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Does your family normally cruise around searching for holiday light displays every year, or settle for waving at The Parthenon in its lit-up holiday glory? This year, up your game with Parks' guide to the Best Places to See Christmas Lights in Middle Tennessee!

We’ve selected seven award-winning stops from all around the region, at a range of prices: from astounding, world-renowned commercial displays to the most beautifully decorated private neighborhoods. Whether you’re looking for a musically synchronized dancing light experience or a long walk down a romantic lane of classic lights, we have the perfect destination for you and yours listed below.

Gaylord Opryland’s A Country Christmas
2800 Opryland Dr | Nashville | Donelson
Cost: Free…

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For most Americans, Thanksgiving means creating and enjoying delectable meals with those we love. Tennesseans know the truth, though: try though they might, few places in our great nation layout a Thanksgiving spread as delicious as ours!

Naturally, desserts are no exception to this hard-and-fast rule, so we knew we’d strike gold as we set out in search of the Best Places for Thanksgiving Dessert in Middle Tennessee. We asked Middle Tennessee locals to share their top picks, and the results are in.

If you’re new in town and dreaming of the perfect pie for your table, look no further. Please note: most of the eateries and bakeries listed will require you to order all Thanksgiving desserts well in advance, so now is a great time to start your…

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Many children say that trick or treating on Halloween is one of their favorite annual activities. Tennessee puts its heart into all holiday festivities, and Halloween is no exception! Parks has the scoop on the best places to trick or treat in Middle Tennessee. Our guide will highlight the neighborhoods and events that are well-known for delivering huge candy hauls and having robust community turnout.

While more families each year retreat from the sidewalks and choose to attend “trunk or treat” events instead, take heart! There are still crowds of spooky little ghouls and ghosts parading through the area. Festivities begin on the weekend and wind down on Thursday night.

Note: Halloween 2019 falls on a school night, so many areas have posted an…

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Halloween is a holiday that screams (pun intended), for decorations. With no rules or need for any type of “must-do” traditions, Halloween is the type of holiday that gives room for limitless creativity. Pick a theme, get colorful, artsy, silly – whatever your style may be – and have fun with it! Here are a few of our favorite ideas this time around:

Get Colorful 

If you love color, don’t let the traditional colors of Halloween stop you. Have fun with it! Pick a color palette that adds a little oomph to the traditional orange and black – what about off-white, orange and gray for your porch colors, and don’t forget those yellow mums! For the ultimate color lovers, try painting mini pumpkins different colors of the rainbow and line them up in order…

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Join Parks in supporting our fallen veterans during National Wreaths Across America Day on Saturday, December 14th. Help us ensure that the sacrifices of our heroes are never forgotten by sponsoring a wreath to be placed in memory of a veteran at the Middle Tennessee Veterans Cemetery! You can choose to sponsor a wreath by donating to a donation box found in every Parks office or through the Wreaths Across America website for $10 a wreath.

From the Revolutionary War to present-day conflicts, our veterans are devoted sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers. They come from all backgrounds of life to place their lives on the line for our freedoms. In many homes, there is an empty seat for one who made the ultimate sacrifice…

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It seems like the 4th of July is one of those holidays that sneaks up on us well before we’re ready for it. The moment summer arrives, it’s time to host or attend a party, but it can be difficult to make a year memorable with only a week (or a few days, we won’t judge!) to plan.

If you find yourself in this unenviable position this year, don’t panic. Our list of Last Minute 4th of July Party Ideas will have you feeling just as ready for your party as you are proud to be an American.

Last Minute Additional Seating on a Dime

Unless some poorly-timed rain is headed your way, why not bring some of your more casual indoor furniture out in the sun? If you’re hosting in your backyard (and you don’t have time to pick up some hay bales), scrub down…

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Every year we swear we’ll start our holiday shopping promptly—by September at the latest —and nearly every year we’re scrambling in late December to shop for everyone we care about. This year, we’re here to help you save time with Last-Minute Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas perfect for everyone on your list.

Bath and Body Products

Peppermint Vanilla Lip Scrub
The weather’s freezing and the air inside is dry, so it’s no wonder our lips get dry and rough this time of year. This DIY lip scrub is that rare stocking stuffer that’s both luxurious and practical, leaving scaly lips smooth and moisturized.

Whipped Gingerbread Sugar Scrub
For the rest of the body, this gingerbread sugar scrub smells like dessert and gives dull skin a beautiful polished…

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For young and old alike, seeing our community “light up” around the holiday season is a delight that few holiday traditions top. (Aside from maybe taking in Christmas lights with a cozy, hot cocoa in hand, of course). Just like everything else in the Nashville area, there’s impressive variety and quality ranging from the professional to the quirky; all with pleasant surprises and holiday treats. Below are some of Middle Tennessee’s favorite holiday lights, galore:

Hillsboro – West End Holiday Lights Carriage Tour

For the first weekend in December, take in this historical – feeling, magical carriage tour of the Hillsboro-West End neighborhoods that go “all out” when it comes to decorating their homes. Ticket money from this 30-minute carriage ride…

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The most magical month of the year is here! Let the time of gift-giving, Christmas decorating, and shopping til you drop begin! Holiday LIGHTS is back, as are other local favorites such as the Frosty Fun Run and A Dickens of a Christmas Festival. New festivals and events are also popping up so make sure to mark your calendars and prepare yourself for a whole lot of fun!

December 1: 12th Annual St. Nicolas Ball
Bluegrass Yacht and Country Club | Hendersonville

This elegant affair benefits one of Parks’ favorite charities – Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee. Featuring cocktails, a seated dinner, and dancing with a live band, it’s a great way to kick off the holiday season. Bring your checkbook to participate in the silent auction!

December 1 –…

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If you have leftovers this Thanksgiving, don’t settle for reheating plate after plate of mashed potatoes and progressively drying turkey breast. Instead, choose a few of these crowd-pleasing recipes and rework the same old Thanksgiving leftovers into dishes that will get those leftovers eaten in no time.

TURKEY DISHES

Cindy’s Turkey Salad
Use a whopping 5 cups of leftover turkey in this savory turkey salad recipe. Perfect for sandwiches, wraps, and as a protein on a green salad, this recipe will keep lean turkey moist and ready to eat.

Slow Cooker Quinoa Chili
Ideal for long, cold workdays, slow cooker turkey quinoa chili is packed with flavor but doesn’t hit you with a heavy calorie count. Loaded with healthy sweet potatoes and black beans…

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