Who doesn't love a Christmas Parade? In Jackson and West Tennessee, we have over 19 parades to choose from in the region!
Monday, November 28
Trenton 6:00 pm
Alamo 7:00 pm
Dyersburg 7:00 pm
Tuesday, November 29
Medina 6:00 pm
Thursday, December 1
Milan 6:30 pm
Henderson 7:00 pm
Union City 7:00 pm
Saturday, December 3
Dyer 5:00 pm
Bolivar 6:00 pm
Brownsville 6:00 pm
Friendship 6:00 pm
Kenton 6:30 pm
Sunday, December 4
Selmer 6:00 pm
Monday, December 5
Savannah 6:30 pm
Saturday, December 10
Jackson 10:00 am
Benton County 2:00 pm
Huntingdon 6:00 pm
Monday, December 12
Lexington 5:30 pm
To connect with what's happening in Jackson or West Tennessee, Visit Jackson, TN or download the APP on Google Play or iTunes. In search of a locally inspired restaurant to enjoy your Thanksgiving?
Visit Jackson, TN features 8 unique restaurants open on Thanksgiving Day, as well as a few national chains.
Download your itinerary on the VisitJacksonTN App on iTunes or Google Play
Serving Guests:
Brooksie's Barn 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Mulligan's Thanksgiving Evening
Flatiron Grille & Bistro 11:30 am - 6:00 pm (Reservations)
Mediterranean Cuisine 10:30 am 9:00 pm
Woodstock Bakery & Co. 6:00 am - 12:00 pm
Panaderia El Triunfo Bakery 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Doubletree by Hilton Thanksgiving Brunch 11:00 am - 2:00 pm (Reservations)
Sizzler Cuisine of India 11:00 am - 9:30 pm (Walk-Ins Only)
Chain Restaurants Include:
IHOP 6:00 am - 3:00 pm
Perkins Restaurant 6:00 am - 1:30 pm
Cracker Barrel 7:00 am - 9:00 pm The Ned R. McWherter West Tennessee Cultural Arts Center is seeking donations from the community for its annual Tree of Warmth.
“We started the Tree of Warmth back up in 2018 and have done it every year since,” said Jordan Alexander, Art Curator at The Ned. “We do it every year because it gets cold every year. Not everyone has access to warm clothes, so it's a good way to offer something to help people bundle up if they have to be out in the elements.”
The purpose of the Tree of Warmth is to provide warm clothing for those in need in the community. Donations – hats, scarves, gloves, and socks – are currently being accepted at The Ned (Old City Hall – 314 E. Main St.)
The Tree of Warmth will be decorated on December 1, 2022. 
Applications Now Open for West Tennessee Residents to Turn New Business Ideas into Reality Through Builders + Backers Idea Accelerator Program
Powered by Heartland Forward, the CO, Epicenter Memphis and funded by Ford Motor Company Fund, the automaker’s philanthropic arm
Memphis, Tenn. Heartland Forward, Builders + Backers, the CO, Epicenter Memphis and Ford Motor Company Fund, are proud to announce the opening of applications for 20 West Tennessee residents to access training, resources and up to $5,000 to help them turn ideas into potential businesses or ventures. Anyone in Fayette, Hardeman, Haywood, Lauderdale, Madison, Shelby and Tipton counties with a creative and unexpected idea for solving a problem facing their community is encouraged to apply.
The Builders + Backers Idea Accelerator Program powered by Heartland Forward is designed to make it easy for anyone to experiment with entrepreneurship. Applicants are not required to submit a business plan or have a pitch deck for their idea. This new cohort of 20 Builders is part of Heartland Forward’s commitment to supporting 1,000 Builders across the heartland by 2023.
“Problem solving with an entrepreneurial mindset will be key to rebuilding our post-COVID local economies, and the Builders + Backers Idea Accelerator has already proven to be a successful, meaningful way to accelerate the entrepreneurial thinking needed to help our communities thrive,” said Ross DeVol, president and CEO of Heartland Forward. “We’re thrilled to be bringing this program to West Tennessee as part of our commitment to support 1,000 Builders across the heartland by 2023. We’re confident this next cohort of Builders will have the innovative thinking and ideas to create real change in their communities, and we look forward to seeing what they can accomplish in the months and years to come.”
Those interested can apply here. The application deadline is December 30, 2022. Residents with the most promising and innovative ideas will be selected to participate in a two-month long virtual program starting on January 26, 2023.
“Entrepreneurship is seeing a problem that exists and experimenting with a solution to address it,” said Donna Harris, CEO of Builders + Backers. "Millions of Americans see problems and solutions everyday while driving our kids to school, shopping online or waiting on hold to speak to a doctor. And we say, 'someone should fix this or build that.' Unfortunately, that's where millions of ideas end. We're excited to partner with Heartland Forward and the Ford Motor Company Fund to help get 20 of these ideas in West Tennessee from concept to action."
“Ford is a committed partner to our new neighbors in West Tennessee and we are thrilled to be working with Heartland Forward to invest in the region,” said Ford Motor Company Fund economic mobility director, Mike Schmidt. “We believe in building pathways with people who have historically had limited opportunities for business development and ownership through access to capital and training. Through these new partnerships we hope to help bring aspiring entrepreneurs’ dreams to life.”
"TheCO is excited to partner with the Ford Motor Company Fund, Heartland Forward, Builders + Backers and Epicenter to bring this opportunity to West Tennessee. Turning ideas into action is our jam and we know this program will aid in surfacing some amazing growth for West Tennesseans," said Lisa Garner, Executive Director of theCo.
“We welcome the additional resources that the Builders + Backers program will offer entrepreneurs and small business owners in the Memphis and West Tennessee region, including those served by theCO,” said Jessica Taveau, president and CEO of Epicenter. “We’re grateful that Ford Motor Company Fund and Heartland Forward recognize, as we do, that investing in founders in this region and connecting them to opportunities can change lives and grow our economy.”
At the heart of the program are the four pillars, designed to mobilize and equip Builders through:
- Idea Accelerator: This cohort-based program combines a 45-day Builder Bootcamp to teach participants how to put ideas into action, followed by 45 days of actively executing their ideas through a single experiment.
- Pebble Fund: All of the Builders are supported by a $5,000 Pebble Grant to test their ideas. Participants are mentored by Master Builders throughout the program.
- Storytelling: A comprehensive media program that curates, captures and distributes stories of Buildership™, both from within the programs and in communities everywhere. Through video, written stories, social media and media partnerships, the program inspires people to become Builders.
- Buildership™ Workshops: Workshops and other events introduce people to the ideas of Buildership™ and demonstrate that anyone can generate creative solutions through entrepreneurial experimentation that contribute to the sustainability of communities.
The program was first piloted in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Oxford, Mississippi in summer 2021, and since, there have been over 300 Builders across 15 cities. To learn more about The Builders, see here.
About Heartland Forward:
Heartland Forward is a nonpartisan, 501c3 organization whose mission is to improve economic performance in the center of the United States by advocating for fact-based solutions to foster job creation, knowledge-based and inclusive growth and improved health outcomes. Heartland Forward conducts independent, data-driven research and programs to facilitate action-oriented discussion and impactful policy recommendations. To learn more, visit https://heartlandforward.org/.
About Builders + Backers:
Builders + Backers invests in exceptional entrepreneurs who are building global-scale ventures to power an entirely different future - one where technology creates value for many instead of capturing it for a few. Through proprietary programming, Builders + Backers also inspires and equips people to best seize the opportunities of our digital era - from experimentation and solving problems in their local communities to starting new ventures that could scale. By backing the most creative builders across the country, we can shape the digital future to be one in which more people participate and thrive.
About Ford Motor Company Fund
As the automaker's philanthropic arm, Ford Motor Company Fund has been supporting local communities for more than 70 years. Working with nonprofit organizations, community partners and across the Ford network in the U.S. and in 43 countries, Ford Fund provides resources and opportunities that advance racial equity and empower people to reach their highest potential. Since 1949, Ford and Ford Fund have invested more than $2.2 billion in initiatives that ensure basic needs are met, provide access to essential services, offer tools to build new skillsets and open pathways to high quality jobs. For more information, visit www.fordfund.org or join us at @FordFund on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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Ring the bells! “Yule” be happy to hear that the City of Jackson is bringing back the holiday decorating contest – now citywide. Residents and local businesses are encouraged to show their festive spirit and add some holiday sparkle to Jackson.
So, dust off those holiday decorations, untangle those lights, inflate those Christmas characters and decorate your home or business from head to mistletoe for the best Christmas decorations contest the city has ever seen.
“While our downtown storefront holiday decorating contest has been a success, we wanted to bring the holiday cheer to everyone across the entire city,” said Mayor Scott Conger. “I encourage our citizens to join in the holiday spirit to light up Jackson with their best holiday decorations.”
By participating in the contest, homes and businesses will be placed on our Holiday Decorating Tour Map so that residents and visitors can experience holiday cheer throughout the city. If you think you have the most festive decorations, now is the time to register.
Award categories include:
Residential: “Magical Winter Wonderland” / “Best In Snow” / “Santa’s Workshop” / “People’s Choice”
Business: “Light up the City” / “Take an ‘Elfie’”
All winners will receive a holiday decorating contest window or lawn sign, a trophy for bragging rights and a gift card. Photos of winning homes and businesses will be shared on our website and city social media platforms.
Signup is easy and free. For complete details including rules and criteria, visit the “Light Up Jackson for the Holidays” link under the Residents tab at www.jacksontn.gov to sign up and learn more. Sign up by November 30, 2022 to let us know that you want to participate. The Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 2022 Annual Celebration on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, at the Carl Grant Events Center at Union University. With the theme of “Annual Celebration MMXXII,” guests enjoyed “kicking off” a great event to celebrate all of the “touchdowns” of the past year in Jackson, TN. This included games, networking, lunch, door prizes, and special awards with recognition of those who continued to go above and beyond in 2022.
“We were so thankful for all of our incredible Greater Jackson Chamber members and are grateful to be able to have the ability to celebrate and honor them at this year’s Annual Celebration,” said Kristy Dew, Director of Member Engagement at the Greater Jackson Chamber. “Annual Celebration really gives us the opportunity to recognize those Chamber members and individuals who have moved Jackson forward and done great things in our community over the past year.”
Cameron Hansbrough, Director of Member Relations for the Greater Jackson Chamber said, “We couldn’t have had such a successful event without our sponsors. They included: Allen Samuels of Jackson, Inc., Arrington Funeral Directors and Crematory, Regions Bank, Steele Martin Jones, CPAs and Business Advisors, Thompson & Smith, LLC, Voya Financial Advisors, Inc., West Tennessee Healthcare, Alexander Thompson Arnold PLLC, Community Bank, First Bank, FSB Insurance, H & M Company, Inc., Cadence Bank, Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper, Hiller Plumbing-Heating-Cooling-Electrical, Jackson-Madison County School System, Jackson State Community College, Le Bonheur Children’s Outpatient Center, Simmons Bank, West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation, West TN Bank- a Division of Decatur County Bank, and Jackson Energy Authority. We also want to give a special thanks to: North Side High School, South Side High School, Madison Academic High School, Buff City Soap, Fleet Feet Jackson TN, Chick-Fil-A Vann Drive, Tacos 4 Life, The Blacksmith, and Texas Roadhouse.”
The event was highlighted by honoring and recognizing the award winners for 2022:
Award: Small Business of the Year:
Winner: Havner’s Frame Shop
Award: Large Business of the Year
Winner: MSB Construction
Award: Emerging Business
Winner: Floral Cakes
Award: Industry of the Year
Winner: Central Distributors
Award: Non-Profit of the Year
Winner: Scarlett Rope Project
Award: Curtis F. Mansfield Volunteer of the Year
Winners: Jill Taylor and Alyson Fite
Award: Shirley Jones Ambassador of the Year
Winner: Pat Ross Hunt Properties, GP. is excited to announce construction of a new Hyatt Place hotel coming soon to the campus of West Tennessee Healthcare Jackson-Madison County General Hospital (JMCGH). The hotel will be located on the corner of West Forest Avenue and Lambuth Avenue. The hotel will also be home to a Ronald McDonald House, which provides a home-like setting for families of children who are receiving medical care at JMCGH in the neonatal intensive care unit and at Le Bonheur Children’s inpatient unit, both located on the third floor of the hospital. The hotel will be a 5-story facility with 107 rooms, approximately 79,000 sq. ft., and will include meeting spaces up to 2,500 sq. ft., a full-service fitness center, an indoor/outdoor pool with a bar, a coffee bar with lounging area, a full-service commercial restaurant with indoor/outdoor seating, and an upscale business center. The Ronald McDonald House will occupy the 2nd floor and will include 20 rooms, a community kitchen and living area, as well as a laundry area for families who need a home away from home while their children receive medical care.
“Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMCH) is excited to expand into Jackson and serve the families of West Tennessee as their child is undergoing treatment and healing care at Le Bonheur Children’s”, said Jill Crocker, Executive Director of RMCH-Memphis. “RMHC provides the gift of togetherness during a family health crisis. RMHC is grateful for the opportunity to serve with the West Tennessee partners that have helped to make this opportunity possible: West Tennessee Healthcare, Hunt Properties, GP, and Le Bonheur Children’s.” Families are important to a child’s healing process, and we are grateful to the Ronald McDonald House Charities for making sure children in West Tennessee can have the support of their families close by,” said Le Bonheur Children’s President Michael Wiggins. “This gift is an investment in the future of West Tennessee, and we are proud to be a part of this new collaboration.”
Construction of the Hyatt Place will begin in December 2022 and is expected to be completed in the summer of 2024. A celebratory groundbreaking will be held at the site on the corner of West Forest Avenue and Lambuth Avenue on December 16, 2022 at 3pm. The public is invited to attend this special event. According to James Ross, President and CEO of West Tennessee Healthcare, “For several years, we have recognized the need for our patients’ families and our employees to have convenient lodging close to the medical center campus. We are extremely grateful to Hunt Properties, GP. and Ronald McDonald House Charities, in addition to Le Bonheur Children’s, for collaborating together to serve our community in this way.”
“We are also incredibly excited about the opportunity to have the Ronald McDonald House presence serving the Jackson and West TN area. We have had a long partnership with the Memphis chapter,” stated Tyler Gamble, local McDonald’s franchisee. “Their work and ability to provide love, strength and provision in a family’s darkest hour touches lives in a way that very few other organizations can. I have experienced this personally and through our McDonald’s relationship with RMHC. We are excited to come alongside the Jackson community in supporting RMHC and there is no better way than our round-up program at McDonald’s where every penny will remain with RMHC right here in West TN allowing families to be with their children during some of the scariest times in their lives!”
Local donor, Dr. Chris Lewis, also added, “The Ryder Lewis Memorial Fund was established through the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation to improve the lives of others in a way that would honor Ryder, who died at the age of 13 in a boating accident. The fund seeks opportunities to care for children and their families in times of need. We are excited to partner with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis to bring a house to West Tennessee in 2024. The Ronald McDonald House will bless families in our community with a place to call home when they need it most, and we look forward to serving together for years to come.”
About Hunt Properties, GP:
Hunt Services Inc. is a wholly owned West Tennessee corporation. Established in September, 1999 by David and Melissa Hunt, the company has grown to include DOC Imaging LLC., Hunt Hospitality LLC, Novus Construction LLC and Novus Advance Manufacturing LLC . The Company has achieved annual income over 30 million dollars per year by providing innovative solutions along with dedicated customer services. We continue to grow our business within the medical sector, hospitality sector and with steel manufacturing opportunities. Hunt Services Inc. has been recognized as an Elite Dealer with Kyocera/Copystar products as well as receiving the Hampton Inn Developer of the Year award twice. Hunt Hospitality has received several operational and performance awards, namely the Conrad Hilton Award, 3 Lighthouse Awards as well as maintaining a very high rating on Star Reports, which rates hotel properties. Our goal is to strive for excellence with our customers, business partners, employees and the communities that we operate in.
About Ronald McDonald House Charities:
Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMCH®), is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation that creates, finds, and supports programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children and their families. Through a global network of over 260 chapters in more than 60 countries and regions, RMHC enables, facilitates and supports family-centered care through three core programs: the Ronald McDonald House ®, the Ronald McDonald Family Room ® and the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile®. RMHC programs help families with ill or injured children stay together and near leading hospitals and health care services worldwide, ensuring they have access to the medical care their child needs while fully supported and actively involved in their child’s care.
About Le Bonheur Children’s:
Le Bonheur Children’s provides expert care for children in more than 45 pediatric subspecialties, encompassing an 21-bed satellite hospital within Jackson-Madison County General Hospital and an outpatient center in Jackson, Tenn., outpatient centers in Tupelo, Miss., and Jonesboro, Ark., and a 255- bed hospital in Memphis, Tenn. As the primary pediatric teaching affiliate for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Le Bonheur trains more than 350 pediatricians and specialists each year. Nationally recognized, Le Bonheur has been named a U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospital
for 12 consecutive years and is a Magnet-designated facility, the ultimate credential for high-quality patient care and nursing excellence. For more information, please call (901) 287-6030 or visit Lebonheur.org. Connect with us at facebook.com/lebonheurchildrens, twitter.com/lebonheurchild or on Instagram at lebonheurchildrens.
About West Tennessee Healthcare:
West Tennessee Healthcare is a public, not-for-profit healthcare system with locations serving 19 counties in West Tennessee and Southeast Missouri. The mission of West Tennessee Healthcare is to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve while providing exceptional and compassionate care. For more information, visit www.wth.org.
In search of something to do over the next 7 days? Let Visit Jackson, TN help you with "5 To Try!"
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