About HolidayFest

Bringing Hope Together

Holidayfest is a non-profit community service organization whose purpose is to organize multiple annual events which bring together the entire city of Hendersonville and the adjoining Sumner County communities during the months of July through February each year, with many of the events centered around, or celebrating the Thanksgiving and Christmas season.

Holidayfest connects the people, businesses, government and service organizations of the community. Our activities have two primary benefits: they monetarily help worthy non-profit causes while bringing substantial business and tourism dollars to the community. Holidayfest does this by attracting thousands of visitors to Sumner County to celebrate the spirit of the season. Holidayfest also helps train the nonprofits in their fundraising efforts during these holiday-associated events.

Our History

How HolidayFest Came About

In 2007, Lynda Evjen was new to Sumner County and she was asked about creating something to replace the standard seasonal bake sales. Lynda had an idea to create a Gingerbread Competition and she approached Keller Williams Realty as a sponsor. Keller Williams through its then agent, Steve Luther had just taken over the Hendersonville City Parade and they decided to add that to the weekend to create a small festival. Local business owners, including Janna (JJ) von Kessel of the UPS Store thought it would be good to honor local businesses as well. At the same time, the concept of the St. Nicholas Ball was created and held at a local church. From these three people and three events in the 2007 Christmas season, Holidayfest was born.

By 2014, Holidayfest hosted eighteen events and had a board of eighteen members plus five executive Board members!

HolidayFest has raised more than $3 million dollars for local charities & community organizations

Meet Our Board

Executive Board Members:

Treasurer
Randy Alvis
Secretary
Raychel Enck
Vice President
Beverly Cannon Jones
Marketing Chair
Larken Lech
President
Larry Phillips

Supporting Board Members:

Russ Edwards
Heather Cole Leavitt
Founding Member
Connie Maynord
Valerie Pantaleo

Advisory Board Members:

Bringing Joy and Support to Sumner County

HolidayFest TN is incredibly grateful to the people who support our community-focused non-profit by volunteering as Honorary Chairs, performers, Royal Court, and Board Members. We are also grateful to you – the community – who sponsor and attend the events and also donate funds to enrich the non-profits selected as HolidayFest recipients.