Union City is a charming town with a quaint downtown area, a variety of good eats, and some seriously great shopping, but one of our most famous (and favorite!) features has to be the “Let it Glow” Lights Show. Families come from miles around to drive through the 30+ miles of over one million spectacular Christmas lights. It’s great for kids, it’s only $10, it’s socially distanced, and—most importantly—it boasts a waterfall made of stunning blue Christmas lights. Be sure to stop by the Obion County Chamber Office to kick off your happy, healthy trip with a free Obion County mask and more resources on fun opportunities.
Of course, there’s PLENTY to get up to leading up to the evening’s holly jolly festivities! Heres how to make the most of your holiday-centric escape to Obion County:
9:00 a.m. Breakfast at Higher Ground Coffee Co.
Start your trip off on the right foot with the best cup of joe in town. Higher Ground is a local favorite and for good reason: the rocking chairs, cozy atmosphere, and eye-popping array of pastries will make you want to settle into the sugary magic of a giant cinnamon roll and never leave.
10:00 a.m. Explore the Old Car Museum and Dixie Gun Works
This museum has a very cool collection of 36 totally restored antique automobiles as well as some farm engines, car accessories, and a log gunshop from the 1850s. This is a great place to take a walk through history and see how firearm and car design developed throughout the 1900s.
12:00 p.m. Lunch at Sammies.
Sammies the perfect spot to grab a bite for lunch. You’ll find every kind of sandwich you can imagine here—and even some you could never have imagined. For example, the Samson is a popular choice: sink your teeth into a huge stack of corned beef, hickory ham, smoked turkey, bologna, genoa salami, and all the usual sandwich suspects of lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, etc. Talk about a protein-packed pick-me-up!
1:00 p.m. Dessert at Mimi’s Frozen Yogurt
After lunch, grab some fro-yo. It’s never too cold for this treat, and Mimi’s flavors are nice and wintry: espresso, latte, and white chocolate mousse are just a few of our faves. A classic Tennessean’s choice is the Elvis Sandwich, which, as every good Presley fan can guess, is a mixture of the banana pudding flavor and the peanut butter flavor. Enough talk—a little less conversation, a little more fro-yo.
1:00 p.m. Shopping Downtown Union City
The Chocolate Bunny Boutique is a great place to check out if you need to revamp your winter wardrobe Can you ever really have enough boots? No. The answer is always no. This boutique is stocked up on cold-weather-essentials that are as chic as a pink velvet couch and as cozy as a teddy bear (one coat in particular is actually called the Teddy Coat and appears to be made of teddy bear fluff in all the best ways!). Sisters Antiques is another go-to for stylish shopping. They’ve got seasonal decorations ranging from classic and timeless to fun and unique, from an adorable wreath made of little velvet pumpkins to all kinds of Grinch paraphernalia. Every Christmas tree needs a Little Cindy-LouWho ornament or five.
5:00 p.m. Dinner at Moustos Pasta and Grill
Grab dinner sooner rather than later so you’ll have enough time to really soak in the nights finale, the “Let It Glow” Light Show. Moustos has amazing Italian cuisine: pizza, pasta, seafood, and desserts. We’re talking fried calamari, beef-stuffed ravioli, and cocoa-dusted tiramisu. The works—all made with love and served in heaping portions perfect for getting the family in the mood for the merry-and-bright vibes to come!
6:30 p.m. “Let It Glow” Light Show
This is the big event! Obion’s Light Show, located in the Discovery Park of America, is famous for the over-thirty miles of lights—that’s over one-million brilliant, colorful Christmas lights in total—synchronized to twinkle along with classic holiday tunes! It takes about two months for the crew to set it up, but the tunnel of lights and the light-up waterfall make it well worth the wait.
The Light Show is open Nov. 13 – Dec. 30 from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. and is only $10 per car. It’s the perfect family-friendly way to wrap up your trip and get you in the Christmas spirit. More Merry Magic in Obion CountyIf you don’t want to let the fun end here, turn your day into a weekend trip by lodging at the BlueBank Resort. Tennessee has beautiful spaces for hunting and fishing, and this lakeside lodging provides a gorgeous view of Reelfoot Lake. The lake features a flooded forest of trees called majestic Cypresses, which rise above the water and are surrounded by a variety of other aquatic plants and flowers. It’s a lovely and relaxing way to end your 2020. Don’t forget to stop by the Obion County Chamber Office for a free Obion mask and more information on everything this charming town has to offer! Check out all the holiday happenings here to start planning your trip now: https://obioncounty.org/nwtnholiday2020
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