Country Cocktails for a Cause: New Leash On Life’s Night Out Returns
Every year, the people behind a Wilson County animal charity ask the community for one night out, and the answer is usually yes. On Saturday, Nov. 7, A Night Out with New Leash On Life returns to Lebanon with a theme that suits the neighborhood: Country Cocktail. If you live in Mt. Juliet, it is a short drive east, and the dress code is whatever makes you feel like dancing.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. at Alumni Hall on the Cumberland University campus, 408 S. Maple St., and the program starts at 7. Organizers are inviting guests to break out a fancy cocktail dress or jazz up their jeans and boots, and there is a Best Dressed contest for anyone who goes all in. The organizers say everyone is a VIP for the night.
What a $100 ticket covers
The ticket price includes dinner, cocktails, entertainment and a shot at both a silent auction and a live auction. The 7 p.m. program pairs the bidding with a look at what the organization's work makes possible, so the evening doubles as a progress report for supporters. Parking is available in the open lot directly across the street from the hall. Businesses that want to back the evening can sign up as sponsors, and the ticket and sponsorship links are in the organization's announcement.
The announcement did not mention a ticket deadline or a seating cap, so anyone planning a table of friends should confirm details early rather than wait until the week of the party.
Where the money goes
New Leash On Life says it cares for more than 7,000 animals a year through three programs that most Wilson County pet owners will recognize: an Adoption Center, a Spay/Neuter Clinic and a Pet Food Pantry. The first finds animals a home. The second helps keep unplanned litters from becoming the next crowded kennel. The third helps families keep feeding the pets they already have. Every ticket, the group says, helps it care for more animals.
A fitting room
Cumberland University, which has been part of Lebanon since 1842, is a natural stage for a night built around community. Its brick buildings sit a few minutes from the town Square, and the drive from Mt. Juliet along Highway 70 is short enough that you can be home before the last auction paddle goes down. If you are making an evening of it, our guide to where to eat in Mt. Juliet is a good place to find a spot for a drink with friends beforehand, and anyone with fall guests in town can browse the Mt. Juliet and Wilson County fall family guide for the rest of the weekend.
It is the kind of fundraiser that works because it is hard to dislike: good food, a little silliness and a cause with a wagging tail. Bring a friend and leave the sensible shoes at home.
If you go: Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026 · doors 5:30 p.m., program 7 p.m. · Alumni Hall, Cumberland University, 408 S. Maple St., Lebanon · $100 per ticket · parking in the open lot across the street.
Image: illustrative, AI-generated – not the actual location.
