Nothing beats a special night of glitz and glamour to help usher in the holiday season. It is even more meaningful when the fun and festivities help raise funds for local charities.
Since 2013, Hendersonville has had such an event, the annual Garlands and Glitter fashion show. Guests get to experience an evening of dinner, entertainment and fashion that welcomes in the holiday season with stylish, Southern glamour.
Garlands and Glitter is held each year at the Bluegrass Yacht & Country Club on the first Saturday of November. Now in its seventh year, the glitzy event features a fashion show, entertainment, dinner and a unique in-house shopping experience. All proceeds from Garland and Glitter are donated to a local charity each year.
“Garlands and Glitter is truly unique in Hendersonville,” says Lynda Evjen, president of the Newcomers and Community Club of Sumner County. “While we have had daytime fashion shows, this is our only nighttime event. It is truly an evening soiree.”
The event is produced by the Newcomers and Community Club of Sumner County in conjunction with HolidayFest. All modeled clothing is provided by Dillard’s of Rivergate Mall. Dillard’s also furnishes an on-site mini-store that guests can shop in throughout the evening.
“Since the first event, Garlands and Glitter has always offered a shopping experience to complement the fashion show,” Lynda says. “Guests at the event receive special discounts on merchandise that they can purchase in the store throughout the evening.”
Planning for the show begins early each year, with model selection occurring months before the actual event. Typically, the models are local celebrities and dignitaries who volunteer their time for the cause. After model selection, the wardrobe planning process begins, usually in late July.
“Once our models are selected, we send Dillard’s their photos and measurements so that their stylists can pick out flattering attire,” Lynda says. “The models then go to Dillard’s to try on the clothes to see what looks and feels good on them and to select what they like the best.”
Although the event is upscale, the fashions that are modeled are available to all shoppers at Dillard’s.
“We think of Garlands and Glitter as a fashion show for middle America,” Lynda says. “We make sure that the clothes worn by our models are accessible and affordable.”
Each year, Garlands and Glitter is hosted by a local celebrity. For the past four years, NewsChannel 5 meteorologist Lelan Statom has been the master of ceremonies, and he will serve in that role again in 2019.
Along with the fashion show, Garlands and Glitter also features local entertainers. This year, the event will showcase country music performer Cherish Lee, daughter of legendary singer Johnny Lee and actress Charlene Tilton.
Although the Garlands and Glitter planners usually choose a different charitable beneficiary each year, this year they are going to benefit the same organization as in 2018, the After Breast Cancer (ABC) program of the Sumner County Family YMCA.
“Last year, the community really embraced our decision to support the ABC program,” Lynda says. “Due to the positive feedback we received, we decided to make ABC our charitable recipient again in 2019.”
Along with being the beneficiary of Garlands and Glitter, the ABC program will also provide several of the models for the fashion show, as it did in 2018.
“Last year, the ABC ladies really enjoyed participating in the program,” Lynda says. “Our event offers them a great opportunity to get up and model and to feel good about themselves.”
This year’s event will be held on Saturday, Nov. 2, beginning at 6 p.m.
Tickets for the event are only $60 per person, and seven VIP tables along the fashion runway are available for $1,000 sponsorships.
For a fun evening and an uplifting start to the holiday season, be sure to check out Garlands and Glitter.