It truly is the most wonderful time of the year and it’s even better in the great state of Tennessee! The 2019 Nashville Chrismtas Guide is here and we’re sharing are a few of our favorites.
Gaylord Opryland A Country Christmas
A personal favorite for our family!
- November 8th through January 1, 2020
- Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center; Nashville
- Over 3 million twinkling lights, festive holiday decor and atmosphere. A few other events on this property (among many others) include: ICE! featuring A Christmas Story, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical (Book by 12/2 and save $10 using code PC19 at RudolphMusicalNashville.com; Valid for 11-17-12/25 performances, excluding Saturdays for Prem Orchestra, Prem Mezzanine, Orchestra & Balcony ), Snow Tubing, Ice Skating, Carriage Rides, Gingerbread Decorating, Reindeer Games Scavenger Hunt and so much more!
- Find out more details and reserve your tickets/stay at Gaylord Opryland here.
- November 22nd through December 31st, 2019.
- First Tennessee Park; Nashville
- Glow Nashville features one of the country’s tallest Christmas trees, millions of lights with larger-than-life sculptures, ice skating and snow tubing experiences. Plus, a life-size Santa’s workshop and lots of other activities for the entire family.
- Purchase your tickets here.
Zoomination: A Chinese Festival of Lights
- November 15th through December 30th (Nightly 5-9 p.m.)
- Nashville Zoo
- See the Nashville Zoo in a different light with the country’s largest Chinese lantern festival. We love Chinese lanterns so this will be a spectacular and festive thing to do this holiday season with our kids. Over 500 custom-made silk lanterns will be spread across 60 acres with elaborate displays along with some of your favorite Zoo animals, holiday-themed scenes and more!
- Grab your tickets here.
The Voices of Lee {Winter Concert Series} at Whitestone Inn
- December 3rd, 2019
- Whitestone Inn; Kingston, TN
- This concert will definitely get you in the holiday spirit. Get your tickets and make this a quick getaway by spending the night at Whitestone Inn as well. I went last year with my mom and two sisters and had the best time.
Nashville Christmas Parade
- Saturday, December 7, 2019, starting at 8:30am.
- Nashvillians line the streets to support the parade, which features celebrity performances, marching bands, and giant balloons. It’s a festive, family-friendly experience downtown you don’t want to miss.
- Parade Route: The parade begins at 1st Avenue and the Woodland Street Bridge. It proceeds down 1st Avenue, up Broadway, and concludes at 8th Avenue and Broadway
Porter Flea Holiday Market
One of our favorite holiday markets in Nashville!
- Saturday, December 14, 2019, from 10:00am to 5:00pm
- The Nashville Fairgrounds
- There will be dozens of vendors selling apparel, accessories, home goods, furniture, jewelry, and paper goods. It’s a great place to get unique gifts for those hard-to-shop-for friends and family members.
- There is also a ticketed Preview Market on Friday, December 13, 2019, from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.
The Dancing Lights of Christmas
- November 16th through Janiary 4th, 2020
- James E. Ward Agricultural Center; Lebanon
- The Dancing Lights of Christmas returns for its 10th consecutive season. Wilson County and the James E. Ward Agricultural Center, home of the Wilson County Fair, will host the Dancing Lights of Christmas this holiday season.
- $30 per car or you can stop by Costco and they have discount tickets usually every year.
- November 22nd through December 28th, 2019
- Williamson County AG Expo Center ; Franklin
- Beginning November 22nd, FrankTown Open Hearts, a local nonprofit in Franklin, will host a festive drive-through holiday lights experience with synchronized music that stretches for a mile at the Williamson County AG Expo Center. Always a family favorite!
- $25 per car
- Grab your tickets here.
Christmas at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center
We love the symphony center in Nashville! There are quite a few options of holiday events you can choose from. Some of our favorites are:
- Drew and Ellie Holcomb’s Neighborly Christmas
- Michael W. Smith: Christmas with The Nashville Symphony
- Dave Barnes A Very Merry Christmas
- Home Alone in Concert
- Handel’s Messiah
- December 7th through December 23rd, 2019
- Tennessee Performing Arts Center; Nashville
- Celebrate this magical production of the Nutcracker, a family favorite – this show will put you in the ultimate holiday spirit for sure.
Franklin Holiday Lights Trolly Tours
- December 1st through December 23rd, 2019
- Sat thru Sun 5:30pm & 7:45pm/8pm, Mon thru Fri 6pm & 8pm/8:15pm
- $25 a seat. Lap children – no charge.
- Tours Run approx. 1 hour & 30/45 minutes in and around Franklin & Williamson County. This year’s tours will begin outside THE FACTORY AT FRANKLIN, building 11 & includes Franktown Open Heart’s FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS at the Williamson County Ag Center.
- Grab your tickets here.
Nashville Lighting of the Tree
- Dec. 6th, 2019
- Public Square Park, Nashville
- The Metro Nashville Christmas Tree Lighting will feature local choirs, food trucks and an appearance by Santa.
- December 14-15th, 2019
- Historic Downtown Franklin, TN
- The largest outdoor Christmas festival in Middle Tennessee! Step back in time with over 200 musicians, dancers and characters will fill the streets. Craft and food vendors will also be on site.
Another family favorite!
- November 23rd (Members of Cheekwood) through January 5th, 2019 (Closed on Christmas Day) This is a timed-ticketed event.
- Cheekwood Botanical Gardens, Nashville
- Over one million lights, real reindeer, holiday carolers, meet Santa , explore the Cheekwood mansion, hop aboard the North Pole Express with Cheekwood’s new train depot featuring a slide, climbing net and more! There will also be Dog Photos with Santa!
- Find all the details here as well as purchase your tickets/packages.
What are some of your favorite holiday events or traditions?
I have never been to Nashville, but always wanted to visit! Sounds like there are lots of fun events during the holidays. We have a zoo lights here that my kids love, but no lanterns. Those sound really pretty!