Christmas & Holiday Help
Give A Little Christmas
Gifts for children newborn to 18 across Middle Tennessee, with a focus on Mt. Juliet, Hermitage and Lebanon. Applications open Nov. 1; sponsors can adopt a child's Christmas list.
Mt. Juliet
Watch on YouTube
Life Between The Lakes on YouTube
Video interviews with the people and businesses behind our stories, all on our YouTube channel. Visit the channel.
LBL Jingle & PlaylistListen on Spotify
Now on your phone
Take Life Between The Lakes With You
Local stories and businesses between the lakes, right on your phone. No app store needed.
Open the AppiPhoneOpen the app in Safari, tap the Share button, then “Add to Home Screen.”
AndroidOpen the app in Chrome, tap the ⋮ menu, then “Add to Home screen.”
Scan to open
lifebetweenthelakes.eguide.to
Read the magazine
Every issue, online
Between the lakes
Two lakes, one community
Old Hickory Lake sits to the north on the Cumberland River. Percy Priest Lake sits to the south on the Stones River. In between are Mt. Juliet, Hermitage, Lebanon and the rest of Wilson County, and that's where every story in this magazine comes from.
Latest stories
All stories →Read online
The print issues, page by page
Every issue in full. Tap a cover to open the flip-through edition.
New · Monthly digital edition
A fresh issue every month
Read it online, download the PDF, or order a printed copy delivered to your door through our print-on-demand partner.
Download PDF · coming soon
Print editions
Order a printed copy
Printed and mailed to your door by MagCloud. Every copy supports Give A Little Christmas.
Advertise
Reserve your ad space
Choose a size, add design if you need it, and pay online. Ads cover printing, and everything left over goes to Give A Little Christmas.
Media kit 2026
Flip through our rates, sizes and ad requirements
Print magazine
5.5 × 8.5inch trim, digest size that stays on coffee tables all season
Annual + monthlya Christmas print edition, plus a monthly digital edition readers can download or order in print
Localdelivered across Mt. Juliet and Wilson County
Website banners
Monthlybanners run month to month, so you can start or stop anytime
Every deviceeach banner gets a phone-size version at no extra cost
Clickablereaders tap straight through to your website
Demographics
Who lives between the lakes
Our readers live in one of the fastest-growing areas in Tennessee, with household incomes well above the state average. These figures describe the community we cover.
| Residents in our coverage area | 220,000+ | Wilson County 175,033 (2025) plus Hermitage 37076 (about 39,000) and Old Hickory 37138 (about 22,600). Both ZIPs reach slightly into Wilson County, so we round down. |
|---|---|---|
| Wilson County growth | +18.5% since 2020 | +53.5% since 2010; 3rd in Tennessee for new residents in 2025 |
| Median household income | $95,839 | Wilson County; $107,068 in Mt. Juliet; Tennessee $69,595 |
| Homeowners | 77% | Wilson County; Tennessee 66.9% |
| Median home value | $428,000 | Wilson County; recent Mt. Juliet sales about $573,000 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.8% | Wilson County adults; 49.5% in Mt. Juliet |
| Residents under 18 | 23% | Wilson County; 26% in Mt. Juliet |
| Unemployment | 2.9% | Wilson County, July 2026; 5th-lowest of 95 Tennessee counties |
| Retail sales | $3.73 billion | Wilson County, 2025 |
| Visitor spending | $370 million+ | Wilson County, 2024 |
| Old Hickory Lake visits | 6.4 million+ | Per year (FY2023), 3rd among all Army Corps lakes |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau 2025 population estimates and American Community Survey 2020–2024; TN Dept. of Labor (July 2026); TN Dept. of Revenue (2025); TN Dept. of Tourist Development (2024); U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (FY2023); Redfin (2026). Hermitage and Old Hickory figures are by ZIP code.
From past issues
Stories by section
Every story from Life Between The Lakes since 2019, sorted into sections.
From the community
Written by your neighbors
Stories and photos sent in by readers across Wilson County, reviewed by our editors.
Approved reader stories will appear here. Be the first: submit yours below.
Submit a story
Share what's happening between the lakes
Sign in, pick a section, and send us your article and photos. An editor reviews every submission before it goes live.
Sign in to submit
Submissions are open to signed-in community contributors. Once you're signed in, the submission form appears here.
How it works
- Write it up. Local news, a business you love, an event recap, a recipe, a photo from the lake.
- Send it in. Pick the section it fits best and add your photos.
- We review it. An editor reads every piece. Approved stories go live on the site and may run in print.
Your submissions
Editors only
Review queue
Give back between the lakes
Local charities
Whether your family needs a hand or you're looking for a place to give, these organizations help our neighbors in Mt. Juliet, Lebanon and across Wilson County every day. Hours and programs change, so call ahead.
Christmas & Holiday Help
Big Brothers of Mt. Juliet
All-volunteer charity serving West Wilson County with toys and food boxes at Christmas and help with utilities, rent, food and medicine year-round.
Mt. Juliet
Christmas & Holiday Help
Wilson County Christmas for All
Christmas toys for children in need in Lebanon, Watertown and the eastern half of the county.
Lebanon
Christmas & Holiday Help
Lebanon Fire Department Spirit of Christmas Toy Drive
Lebanon firefighters buy toys for children across the county; proceeds support Christmas for All.
Lebanon
Food, Emergency & Crisis Help
United Way 2-1-1
Dial 2-1-1 any hour, any day to be connected with food, housing, utility and other help. Free and confidential. Run locally by United Way of Wilson County and the Upper Cumberland.
Wilson County
Food, Emergency & Crisis Help
Wilson County Community Help Center
Food, clothing, household basics and help with utility and prescription bills, plus a thrift store.
203 West High St., Lebanon
Food, Emergency & Crisis Help
Mt. Juliet Help Center
Confidential emergency assistance and a food pantry for families in Mt. Juliet and West Wilson County, working with local churches and schools.
3425B N. Mt. Juliet Rd., Mt. Juliet
Food, Emergency & Crisis Help
All For Him Ministries
Founded by Heather Young, this Wilson County ministry feeds and clothes hundreds of people experiencing homelessness every week and helps them find their “next”: recovery treatment, IDs, bus passes, work uniforms, glasses and medicine. Volunteers welcome.
Wilson County · Sunday outreach in Nashville
Food, Emergency & Crisis Help
Jesus Provisions Ministries
“A hand up, not a handout.” Food pantry, clothing closet, Christian counseling, a Monday Bible study with dinner, and a Sunday church service and meal for people experiencing homelessness.
Mt. Juliet
Food, Emergency & Crisis Help
Joseph's Storehouse Food Ministry
Monthly drive-thru giveaway of food, toiletries and household items, plus one-time emergency food help.
Lebanon
Safety & Support
HomeSafe
Safety and support for people affected by domestic and sexual abuse, with help to heal and live independently. 24-hour helpline: 615-452-4315.
107 S. Greenwood St., Suite D, Lebanon
Shelter & Housing
Compassionate Hands
Day shelter, winter overnight shelter and help finding housing for people experiencing homelessness.
214 N. College St., Lebanon
Shelter & Housing
Brooks House
Faith-based emergency and transitional housing for women and children getting back on their feet.
Lebanon
Shelter & Housing
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville
Builds affordable homes with partner families. Its Wilson County ReStore in Lebanon sells donated furniture and building materials.
Lebanon ReStore
Children & Families
Wilson County CASA
Trained volunteers who speak up in court for abused and neglected children. New volunteers are always welcome.
111 Castle Heights Ave., Lebanon
Children & Families
The Bridge House
Housing, mentoring and life skills for young adults aging out of foster care.
Lebanon
Children & Families
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee
Matches kids with caring adult mentors for one-to-one friendships that help them grow. Volunteers wanted.
Serves Middle Tennessee
Children & Families
Pregnancy Care Center
Free, confidential, faith-based support, education and counseling for women facing a pregnancy decision.
401 W. Main St., Suite 104, Lebanon
Disabilities & Special Needs
Empower Me Center
Summer day camp, an adult day program and year-round respite and enrichment activities for people with special needs.
Lebanon
Disabilities & Special Needs
Easterseals Camp Tennessee
Overnight and day camp on the lake for children and adults with disabilities.
6300 Benders Ferry Rd., Mt. Juliet
Disabilities & Special Needs
Prospect, Inc.
Support services and jobs for people with disabilities and other barriers to independence.
960 Maddox Simpson Pkwy., Lebanon
Health
Charis Health Center
Medical care for uninsured people who cannot afford it.
2620 N. Mt. Juliet Rd., Mt. Juliet
Health
Sherry's Run / Sherry's Hope
Help with groceries, gas, utilities, housing and medical bills for local families facing cancer.
Lebanon
Seniors & Veterans
Cedar Seniors of Lebanon
A weekday gathering place for adults 55 and older, with meals, activities and fellowship.
Lebanon
Seniors & Veterans
Wilson County Veterans Service Office
Free help for veterans filing for VA benefits.
304 E. Main St., Lebanon
Seniors & Veterans
Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1004
Local veterans supporting veterans in VA hospitals and homes, local veterans and their families.
Lebanon
Animals
New Leash on Life
Animal shelter and adoption center with a low-cost spay and neuter clinic and a pet food pantry.
507 Jim Draper Blvd., Lebanon
Need more help? Dial 2-1-1 any time, or browse WilsonHelps.org, a volunteer-run guide to more than 150 Wilson County nonprofits, food sites and services. Run a local charity that should be listed? Tell us.
Dining between the lakes
Restaurant reviews from your neighbors
Honest takes on where to eat in Mt. Juliet, Lebanon, Hermitage and around the lakes, from lakeside patios to the best biscuits in Wilson County.
Restaurant reviews
Where to eat
The lakes
Life between Old Hickory and Percy Priest
Two lakes frame our corner of Middle Tennessee. Most of us live within a short drive of both, and a lot of local life happens on the water or near it.
Lake photo gallery
Scenes from the water
Sunrises, sunsets, first fish, the dock at dusk. Send us your shots from Old Hickory and Percy Priest.
Share a lake story or photoNorth of Mt. Juliet
Old Hickory Lake
A reservoir on the Cumberland River formed by Old Hickory Dam. It runs along the northern edge of Mt. Juliet and Hermitage, with marinas, coves and lakeside neighborhoods.
- RiverCumberland
- Managed byU.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- NearbyOld Hickory, Hendersonville, Mt. Juliet
South of Mt. Juliet
Percy Priest Lake
J. Percy Priest Lake sits on the Stones River southwest of Mt. Juliet. Its shoreline parks, trails and boat ramps reach into Wilson, Davidson and Rutherford counties.
- RiverStones
- Managed byU.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- NearbyHermitage, La Vergne, Mt. Juliet
Community calendar
What's happening between the lakes
Festivals, fundraisers, concerts, church suppers, 5Ks. If it's happening near the lakes, add it.
Add your eventSign in to add an event
Signed-in community members can send events. An editor reviews each one before it goes on the calendar.
Your events
Events you send will show here with their review status.
Editors only
Events waiting for review
Business between the lakes
Tips, connections and the people building local business
Practical advice from local owners and pros, plus every networking group and chamber event in one calendar.
Chamber Networks
Educational videos for local business owners from Chamber Networks.
Chamber Networks
Educational videos for local business
Short lessons on marketing, networking and growing a business in Wilson County.
Business tips
Advice from local pros
Marketing, money, real estate and leadership, written by people who do business here.
Share a business tipNetworking calendar
Where business people meet
Chamber events, ribbon cuttings, referral groups and service clubs across Wilson County and Hermitage.
Add your group's meetingAbout the magazine
Our story since 2019
Life Between The Lakes started in Mt. Juliet in 2019 to tell the stories of the people, businesses and causes between Old Hickory and Percy Priest.
Today the magazine is online first, with one large print edition each holiday season. Ads in that edition cover printing, and everything left over goes to Give A Little Christmas, which helps Wilson County families every December.
Have a story, a photo or an event we should know about? Send it in and our editors will take a look.
Krys MidgettEditor-in-Chief
Charity JamesManaging Editor
Livi West HedgesAssistant Editor
The people behind the pages
LBL Staff
Editor-in-Chief
- Krys Midgett
Managing Editor
- Charity James
Assistant Editor
- Livi West Hedges
Office Manager
- Lynzee Carpenter
Photographers
- Thomas Midgett
- Nancy Marquez
- Scott & Dagmar Robertson
Contributors · Holiday 2026
Contributors change with each issue. Want to write or shoot for us? Get in touch.
- Gina Blair
- George Hedges
- Gayle Hellemn
- Sandy Herbert
- Mark Hinesley
- Brylee Jaquish
- Devin Mathis
- Liz Nelson
- Karen Norwood
- Sara Perry
- Dagmar Robertson
- Scott Robertson
- Kinsley Schwartz
- Eva Stabenow
- Misty Trego
- Jill Winter
- Hollis Wren
Photo Editor
- Randi Radcliff
Cover Design
- Nate Kammerer
Graphics
- Everett Schwartz
Follow along
Fresh from our feeds
Latest on Facebook
Reels on Instagram