christian music, there's something for everyone.

We're especially excited about the Sidewalk Prophets concert coming to town and the multiple opportunities to visit Santa at Dogwood Park throughout the week.

From business celebrations to spiritual reflections, this week brings the perfect blend of professional networking, family entertainment, and festive joy.

Let's dive in!

— Travis

TO DO

Christmas Business After Hours (Dec 9)

If you're a local business owner or professional looking to connect with the community, mark your calendar for Monday evening!

The Chamber is hosting their Christmas Business After Hours at Leslie Town Centre from 5:00-7:00 PM. It's a great opportunity to network in a festive atmosphere with food, drinks, and holiday cheer. Members pay $15, non-members $25 (register here). It's the perfect way to wrap up your Monday while building meaningful local connections.

TriStar CPAs Ribbon Cutting (Dec 11)

We love celebrating new local businesses! Join TriStar Wednesday morning at 10:30 AM for the grand opening of TriStar CPAs at 1227 N. Washington Avenue. They're offering advisory, consulting, bookkeeping, and tax services to our community.

Plato's Closet Holiday Giveaway (Dec 8-13)

Who doesn't love a good giveaway? Plato's Closet is running a 6-day holiday giveaway through Friday, and you can enter daily for a chance to win. Winners are announced each day on their social media, so make sure you're following along. It's a fun way to potentially score some holiday surprises!

Hobby Lobby Holiday Sales

If you're still decorating or looking for last-minute craft supplies, Hobby Lobby has you covered with 50% off Christmas items through December 14. We're talking decorations, crafts, trees, floral arrangements, and party supplies. Whether you're hosting a holiday gathering or just want to add a little more sparkle to your home, this is the perfect time to stock up without breaking the bank.

Sidewalk Prophets Brings "Great Big Family Christmas" to Cookeville

If you're looking for the perfect family-friendly holiday event that combines faith and festive music, we have wonderful news! Sidewalk Prophets is bringing their "Great Big Family Christmas" tour to The River Community Church on Thursday, December 11 at 7:00 PM.

For those who aren't familiar, Sidewalk Prophets is a beloved Christian band known for their uplifting music and powerful messages. This isn't just a concert—it's an evening of celebration, worship, and holiday joy that the whole family can enjoy together. The "Great Big Family Christmas" tour has been making stops across the country, and we're so grateful they're including Cookeville on their journey.

The event offers tiered pricing with reserved seating options, so you can choose what works best for your family. Tickets start at $33 and are available on Eventbrite. Here's our friendly heads up: tickets for events like this tend to sell quickly, especially as we get closer to the date, so if you're interested, we'd recommend grabbing yours sooner rather than later.

What makes this event so special is the combination of professional-quality entertainment with the warmth and intimacy of a community gathering. It's the kind of evening where you can sing along to familiar songs, create memories with your kids, and soak in the true meaning of the season. Whether you're a longtime fan of Sidewalk Prophets or just looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the holidays, this concert is worth checking out.

HAPPENINGS

Diana Health Cookeville Holiday Open House (Dec 11)

This is one of those events that checks all the boxes for family fun—and it's completely FREE! Diana Health is hosting a holiday open house Wednesday evening from 6:00-8:00 PM at 317 N Hickory Ave.

The lineup includes storytime and photos with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, ornament making, a reindeer food station, hot cocoa, and snacks. They're also collecting canned and dried goods for a food drive, so if you can bring a donation, it's a wonderful way to give back while enjoying the festivities.

This is the kind of event where the kids will have a blast and you'll leave with some sweet holiday photos.

An Algood Christmas Parade (Dec 12)

Our neighbors in Algood are putting on their festive best for their Christmas parade on Thursday evening from 6:00-9:00 PM. If you love the magic of holiday parades—the floats, the decorations, the community spirit—this is a great excuse to take a short drive and enjoy the celebration. It's always fun to see how different communities celebrate the season!

Santa Visits at Dogwood Park (Multiple Days)

Here's the event we know so many of you have been waiting for! Santa and his elves will be at the Performance Pavilion at Dogwood Park for FREE photos. Bring your camera or phone and capture those precious moments.

The schedule is: December 12-13 from 5:00-8:00 PM, and December 14 from 3:00-6:00 PM.

We love that this is a free option for families—no long lines at the mall, just a beautiful outdoor setting and the chance to create holiday memories without the price tag.

Tennessee Tech Basketball Doubleheader (Dec 13)

Sports fans, this one's for you! Tennessee Tech is hosting a basketball doubleheader on Friday with the women's team taking on Stephens College at 1:00 PM, followed by the men's team facing Bethel (TN) at 4:00 PM. Both games are at Hooper Eblen Arena and will be streaming on ESPN+. It's a great way to support local college athletics and enjoy some exciting basketball action.

Festival of Nativities (Dec 14)

If you're looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the spiritual side of the season, Stevens Street Baptist Church is hosting the Festival of Nativities on Saturday from 4:30-5:30 PM at 327 W. Stevens Street. This multi-ministry celebration features nativity exhibits, live holiday music, festive treats, and a silent auction benefiting the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

Admission is FREE, and it's a beautiful opportunity to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas while supporting a wonderful cause.

Christmas Forest Exhibit (Ongoing through Jan 3)

The Cookeville History Museum continues to showcase their Christmas Forest exhibit featuring over 30 Christmas trees decorated by community organizations.

It's FREE to visit and open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 AM-4 PM at 40 East Broad St. If you haven't stopped by yet, it's a lovely way to see the creativity of our local organizations and get into the holiday spirit.

Dogwood Park Christmas Tree Lightshow (Nightly)

Don't miss the nightly lightshow at Dogwood Park! Every hour from 5-9 PM, you can catch a 15-minute show synchronized to holiday music featuring a nearly 40-foot tall Christmas tree and full holiday displays throughout the park.

It's completely FREE and has become one of our favorite holiday traditions. The kids love it, and honestly, so do we!

We hope this week brings you joy, connection, and plenty of holiday magic! If you found this newsletter helpful, we'd love for you to share it with friends and family who want to stay connected to everything happening in Cookeville.

Have an event or story tip for next week? Reply to this email. We love hearing from you and discovering what matters most to our community.

THANKS!

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