'A Country Christmas' Lights up Gaylord Opryland

By Korby Clements

Middle Stew Reporter

MURFREESBORO, Tenn.—The 29^th annual "A Country Christmas" offers guests and locals a holiday experience with more than two million lights, horse-drawn carriage rides, the Rockettes, and the Christmassy DreamWorks Experience.

"A Country Christmas" has been named one of the world’s top 10 places to spend Christmas by Travel + Leisure magazine. The Travel Channel’s "Extreme Christmas" show called it “The most Christmassy hotel in the Nation.” USA Today proclaimed it one of the “Ten Great Places to catch up with Santa.”

This year, the Gaylord Opryland Hotel has worked hard to improve its attractions. The traditional lights and giant Christmas tree are just as beautiful as ever. The attractions, however, have really stepped up their game.

Lorrie Morgan has joined the hotel this year to perform an "Enchanted Christmas & Dinner Show". She will feature songs from her own album, "Merry Christmas from London", to provide guests with an enchanted journey through Christmases past and present.

"A Country Christmas" has also found a way to make its attractions more interactive for the guests. The "Radio City Christmas Spectacular", starring the Rockettes, has become a Nashville Christmas tradition and will feature a new 3D scene this year. Opryland visitors will go with Santa and his reindeer on a magical journey through the sights and sounds of New York City.

The "Christmassy DreamWorks Experience" features animated stars from Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, and Madagascar. This experience offers its guests many interactive opportunities, including "Shrectacular", a scavenger hunt, and character meals. The "Shrek the Halls" attraction will allow guest to enter a world of colorful ice sculptures and includes a 20-foot tall ice slide.

Opryland has also included a Holly Jolly Town Square, which provides horse-drawn carriage rides from the front of the hotel back in time to a 1950s town square. This quaint little town square is filled with family friendly activities including a gift shop, train rides, story time with Mrs. Clause, visits with Santa Clause, and an outdoor nativity scene. The "Hall of Trees" is included in this attraction and benefits local charities.

“Gaylord Opryland has already seen thousands of guests and visitors come through the hotel!” said a representative from Opryland’s Public Relations Department “This year is looking like it will be the best yet.”

The guests have shown that the attractions this year have made their visits very enjoyable.

“I go to Opryland to see the lights every year, but this year they have really outdone themselves!” said guest Taylor Stahlman.

“With more than two million twinkling lights and acres of stunning decorations that attract visitors from all over the world, there’s no better place to celebrate the season,” said Gaylord Opryland General Manager Pete Weien. “And, of course, it wouldn't be Music City, USA, without amazing live shows and entertainment.”

For more information on tickets, events and activities visit http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-opryland/a-country-christmas/index.html .

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Third Annual ‘Borodash’ Raises Money for Charity

By Korby Clements

Middle Stew Reporter

MURFREESBORO, Tenn.— Turkey hats, tutus, and reindeer ears adorned the more than 2,900 runners who woke up early Thanksgiving Day to participate in the third annual "Borodash" in Murfreesboro Tenn.

"Borodash" started three years ago as an idea race Director Staci McCreary had to help her missionary friends raise money. The money raised was used to help start an orphanage in Geita, Tanzania, called the Neema House to help children with AIDs. Neema House is not the only beneficiary of money raised from the race; Greenhouse Ministries also receives a donation from "Borodash" every year.

 “In 2011, we raised $57,000," said McCreary. "This year we had more participants but more expenses, and we’re hoping to raise $60,000 this year.”

The race has grown from 1,600 to 2,900 contestants in the past three years, and "Borodash" has also added a third charity. During the second year, "Borodash" decided to add a rotating spotlight charity that would change each year.  Interfaith Dental was chosen as the spotlight charity for the 2012 race.

The "Borodash" course, starting and ending on the Middle Tennessee State University campus, had participants running and walking through four miles of historical Murfreesboro. The course was designed to be both easy and interesting to appeal to its wide variety of participants ranging in age from 1 to 98. The route took runners through beautiful parts of Murfreesboro such as the square and Bell Street.

 MTSU Cross Country Runner Keith Davis finished the race in just 20 minutes and 36 seconds, claiming the winning time. Marge Fuller, from Rochester, N.Y., and perhaps the oldest participant at 81 years of age, completed the course in one hour and 15 minutes.

“I come down for Thanksgiving every year, and this year my granddaughters talked me into doing this race," said Fuller. "I walked the whole way, but I finished just the same.” 

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