Merry Christmas, ya’ll! Come visit Nashville during the holiday season, where the biscuits are warm, the weather is mild, the whiskey is flowing and the holiday markets are plentiful!

Nashville may not become a traditional winter wonderland, but the city isn’t short on showcasing its Christmas spirit. Below, we’ve created a guide on ways to get merry this season, including the Christmas markets, the best neighborhoods for holiday shopping and festive activities to do in and around Nashville. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, get a jump on the holiday season with this holly jolly Christmas guide!

‘Tis the Season! Popular Nashville Holiday Markets

collage of images from nashvilles christmas village including two women wearing festive overalls, jars of locally made sauces, and christmas decor

 

Nashville Christmas Village

Although it may feel a bit naughty going to a Christmas market in November, the Nashville Christmas Village is the nicest way to get into the holiday spirit! With the Fairgrounds, merchants and booths decorated in red, green and white, this festive atmosphere will have you excited to begin Christmas shopping. This is the largest annual holiday market in Nashville, perfect for finding unique holiday gifts, one-of-a-kind decorations, and artisanal foods (that can’t be found in a big box store!). This market hosts 250 merchants and expects nearly 30,000 shoppers!

The details:

  • When: November 15-17, 2024 
    • November 15, 2024 Fri 9:00am- 9:00pm
    • November 16, 2024 Sat 9:00am- 6:00pm
    • November 17, 2024 Sun 12:00pm- 6:00pm
  • Where: The Fairgrounds Nashville
  • Tickets are $15 online; tickets can be purchased at the door with a credit card

 

Franklin Makers Market

Spend a family-friendly afternoon with over 75 craft and artisan vendors, tasty treats (and a cocktail bar for mom and dad!). Visitors can shop for unique, handcrafted items like home goods, jewelry, art, clothing, and beauty products while supporting local makers and small businesses.

The details:

 

Holiday Bash Holiday Market

At the Five Points in East Nashville, savor a holiday cocktail as you browse a curated collection of gifts from local artisans, join in a community tree lighting, snap the perfect group photo, cozy up by a campfire, enjoy live music, and more.

The details:

 

Porter Flea Holiday Market

Featuring over 230 vendors and makers, the Porter Flea team carefully curates a diverse and exciting lineup of the region’s most creative crafters each year.

The details:

  • When: Friday, Dec 13th 6-9PM, Saturday, Dec 14th from 10AM-5PM
  • Where: The Fairgrounds Nashville
  • Tickets: Preview tickets go on sale Oct. 21.

vendor at one of nashvilles holiday markets porter flea holiday market

 

Holiday Market Series by Elevate Local Shops

Support small businesses and discover unique gifts from local artisans at the Holiday Market Series at 6th & Peabody. 

The details: 

 

Leiper’s Fork ‘Almost World Famous’ Christmas Parade

This quirky, small-town holiday event is held annually in Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee (about 40 min. from downtown Nashville). Known for its unique and fun atmosphere, the parade features a mix of floats, classic cars, tractors, horses, and costumed participants, many with a humorous or whimsical twist. The parade celebrates the holiday season with a laid-back, country vibe, making it a beloved tradition in the Leiper’s Fork community.

The details:

  • When: Dec. 14 at 2pm
  • Where: 4151 Old Hillsboro Rd, Franklin, TN, United States
  • Tickets: Free
  • Look out for: Laid-back, country Christmas vibes!

 

Best Neighborhoods to Do Your Christmas Shopping in Nashville

The Christmas spirit is alive in Nashville, with festive decor, thematic window dressings and country singers crooning about a White Christmas. We’ve broken down our favorite areas for Christmas shopping by neighborhood. Of course, we added some bonus Christmas content, as well as where to find some specialty holiday treats and pop-ups!

 

Downtown Nashville

Whether your Christmas list is full of family and friends, or you’re stuffing your own stocking, these downtown boutiques and gift shops are excellent for Christmas shopping in Nashville: Fifth + Broadway, Molly Green, Nash Collection, AllSaints, MODISTE, Sam’s Clothing & Shoes, Keep Shop, Free People, Hollie Rae Boutique, State & Liberty Clothing, Betty Boots, It’s A Nashville Thing, Ya’ll

Looking for other festive things to do in Downtown Nashville? We’ve got some holly-jolly ideas:

  • Cushion shopping with a “bike break” on Nashville Pedal Tavern; caroling encouraged, and we always love a crew that wears their ugly Christmas sweaters! We’ll stop at a couple of our partner bars with exclusive drink specials!
  • Rent a cozy tent at Camp Bobby, Hotel Bobby’s winter pop-up 
  • Pop into the holiday-themed Hidden Bar at the Noelle Hotel
  • Bust out your vibrato for a sing-along concert at the Ryman Auditorium
  • Check out the seasonal, warm beverage menu at D’Andrews
  • Heat up your tastebuds with some hot chicken from Hattie B’s
  • Float down the Cumberland River on the Tennessee Christmas Midday Cruise or the Music City Christmas Evening Cruise

 

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The Gulch

This Nashville neighborhood has a bevy of trendy stores while showcasing local makers. Checking off names on your shopping list is a cinch thanks to these shops in the Gulch: e.Allen, Face Foundrie, Finnleys, Kittenish, Lucchese Boot Company, Parachute Home, Parish, Uncommon James and Winxy Lux

Don’t be a Grinch in the Gulch; check out these other festive pop-ups and activities:

 

12 South

Not only does the 12 South neighborhood host some very special restaurants and boutiques for both visitors and locals alike, the neighborhood is beautifully decorated to enhance the holiday shopping experience. Check out our favorite 12 South shops: Draper James, Emerson Grace, gorjana, Hero, Imogene + Willie, Judith Bright , Paige, MODA, and Vinnie Louise.

Looking for something extra on your merry way? We’ve got some tinsel-coated tips to brighten up your Christmas shopping in Nashville.

 

Shop Local: Supporting Nashville Makers and Businesses

Looking to gift a little taste of Nashville to those on your Christmas list this year? Look out for these “Made in Tennessee” items in many of the boutiques Downtown, in the Gulch or in the 12 South neighborhood.

This holiday season, stock the tree with unique and handcrafted goods from Nashville’s makers to support our local economy, sustain Nashville’s creative and cultural heritage and continue to build Nashville’s vibrant artistic and entrepreneurial scene.

Things to Do in Nashville During the Christmas Season

Hitch a sleigh (or our Bevē Bus–see below!) for some of these festive activities and events outside of Downtown Nashville:

  • Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Resort hosts a dazzling, immersive, story-driven holiday showplace complete with larger-than-life ice sculptures, thrilling frozen slides, and awe-inspiring tunnels; check out more details here.
  • Gaylord Opryland also has a 9,000-square-foot outdoor ice skating rink; tickets can be purchased here
  • The Dancing Lights of Christmas: Tennessee’s largest drive-thru light and music show at the Wilson County Fairgrounds/Ward Ag Center in Lebanon
  • Music City Brew Hop Holiday Lights Tour: Hop on this decorated trolley to see holiday lights, visit a Home Alone-themed pop-up bar and a photo op in front of the beautiful State Capitol Christmas tree.
  • Head to the Germantown neighborhood, where you can attend the annual Victorian 5-Course Christmas Dinner at Monell’s, a beloved restaurant in a historic setting
  • The 10th Annual Holiday Lights at Cheekwood Estates is a mile-long walk of pure magic and merriment; check out their schedule here
  • FrankTown Festival of Lights is an incredible drive-thru holiday light display at the Williamson County Ag Center; tickets can be purchased here
  • There are drive-thru and walk-thru light displays at Cheekwood, the Wilson County Fairgrounds, Williamson County Fairgrounds, and the Nashville Fairgrounds.
  • Christmas on the Cumberland boasts over one million lights at McGregor Park and Cumberland Riverwalk in Clarksville, TN; admission is free and the schedule is here

Need some more ideas to exhaust your list of things to do during the holiday season? Check out this blog that counts down the Top 10 Things to Do in Nashville This Christmas – from romantic holiday light shows to rowdy Santa crawls down Broadway.

Pedal towards Christmas with a Nashville Pedal Tavern Holiday Party!

Instead of a boring, conference-room holiday celebration, take your team or office on an interactive, fun and festive ride on the Nashville Pedal Tavern! We’ve got no shortage of feedback about how much fun it was to take a staff outing on the Nashville Pedal Tavern to celebrate the holiday season. With room for 15 (including room for five non-pedalers), this activity is great for team building along with celebrating the end of the year. You are encouraged to decorate the Pedal Tavern bike and we can help brainstorm ways to make it extra festive, like fun Christmas sweaters or holiday headbands with elf ears.

Book your team for a holiday party on the go!

festive person sitting on top of the nashville pedal tavern bike during the christmas season

 

Enjoy Hassle-Free Christmas Shopping with Bevē Boutiques

No need for Blitzen! Let the Bevē bus be your sleigh this holiday season!

  • Christmas Shopping
    • Get your Christmas shopping done in one Bevē swoop! With our knowledge on the best boutiques and holiday steals and deals, we’ll guide you to all the hottest shopping in Nashville, including stores and markets! Tell us how long you want to shop and we’ll create a tailored holiday shopping itinerary, including a stop for a festive drink!
  • Holidays in Nashville
    • Or, if you’d like to do a Bevē tour to hit all the holiday offerings in Nashville, we can create the merriest of itineraries, including ice skating, Christmas-themed bars, holiday markets and more. Book an evening tour to include a tour of Christmas lights, all while drinking a festive cocktail and feeling warm inside our chic, cozy bus.

We have the flexibility and creative wherewithal to cater tours for all types of groups, including families with children to corporate groups to bachelorette parties! Make Bevē part of your office’s holiday party, or a new family tradition. Let Bevē plan a very merry tour of the best of Nashville shopping with the added joy of the southern Christmas spirit.

group of women standing outside of a beve boutique bus on a nashville christmas shopping trip

 

There is no shortage of ways to get into the holiday spirit in Nashville. From the many merry activities and events to top-notch holiday shopping for everyone on your list, Christmas in Nashville is magical! Whether you’re a local or a visitor, we wish you a very happy holiday season! Merry Christmas, ya’ll!