Christmas is a special time to visit Nashville. The city brings out its finest decorations, some of its best performances, and millions of Christmas lights. There is lots of variety from driving through the biggest light display in Tennessee to checking out a winter pop-up bar. We’ve spent numerous holidays in the city and love finding new things to experience in Nashville at Christmas. Here’s a look at some of our favorites.
Wander under the lights at Cheekwood
One of the highlights of the Christmas season is a visit to Cheekwood Lights. The grounds of the botanical garden and its historic mansion are transformed with the addition of more than a million colorful lights. From candy canes to glowing arches and unique decorations, we love everything here.
Tour the house, which is decorated for the season by a former White House florist, and find the illuminated children’s garden and a popular model train that makes its way through a lit up landscape. Don’t miss all the snacks and drinks as you explore the lights at Cheekwood. Pro tip: If it’s been raining, wear sturdy shoes.
The lights turn on November 21, 2025 and run through January 4, 2026.
Where to Stay
The Hermitage Hotel: Historic elegance
Omni Nashville: Music at your doorstep
Gaylord Opryland Hotel: Resort complex with endless options
See our full guide to the best downtown Nashville hotels.
Enjoy the events at Gaylord Opryland
Gaylord Opryland is a must do in Nashville during the Christmas season. The hotel complex is like a city with restaurants and attractions (fair warning: speaking from personal experience, you may get lost). During the holidays, it’s decked out with over three million lights and tons of decorations, so there’s plenty to see for free. There are also opportunities to meet Santa, have brunch with Rudolph, go ice skating, and decorate gingerbread.
The big attraction, which runs November 18, 2025 through January 3, 2026, is ICE! This year, the story of A Charlie Brown Chrisstmas is told with massive ice sculptures, slides, tunnels, and other amazing pieces across 12 different scenes. The 2+ million pounds of ice are kept at 9 degrees, so come ready for a chilly time (parkas are provided).
Have a drink in a rooftop igloo
Ten stories above downtown, the Bobby Hotel’s rooftop lounge is a top place to go at Christmas. Its personal igloos are full of rustic furnishings and cozy blankets. Plus, the rooftop lounge has campfires and lots of seasonal food and drinks. (Note that the igloos require a reservation and a minimum spend.)
See a show at Tennessee Performing Arts Center
For lovers of music and theater, December is a great time to be in Nashville. The schedule at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center is always packed with fun performances.
This year, the annual performance of Nashville’s Nutcracker returns with shows November 29 – December 28, 2025. Die Hard: A Christmas Carol (complete with puppets!) runs November 18-23, 2025.
Take a holiday tour of Belmont Mansion
It’s a festive time of year at Belmont Mansion, which is decorated to the hilt for the season. This tony home was once the summer estate of Adelicia Acklen, the wealthiest woman in Tennessee in the mid-1800s.
Any time of the year, visitors will see the home’s remarkable furnishings, including Roman sculptures, gifts from a US President, and treasures brought back from a Grand Tour of Europe. In the winter, the mansion tour is augmented to include a focus on Victorian Christmas traditions as guests pass through the dining room set for Christmas dinner, the foyer ready for a soiree, and other pretty spaces.
Go wine tasting at Arrington Vineyards
We love visiting Arrington Vineyards, which is just a half-hour from Nashville, at the holidays. Open daily, the winery offers sweeping views and plenty of space to have family picnics, play games, and enjoy the wines. During the Christmas season, there is live music on weekends and lots of decorations, and you’ll often find special offers — the chocolate pairing is our pick.
See Christmas at the Ryman
One of the most popular residencies in the city, Amy Grant and Vince Gill perform 12 shows for Christmas at the Ryman from December 10-20, 2025. With a musical catalog ranging from O Holy Night to Let It Snow, the musical couple is one of the biggest draws around.
Drive though the Dancing Lights of Christmas
About a half-hour from downtown, the largest drive thru light and music show in Tennessee is hosted at the Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon. Beginning November 8, 2025 and lasting through January 4, 2026, the Dancing Lights of Christmas features lights synchronized to a radio station playing Christmas favorites. From dancing snowmen to spinning ornaments, the nightly show is a must-see for lovers of lights.
Admission to the light show also includes the sites of Santa’s Village, visiting with Santa (through December 23), and a petting zoo. Weekends here can get busy beyond belief, so plan to visit during the week, if possible.
Enjoy the Metro Christmas tree
The Metro Nashville Christmas tree at Public Square Park is synonymous with the city during the holidays. In an annual tradition, a massive Norway Spruce is covered with over 5000 LED lights ahead of its stint on display downtown.
The annual lighting ceremony, which takes place December 5 at 6pm, is a popular event with choir performances and an appearance by Santa. Local food trucks ensure there is plenty of delicious food for attendees to enjoy.
Take a ride on the North Pole Express
The unmissable North Pole Express Train Ride is a 2-hour round trip from Nashville to Lebanon. It’s filled with lovely scenery and accompanied by Victorian Carolers and visits from Santa and his elves.
The restored, decorated train leaves from the Tennessee Central Railway Museum. Hot chocolate and other holiday treats are available along the ride, which makes a delightful outing whether you’re looking for something fun to do with the whole family or a romantic date idea. There are five journeys between November 22 and December 20, 2025.
Experience the FrankTown Festival of Lights
Thousands of lights greet visitors to the drive thru FrankTown Festival of Lights. The 1.5-mile-long route features figures from Christmas stories, carols, cartoons, and more all synchronized to a music on a local radio station. The display at the Williamson County Ag Expo Center in Franklin runs nightly from November 21 through New Years Eve.
Enjoy the festivities in Franklin
Just south of Nashville, Franklin has a long list of its own festivities to enjoy. Its historic main street is charmingly adorned with garland, ornaments, and lights. The town square features a Christmas tree, which is lit in a music-filled ceremony on December 5, 2025 at 6pm. The city also hosts a festival with food, craftspeople, and entertainment called Dickens of a Christmas (December 13-14), among other special events.
Laura Longwell is an award-winning travel blogger and photographer. Since founding Travel Addicts in 2008, she has written hundreds of articles that help over 3 million people a year get the most out of their travel. In that time, she has visited nearly 60 countries on 5 continents, often returning to favorite destinations over and over again. She has a deep love of history, uncovering unexpected attractions, and trying all the good food a place has to offer.
In addition to Travel Addicts, Laura runs a site about her hometown of Philadelphia—Guide to Philly—which chronicles unique things to do and places to see around southeastern Pennsylvania. Her travel tips and advice appear across the web.
KMM
Saturday 30th of December 2023
Great post! My spouse and I are considering Nashville for Christmas next year, and this is very helpful.