17 Unique Things to Do for Christmas in Nashville (2023)

If you’re looking for unique things to do to celebrate Christmas in Nashville, then you’re in the right place. If you’ve been to Nashville or ever heard about Nashville, then you’re probably familiar with Nashville’s vibrant nightlife, country music, and delicious hot chicken. Although Nashville is well-known for all those things, the city is also known for their Holiday celebration pop-ups. From Christmas, New Years, Halloween, 4th of July, and so much more. The city sure can put on a celebration for locals and visitors! Find some of the best things to do with this blog post to celebrate your Christmas in Nashville!

17 Fun Ideas to Celebrate Christmas in Nashville, Tennessee for the Whole Family

This blog consists of 17 must-do holiday attractions only held specifically from November through January. You can find some of the BEST Holiday lights, Christmas festivals, Holiday markets, Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, Christmas theme decor pop-up bars, and so much more. There is something for everyone and all ages to celebrate Christmas in Nashville!

1. See the lights at the Gaylord Opryland & Resort

The Gaylord Opryland & Resort is an experience for the books. The resort consists of endless activities and events for all ages, especially during the holiday season. From beautiful holiday lights scattered across the ENTIRE resort (literally!), ice skating rink, ice tubing and bumper cars, photos with Santa, gingerbread decorating, carriage rides, breakfast with Charlie Brown and Friends, there is something for everyone at the Gaylord Opryland & Resort. If you’re looking for the entire list of activities and events this year, visit the official Gaylord Opryland & Resort website. 

I highly recommend planning a visit to see all the twinkling lights scattered across the resort. From indoor lights and outdoor lights, you’ll be sure to find a unique picturesque location. Afterwards, grab a bite to eat at Cascades American Cafe to soak in all the beautiful indoor Christmas lights! 

2. Go see Nashville’s Nutcracker ballet show

Nashville’s Nutcracker is a unique Ballet rendition of the timeless classic, The Nutcracker. Presenting original choreography, stunning consumes and sets, and live music by the Nashville symphony, there’s plenty of holiday magic for the whole family to enjoy!

3. Take a Christmas Cruise with the General Jackson Showboat on the Cumberland River

The General Jackson Showboat cruises are held all year-around, but if you’re in Nashville during the holiday season, I highly recommend taking a holiday cruise! The cruises consist of unique dance numbers, holiday-theme costumes, and beautiful light displays. You get to hear Christmas favorites from Mariah Carey, Michael Buble, and more! Sail across the Cumberland River while enjoying a delicious meal and entertaining live performances. A Music City Christmas experience you won’t forget!

4. Explore Dickens of a Christmas street festival 

Dickens of a Christmas is a 2-day festival recreating the time of Charles Dickens at the historic downtown Franklin, TN. At the festival, you can find musicians, dancers, and Dickens characters filling the streets. The lively one-street festival is filled with art and craft vendors, food and beverage vendors, main stage entertainment, Holiday dancers, characters and carolers, acoustic stage, a whiskey lounge, and a kid zone! The festival is a fun Nashville-unique thing to do and it is FREE!

5. Shop at the Porter Flea Holiday Market

The Porter Flea Holiday Market is a 2-day shopping center with over 250+ vendors. Each vendor sells unique, local, and handmade modern goods. Each year, Porter Flea receives hundreds of vendor applications, but hand selects a little over 250 bringing some of the most unique items to Nashville. You can find items such as handmade ceramic mugs, handmade colorful earrings, uniquely curated candles, home decor, one-of-a-kind paints, and so much more! Snag your tickets to the holiday market in advance, as they do tend to sell out quickly! 

6. Drive through the Dancing Lights of Christmas

Dancing Lights of Chrirstmas is Nashville’s LARGEST holiday light and music show drive-thru! You don’t even have to hop out of your car – take a drive to see the beautiful light and music show in Nashville. Each vehicle is $30 for the experience, and you can also snap a photo with Santa afterwards, as well as pet animals at the petting zoo. Dancing Lights of Christmas also provides delicious fair-style food such as funnel cakes, fried oreos, nachos, pulled pork, and so much more! Turn a quick drive-thru into a night full of fun with the family!

7. Visit the Holiday Lights at Cheekwood

From beautiful botanics to historic estate, Cheekwood has something for everyone, and the Holiday Lights is something for everyone! With over one million twinkling lights, Cheekwood provides a beautiful and immersive experience for all ages along a one-mile trail path. The trail provides lights displayed throughout the path, smores, a Holiday marketplace, and seasonal libations. You will be sure to create an experience for everyone at Cheekwood!

8. Join the locals at Nashville’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

Every year since 2000, the Nashville city presents a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in downtown Nashville. The ceremony is usually held within the first week of December starting shortly after dark. The Christmas Tree is around 35 feet tall with over 5,000 multi-colored lights illuminating the tree. Celebrate with the Nashville locals at the Christmas Tree Ceremony!

9. Celebrate the festive Holiday at East Nash’s Holiday Bash

East Nashville’s Holiday Bash is one of the most festive Holiday events in all of Nashville. If you are looking for something specific to do during Christmas, East Nash’s Holiday Bash will probably have it. The Bash is a FREE event for all ages and there is so much to do! Below is everything offered the Holiday Bash: 

• Holiday Market: At the Holiday Market, you can shop for thoughtful, and sometimes handmade, gifts from a curated selection of local artisans. 
• Kids & Family: Bring your loved ones to celebrate Christmas with ornament crafts, letters to Santa, fire pits with s’mores, and so much more!
• Community Tree: Guests are encouraged to bring their own ornament or decorate an ornament to help decorate the community Christmas Tree that will be located in the lot next to Bongo East. This is a way to bring the community together!
• Tree Lighting: The Holiday Bash begins at 6:30pm on Friday, December 1st, 2023 for the annual tree lighting. Everyone is invited to join in this community tree lighting event while enjoying holiday cocktails, local vendors, fire pits with s’mores bar, live holiday music, food trucks, and much more. 
• Holiday Cocktail Bash: This upgraded experience is held only on December 1st, 2023, where you can enjoy themed cocktails, a hot chocolate bar, festive treats, a special guest DJ, and more. Tickets are required to purchase for entry, you can purchase tickets on the official Holiday Cocktail Bash website. 

10. Spooky up your Holiday season with Nashville’s Nightmare Before Christmas Haunted House

Nashville Nightmare is an annual haunted house hosted on Halloween, Christmas and Valentine’s Day with unique themes relating to the holidays, so you can experience spooky seasons all year-long! The Christmas theme, Nashville Nightmare Before Christmas, provides spooky Christmas theme characters throughout 5 different haunted houses. Do you want to see a Jack Skeleton? A creepy santa with his elves? Or evil reindeers? Immerse yourself into a spooky Christmas theme haunted for a fun and unique experience! Why not celebrate the spooky season all year-round? 

11. Visit the Nashville Zoo for Zoolumination 

Nashville’s Zoolumination is a fun family-friendly experience where you can step into a journey through the captivating Chinese lantern festival at the Nashville Zoo! Witness the magic of over 1,000 custom-made silk lanterns that come to life, illuminating the zoo with vivid and elaborate displays. From mesmerizing wildlife scenes to delightful holiday-themed, immerse yourself in the vibrant and colorful landscapes that unfold throughout the zoo.

12. DIY bar crawl with Nashville’s Holiday pop-up bars

Throughout the Holiday seasons, Nashville creates exciting Holiday pop-up bars fully decorated with a unique Christmas theme decor and drinks! There are many Holiday pop-up bars crawls offered throughout Nashville, but why pay a hefty amount of money for the bar crawl when you can create your own?

Below is a list of ALL the Nashville Holiday pop-up bars: 

• Hidden Bars Holiday Vacation at Noelle Hotel
  • When: November 2nd – January 7th, 2023
  • Where: 200 Fourth Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219
• Camp Bobby at Bobby Hotel
  • When: November 2nd – December 11th, 2023
  • Where: 230 Fourth Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219
• An Old Fashioned Christmas Bar at TENN
  • When: November 10th – December 24th
  • Where: 118 Seventh Ave N, Nashville, TN 37203
• Chalat 27 at L27 Rooftop Lounge
  • When: November 16th – February 20th, 2023
  • Where: 807 Clark Pl, Nashville, TN, 37203
• Frosted Fairlane at Fairlane Hotel
  • When: November 18th – January 2nd, 2023
  • Where: 401 Union St, Nashville, TN 37219
• Let’s Get Blitzen at Game Terminal
  • When: November 22nd – December 31st, 2023
  • Where: 201 Terminal Ct, Nashville, TN 37210
• Miracle at Pearl Diver
  • When: November 22nd – December 31st, 2023
  • Where: 1008 Gallatin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206
• Whisky Wonderland at JW Marriott Nashville
  • When: November 25th – December 31st, 2023
  • Where: 201 8th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
• Penguin Express at Grand Hyatt Nashville
  • When: November 25th – December 28th, 2023
  • Where: 1000 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203
• Saint Nicky’s at Nicky’s Coal Fired
  • When: November 26th – December 28th, 2023
  • Where: 5026 Centennial Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209
• Snow Globe 360 at Nightscape
  • When: December 20th – 23rd, 2023
  • Where: 114 12th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37203

All bars are located in downtown Nashville and just a short walk to each! Some bars might take reservations in advance or some might allow you to wait in line before entering, but please note – there will be some waiting to enter these bars! However, it will be SO worth it! The bar decor is unlike anything you’ll ever see before, it’ll really feel like you’re in Winter Wonderland!

13. Watch the Nashville Christmas Parade

Every year, Nashville hosts the annual Nashville Christmas Parade throughout the entire street of Broadway. The parade consists of Christmas characters, blow-up Christmas characters, Christmas carolers, dancers, and live performances from some of the most well-known country artists. The parade dates as far back as 1927 and is an event Nashville locals and out-of-town guests flock to the city in big numbers to watch the parade. I highly recommend seeing the iconic Nashville Christmas Parade that’s been hosted for almost an entire century! 

14. Take a ride with Santa and his elves on the North Pole Express

The Tennessee Central Railway hosts their annual North Pole Express railway events throughout the Holiday season, where passengers can interact with Santa and his elves! The 2-hour non stop passenger train creates a fun experience for the entire family to enjoy! Once you hop on board, you can snap a photo with Santa and his elves, shop for some souvenirs, and sing Christmas carols! The North Pole Express is an event that sells out extremely quickly here in Nashville, so grab your tickets as early as possible!

15. Visit Stephens Valley Festival of Trees

Nashville’s twinkling light holiday event is transforming Stephens Valley into a Winter Wonderland! Immerse yourself in the glow of thousands of holiday lights and admire Christmas trees uniquely decorated by local community businesses. The festival consists of a range of festive activities such as: the beloved Christmas tree lighting, the bustling Jingle Bell Market, and cherished moments with Santa. This fun, family-friendly festival has something for the whole family to enjoy!

16. Mike Farris Sings! At the Country Music Hall of Fame

The Grammy, Dove, and Americana Music award winner Mike Farris brings his annual Mike Farris Sings! The Soul of Christmas concert at the CMA Theater. The festive event, featuring a thirteen-piece band and Farris’s blend of soul, rock, blues, and gospel, has historically sold out over the years. Grab your tickets in advance to see the wonderful Mike Farris on Saturday, December 10th, 2023!

17. Celebrate Christmas at Belle Meade Winery 

One of the most popular wineries in Nashville is the Belle Meade Winery. The winery consists of the Belle Meade Plantation and the Carriage House, both of which I highly recommend visiting during your trip to the winery. Belle Meade Winery is Nashville’s first and oldest, and is located on 32 acres of historic land in the heart of Belle Meade Historic Site. The winery offers a variety of wine, food pairings, and a bourbon tasting while preserving the art of southern hospitality. With family tours, historic tours, outdoor activities, and wine and bourbon experiences, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

However, during the holiday season, the Belle Meade Winery offers a special holiday package where you can learn about the Victorian holiday traditions and find out more about how the families who lived in the house at Belle Meade celebrated Christmas. Discover the changes brought to the house by 20th century wars and emerging technology, from toys and games to the development of new electric Christmas tree lights. Make an ornament to take home to remember your visit.

Final Thoughts

I hope this list helps you plan your Christmas in Nashville celebration! What, if anything, from the list would be at the top of your must-do list when you visit Nashville? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear from you!

I’ll be sure to continue to add to this list over time when new activities arise in Nashville during the holiday seasons. In the meantime, subscribe to my email list in the form below, so you don’t miss any new updates!

Be sure to check out my Nashville travel guide, where you can find fun things to do all year-around!