LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — It celebrates Moore County’s 150th and Lynchburg’s 200th anniversary and organizers will light it for the first time on Saturday, November 26 at 5:30 p.m. The event corresponds with Small Business Saturday.
The tree and the event are sponsored by the Moore County 150th / Lynchburg 200th Committee.
Committee members purchased the new tree with proceeds from last year’s successful celebrations of Moore County’s Sesquicentennial and Lynchburg’s Bicentennial. Committee members voted to use funds raised during the celebrations to purchase a new Christmas tree for the square. {To learn more about the Moore County 150th / Lynchburg 200th event, click here.}
“We were blessed to have Jack Daniel’s fund all of the initial set-up costs for the celebrations. Because of their support, the money we raised with poster, t-shirt and cookbook sales could be used for something to benefit the community,” said Celebration Committee Chair Leanne Durm. “The Christmas tree will help decorate the square for many years to come.”
Organizers picked November 26 as the tree-lighting date because it corresponds nationally with Small Business Saturday. American Express launched the concept back in 2010 in the midst of a recession to highlight the fact that small businesses are at the core of every community. It quickly gained nationwide momentum and in 2011, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution in support of the day.
“If history repeats itself many folks will make a conscious effort to shop locally and support small businesses on Saturday,” said local small business owner and Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce Vice President Marcy Smith. “The Perfect Picker is proud to support local artists, crafters and antique vendors.”
The Lynchburg Gazebo Christmas Tree lighting will set the stage for Christmas in Lynchburg on December 3. {To learn more about the Christmas in Lynchburg Schedule of Events, click here.}
On Saturday, organizers will serve free hot chocolate and hot cider along with Christmas cookies baked by Miss Mary Bobo’s Restaurant’s own Chris Dickey. Community members will also be invited to sing Christmas carols to celebrate the newest Lynchburg holiday tradition. The Moore County 150th / Lynchburg 200th Committee will have a limited number of commemorative cookbooks, aprons, and ornaments available for sale.
In the event of rain, organizers will serve refreshment from underneath the gazebo and tents will be provided to keep local folks dry. •
{The Lynchburg Times is an independently-owned, community newspaper located in Lynchburg, Tennessee the home of The Jack Daniel Distillery. We focus on public service, non-partisan, rural journalism. We cover the Metro Moore County government, local tourism, Moore County schools, high school sports, Motlow State Community College, as well as whiskey industry news and regional and state stories that affect our readers.}