Hot Fun In The Summertime
ENTERTAINMENT
TGL FARMS AND THE SONG
HOT TOWNSUMMER IN THE CITY!
GIVING HOPE THROUGH MUSIC
![]()
ENTERTAINMENT
TGL FARMS AND THE SONG
HOT TOWNSUMMER IN THE CITY!
GIVING HOPE THROUGH MUSIC
“County fair in the country sun, and everything is cool. Ooh, yeah, yeah! Hot fun in the summertime…”
- Sylvester Stewart aka Sly StoneThis line from the Sly and the Family Stone classic song captures the sentiments of summer perfectly. It is always one of the best times of the year… filled with hot days, laid back lifestyles and everybody trying to get their vacation grooves on.
At Hendersonville Lifestyle, we love everything this season, and this month we are dedicating our July issue to helping you and your family get the most out of summer 2023. Are you ready to get going?
Alright, pack up the family, because our summer tour bus is ready to depart for points around the City by the Lake.
Our first stop takes us out to the southwest countryside of Hendersonville to TGL Farms, where we explore the beautiful scenery and learn about The SONG, a television program produced in studios on the property.
Next, we explore some of our city’s most popular outdoor summer events, ranging from celebrating the 4th of July to taking a hot air balloon ride.
Continuing, we visit with a local singer/songwriter who is on a mission to spread love and hope through music and instruments.
Finally, we explore a unique staycation opportunity in which guests can cruise Old Hickory Lake in tropical style.
So, enough talk.
It’s time to get outdoors and take advantage of all the good things that summer 2023 has in store for us.
We hope to see you around the 37075 soon.
July 2023
PUBLISHER
Lynn Bowles | lynn.bowles@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Rick Murray | rick.murray@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Rick Murray
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Rick Murray, Lynn Bowles, TGL Farms, Steven Cade
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer
ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson
WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell
AD DESIGNER Rachel Collins
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsey Ragain
LYNN BOWLES, PUBLISHER @HENDERSONVILLELIFESTYLE
Whether you’re visiting one of our growing number of locations, or using our First Anywhere app from your home, work or even on vacation, when it comes to banking anywhere, we put you first.
100 Cinema Drive · 615.808.5000
Tag your
~ The Carriage House at TGL Farms
We are located in the beautiful hills of Hendersonville, Tennessee. From the moment you enter through the gates at TGL Farms, we want your stay here with us to be unforgettable and one-of-a kind. We offer a full service concierge to accommodate and help you plan your idea of a perfect luxury, farm getaway!
A FOGGY WINDOWS? FIX THE GLASS, NOT THE ENTIRE WINDOW! OTHER SERVICES INCLUDE: THEGLASSGURU.COM 40 Industrial Park Dr. Ste E, Hendersonville, TN 37075
business monthly
local businesses.
MedSpa
Salt Fest 2023 was held at Salt MedSpa in Hendersonville on May 13. The event was cosponsored by Music City Health and Target Mix Marketing. There were over 20 vendors on hand offering a variety of goods and services, including health and beauty aids, clothing, crafts and jewelry. The Meat Sweats provided food while Bruster’s served ice cream. A portion of the proceeds benefited Grace Place Ministries.
Photography Salt MedSpa
of exciting news from BEFORE AFTER 615-640-3887 CALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE! 14
Team
creation of its new Clean Team at a ribbon cutting ceremony held at City Hall on May 19. Members of the team, city officials and the Beautiful Hendersonville Council attended the festivities.
The three member team will be responsible for picking up litter, trimming weeds and cleaning up other eyesores along city streets and lots.
Scan to read more.
TriStar Hendersonville Medical Center conducted a free hands-on Stop The Bleed training session on May 22.
Attendees learned techniques to quickly control severe bleeding with pressure, packing, or a tourniquet until help arrives.
Stop the Bleed is a nationwide program designed to empower civilian bystanders to act quickly and save lives.
Scan to read more.
Photography Rick Murray Photography Rick Murray
Nestled in the rolling countryside of Sumner County, lies one of Hendersonville’s most scenic properties – TGL Farms. At first glance, the site appears to be a typical working horse farm, with a home, a pond and acres of pastureland.
However, looks can be deceiving, as TGL Farms is anything but typical.
In reality, TGL is home of one of the area’s most vibrant entertainment centers, offering world-class experiences for both overnight guests and day visitors. The complex is owned by singer/songwriter and television host Krista Marie Oswald and her husband Marc, concert promoter and owner of the Oswald Entertainment group.
The Oswalds purchased the property in 2017 after searching for suitable facilities to house their prized Friesian horses. At first, they thought that the farm was more than they wanted. However, after visiting the site, they realized that it was a perfect place to create their forever home.
“As soon as we saw it, we thought that it was a magical place,” says Krista. “We were so excited about the prospect of living in Hendersonville – after all, it is the home of such iconic and legendary artists as Johnny and June Carter Cash, Roy Orbison, Conway Twitty and Ricky Skaggs.”
After closing, the Oswalds embarked upon an extensive makeover process that, at times, seemed overwhelming. However, as the renovation progressed, they became even more enamored with the property, renaming it “The Good Life” or TGL Farms.
Today, the 15.3-acre site is a hive of activity. Along with the farm, TGL is also a popular staycation destination that offers an array of world-class amenities for overnight guests, including the Carriage House suite, a beautifully landscaped pool and spa, a gym and access to the TGL Stables Bar.
“Our guests can take advantage of a wide array of personalized services, including poolside massages, facials,
LEFT: The serene setting of "The Good Life" - TGL Farms.
MIDDLE: TGL Farms is located on 15 scenic acres in Hendersonville.
ROW 1
LEFT: The beautifully-landscaped pool area is an inviting place for guests.
RIGHT: The Song Garden is an outside studio used for taping portions of The SONG television program.
ROW 2
LEFT: Nightime at TGL Farms is an enchanting experience.
RIGHT: Krista Marie poses with members of Collective Soul during a television taping.
ROW 3
LEFT: A behind-the-scenes view of the TGL Stables studio.
RIGHT: One of the beautiful Friesian horses roams the pasture of TGL Farms.
ROW 4
LEFT: The morning mist over the pool is illuminated at sunrise.
Marie Oswaldequestrian activities, Friesian horse photoshoots, sunset carriage rides, a songwriting experience and VIP tours of downtown Nashville,” says Krista. “We want everyone staying with us to feel right at home and to have a relaxing, unforgettable stay.”
Along with adult fare, TGL also offers several fun and educational activities for children.
“I grew up on a small family farm, and some of my fondest memories from childhood were made by participating in our local Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4-H clubs,” says Krista. “At TGL, Marc and I feel that it is important that today’s children get to enjoy similar positive experiences. Every month, we offer a free Farm Day for kids and their parents to learn about farm life and what it takes to care for animals, gardens and more.”
TGL regularly opens up its farm facilities to local students to help them learn about a variety of subjects, including beekeeping, equine care and land use. The farm also offers opportunities for high school FFA members to serve as onsite interns.
In addition to taking care of overnight guests and Farm Day visitors, TGL has become a popular site for corporate meetings and retreats, as well as special family activities.
“We host many company getaways, as well as weddings, baby showers, engagement celebrations, birthdays and anniversaries,” says Krista. “We can accommodate gatherings at TGL Stables, our private pool oasis and outdoor tented events in our sand arena.”
One of the best kept secrets about TGL Farms is that it is the home of the nationally syndicated television show THE SONG. Hosted by Krista and airing locally on WSMV Channel 4, the show has featured many well-known entertainers, including REO Speedwagon, Collective Soul, Melissa Etheridge, Gretchen Wilson and Big & Rich.
“We tape the live performances for the show in TGL Stables, and we record the artist interviews all across the property,” says Krista. “We will begin taping season five of THE SONG this fall.”
This summer, anyone looking for a unique getaway needs to look no further than TGL Farms. Marc and Krista will leave the porch light on for you.
2455 Long Hollow Pike, Hendersonville, TN 37075
TGLFarms.com
"Being on a farm teaches you a lot about what really matters in life… it keeps you grounded in reality."
Krista
For cancer care, close to home. Our personalized approach includes screenings and preventive care, diagnosis and treatment, and guidance and access to resources throughout your cancer journey. Rest assured, the individualized care you need is right here. From the routine to the unforeseen, count on us.
To find a healthcare provider, call 615.328.6180
To learn more, visit MySumnerMedical.com/Cancer
Masking and other infection prevention protocols are followed for specific patient encounters, as appropriate.
These things can have only one meaning – it’s summertime in Hendersonville.
Fortunately, there are plenty of fun activities happening all summer long across the city to keep boredom at bay. From outdoor concerts to fireworks to hot air balloons, Hendersonville locals are sure to find plenty of fun things to do to make this summer the best ever for you and your family.
This month, your Hendersonville Lifestyle team takes a look at three of the major events that will be happening across the city that need to be on everyone’s “must do” list.
FREEDOM FESTIVAL – JULY 3, 2023 – 5:00 P.M.
UNTIL 10:00 P.M.
Drakes Creek Park
The Hendersonville Freedom Festival is held annually on July 3 at Drakes Creek Park. Attracting thousands of visitors each year, the event is one of the largest and most popular activities held in the city thanks to the generosity of the Hendersonville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Hendersonville Parks & Recreation Department and multiple sponsors.
Each year, the Freedom Festival features a family-friendly environment that offers an evening filled with music, food and fun, topped off by one of the midstate’s best fireworks shows.
Visitors are treated to a variety of musical performances from area entertainers who set the tempo from the festival’s main stage. In addition, the celebration also includes “Hendersonville’s Got Talent”, a competition in which local performers vie for a cash prize and an opportunity to further their performing careers.
All proceeds from the event go to the Hendersonville Chamber Foundation, which uses the revenue to fund grants for area teachers.
Admission to Freedom Festival is free.
ROCK CASTLE SONGWRITERS NIGHT SERIES – JULY 15 AND AUGUST 12, 2023 – 5:00 P.M. UNTIL 9:00 P.M.
Rock Castle State Historic Site
There is a reason that Rock Castle State Historic Site has been voted the Best Outdoor Music Venue and Best Historic Site in Sumner County. No other location combines the beauty of a historic residence with some of the best music around.
The Rock Castle Songwriters Night series consists of monthly concerts featuring established and up-and-coming performers and songwriters. The musical genre is varied, including country, rock, folk, bluegrass and blues, and the slate of performers is always changing.
During each event, there are numerous food and drink vendors on hand to keep guests refreshed with their favorite foods, frozen treats and adult libations. There is also a large play area filled with multiple inflatables and games to keep younger visitors entertained.
Admission to each Songwriters Night concert is only $10 for adults, with children under 16 admitted free.
Thousands of people attend every Songwriters Night event.
SUMNERFEST – AUGUST 5, 2023 – 5:00 P.M.
UNTIL 9:00 P.M.
Sanders Ferry Park
The SumnerFest celebration is held each year at Sanders Ferry Park in Hendersonville. Hosted by the Hendersonville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Hendersonville Department of Parks and Recreation, Sumner Fest features an evening filled with music, food, drink and fun.
The highlight of the festival is the presence of multiple hot air balloons, with some of them offering tethered rides to festival goers. Other balloons remain on the ground to entertain the crowd with an after dark “glow” show. Other balloons may also be on hand, including free-flying craft and “retired” balloons available for touring.
In addition to the balloons, the festival also offers many other activities including food trucks, vendor booths and a large children’s play area. Live musical performances featuring your favorite artists will be performed throughout the afternoon and evening.
Admission to SumnerFest is free.
The colorful hot air balloons are the highlight of SumnerFest.
Every year, many folks travel long distances in order to embark on ocean cruises. Most of these trips are expensive, and they require months to plan.
TAKE A SCENIC CRUISE WITHOUT LEAVING HOME
However, for those who are less ambitious, there is a much more convenient and affordable alternative located here in Sumner County –Cruisin’ Tikis Nashville. Owned and operated by Justin and Andrea Wiater, Cruisin’ Tikis is a unique cruise operation that uses boats configured as floating tiki huts to take passengers on daytime voyages on scenic Old Hickory Lake.
“We got the idea for Cruisin’ Tikis several years ago during a family vacation down in the Florida Keys,” says Justin Wiater. “My wife Andrea spotted one of the boats from afar and pointed it out to me. We were amazed, we knew that we had to bring the tiki boat concept back home.”
The Wiaters began their cruise service in 2021, operating out of a dedicated dock located at the Gallatin Marina. They offer a variety of trip options, including morning, sunset and midday cruises. Cruise lengths vary from 1.5 to 3 hours, and pricing ranges from $70 per seat for individuals to $1,500 for parties up to 18 passengers. Each tiki boat can carry up to 6 passengers, but multiple boats can be used to accommodate larger parties.
The company also offers private charters for groups that can be customized for specific times and destinations. Regardless of the cruise choice, all boats are helmed by U. S. Coast Guard-certified captains.
The cruises do not include any food or drinks, but cruisers are encouraged to bring their favorite refreshments.
“All of our cruises are BYOB, but we allow our guests to bring their favorite alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and snacks on board,” says Wiater. “This approach simplifies our licensing, and it reduces the costs for our passengers as they imbibe during their trip.”
Cruisin’ Tikis offers cruises from April to October each year. Departure times begin at 9 a.m. and continue to 6:30 p.m., seven days a week. Reservations can be made from the company’s website or by contacting the operators by phone.
Cruisin’ Tikis Nashville 727 Marina Pvt. Drive, Gallatin, TN 37066 844.836.8454
CruisinTikisNashville.com
Welcome, summer! As a hyper-local publication, we thrive on helping our readers make connections with the cities they live in, the businesses that make up their communities and the inspiring individuals making a positive mark. Are you ready for your most adventurous, fun summer? Here are summer bucket list ideas for you to accomplish this year. We hope you’ll explore a new neighborhood, spend a lazy Saturday afternoon at a new winery or taste the flavors at a local ice cream shop. Let us know what you discover and enjoy! We’d love to hear.
Make the most of this Summer! Check off these activities on our Kids Summer Bucket List as you complete them throughout the summer. P.S. You might need an adult’s help with some of these!
Make Popsicles
Go Swimming
Play Sand Volleyball
Have a Family Movie Night
Stargaze
Go on a Picnic
Watch Fireworks
Build a Fort
Make Tie-Dye Shirts
Build a Sandcastle
Bake Cookies
Splash at a Waterpark
Have a Water Balloon Fight
Make Homemade Pizza
Pick Your Own Fruit
Explore a New Local Park
Go Fishing Camp in the Backyard
Sleep In
Play Board Games
Do a Random Act of Kindness
Write a Kind Note to a Friend
Ride a Rollercoaster
Visit a Carnival Go
Summer is finally here. Take advantage of the season with our Adult Summer Bucket List. Check off these activities as you complete them with your family and friends and congratulate yourself on a Summer well-spent!
Learn Something New
Take a Cooking Class
Visit a Local Winery
Go on a Bike Ride
Explore a New Area of your City
Try a New Restaurant
Try a Local Ice Cream Shop
Hike a New Trail
Explore a National Park
Read a New Book
Book a Self-Care Service at a MedSpa
Take a Roadtrip
Go Whitewater Rafting
Barbeque New Recipes
Visit the Local Farmers’ Market
Go Snorkeling
Go on a Bar Walk
Go Rock Climbing
Have a Bonfire
Go Zip Lining
Plan a Family Camping Trip
Go to a Film Festival
See an Outdoor Concert
Host an Adult Scavenger Hunt Volunteer
Compassion is one of the greatest of human traits. Born from love and tempered by experience, it arises when people feel the pain of others and want to help ease their suffering.
People react to compassion in many different ways.
For some, compassion is expressed through donating time and money to causes they deem special.
For others, it is a way of life, constantly driving them to do more and more to help out brothers and sisters in need. They live for opportunities to serve.
Steven Cade is one such individual.
By profession, Steven is a Nashville-based country music singer and songwriter. Since entering the music world, he has performed at venues across the country, both as a solo artist and in conjunction with such wellknown stars as Blake Shelton, Eric Church, Shania Twain and Darius Rucker.
Along the way, Steven has also accumulated a number of accolades, including receiving the Modern Country Artist of the Year award from the Grand Old Opry,
being inducted into the California Music Hall of Fame and being considered for nine Grammy nominations.
Given his success, one might think that Steven was born for success. However, his road has not always been an easy one, and he is no stranger to hard times.
“Several years ago, my family and I found ourselves homeless for a while, and it was both a frightening and introspective experience,” says Steven. “With the Grace of God and a lot of hard work and sacrifices, we were able to climb out of our despair and find our way to a better place. But despite things being better now, I will never forget the feelings of hopelessness and helplessness that I felt when we were displaced.”
After getting back on his feet, Steven resolved that he wanted to do something to help other families who are facing homeless situations. After exploring several options, he created Giving Guitars, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing hope and inspiration to others through the power of music.
“At Giving Guitars, we visit with homeless shelters to learn about their mission and challenges, and to help them address their needs,” says Steven. “While there, I meet with the residents, tell them about our organization, perform a few songs and then present them with a guitar and a training video. After we leave, the residents are able to share the guitar, bringing the joy of music to them when they need it the most.”
The inspiration for Giving Guitars came from the practice of music therapy, which is routinely used to treat the symptoms of such maladies as cancer and PTSD. The mission of the nonprofit was further influenced by
two key individuals – Steven’s wife Kellee and his friend, philanthropist and author, Brent Yates.
“After meeting Brent at one of my performances, I found out that we have similar interests in helping displaced individuals,” says Steven. “After Kelley came up with the idea of inspiring through instruments by donating to the less fortunate, Brent helped us raise the funds needed to establish Giving Guitars.”
Shelter selection and visitation is carefully coordinated with Steven’s music touring schedule.
“When I am touring for my live shows, I always ask the venues about the shelters in that city to see if I can make a
"I have always had a deep concern for homelessness in our country, and my family and I had a brief period in time where we were displaced. But by the grace of God, we are not there anymore. That experience gave me a very deep perspective on the challenges of being homeless, and I am committed to helping solve the problem."
—Steven Cadeconnection,” says Steven. “Many facilities are referred to us by word of mouth. However, shelters can also apply for a visit through our website. We will consider a visit to any site that is open to having a public figure come into the facility.”
While onsite, Steven and his team also create videos of the visit to help shelter officials and local media raise public awareness. Each video is carefully crafted to highlight shelter needs, while maintaining resident anonymity.
To date, the Giving Guitars team has visited 67 shelters across 15 states and donated over 100 guitars in the process. This summer, Steven and his team will be visiting shelters in several foreign countries as part of his
625
planned Europe Tour, with their first donation scheduled for a facility in Sweden.
Although Steven is the face of the organization, Giving Guitars is truly a family affair.
“My family is a very strong part of this mission, and they are typically with me on the shelter visits,” says Steven. “Giving Guitars offers them a deep perspective into some of the issues that other people are facing and the challenges that come with homelessness.”
Like most nonprofits, Giving Guitars is always in need of volunteers and donations to help further its mission. Companies and individuals who wish to support Giving Guitars can contact the organization through its website at InstrumentsForInspiration.org