By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–Downtown Paris will have a new look beginning with the 2026 Christmas season, complete with a new Christmas tree and lights, lights and more lights.
Meeting this morning, the Henry County Tourism Authority approved the project, which will be overseen by Hopper-Reed Designs of Paris. The city of Paris is partnering with the Tourism Authority on the project, with the city paying $30,000 for the wreaths and garland and the HCTA paying $35,000 for the commercial Christmas tree, lights and arches. The HCTA cost will include installation and taking everything down.
Hopper-Reed will be providing the manpower and design work. “They’ll put them up and take them down,” Downtown Paris Association Executive Director Tara Wilson said.
The project “will be a remarkable thing for our downtown”, Wilson said. After Hopper-Reed Designs decorated their downtown building on E. Washington Street with Christmas lights last year, Wilson said, “I had a few of our members say to me they would like to see more of that downtown and I agreed. I loved exploring the idea of lighting up the downtown, kind of like they do in Franklin or Gatlinburg. People would come here as a destination for Christmas”.
It’s been on her wish list that downtown Paris organize a Christmas tree lighting, with the HCHS Madrigals singing Christmas carols and hot chocolate served, she said. Hopper-Reed has been specializing in installing Christmas decorations for some time and she enlisted their help in seeing what the cost would be and what options were available.
Hopper-Reed will offer it at wholesale prices and the decorations will include lighted skylines at intersections with a selection of design options, such as traditional Victorian, candles, wreaths and candy canes, plus archways. The Christmas tree will be a commercial Christmas tree with lights. All the decorations will be stored and re-installed each year.
In other business:
–The HCTA approved funding for the annual Eiffel Tower Classic, organized by the Henry County Junior Livestock group. It will be held at the fairgrounds this summer. Cost will be $3,000. The event draws youth exhibitors from Tennessee and surrounding states and will be here for two weekends over the summer showing livestock. There is free admission to the event by the public.
Wilson said, “It’s neat to see the number of people who come here from other states. The Junior Livestock group works hard marketing it.”
–The HCTA approved funding for the Veterans’ Crappie Tournament organized by Shane and Teresa Barker with friends. The tournament will be held at the Paris National Guard Armory and Sunset Marina in Buchanan. According to the application, the event has been held 5 times.
Grant funds requested are $2,000, same as past years. According to the application, veterans from all over the US attend the event, which includes the tournament and a fish fry for veterans over two days.
–The HCTA rejected a request for $1,295 from the Save Grove Tower committee for implementation of its website. Wilson noted the group’s ultimate goal is to restore Grove Tower and transform it into a tourist attraction and they have been working with a local website developer.
Commissioner Melissa McElroy asked, “How is this related to tourism?” and Commissioner Chuck Elizondo said, “Grove Tower is an historical landmark.”
Commissioner Monte Starks said, “Our goal is to go after tourism now, not down the road. Right now, we need to Save the Bell Tower (on the courthouse). This just opens us up to people with a dream”.
Other commissioners agreed. Patrick Burns said, “I’m not against Save the Grove Tower, but I don’t see how this is tourim-related now. Maybe later.”
Photo: The HCTA at work at today’s meeting. Shannon McFarlin photo.