The Best Things to Do in Nashville at Christmas

This post may contain affiliate links, view our disclosure policy.

Here’s our ultimate guide to the best things to do in Nashville at Christmas time!

Looking for a city that’s full of festive holiday fun without the frosty temps?

Nashville, Tennessee is the perfect location to invigorate your holiday spirit!

This lively city is filled with holiday fun for the whole family including spectacular Christmas light displays, nostalgic shows and ballets, and one-of-a-kind musical experiences!

Look no further for the 11 best things to do in Nashville at Christmas so that you and your family can plan a magical, memory-filled holiday.

Our featured activities are all family-friendly and range in price so that you can enjoy this holiday season without breaking the bank.

Discover the best things to do in Nashville at Christmas from top US family travel blog, Travel With A Plan! — Nashville, TN – Music City!

Table of Contents

Christmas in Nashville

The holiday season is a fantastic time of year to visit Nashville, Tennessee!

For practical travelers, temperatures drop low enough to experience full holiday cheer without experiencing truly frigid weather

{December-February daytime temps average in the low 50 degrees F. In Nashville, it only occasionally snows in December, more often in January, and in February.

Snow accumulation is typically less than 1 inch and melts within a day, however, the city comes to a halt as there is no snow removal equipment in Nashville.}

Check out our Nashville packing list, which includes what to wear in Nashville in winter here!

Beyond its mild temperatures, Nashville offers community-focused events that speak to the meaning of Christmas.

These activities will have you feeling like a local as the community invites you and your family to celebrate alongside them.

With that said, you’re always invited to attend the Nashville Christmas Tree Lighting (complete with local food trucks!) that takes place annually in the public square at 3rd Ave. North and Union St.

We love visiting Nashville so much that we’ve written several other guides to help you plan your trip!

Where to Stay in Nashville at Christmastime

If you’re looking for the best place to stay in Nashville during the holidays and don’t mind that you’re not staying downtown, I highly recommend staying at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center!

Gaylord Opryland is transformed into a Christmas wonderland during the holidays with stunning decorations and a festive atmosphere. It is incredible!

Plus, you’ll literally be on site for the Opryland Christmas activities and steps away from the Grand Ole Opry and General Jackson Showboat.

Gaylord Opryland is also home to SoundWaves, a 3-level, indoor, upscale waterpark that is perfect for kids and teens to enjoy despite the cooler temps outside.

If you’re looking to stay close to Nashville’s Honky Tonk Highway), rather, our favorite places to stay in Downtown Nashville include:

Grand Hyatt Nashville (1/2 mile from Honky Tonk Highway, rooftop bar, 5th-floor pool deck, 7 onsite dining and drinking options)
Omni Nashville Hotel (1 block from Honky Tonk Highway, rooftop pool and hot tub, 3 onsite restaurants)
Hampton Inn and Suites Nashville Downtown (1/2 mile from Honky Tonk Highway, budget-friendly, free breakfast, pool)
Hilton Nashville Downtown (1 block from Honky Tonk Highway, spacious, all-suite luxury hotel)

Christmas in Nashville on the General Jackson Showboat — General Jackson Showboat

1. General Jackson Showboat Holiday Cruise

Where: 2812 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN

When: November 7th–December 29th, 2022

Price: Kids 4-11 start at $65. Adults start at $98 (Admission covers the cruise, dinner & show)

As one of the best things to do in Nashville at Christmas, experience true holiday merriment aboard a Music City Christmas Evening Cruise.

This Christmas-themed dinner show is held on the General Jackson Showboat as it travels down the Nashville River.

It features Nashville’s finest entertainment with dance numbers and musical arrangements that embody the Christmas spirit.

It’s an incredible night of dining, as well as singing and dancing to Christmas classics (think Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole) and modern holiday hits (from artists like Mariah Carey and Michael Buble‘).

Additional planning tip: General boarding for the Music City Christmas Evening Cruise begins at 6:45 PM with departure at 7:00 PM. The cruise ends at 9:45 PM.

Dinner is a banquet-style plated dinner and includes a salad, main course, and dessert.

2. A Country Christmas at the Gaylord Opryland Resort

The Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, one of Nashville’s premier resort hotels, puts on several amazing holiday events (making Christmas at Opryland an actual destination in itself!).

Here are the two events that I recommend doing during Christmas at Gaylord Opryland.

ICE! Featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

When: November 11, 2022 –January 1st, 2023

Where: Gaylord Opryland Resort – 2800 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN

Price: Starting at $22.99 for children 4–11 & $29.99 for adults

Gaylord Opryland puts on a Christmas experience like no other with ICE!

This immersive exhibit features two million pounds of ice, carved by artisans to create a true winter wonderland.

This icy spectacle is one of the best things to do in Nashville at Christmas because there’s no other experience like it.

Plus, even if you have been to it before, you’ll want to go again, as the theme changes yearly for an entirely new feel.

This year’s exhibition tells the classic Christmas story of Rudolph on his journey to save Christmas and includes larger-than-life sculptures of Rudolph and his friends that will delight children and adults alike!

Because the sculptures are carved from ice, the exhibit is kept pretty chilly at 9 degrees Fahrenheit.

But fear not!

There’s no need to bring your winter coats as parkas are provided to all guests!

For additional Nashville Christmas fun, take advantage of the hotel’s ice slides, made entirely of…you guessed it, ice!

Winterfest Ice skating

Where: Gaylord Opryland Resort – 2800 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN

Price: $20.99 per person

If your family is looking for the perfect ice skating experience, look no further!

Enjoy a festive glide at WinterFest, the Gaylord Opryland Resort’s 9,000-square-foot outdoor skating rink.

Lessons and skate rentals are available so the entire family can join in on the fun!

Other activities to celebrate Christmas at Gaylord Opryland include:

The Oak Ridge Boys ‘Christmas in Tennessee’ Dinner Show
Snowball Build & Blast interactive game
Rudolph’s Holly-Jolly Breakfast
Ice Tubing
Bumper Cars
Gingerbread decorating corner
Christmas Fountain Shows
Photos with Santa
Carriage Rides
Delta Riverboat Christmas Cruise
And an outdoor nativity

And as always, don’t forget to check out SoundWaves waterpark if you’re staying at Gaylord Opryland with kids!

This huge, modern, indoor waterpark is kept at a cozy 84 degrees year-round making it a great place to visit in Nashville during Christmas!

Nashville Christmas activities — Cheekwood Holiday Lights

3. Cheekwood Holiday Lights

Where: 1200 Forrest Park Drive, Nashville, TN

Price: Tickets start at $13 for youth (3–17) & $20 for adults

Visit the Cheekwood Estate & Gardens’ Holiday LIGHTS for a new Christmas season tradition your family will love.

Enjoy a one-mile walking trail of festive Christmas lights throughout the Cheekwood Botanical Gardens.

Both kids and adults alike will be dazzled by the beautiful displays.

For more lights, check out the Dancing Lights of Trains, a model-train display decorated with stunning lights and accompanied by music.

Beyond Christmas lights, the Cheekwood estate features its historic mansion and museum decorated for the holiday season, as well as a 20’ poinsettia tree, s’mores station, and holiday marketplace.

The estate also features drink stations for hot chocolate and hot toddies.

4. Nashville Nutcracker Ballet

When: December 9th–24th, 2022

Where: Ryman Auditorium – 116 5th Ave N, Nashville, TN

Price: $35 – $95

If you’re looking for things to do in Nashville in December, consider an unforgettable holiday showing of Nashville’s Nutcracker.

There are few things as magical as a live performance and the artistry of the Nashville Ballet combined with live music from the Nashville Symphony.

The ballet is performed in the Ryman Auditorium, which is celebrating 130 years of music and performance this year.

Located in downtown Nashville, the venue itself is worth visiting as it is known as the “Mother Church of Country Music.”

This historic venue makes for a truly special holiday experience and is, by far, one of the best things to do in Nashville at Christmas.

Nashville North Pole Express — Ride the Christmas train!

5. Ride on the North Pole Express

When: November 19th–December 17th, 2022

Where: Tennessee Central Railway Museum – 220 Willow St, Nashville, TN

Price: $28 for children under 12 & $52 for adults

Fans of The Polar Express will love the experience of riding the North Pole Express Santa Excursion Train with Santa Claus and his elves!

This experience includes seasonally decorated train cars, snacks, and hot chocolate on the 2-hour round-trip journey.

Throughout the train, carolers in Victorian garb sing Christmas classics and help bring festive cheer to your experience.

Additional planning tip: There are morning (9:00 AM) and afternoon (2:30 PM) departures for this event, both of which offer refreshments and souvenirs for sale on board.

Make sure to book tickets far in advance as they sell out quickly!

6. Stephens Valley Festival of Trees

When: December 2nd–New Year’s Eve

Where: Meriwether Park, Stephens Valley – 441 Union Bridge Rd, Nashville, TN

Price: Free event!

Enjoy festive lights and Christmas trees at Stephen Valley’s Festival of Trees.

This Nashville holiday lights experience is 100% free, so it’s a budget-friendly way to celebrate the season!

Plus, Christmas trees are decorated by local businesses making the event community-focused.

For those who are able, it’s asked that you bring a donation to the Bellevue Community Food Bank. (After all, the event’s focus on charity and community is what makes it one of the best things to do in Nashville at Christmas!)

Other holiday Stephens Valley events include:

Pictures with Santa – December 3rd
Holiday Market – December 3rd
Christmas tree lighting – December 3rd
Christmas movies in the park – December 17th

7. Mike Farris Sings! at the Country Music Hall of Fame

When: December 10th, 2022

Where: CMA Theater – 224 Rep. John Lewis Way S, Nashville, TN

Price: $55 – $85

Nashville locals will tell you that the Country Music Hall of Fame is a must-stop for any visitor.

So why not turn your visit into a core holiday memory with a concert like no other?

This year, Mike Farris is performing his annual Christmas concert, Mike Farris Sings!, at the CMA Theater.

The event includes a thirteen-piece band and a night filled with festivities, making it one of the most sought-after things to do in Nashville in December!

Additional planning tip: Combine this holiday celebration with a daytime trip to the on-site museum to get the most out of your experience.

*Plan and price your visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame here!

8. The Dancing Lights of Christmas

When: 7 days a week, early November–January 1st

Where: Wilson County Fairgrounds/Ward Ag Center – 1033 Sparta Pike, Lebanon, TN

Price: $30 per family vehicle

Enjoy stunning light displays and music at the Dancing Lights of Christmas, Tennessee’s largest drive-thru light and music experience.

This is a great choice for a Christmas day celebration as it is open on all major holidays!

Plus, it is very attuned to the intimate, family Christmas experience which is sure to make special lifelong memories for your children.

Make the most out of your light show experience by stopping at the onsite Santa’s village.

Santa’s Village features:

Carnival rides
Mechanical reindeer rides
Bungee trampoline
Train rides
Pony rides
Inflatables
Pictures with Santa Claus

Additional planning tip: Weekends are very busy so expect long wait times to drive through the light show.

Prep kids for a long car ride and come prepared with snacks and car activities.

If possible, try visiting on a weekday for shorter waits.

9. Opry Country Christmas Show

When: November 27th–December 22nd, 2022

Where: The Grand Ole Opry – 2804 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN

Price: Tickets start at $55

Another one of the best things to do in Nashville at Christmas is to attend the Opry Country Christmas Show!

This event combines classic Christmas music with celebrated country music artists, bringing your family the total Tennessee holiday experience!

There are only eight show nights, each promising special guests and surprises, so be sure to purchase your tickets early as they will likely sell out.

10. A Century of Christmas at Belle Meade

Where: 110 Leake Ave, Nashville, TN

Price: Starting at $15 for children ages 6-17 and $28 for adults

As one of the most popular of the Nashville wineries to visit during your stay, consider visiting the Belle Meade Plantation & Mansion during Christmas time.

Holiday visits allow guests to learn about Victorian holiday traditions, as well as find out more about how the families who lived in the house at Belle Meade celebrated Christmas.

As a keepsake, guests get to make an ornament to take home to remember their visit!