It will be the most-Germantown-ever type of introduction to the holidays: Melanie Smith Lane lit with lights and embellished with nutcrackers and horses.

This year for the first time, the City of Germantown and the Germantown Economic Development Commission will host “Nutcracker Lane,” to help introduce and celebrate the holiday season, 2008. The experience promises to be a visual treat for the entire family.

On Friday, Nov. 28 and Saturday, Nov. 29, take your family and drive down Poplar Pike to Melanie Smith Lane, the entrance to the Germantown Charity Horse Show Arena. Enter the lane, and you will immediately be surrounded by a battalion of larger than life nutcrackers and the painted thoroughbred horses of Germantown. The gaily-attired city nutcrackers stand in silent salute along with their brothers in arms manufactured by the students of Germantown and Houston high schools.

“Standing in patrols of three, these stately sentinels greet you and silently pass on their happy holiday greetings to one and all,” said Jerry Klein of the Germantown Economic Development Commission. “Dressed in all their finery, they are a delight to the eye.”

Also greeting you will be a number of the painted horses recently auctioned off by the Germantown Charity Horse Show. If you feared you might not see some of them again after their purchase, they will be there in all their glorious colors.

Klein said the Economic Development Commission would like to thank the painted horses' owners for lending them the following horses for the event.

Awakening, by artist Gary Parisi. and Bloomer, by artist Sandee Sander, both of them purchased by John Wagner with the sale proceeds going to Germantown United Methodist Church, will be there.

So will Candy Coated Companion, painted by Leah Freeman and purchased by Trustmark Bank to benefit Salvation Army Angel Tree.

You will see Champ, painted by Sheryl Hibbs and Sandee Sander and purchased by Grady W. Jones to benefit Subsidium and Germantown Charity Horse Show, and Flower Power, painted by Betsy Byrd and bought by John Walker to benefit the Palmer Home for Children.

Going on a Phlox Hunt, painted by Caroline Winters and purchased by Trip and Kisha Trezevant to benefit LeBonheur Club, will be there as will Mystic Pastures, painted by Miranda Griffin and bought by Richard and Susan Glassman to benefit the Child Advocacy Center.

Also standing watch over the festive landscape will be Race for the Cure, painted by Lori Cook and purchased by Dr. Clyde Michael Jones to benefit the American Cancer Society and Hope Lodge.

Reflecting Change, painted by Deborah Carpenter and bought by Pat and Catherine Muscari to benefit the Children's Foundation of Memphis will also be there, as will Reflections, painted by Lauren B. Spiotta and purchased by Trip and Kisha Trezevant to benefit Les Passes Inc.

Rocking Horse, painted by Wayne Graves and bought by Grady W. Jones to benefit Memphis Oral School for the Deaf will be back. So will The Gift Horse, painted by Sheryl Hibbs and purchased by Richard and Susan Glassman to benefit Memphis Oral School for the Deaf.

The Horse of Blues, painted by Ellen Isaacman and bought by Cox F. O. James to benefit Multiple Sclerosis will be there. True Blue, painted by Ann M. Moore and bought by Germantown Charity Horse Show to benefit the Germantown Charity Horse Show, completes the illustrious stable of thoroughbreds.

On Saturday, a special guest, Santa Claus, will be visiting with and handing out candy canes to all the children. That starts at 6:30 p.m. and continues until closing. Drive through at your leisure. There is no charge and everyone is welcome. Nutcracker Lane will be open rain or shine.

The City of Germantown and The Germantown Economic Development Commission are grateful to Goodwinds for supplying all the landscaping for the event and to Think Signs for providing assistance with signage for it.

Nutcracker Lane awaits area residents

It will be the most-Germantown-ever type of introduction to the holidays: Melanie Smith Lane lit with lights and embellished with nutcrackers and horses.

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