PARIS!

FOR THE HOLIDAYS 2026

On The Cover: Among last year’s holiday decorations, River the kitten made himself the star on the Parker’s family Christmas tree. Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us at PARIS! Magazine.

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Editor’s Notes

It’s the holiday season and Santa Claus is coming ‘round…

There’s just something special about the holidays here in Henry County. Maybe it’s the familiar faces we see around town, the memories we carry from Christmases past, or the simple joy of gathering with family and friends. Whatever it is, this time of year reminds us how lucky we are to call this community home. So, as you settle in with this holiday issue, I hope you find a little something to make you smile and a reason to celebrate.

We’ve packed these pages with stories about the people, places, and traditions that make our corner of Tennessee so special. Take a trip down memory lane with Remember When, highlighting the Holly Jolly Electric Christmas parade from 10 years ago. I bet you’ll see some little faces that are all grown up now. Then, enjoy a little holiday cheer in Merry & Bright, where Millard Nichols’ story of painting is sure to bring a smile.

There’s no shortage of things to see and do around here, either. Around Our Town takes us out into the snow, while our Arts & Entertainment feature shines a light on Krider Performing Arts Center and the wonderful performances that bring people together, from right here at home to far beyond our county lines.

This issue also celebrates some mighty special folks. Meet the people making a difference in Spotlight and Our Neighbors, honor the lasting contributions of our veterans, and enjoy stories about special occasions and the people who make them memorable. We’ll also share a little inspiration with a look at Mary’s Kids and nearly three decades of helping Henry schoolchildren.

For a little seasonal fun, head to In The Garden for a Christmas wish involving yew, and turn to Paris Cuisine for a taste of Dollywood’s famous cinnamon bread. You’ll find that labor and delivery is returning to Henry County in Healthy Ideas, along with stories about the Imagination Library, winter wildlife, and more.

From treasured traditions to new memories waiting to be made, we hope these pages remind you of all the good things that surround us. Around here, the holidays have a way of bringing out the best in people, and that’s something worth celebrating all year long.

Happy Holidays from all of us at PARIS! Magazine!

Smantha

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In This Issue

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REMEMBER WHEN: Everyone Loves a Christmas Parade!

Take Nostalgic Look From A Decade Ago… Holly Jolly Electric Christmas Parade 2016, sponsored by the Downtown Paris Association. Read More >>

MERRY & BRIGHT: Millard Nichols, Smile Painter

By Karen Geary

Everyone knows Santa has elves working at the North Pole. But did you know he also has elves working all around the world doing good? Did you know that one particular elf lives right here in Henry County and his main purpose is to make people smile. Read More >>

AROUND OUR TOWN: Splashing Through the Snow!

By Emily Berry

Take a moment to think about some of your favorite Christmas memories. Did you envision a light dusting of snow or maybe the branches of the trees bending under the weight of it? Maybe you are solo, sipping hot cocoa in your favorite old, cushy chair, or surrounded by friends and family in the town you grew up in? What if I told you there’s an opportunity to create some of these core holiday memories right around the corner here in Paris? Read More >>

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT: Krider Performing Arts Center

By Rhonda Stanton

KPAC has long been the home of local arts programming, pageants, school events, benefits, concerts and more. Over the last few years, however, the scope of programming and recognition among touring artist events is broadening. This was growing before 2020 and its subsequent entertainment industry crash, and finally it seems that the touring artist business is back in full swing. Read More >>

TO SUPPORT & DEFEND: Shining A Light On The Legacy Of VETERANS

By Rhonda Byrd Stanton

Have you ever known someone who can drone on for hours about a topic they find fascinating…even if it leaves their unfortunate listeners hunting for a speedy exit? I must confess I have this superpower in relation to family history. Hopefully, I have gained enough wisdom through the years to refrain from sharing too much about my genealogical deep dives. But, oh the fascinating stories! Read More >>

SPOTLIGHT: Catherine Clark Perritt, Turning Things Up a Notch at the Paris-Henry County Heritage Center

By Susan Jones

By all accounts, Catherine Clark Perritt has always been a busy individual. She has taught high school, been an assistant professor and an adjunct history professor, is a wife, a mother of four, and is an avid volunteer for animal welfare. But as the new executive director of the Paris-Henry County Heritage Center, she has turned things up a notch—a big notch. Read More >>

OUR NEIGHBORS: Silver Sneakers: You're as Young as You Feel

By Karen Geary

On any weekday morning, anyone walking past the community room in the Paris Civic Center will hear uplifting music and realize a SilverSneakers® class is in full swing. What most people don’t know is three participants of the program are 90-years old and beyond: Vernon Decker, Dorothy Clendenin, and Ann Watts. Together, the trio have turned the program into a weekly celebration of vitality, strength, and friendship. They’re living examples that age is nothing more than a number. Read More >>

HEALTHY IDEAS: The Gift of Life: Obstetrics in Henry County

By Laura Davis

Since the early 1980s, Henry County Medical Center in Paris, Tennessee, has been more than a hospital. It was a place where families welcomed new life, where parents heard their babies cry for the first time, and where nurses and physicians helped bring countless little miracles into the world. Read More >>

FEATURE: Be Like Dolly! Support IMAGINATION LIBRARY This Holiday Season

By Kayla Hayes Nation

“When I was growing up in the hills of East Tennessee, I knew my dreams would come true. I know there are children in your community with their own dreams. They dream of becoming a doctor or an inventor or a minister. Who knows, maybe there is a little girl whose dream is to be a writer and singer. The seeds of these dreams are often found in books and the seeds you help plant in your community can grow across the world.” — Dolly Parton speaking about the impact of her Imagination Library program. Read More >>

JUST FOR FUN: Paris!'s MERRY CHRISTMAS Crossword Puzzle

Test your recollection with our Paris-themed crossword puzzle in the Holiday 2026 issue of PARIS! Read More >>

FACES & PLACES: Photos, Memories, and More

Don’t miss this fun section chock full of the latest happenings in Paris and Henry County in these and many more sightings about town. Read More >>

FEATURE: MARY’S KIDS - Nearly 30 Years of Helping Henry School Children

By Susan Jones

In Henry, Tennessee, a small community where neighbors still look out for one another, Mary’s Kids has spent nearly three decades making sure local children have the support they need to succeed. Read More >>

GREAT OUTDOORS: Special Occasions, Special People...Depends on the Box

By Steve McCadams

How many different ways can you say someone in your life is really special? That’s why it takes a lot of time and effort before finalizing what goes in the box. Before the bow seals the contents expressing love and affection, best to make sure it says what you really meant. Read More >>

FEATURE: Winter on the Wing

By Samatha Marsh

When you imagine winter, most often the images that come to mind are quiet and serene. Snow drifts down through dried branches onto the fallen leaves as the plants and animals sleep away the long, cold months and await the dawning of the spring. Read More >>

PARIS CUISINE: Light Up Your Holidays with Dollywood's Cinnamon Bread

When country music legend Dolly Parton died this past August, the world lost the soul of the Smokey Mountains. One thing she loved was Christmas. Read More >>

IN THE GARDEN: All I Want for Christmas is Yew!

By John Watkins

Oh, the holiday garden! A time to look back on the ghosts of gardens past and forward to the ghosts of gardens future. I know that this time of year it’s pretty hard to get excited about gardening, but if you think about it, it is a great time to plan ahead or simply enjoy the beauty of a winter landscape. Read More >>