Nashville undergoes a magical transformation during the holiday season, becoming an enchanting destination for both residents and visitors alike. The city’s streets come alive with festive lights and decorations, and its renowned music and entertainment scene takes on a special holiday charm. From the iconic Opry Country Christmas concert to the annual Jack Daniel’s NYE Party, Nashville offers a unique blend of tradition and excitement during the holidays. With the majestic tree lighting, holiday markets, and a myriad of dazzling displays, Nashville during the Christmas season truly becomes a winter wonderland, ensuring unforgettable holiday memories for all.
The polls are in and these are the top 10 things this Christmas in Nashville – from romantic holiday light shows to rowdy Santa crawls down Broadway.
Top ten things to in Nashville this Christmas:
- Nashville Pedal Tavern Party Bike Cruise down Broadway
- Attend the Grand Ole Opry Christmas Show
- Partake in Holiday Activities at the Opry Hotel
- Nashville Ballet Nutcracker Performance
- Christmas Lights at Cheekwood
- Seasonal Cocktail Class
- Miracle at Hidden Bar
- Reindeer Games: Holiday Pop-up Bar
- Nashville Christmas Tree Lighting
- Jack Daniel’s Music City Midnight NYE Party
1. Nashville Pedal Tavern Holiday Cruise
A holiday party bike cruise with Nashville Pedal Tavern will take you down Broadway where you can take in the festive lights and decorations from your bar seat. You can align your Nashville Pedal Tavern experience with the Santa bar crawls downtown and make your cruise Santa themed! Every holiday season our bar partners serve up festive and delightful drinks for riders. *Pedal Tavern riders get drink and food specials at various Nashville bars with their wristband.
Book Your Private Nashville Party Bike!
Time of Activities: Holiday Season / Anytime!
Location: Broadway and Downtown Nashville
2. Attend the Grand Ole Opry Christmas Show
The Grand Ole Opry world-famous theater transforms into a winter wonderland for their annual Christmas-themed show.. For nine magical nights, come see country’s best artists sing favorite Christmas carols, including Lauren Alaina, Scott McCreery, Lady A, Chris Janson & more. In addition to special guests, each show features Opry members The Gatlin Brothers, Riders In The Sky, Mandy Barnett and Country Music Hall of Famer Charlie McCoy. Tickets start at $45.
Get Opry Country Christmas Show Tickets
Time of Activities:
– 7pm: Nov. 26, 29; Dec. 3, 7, 10, 11, 14, 18
– 2pm: Dec. 17
Location: Grand Ole Opry
3. Partake in Holiday Activities at the Opry Hotel
The Opry Hotel is a Nashville holiday favorite among locals and tourists alike. The entire hotel is decked to the halls in festive lights and breathtaking ornaments. When you step inside you are whisked into a winter wonderland that only seems possible in the movies. This holiday activity is awe-inspiring for the entire family. Take a skate around the ice rink or spend the afternoon building gingerbread houses. Attend one of the holiday-themed musicals, or take to the tubing park for some joyous laughter of fun!
Book Your Room at the Opry Hotel
Time of Activities: Anytime, but better at night
Location: Opry Hotel
4. Nashville Ballet Nutcracker Performance
Usher in the most wonderful time of the year with one of the holiday’s most cherished stories – The Nutcracker Ballet. Follow the Nashville Ballet into the spectacular dreamland and lose yourself in the performance. Those young and young-at-heart will enjoy this timeless holiday event. Even with the unprecedented times, the Nashville Ballet seeks to keep this holiday tradition alive with a free televised premiere of the performance. The production will last 2 hours.
Get tickets to the Nutcracker!
Time of Activities: December 8-24, 2023
Location: TPAC’s Andrew Jackson Hall
5. Christmas Lights at Cheekwood
Oh, have you ever seen such a sight?! A sight of over 1 million twinkling lights? Whether you have or you have not, the Lights at Cheekwood are a local holiday event favorite. This holiday activity draws crowds from all over, but especially the local Nashville families. The lights aren’t the only festive sight at Cheekwood. There are real reindeer, s’mores pits, holiday carolers, Santa, gingerbread workshops, and cash bars with wine, beer, and hot chocolate (because the holidays are filled with festive drinking).
Time of Activities: November – January
Location: Cheekwood
6. Seasonal Cocktail Class
Cheers to knowing how to craft the perfect festive cocktail! Holiday classes at Nashville’s Liquor Lab, #1 mixology experience, feature three unique spirits perfect for the holiday season, with innovative twists of flavors and techniques. Small bites are served during the experience from their local partners and guests are encouraged to dress as festive as the promised evening.
Time of Activities: Various dates in December
Location: Nashville
Note: Liquor Lab has provided an exclusive discount code for Nashville Pedal Tavern; get 10% off with the code “PedalTavern24”.
7. Miracle at Hidden Bar
Once a year locals gather ’round the Miracle at Hidden Bar to toast to good tidings and to always see the glass full (of alcohol). The Miracle at Hidden Bar is a Nashville pop-up bar that comes once a year to spread holiday cheer to those seeking a festival cocktail or three. So far this holiday pop-up bar has remained a local secret, but word is getting out about the tasteful holiday cocktails and the extreme Christmas decor. So if you’re 21+ and looking for a not so ordinary thing to do in Nashville during the holidays, check out the pop-up bar in Noelle Hotel.
Time of Activities: dates may vary
Location: Noelle Hotel
8. Reindeer Games: Holiday Pop-up Bar
Keeping with the holiday pop-up bar theme, Reindeer Games will be taking over the Headquarters Beercade this holiday season. This holiday bar comes with more than festive drinks wrapped in bows. Guests will step straight into an experiential winter wonderland with 3D Christmas tree displays, thousands of ornaments, 2,000 feet of twinkling lights, a life-size Santa’s sleigh, and of course festive food and cocktails.
Time of Activities: dates may vary
Location: Headquarters Beercade
9. Nashville Christmas Tree Lighting
A must-do Nashville Christmas event- the annual Christmas tree lighting in Public Square Park. This Nashville event is great for locals and tourists alike, for those flying solo this holiday season, and for families of all sizes. There will be an appearance from Santa, performances by local choirs, and food trucks.
Location: Public Square Park
10. Jack Daniel’s Music City Midnight NYE Party
Ring in 2024 at one of Nashville’s biggest New Year’s Eve parties: Jack Daniel’s Music City Midnight! Scheduled performances include Thomas Rhett, Lainey Wilson, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. The evening will be filled with free live music, fireworks, confetti, and the Music Note Drop at midnight.
Time of Activities: December 31st at Midnight
Location: Bicentennial Park
So whether you’re looking to take the family out to partake in the Nashville Christmas festivities, seeking a romantic night out in Nashville with your darling or you’re just looking to get rowdy on hot apple cider buttered rum with friends, Nashville Pedal Tavern hopes your holiday festivities are nothing short of festive!
