Author Archives: Alexis Millsaps

Press Release: Discovery Park of America Announces 2022 Discovery Award Honorees

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Discovery Park of America Announces 2022 Discovery Award Honorees

The Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Discovery Award recognizes individuals for their contributions to inspiring children and adults to see beyond.

For the most updated information on this event, go to the calendar listing.

Union City, Tenn.—Discovery Park of America has announced the honorees for The Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Discovery Awards Gala that will be held Saturday, March 5, 2022 at the museum and heritage park. The award recognizes individuals whose work, like that of Discovery Park, brings enlightenment, inspiration and education to those whose lives they’ve touched.

The gala and awards ceremony, emceed by Jennifer Horbelt, co-anchor of WPSD Local 6 News, will bring together thought leaders, policymakers, philanthropists and others to celebrate the honorees, all of whom have deep roots in West Tennessee. The 2022 Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Discovery Award honorees are:

  • Anita Kay Archer
  • Lt. Gen. John (Glad) Castellaw USMC (Ret.)
  • Dr. Ron Kirkland
  • Jerry Reese

Anita Kay Archer is from Jackson, Tenn., and is currently the vice president of business development at The Bank of Jackson. She has led the efforts of various nonprofits throughout her career. Archer is on the advisory board for West Tennessee Healthcare’s Kirkland Cancer Center, the Women’s Leadership Council Chair for United Way of West Tennessee and is involved in the development of West Tennessee Healthcare’s Hospice Home education project. A former educator, she has also served the United Methodist Church’s Memphis Conference in many capacities including Conference Lay Leader and delegate to quadrennial, Jurisdictional and General Conferences of the denomination. Anita is the wife of Robert N. Archer III, and together they have three adult children and five grandchildren.

LtGen John “Glad” Castellaw, USMC (Ret.) is from Crockett Mills, Tenn., and is the founder and CEO of Farmspace Systems, a provider of remote sensing services. As a Marine, he flew over two dozen different aircraft types, commanded multiple aviation units, served with the United Nations during the Siege of Sarajevo, commanded a U.S. joint force in a multi-national security and stability operation in East Timor, and was the chief of staff for the U.S. Central Command during the Iraq War. His last tours on active duty were in the Pentagon, where he oversaw both Marine ground and aviation programs. Castellaw travels widely advising on food, energy, and climate security and is currently leading a multidisciplinary team developing a virus screening capability for the Department of Homeland Security.

Dr. Ron Kirkland is from Union City, Tenn., and was a practicing physician for over 33 years. Ron is a past chairman of the board of The Jackson Clinic, Aspell Recovery Center, the American Medical Group Association, and the American Medical Group Foundation. Passionate about serving his community, Kirkland is currently the President of the Tennessee Medical Association, past president of the Jackson Rotary Club, and past president of the University of Tennessee National Alumni Association. He has served on the University of Tennessee Athletic Board, the Jackson-Madison County Chamber of Commerce Board and the Jackson Arts Council Board. Ron currently serves on the Board of Directors of Baptist Hospital Memphis. Kirkland was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army as a sergeant after serving a tour in Vietnam as a counterintelligence agent. He is married to the former Carol Ann Glasgow, and they have 4 children and 8 grandchildren.

Considered one of the most successful general managers in the National Football League, Jerry Reese is from Tiptonville, Tenn., and is a former football executive, player and coach. He was a member of the New York Giants for 23 years, serving as their general manager from 2007 to 2017 where he won two Super Bowls. Reese and his wife, Gwen, are co-founders of Team4Success, a nonprofit with a mission of empowering students of Lake County and surrounding counties in the West Tennessee/Mississippi Valley region. Their focus is on education and development of leadership skills among the young people of the region.

“One of the legacies of Robert and Jenny Kirkland is an organization with a mission of making certain children and adults have an opportunity to discover more of what the world has to offer,” says Scott Williams, president and CEO of Discovery Park. “Each of our impressive 2022 Discovery Award winners embody Discovery Park’s mission to inspire children and adults to see beyond.”

The names and bios of the 2022 honorees will be added to a kiosk at Discovery Park with those from previous years.

The Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Discovery Awards Gala will be held at Discovery Park of America, 830 Everett Blvd., Union City, Tenn., on Saturday, March 5, 2022 with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. and an awards dinner at 7:30 p.m. The gala will also feature a silent auction, entertainment by students from the University of Tennessee at Martin and more.

Entertainment for the cocktail party will be Terry Mike Jeffrey. Jeffrey is an Emmy-nominated singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter who has performed all over the world. A unique entertainer singing musical styles from most genres all of his life, Terry Mike is especially known world-wide for his presentation of Elvis Presley’s music. In recent years he has performed the king of rock ‘n’ roll’s songs with symphony orchestras across the country, including those in Detroit, Jacksonville, Birmingham, Denver, St Louis and Knoxville. Jeffrey has also performed live with Jewel, The Chicks, Travis Tritt, Jerry Lee Lewis, Juice Newton, BJ Thomas, Ricky Skaggs, Leon Russell and many others. A popular performer in Tennessee, he has been featured in 5 concerts with the Nashville Symphony, and 17 concerts fronting the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. He also sings and performs shows regularly at the Badgett Playhouse Theater in Grand Rivers, KY.

Tickets and tables are available here.

Photo caption: Discovery Award Honoree Anita Kay Archer.

Photo caption: Discovery Award Honoree Lt. Gen. John “Glad” Castellaw (Ret.).

Photo caption: Discovery Award Honoree Ron Kirkland.

‘Photo caption: Discovery Award Honoree Jerry Reese.

Photo Caption: Terry Mike Jeffrey, Emmy-nominated singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, will preform at the cocktail party at the 2022 Discovery Awards Gala.

West Tennessee PBS and Discovery Park of America Partner to Spread Holiday Cheer Across the Region 2021

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West Tennessee PBS and Discovery Park of America Partner to Spread Holiday Cheer Across the Region

Dec. 6, 2021 – Now you can get a taste of the magic of Discovery Park’s Christmas lights from your own home as West Tennessee PBS presents “Let It Glow.” The 30-minute special was filmed at the museum and heritage park’s popular light show and will air five times during the holiday season.

“The drive-thru light show has become a holiday tradition for many families around West Tennessee,” said Scott Williams, Discovery Park’s president and CEO.  “The team here has spent much of the year planning and then implementing the addition of our exciting, new Christmas lights walk-thru. We are so grateful our friends at West Tennessee PBS are as excited about it as we are and look forward to even more people getting to experience it.”

The special program includes segments filmed inside the new walk-thru. Also featured is the drive-thru that allows cars to slowly drive around the 50-acre heritage park as they experience more than a million twinkling lights synced to the beats of popular Christmas songs. Viewers will get a unique look at a Titan Missile, the outside of the 199-foot-tall Discovery Center, a settlement of log cabins and more, all decorated for the holidays.

“Discovery Park and West Tennessee PBS have been great partners since the museum first opened,” said Mike Peery, West Tennessee PBS’s General Manager and CEO. “We view this as a perfect way to wish all our viewers a Merry Christmas.”

The program was produced and edited by Miranda Barnes.

“Let it Glow” can be seen on West Tennessee PBS:

Tues., Dec. 14 at 8 p.m.

Fri., Dec. 17 at 9:30 p.m.

Sun., Dec. 19 at 6 p.m.

Thu., Dec. 23 at 9 p.m.

Sat., Dec. 25 at 9 p.m.

Discovery Park of America Opens ‘The Fascinating World of Murray Hudson’s Globes and Maps’ 2021

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Discovery Park of America Opens “The Fascinating World of Murray Hudson’s Globes and Maps”

Dec. 3, 2021 – Now on display at Discovery Park of America is an exhibit that shines a spotlight on one of the most unique collections of globes and maps in the world. On Friday, several of the museum’s visitors got a one-of-a-kind tour of “The Fascinating World of Murray Hudson’s Globes and Maps” from Murray Hudson himself. Hudson was also getting a first look at the exhibit which just opened to the public.

Hudson is a former English professor, stockbroker and farmer originally from Dyersburg, Tenn., who owns the largest private collection of for-sale antiquarian maps, globes, books and prints in the world. The spark of inspiration for his collection came from visiting an antique map shop on High Street in London while taking a summer course at Oxford University in 1964. His collection today includes more than 17,000 maps and more than 700 globes of various ages, sizes and designs. Many can be found in his shop, Murray Hudson – Antique Maps, Globes, Books & Prints, in the former Halls, Tenn., Post Office at 109 Church Street, where he also sells vintage sheet music and antique posters.

“As I look around, this exhibit far exceeds what I ever dreamed it could be,” said Hudson. “My goal has always been to get these maps and globes into the hands of people who could enjoy and learn from them. Discovery Park has done just that,” he added.

In addition to individuals and families who got to meet and hear about the collection from Hudson, several school groups were there to hear his story.

“The Fascinating World of Murray Hudson’s Globes and Maps” is sponsored by Conley and Conley Attorneys at Law and will be on display in the museum’s ATA Traveling Exhibit Hall through March 1, 2022.

For more information about Discovery Park of America, visit www.discoveryparkofamerica.com.

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Finding Tennessee’s John Haywood: The Story Continues 2021

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Finding Tennessee’s John Haywood: The Story Continues

Nov. 19, 2021 – Jeff Sellers, director of education and community engagement at the Tennessee State Museum and vice president of the Nashville City Cemetery Association, shared with us in a recent episode of “Reelfoot Forward” the story of the hunt for the grave of “the Father of Tennessee History,” John Haywood. In a recent update, a chancery court ruled that his remains, if any are located, will be allowed to be moved to the Nashville City Cemetery.

Although today Haywood has been forgotten by most, he has been called “the father of Tennessee history,” “a fascinating eccentric,” “an overlooked Tennessee historian” and “the author of the most important legal innovation in antebellum southern history.” Haywood, the namesake of Tennessee’s Haywood County, authored three histories of the Old Southwest and authored four legal works, each of which served as a template for legal practice in the states of North Carolina and Tennessee. In 1820, he also played a central role in founding the first historical society in the state, The Tennessee Antiquarian Society.

After his death in 1826, Haywood was buried at his family farm in Tusculum, Tennessee. In 1911, a memorial was scheduled to be placed at his and his wife’s gravesite by the Tennessee Historical Society. The farmer who owned the land did not want a monument in the way of his crops, so the Historical Society placed the marker on adjacent property pointing to the gravesite nearby. In 1959, an obelisk was placed on the adjacent property near a church that had been built there. The obelisk remains standing today. Despite the markers, the actual location of Haywood and his wife’s graves had been lost to decades of progress and land development.

Thanks to the fieldwork and data analysis of Middle Tennessee State University’s Department of Geosciences, Dr. Joe D. Collins and graduate student Oluwatosin Obe, th graves have likely been located.

Sellers and the group of volunteers now have full legal authority to locate and remove any remains located from the commercial property where they think the graves currently reside. The next step in the process is to raise funds to begin the archaeological excavation. Donations can be made to the Nashville City Cemetery Association, Inc. or by mailing a check to the Nashville City Cemetery Association, Inc. (care of the Haywood Cemetery Project) to:

The Nashville City Cemetery Association, Inc.

P.O. Box 150733

Nashville, TN 37215

To learn more about the search for John Haywood’s grave, listen to our podcast episode, read the petition or check out this article written by Main Street Nashville.

Press Release: John Parr Joins Discovery Park of America as Director of the Wildlife Department

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John Parr Joins Discovery Park of America as Director of the Wildlife Department

Union City, Tenn. – John Parr has begun serving Discovery Park in the role of director of the wildlife department. John has been working part-time as a docent here at Discovery Park while working at Baptist Health Science University as a health science instructor. He served as a coach, science teacher and STEM Ed leader for the Union City School system from 2011 to 2020. John has been an instructor at the University of Southern Mississippi, Dyersburg State and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. He received his Bachelor’s in Biology from UT Martin, his Master of Education from William Carey University and a Doctor of Philosophy, Biology and Science Education from the University of Southern Mississippi. Additionally, John has experience in writing numerous grant proposals, developing curriculum on a variety of topics.

Discovery Park’s Wildlife department focuses on the natural history of Northwest Tennessee and Reelfoot Lake. Designated by the U.S. Department of Interior as a National Natural Landmark, this beautiful scenic lake covers 25,000 acres of water and wetland where a huge variety of plants and animals make a unique ecosystem unlike anything else in the world. Included in Discovery Park’s Regional History gallery is a 20,000-gallon aquarium that features bass, crappie, gar, catfish and other fish native to the region. Housed in several smaller tanks in the gallery are turtles like a red-eared slider, snapping turtle and eastern box turtle. There are also several snakes, including a speckled king snake, corn snake and northern pine snake. The museum and heritage park offers wildlife-focused classes, educational opportunities and interactive experiences for all ages. “Our mission is to inspire children and adults and to see beyond,” said Jennifer Wildes, Discovery Park’s senior director of collections and exhibits. “Our wildlife is a guest favorite, and we’re thrilled John will be applying his extensive experience in education to this area of Discovery Park.”

For more information about Discovery Park of America, visit www.discoveryparkofamerica.com or call 731-885-5455.

Photo Caption: John Parr joins Discovery Park of America as director of wildlife.

Press Release: Never-before-seen Exhibit of Rare Collection of Globes and Maps Opens at Discovery Park on Dec. 2, 2021

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Never-before-seen Exhibit of Rare Collection of Globes and Maps Opens at Discovery Park on Dec. 2, 2021

Union City, Tenn. –Discovery Park of America released details today about the upcoming temporary exhibit premiering at the museum and heritage park that will shine a spotlight on one of the most unique collections of globes and maps in the world. “The Fascinating World of Murray Hudson’s Globes and Maps” will be on display in the museum’s ATA Traveling Exhibit Hall Dec. 2, 2021-March 1, 2022.

“The Fascinating World of Murray Hudson’s Globes and Maps” is sponsored by Conley and Conley Attorneys at Law.

Hudson is a former English professor, stockbroker and farmer originally from Dyersburg, Tenn., who owns the largest private collection of for-sale antiquarian maps, globes, books and prints in the world. The spark of inspiration for his collection came from visiting an antique map shop on High Street in London while taking a summer course at Oxford University in 1964. His collection today includes more than 17,000 maps and more than 700 globes of various ages, sizes and designs. Many can be found in his shop, Murray Hudson – Antique Maps, Globes, Books & Prints, in the former Halls, Tenn., Post Office at 109 Church Street, where he also sells vintage sheet music and antique posters.

“Because ‘discovery’ is even in the name, I’ve always thought Discovery Park would be the perfect place for an exhibit of some of my collection,” said Hudson.

The team at Discovery Park that undertook the task of creating an exhibit from Hudson’s collection found it challenging to narrow down the items that will appear in the exhibit. “Each time we visited Halls and explored this collection with Murray, we likened the experience to stepping into Harry Potter’s Hogwarts School or a magical wizard’s lair,” said Jennifer Wildes, the museum’s senior director of exhibits and collections. “There was so much there we wanted to share with our guests, but only so much room. We selected the items that we thought were the most interesting and that tell the story of the physical history of the world as we knew it, starting as early as the 1500s.”

One extremely rare item that will be on display when the exhibit opens on Dec. 2 is the very first edition of the first atlas of America, printed in 1795, which houses 21 maps. Another early map features Rome as it existed in 1595 and includes hand-written notes made by Abraham Ortelius, the father of modern cartography, the practice of drawing maps.

Those exploring the exhibit will also get to see rare globes that range from the two-and-a-half-foot wide diplomat’s globe from 1918 that focuses on political geography to one of the smaller curiosities in his collection, an 1840s boxed globe from Germany that shows Texas as an independent republic, just before it was annexed by the United States.

One globe that will be on display has personal significance for Hudson. Painted on a gourd, it includes a scene from “The Wizard of Oz.” Hudson’s late wife, Bonnie Hudson, was a great-granddaughter of L. Frank Baum, author of the famous children’s book series that was later adapted for the classic 1939 film.

When asked if the collection will include any treasure maps, Hudson replies that in his collection, “the globes and maps are the treasure.”

“The Fascinating World of Murray Hudson’s Globes and Maps” will be on display in the museum’s ATA Traveling Exhibit Hall Dec. 2, 2021-May 15, 2022 and is free with admission or membership.

For more information about Discovery Park of America, visit www.discoveryparkofamerica.com.

Photo Caption: Murry Hudson is a former English professor, stockbroker and farmer who has amassed the largest private collection of for-sale antiquarian maps, globes, books and prints in the world. Some of his collection will be on display at Discovery Park of American in Union City, Tenn., Dec. 2, 2021-March 1, 2022.

Discovery Park Marks Employee Milestones 2021

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Discovery Park Marks Employee Milestones

Oct. 8, 2021 – On Oct. 7, Discovery Park of America recognized employees who have celebrated five and ten-year anniversaries with the museum and heritage park. Two members of the staff, Polly Brasher, senior director of education, and Jennifer Wildes, senior director of exhibits and collections, celebrated ten years with Discovery Park. While the museum did not open to the public until Nov. 1, 2013, it was under construction for several years and included the efforts of many volunteers. Both Brasher and Wildes were among the very first employees officially on the payroll.

In his opening comments, Scott Williams, the organization’s president and CEO, shared a long list of positive comments from museum visitors and acknowledged they are a result of those in the room who shared their time and talents to make Discovery Park such an incredible, award-winning museum and attraction. Williams added, “Tonight, on behalf of the Discovery Park board, the Kirkland family and the more than two million guests who have come through those doors, I get to say, ‘Thank you.’ Thank you for the incredible job each and every one of you does every single day as we implement our important mission, and thank you all for making this such a joyful place to get to work.”

As 10-year honorees, Brasher and Wildes received a solid-brass, early Victorian-style telescope. All 5-year honorees received a solid-brass compass in a hand-made wooden box that featured an inlayed compass rose. Williams noted, “a compass rose is sometimes called a rose of the winds and is used to indicate direction on a map or nautical chart. I hope each time you look at it, you are reminded of all the things you do that inspire our guests to leave here and head in directions they never dreamed of before visiting Discovery Park.”

Both the telescope and the compass were engraved with the honoree’s name and an acknowledgment of gratitude for their years of leading discovery.

Current Discovery Park employees celebrating a ten-year anniversary are Polly Brasher and Jennifer Wildes. Employees celebrating a five-year anniversary are Judy Anding, Randy Anding, Chris Armstrong, David Blincoe, Mary Nita Bondurant, Hunter Brown, Christy Buchanan, Chambry Callicott, Art Chivers, Jessica Dunivant, David Eastep, Marie Fee, Robert Finley, Diane Forrest, Lisa Glass, John Hall, Gloria Harris, David Heathcott, Glenn Heatherly, Karl Johnson, Lauren Jones, Allison Laws, Jerome Leath, Dianne McCoy, Jeanne McMillen, Ashton Milan, Russell Orr, Tom Pyron, Mike Ramsey, Zachary M. Rea, Linda Rose, De Rushing, Lisa Sears, Samantha Simbeck, James Simpson, Nita Simpson, Jamie Suiter, Jamie Thomson, Tammy Ursery, Kayla Uzzle, Jenny Gillihan, Hugh Wade, Jade Walsh, John Watkins, Sheridan Wells and Al Wright.

Earth Science Week Celebration to Feature Special Guests 2021

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Earth Science Week Celebration to Feature Special Guests

Oct. 11, 2021 – On Oct. 16, we will be exploring the exciting world of Earth and Environmental Science. From fossils to game shows to stories from a storm chaser, there will be something for the whole family to enjoy.

Guests will not want to miss a feature panel on “Climate Change and its Effects on Water Resources Today” from special guests Lt. Gen. John Castellaw, 36-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, expert on climate security and founder and CEO of FarmSpace Systems, UTM professor Dr. Michael A. Gibson and UTM professor Dr. Jeff Rogers. The panel will take place in Dinosaur Hall at 2 p.m.

This program is made possible by a partnership with UTM’s Department of Agriculture, Geosciences and Natural Resources.

Student groups will receive free admission. To reserve student group passes email Sheridan Wells at swells@discoveryparkofamerica.com

Schedule of Events

Programs are subject to change. All programs are located in Dinosaur Hall unless otherwise specified. 

11:30 a.m. The Lowdown on Groundwater in West Tennessee with Dr. Michael A. Gibson.

Noon The Snails of the 72 million-year-old Coon Creek Formation with Jack Garrett.

12:30 p.m. Storm Stories: Stories from a Student Chaser with Shannon Sullivan.

12:45 p.m. The Geo Game Show with Dr. Jeff Rogers, Tennessee Room.

2 p.m. Climate Change and its Effect on Water Resources Today with Lt. Gen. John Castellaw, Dr. Michael A. Gibson and Dr. Jeff Rogers.]

Click here for a full list of events for Earth Science Week.

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Discovery Park to Participate in West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center’s Bicentennial Heritage Festival 2021

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Discovery Park to Participate in West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center’s Bicentennial Heritage Festival

Sept. 30. 2021 – Discovery Park of America will be part of the upcoming Bicentennial Heritage Festival presented by the University of Tennessee’s West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center on Sat., Oct. 9, 2021. 

Scott Williams, Discovery Park’s president and CEO, will be making a presentation on David Crockett and West Tennessee at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Williams recently published a book on Crockett, The Accidental Fame and Lack of Fortune of West Tennessee’s David Crockett, and the museum and park has several displays and exhibits on the iconic frontiersman. The festival will also include presentations by other subject matter experts on topics including wildlife in Tennessee, Native American farming and more.  

Additional activities will include over a dozen booths showcasing blacksmithing, beekeeping, leatherworking, woodturning and traditional music. Attendees will be given wagon tours of the facility to learn about the research that has contributed towards the agricultural success in West Tennessee. Inside the main building, quilts will be displayed and outside food will be available for purchase. 

“The West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center was a big help to us while we were creating our exhibit at Discovery Park on innovation in Agriculture,” said Scott Williams. “We’re very excited to join them in celebrating this exciting milestone.”

“AgriCulture: Innovating for Our Survival” opened at Discovery Park in December and includes a section on Tom McCutchen who was the first superintendent of the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center, then named the Milan Experiment Station. McCutchen was nicknamed “The Father of No-till” because of his dedication to the environmentally friendly crop-growing system.

Established in 1907, the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center is the oldest AgResearch center in the University of Tennessee System. It is known for its researchers’ work in ornamentals, turfgrass and horticultural crops. 

The Bicentennial Heritage Festival will be Sat., Oct. 9. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center at 605 Airways Boulevard in Jackson. Admission is $5 for adults 18 and older. A complete schedule is available on the center’s website.

Press Release: Discovery Park of America Adds Walk-thru Experience to its Popular ‘Let it Glow’ Drive-thru Light Show

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Discovery Park of America Adds Walk-thru Experience to its Popular ‘Let it Glow’ Drive-thru Light Show

Union City, Tenn.— Discovery Park of America, the museum and heritage park in Union City, Tennessee, is adding a walk-thru experience to its popular “Let it Glow” Christmas drive-thru light show for the 2021 holiday season. “Let it Glow” is a significant annual fundraiser for the 501(c)(3) non-profit.

Opening night on Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, will include a kick-off ceremony at 6:00 p.m. followed by a performance of holiday favorites by internationally acclaimed soprano Sabrina Warren and an ensemble from the Jackson Symphony.

Warren has performed throughout North America and Europe including as a guest artist with the Festival Durance Luberon in France, the Eutiner Festspiele and the Deutsche-Amerikan Musik Fest in Germany and the Differdange International Festival in Luxembourg. Warren was a District Winner and Eastern Region Finalist of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in New York. She is assistant professor of vocal studies at Union University.

The Friday night opening event will be free for Discovery Park members and $5 admission for non-members.

Returning in 2021 is the popular drive-thru light show that allows cars to slowly drive around the 50-acre heritage park as they experience more than a million twinkling lights synced to the beats of popular Christmas songs. Guests get a unique look at a Titan Missile, the outside of the 199-foot-tall Discovery Center, a settlement of log cabins and more, all decorated for the holidays.

Entry to the “Let it Glow” walk-thru will take place through the park’s north gate, which will be transformed to the “North Pole Gate” during the seven-week fundraiser. The Japanese Garden, European Garden and Mill Ridge will all be transformed into a glowing winter wonderland with plenty of opportunities for taking photographs throughout the decorated grounds.

Once guests arrive at Mill Ridge, they will find food and beverage for sale, a shop that includes local hand-made gifts, a stage for those who want to perform their favorite Christmas carols and a lot of holiday surprises to explore. Those who would like to reserve the stage for a free performance or receive more information about the stage should contact Polly Brasher at pbrasher@discoveryparkofamerica.com.

John Watkins, director of grounds and landscaping, and Karl Johnson, director of information technology, lead the teams who design and install the show each year.

“As the drive-thru has grown, so has the challenge of keeping people in their cars because it is so tempting to grab a quick selfie,” said Watkins. “We made the decision last year that in 2021, we would incorporate a way to give our guests what they want — a way to experience the lights up close with plenty of time to take photos. We’ve been working on it the entire year, and all of us are excited to finally get to share it with our guests.”

Discovery Park is also experiencing an increase in event bookings due to the new addition. “We’ve been answering a lot of emails and phone calls since word has gotten out about the walk-thru,” said Lauren Jones, director of special events for Discovery Park. “Our event guests will enjoy a special VIP entrance to the walk-thru from their party inside Discovery Center. Those who are booking events now also appreciate having plenty of room to social distance both inside and out.” Those interested in booking their holiday event at Discovery Park should email Jones at ljones@discoveryparkofamerica.com.

The “Let It Glow” drive-thru light show is sponsored by McDonald’s, and the walk-thru is sponsored by ATA.

Both the “Let it Glow” drive-thru and walk-thru are open 5-9 p.m., Friday, Nov. 12-Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021 and closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Admission to the drive-thru is $10 per vehicle, $25 for 15-passenger vans and $50 for school buses/charter buses. For those who enjoy taking their vehicle through multiple times during the holiday season, a discount card is available for $100 that allows for admission 11 times.

Admission to the “Let it Glow” walk-thru is $5 per guest, and ages 3 and under are admitted free. A family discount card is available that provides admission for 12 different guests or the same guests multiple times up to 12 visits for $50.

B-roll of the “Let it Glow” walk-thru and drive-thru is available.

Photo Caption: Previous “Let it Glow” drive-thru.

Photo Caption: Previous “Let it Glow” drive-thru.

Photo Caption: Previous “Let it Glow” drive-thru.

Press Release: Thanks to Generous Support, Discovery Park’s Canstruction Returns Bigger Than Ever

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Thanks to Generous Support, Discovery Park’s Canstruction Returns Bigger Than Ever

Union City, Tenn. – Discovery Park of America will once again host Canstruction, an international charity competition where architects, engineers, contractors, teachers and the students they mentor compete to design and build giant structures made from full cans of food.

Thanks to generous support from Carol and Bill Latimer, Ben E. Keith Foods, Westan Insurance Group and Forcum Lannom Materials, Discovery Park is able to increase the number of cans purchased for the competition and 12 student teams will be able to compete. This is the largest number of teams competing since Discovery Park first began participating in 2017.

At the close of the competition, the cans are donated to food banks local to the event. Canstruction was founded in 1992 by Cheri Melillo and has since raised millions of pounds of food for food banks in participating cities across the world. With more than 170 cities and over 30,000 volunteers participating in Canstruction competitions, it has grown to become one of the largest food drives for food bank donations in the world.

The sculptures created by the student teams at Discovery Park’s competition will be on display at Discovery Park through November 2021 and then will be donated to Chimes for Charity, Helping Hands and Reelfoot Rural Ministries in Obion County, Tenn. and Matthew 25:40 in Dyer County, Tenn.

Student teams design their sculptures ahead of time and are given a budget of $500 to purchase the cans they will use to build their creation. On Oct. 29, 2021, the students will arrive at Discovery Park where each team will be assigned a space and allotted three hours to create their sculpture. A luncheon and awards ceremony will take place after the competition.

“This event is special for all of us at Discovery Park for many reasons,” said Polly Brasher, the museum and park’s director of education. “Not only is it always amazing to see the students’ creations, the idea of bringing this to our region came from the late Jenny Kirkland, wife of Discovery Park founder Robert Kirkland after she saw it taking place in Memphis. She very much loved this event and seeing what the talented young people created.”

Teachers interested in applying to participate with their student group should fill out the online application as soon as possible as this competition is available to the first 12 who apply.

Photo Caption: The winners of the 2019 Canstruction, NWTN Homeschool Group, with their sculpture.

Press Release: ‘Once Upon a Pumpkin’ at Discovery Park to Feature an Enchanted World of Fairy Tales Made from Pumpkins, Hay Bales and Fall Flowers

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‘Once Upon a Pumpkin’ at Discovery Park to Feature an Enchanted World of Fairy Tales Made from Pumpkins, Hay Bales and Fall Flowers

Union City, Tenn. –Discovery Park of America has announced “Once Upon a Pumpkin” will be the theme for this year’s Pumpkin Village. Open during the month of October, “Once Upon a Pumpkin” will enchant guests with an entire village of fairy tales created from more than 40,000 pounds of pumpkins enhanced by hay bales and fall flowers like chrysanthemums and pansies.

Sponsors of 2021 Pumpkin Village at Discovery Park are Allen Searcy Builder Contractor, Commercial Bank and Trust Company and Williams Country Sausage.

Already under construction are sections featuring the stories of “The Three Little Pigs,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” and other classic children’s stories.

Another popular activity returning for this year’s event is the Pumpkin Maze.

“Of course, we love keeping Discovery Park looking beautiful all year round, but Pumpkin Village is a fun opportunity for us to get really creative,” said John Watkins, Discovery Park’s director of grounds and landscaping. “My team has been really excited about this year’s theme, and I think they’ve taken it to a whole new level.”

Discovery Park’s pumpkins have been grown by Nanney Farms Pumpkin Patch in Sharon, Tenn. Featured will be many varieties of pumpkins including Jack-O-Lantern, Cannonball, mini pumpkins and an assortment of other specialty pumpkins and gourds.

“Once Upon a Pumpkin” is free with museum admission. In October, Discovery Park and “Once Upon a Pumpkin” are open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday and 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sunday. Discovery Park and “Once Upon a Pumpkin” are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in October.

For more information about Discovery Park of America, visit www.discoveryparkofamerica.com.

Photo Caption: A past Pumpkin Village at Discovery Park of America