Plein Art Fest & other MC happennings....
I LOVE MC LIVE CHRISTMAS PARADE BROADCASTS Put your business in the spotlight this Christmas season! I Love MC is excited to offer local businesses an opportunity to sponsor our upcoming LIVE broadcasts of two of McNairy County's favorite holiday traditions! Adamsville Christmas Parade — December 4 Selmer Christmas Parade — December 6 Our combined Christmas parade broadcasts generate more than 75,000 views, offering sponsors tremendous exposure to local families and viewers throughout the region and beyond! This year, our goal is to expand our reach by broadcasting on Facebook Live AND YouTube Live! Last year's broadcasts were also featured on the McNairy County News Facebook page, providing additional exposure. SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TITLE SPONSOR — $250 Receive prominent TITLE SPONSOR recognition throughout BOTH live parade broadcasts, placing your business front and center during these popular community events. GENERAL SPONSOR — $100 Receive sponsor mentions throughout BOTH live broadcasts, showcasing your business to thousands of holiday viewers. BONUS EXPOSURE — LIVE BUSINESS VISITS! Before each parade broadcast, our I Love MC team will visit sponsoring businesses that are open and located along or near the parade routes, giving viewers an opportunity to see your business, learn more about what you offer and encourage them to shop local this holiday season! Celebrate Christmas. Support Community. Promote Your Business! Join I Love MC in bringing the magic of McNairy County's Christmas parades to viewers near and far while putting your business in front of a large, engaged audience. Contact I Love MC today to secure your sponsorship!
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What’s inside
Adamsville’s Plein Art Fest a perfect fall event Halloween Street Party attracts thousands! MC Officials decorate for fall Byron Conaway’s Museum Brings Aviation History to Life McNairy County Quilt & Craft Trail attracts crowd
A PICTURE-PERFECT FALL DAY: ADAMSVILLE’S NINTH ANNUAL ART FESTIVAL PAINTS THE TOWN
Sunshine, warming temperatures and the charm of downtown Adamsville provided a picture-perfect backdrop Saturday as artists gathered to capture the town on canvas during the ninth annual “Paint the Town” Plein Air Art Festival and Competition. Organized by Renaissance on Main and the Downtown Events Alliance, the free event brought 20 artists to Adamsville on October 17. From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., artists stationed themselves throughout downtown, turning familiar buildings and streetscapes into original works of art while visitors enjoyed a beautiful fall day. Continue reading..............
Plein air painting, the practice of painting outdoors, gave participants an opportunity to work directly from the scenes around them. A Youth Paint Out also offered younger artists a chance to join the creativity. “The sun came out and it warmed up and made for a beautiful day,” said organizer Jennifer Leckner. “We had twenty artists come, sold several pieces, and the artists went home with lots of prize money.” For participating artist Lisa Peterson, the day brought both recognition and a meaningful connection to Adamsville’s past. Peterson tied for People’s Choice, earned the Best Business award and sold her painting to a local historian. “The event was great. I saw lots of friends,” Peterson said. “It was a perfect day.” Her painting, titled “Digital Nostalgia,” featured the old Vaughn building, once home to a local department store and now housing Cyber Tech, a computer business operated by later generations of the Vaughn family. Peterson said the neighboring blue building, also featured in her painting, was the former Adamsville Bank. She recalled its history, including a 1968 robbery during Sheriff Buford Pusser’s term and the robbers’ abandonment of a stolen car in the Adamsville Cemetery before their capture. That appreciation for local history adds another layer to Peterson’s artwork. “I have a great love of history inspired by Lisa’s dad, the late Mr. Don Todd, who taught and coached for many years at Adamsville High School,” Peterson said, referring to organizer Lisa Engle. She also praised Engle’s work with Renaissance on Main. The competition recognized artists across several categories. Daylen Gardner earned first place, followed by Paige Erwin Joyner in second and Rhonda Grammer in third. Lisa Peterson and Rhonda Orear Grammer tied for People’s Choice. Peterson also received Best Business, while Nancy Sharp Erwin earned Mayor’s Choice. Sarah Killingsworth was recognized as Emerging Artist, and Joshua Blankenship received the Purchase Prize. Beyond the awards and sales, organizers hope the festival’s artwork will continue enriching the community long after the easels have been packed away. “We purchased a piece for our collection and are trying to think of ways and places to showcase them in the community,” Leckner said. With artists finding inspiration in familiar landmarks and neighbors gathering beneath a sunny autumn sky, the festival offered a colorful reminder of the beauty and history close to home. “It was a wonderful day celebrating art, artists, and our town,” Engle said.
-Trick or TreatHALLOWEEN STREET PARTY ATTRACTS THOUSANDS!
Rain forced a change of location, but it couldn’t stop the fun as Selmer’s 15th Annual Halloween Street Party attracted more than 3,000 children and their families during Francois Mercer the towns annual Halloween celebration. Thanks to the collaborative effort of the McNairy County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, Town of Selmer, local police and fire departments, churches, civic groups and numerous businesses, the event was wildly successful for all involved.
de d ec co s s l l or a a ra i i at c c te i i e f f f f f fo or O O r f fa C C al ll l M M
McNairy County officials are feeling Fall. There are multiple fall displays on the McNairy County Courthouse lawn, as well the McNairy County Clerk and Director of Schools offices and Selmer a city Hall. Officials wished to thank Food Giant, Stockdales, Hwy 57 Nursery, Selmer Flower Shop and Hunt Farms for donating and making the displays possible.
A PASSION WORTH SHARING
BYRON CONAWAY’S MUSEUM BRINGS AVIATION HISTORY TO LIFE
At Robert Sibley Airport in Selmer, Tennessee, Byron Conaway has filled multiple hangars with a lifetime of curiosity, history and a love of flight. Antique airplanes, automobiles and an assortment of unusual collectibles make his Sibley Air & Transportation Museum one of McNairy County and Southwest Tennessee’s best-kept secrets. But with hundreds of recent visitors arriving from riverboats docking in nearby Savannah, that secret is getting out. Continue reading..............................................
For Conaway, an accomplished pilot and 2025 Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame inductee, the museum offers a way to share the things he loves while introducing others to the possibilities of aviation. His collection continues to grow—and so does the challenge of finding somewhere to put it. “I don’t know what I’m going to run out of first, money or space,” Conaway joked. The museum’s reach has grown in recent weeks through visits by riverboat passengers seeking another way to experience the region. Conaway keeps a visitor log and said the museum welcomed well over 600 guests during a six-week period. “Riverboat organizers contacted me and wanted to offer their customers an alternative to Shiloh, maybe they could visit one or the other, or both,” Conaway said. “It’s been great. We have had well over 600 attend the museum over the last six weeks.” Those visits followed another successful gathering at the airport. Conaway’s Airport Adventure Day, held in September, attracted hundreds of visitors and aviation enthusiasts, bringing people together to explore the airport and learn more about flight. The growing interest reflects what Conaway has spent decades building: a collection with appeal that reaches beyond pilots and airplane enthusiasts. With civilian and military aircraft, antique vehicles and memorabilia spread throughout multiple hangars, the museum offers visitors a broad look at transportation and the stories preserved through it. Continue reading.........
Conaway’s own story began in Morris Chapel, where he was raised after being born in 1961. He later moved to Bolivar and was introduced to aviation by Billy Whitehurst, owner of Bolivar Aviation. In the early 1980s, Conaway purchased his first aircraft and earned his private pilot’s license soon afterward. By age 22, he was managing Savannah Hardin County Airport, a position he held through 1987. During that period, he also managed a crop-dusting operation. In the early 1990s, he worked with famed aerobatic pilots Duane and Marion Cole. As his experience in aviation grew, so did his interest in collecting aircraft and preserving aviation history. Continue reading...............
Big Hill Pond State Park
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McNairy County Quilt & Craft Trail Draws Hundreds for Celebration of Art, Heritage and Community
The McNairy County Quilt & Craft Trail was a resounding success, attracting several hundred people who traveled throughout the county to experience a day filled with quilts, art, craftsmanship, history and community. Held Saturday, October 3, the trail took visitors to locations in Selmer, Bethel Springs and Adamsville, where they viewed historic and contemporary quilts, watched quilting demonstrations, shopped for handmade items and discovered the stories behind one of McNairy County’s most enduring traditions. The McNairy County Quilt Show was among the highlights of the day and enjoyed a successful turnout. An especially meaningful moment came with the opportunity to visit with quilt show founder Dorris Reece, whose vision helped establish a tradition that continues to bring people together. Meeting Reece added a personal connection to the history behind the event and to the generations of quilters whose work it celebrates. Another standout was Joanna Pitts’ art exhibition at the Latta, which offered visitors a creative interpretation of the quilting tradition. Pitts incorporated quilt patterns and actual fabric scraps into her paintings, producing an imaginative collection that connected traditional quilting with contemporary visual art. Her work demonstrated how the colors, patterns and materials associated with quilting can inspire entirely new forms of artistic expression. Continue reading................
Throughout the trail, participating locations offered their own experiences. First Christian Church displayed quilts, including its historic 1938 church quilt, while Needles-n-Pins featured quilts, quilted items and demonstrations. A Lil’ Stitchin Post and Nellie Bea’s Gifts also welcomed visitors, and the Selmer Farmers Market featured craft and produce vendors. One of the most touching moments of the day was a special video presentation honoring the late Linda Smith. The presentation, Underground Railroad and Flour Sack Clothing, had been presented by Smith during the 2025 Quilt & Craft Trail and was shown again this year in her memory. The presentation was well attended, with a large group gathering at noon to hear Smith once again share her knowledge and passion. More than simply replaying a program from the previous year, the gathering became a fitting tribute to a woman who had contributed to the event and the community. It was an opportunity to remember Linda, honor her life and allow her voice and knowledge to continue touching others. From meeting one of the founders of the quilt show to experiencing new artistic interpretations of quilting and remembering someone who helped tell its stories, this year’s trail connected past, present and future. The hundreds of people who participated also demonstrated that quilting remains much more than fabric stitched together. In McNairy County, quilts carry the stories of families, churches, workplaces and communities — and the Quilt & Craft Trail provided another opportunity to ensure those stories continue to be shared for generations to come.
The City of Adamsville is preparing for a festive season. Christmas in the Ville will expand to three days, December 3–5, beginning Thursday with the downtown Christmas parade and business open houses throughout town. The annual tree lighting will take place at The Square at the conclusion of the parade, moving from its previous location at the park. Shoppers can join the holiday fun Thursday afternoon and evening by picking up a punch card at The Square. The card will list participating businesses, and visitors who have their cards punched at every listed business will be entered into a drawing for a gift basket. Businesses interested in participating should contact Holly at City Hall at 731-632-1401, extension 1016. Additional festivities are planned for Friday, followed by Christmas in the Ville at the park on Saturday. Ice skating will be available at the park all three days, including special hours for younger children. More Christmas activities and details will be announced soon. Businesses, organizations and individuals interested in sponsoring Christmas in the Ville can call City Hall at 731-6321401, with sponsorship levels and additional information coming soon. From trick-or-treating to shopping local and celebrating under the Christmas lights, Adamsville is inviting the community to enjoy a season of hometown fun.
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