Looking for family-friendly holiday activities this season? Check out the Montgomery County Parks and Recreation December schedule of events, including festivals, crafts, winter hikes, ice sculpting, movie nights, and photo ops with Santa! All events are free and open to the public; some require registration.  

SpiritFest & Lighted Christmas Parade
Stop by Downtown Commons on December 6 to watch the lighting of the Montgomery County Christmas Tree at 4:30 pm and stay for the Lighted Christmas Parade at 5:00 pm. The tree lighting will also be visible via livestream through the Downtown Commons camera at https://downtowncommons.org/live-stream. Prior to the Christmas Tree Lighting, SpiritFest will take place from 2:00-4:00 pm on the lawn of Downtown Commons, First Presbyterian, and Trinity Episcopal Parish.  

 Drop in DIY Holiday Cards
Stop by the Nature Center on December 4 from 10 am to 4 pm or December 5 from 12 pm to 4 pm for Holiday Card drop-in Days to make a card for someone you love and/or donate a handmade card to someone who needs holiday cheer. An abundance of materials will be available for your creative ideas! 

Photos with Santa
Santa will visit the Nature Center each Saturday leading up to Christmas from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, December 6, 13, and 20. Santa will be seated on a lush green velvet couch with a beautiful nature-themed tree backdrop, perfect for family photos! Photographer Cassidy Johnson will be on site to take your photos at no charge, but personal phones or cameras are also welcome! While waiting, guests are welcome to write Santa a letter, drop it in the magical North Pole Mailbox, and search for a hidden mischievous "Elf on the Shelf"!   

Cocoa Hike 
Join us on December 2 or December 11 for a 45-minute Cocoa Hike with lanterns through Rotary Park! Please dress appropriately for weather conditions. Appropriate footwear, long pants, and bug spray are recommended. Guests will meet at the Nature Center front doors to check in up to 10 minutes before the program and to distribute lanterns. After the hike, stick around for a cup of hot cocoa! The trail difficulty level is rated moderate; please use your best judgment when registering. Strollers are NOT recommended for this terrain. Registration is required. 

DIY Holiday Ornament Making 
Stop by the Nature Center on December 10 from 10:00 am-4:00 pm for a drop-in holiday ornament activity. Materials are provided, but you are welcome to bring your own trinkets and materials to add in. 

Ice Sculpting & Movie Night
Get ready for a holiday night of fun! Head to Downtown Commons on December 22 at 6:00 pm for a special screening of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, plus live ice sculpting by Joshua Perry from Burgasm during the movie. It’s a Christmas classic with a frosty twist! 

 Story Tails
Every 3rd Saturday of the month, the Wade Bourne Nature Center holds "Story Tails," a program promoting literacy to children by creating a wonder for the natural world. This program aligns with the mission of the Center by fostering appreciation for the environment and encouraging kids to explore the outdoors. This month’s session will be held inside and/or outside, depending on the weather, on December 20 from 10:30 am to 11:30 am. This program is for children ages 1-6. Registration is required.  

New Year’s Eve Party  
Beginning at 9:00 PM on December 31st, at Downtown Commons, we will kick off our third Montgomery County New Year’s Eve party with presenting sponsor Austin Peay State University! Join us for a night of singing, dancing, and enjoying delicious food as we enter 2025! We will have a live band, dance floor, photo-booth trailer, food trucks, a balloon drop, and a surprise at midnight. This is a once-a-year event you don’t want to miss! Free and open to the public, all ages are welcome. 

For event registration visit: https://secure.rec1.com/TN/montgomery-county-parks-recreation/catalog 

 For information about Montgomery County Parks and Recreation, visit https://mcgtn.org/parks.  

Montgomery County Government offices will be closed beginning at 12 noon, Wednesday, Nov. 26, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. All County offices will reopen on Monday, Dec. 1, during normal operating hours. 

Please remember the health and public safety teams that are working hard to keep us safe during the holiday season.

For online services available through Montgomery County Government, visit the GOV tab at montgomerytn.gov.

Montgomery County Parks and Recreation invites local businesses to showcase their holiday spirit in the 2nd annual Deck the County: Holiday Business Showdown. This friendly competition encourages businesses across Clarksville Montgomery County to showcase their most creative and spirited holiday lights and decor for a chance to be named the best in the county.  

Businesses are encouraged to enter their most festive holiday displays no later than December 11 by visiting the christmasinclarksville.com page, hosted by ClarksvilleNow, and selecting the Business Category to be considered.  

The top five finalists will be featured on the Montgomery County Government Facebook page, where community members can cast their votes online from December 12–19. 

The top three winners will be notified and publicly announced and receive an award during the Ice Sculpting and Holiday Movie Night at Downtown Commons on Monday, December 22 at 6:00 pm. 
 
The business with the most votes will take home this year’s trophy—and the all-important bragging rights for the year along with one month of free advertising on Clarksville Now and a digital ad at Downtown Commons from January through March. 

Montgomery County encourages all local business owners to share their holiday spirit and help “Deck the County” with cheer. 

Let the holiday decorating begin! 

The seat for Tennessee House District 75 is vacant following the passing of State Representative Jeff Burkhart on November 14, 2025. Representative Burkhart faithfully served the residents of Montgomery County from 2023 to 2025.

Pursuant to T.C.A. § 5-1-104, the Montgomery County Commission is seeking nominations to select an interim representative to serve the remainder of the term until the general election is held and a new representative is sworn in. As the General Assembly’s session begins in January, Nominations and voting to fill the vacancy will take place at the Formal Commission meeting, December 8, 2025, to ensure District 75 has representation.

Candidates must be at least 21 years of age, a citizen of the United States, a citizen of Tennessee for 3 years, and a resident within and a qualified voter of the district they represent for 1 year. Interested candidates may submit a letter of interest, current resume, and a copy of their current voter registration card to Montgomery County Chief of Staff Lee Harrell at lharrell@montgomerytn.gov, no later than noon Wednesday, November 26, 2025. All qualified candidates will be given 5 minutes to speak to the County Commission at the Informal meeting Monday, December 1, at six o’clock p.m., 2025.

“Representative Burkhart was a dedicated public servant whose work left a lasting impact on our community. Jeff will be remembered for his leadership, commitment to the people he served, and dedication to improving the lives of Tennesseans. As we mourn his loss, we must also ensure that the residents of District 75 continue to have representation at the state level. The nomination process will allow us to ensure the constituents are represented while honoring his legacy of service,” said Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden.

Montgomery County Government, in coordination with the City of Clarksville Street Department and Parking Authority, will close 2nd Street between Commerce and Franklin Streets starting at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 13, 2025, to facilitate roof replacement on the Montgomery County Historic Courthouse.. The roadway is anticipated to be open to all traffic by 5:00 p.m.  

A crane and all associated equipment will block this segment of the street and parking. Parking meters will be bagged to prevent vehicles from parking overnight and blocking the closure. Drivers should be aware of this closure downtown and plan driving routes to avoid 2nd Street.