The 2024 Nashville Christmas Bucket List (From A Local)!
If you are looking for a fun-filled Christmas getaway, or you live in Nashville and need ideas on things to do this Christmas season, then dive in to these “Christmas Must-Dos” in Music City!
Having lived here for almost a decade, the following are some of my top suggestions whether you are traveling as a family, on an adult-only trip, or if you live here and are doing a staycation and need fresh, new ideas for seeing Nashville in a whole new light (Christmas light, that is. š )
I’m going to start this list off with the things that I find more unique and that you may have not thought of and end it with the classics that are must-dos when spending the Christmas season here in Nashville.
So pour yourself something warm to drink and start planning your perfect Nashville Christmas vacation with this Ultimate Nashville Christmas Bucket List!
Unique Christmas Things to Do In Nashville
Tea With The Grinch!
The Lounge at Blue Aster (located inside the Conrad Hotel in downtown Nashville) is doing Tea With The Grinch on select Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays all throughout December.
At $95 pp, this is definitely a more pricey outing but if you are all about a theme, this could be a lot of fun to attend this Christmas season!
Family Friendly Christmas Comedy Show at Wonders Center!
Wonders Center is the Nashville area’s newest science museum. We absolutely love it because it is a Biblically based science museum and I can trust that anything that they put out is going to be family-friendly….including this family-friendly Christmas comedy show!
We will be there and I hope to see you there too!
Zoolumination
Zoolumination is the country’s largest lantern festival and it’s right here at the Nashville Zoo! There are over 1,000 lanterns, some even reaching 100 feet long!
Artist bring mythical creatures alive with their Fantastical Beasts displays, special performers have nightly shows, and keeping with the theme – the Quills Cafe & Grill will be featuring a Chinese takeout-themed menu!
Running through middle of February, this makes a great “experience gift” for Christmas also.
Amy Grant & Vince Gill Christmas Special At The Ryman!
Two legendary Nashville voices at a legendary location with a Christmas theme = yes, please!
There isn’t a bad seat in the Ryman and it is small enough to feel that this is an intimate concert. Vince Gill himself said of performing at the Ryman, “āItās pretty powerful,ā he said. āPeople go in there and feel connected, and thatās, as a performer, what youāre always hoping for.ā
Perfect for a date night out!
For King & Country: A Drummer Boy Christmas At The Ryman!
Speaking of incredible Nashville duos that are playing at the Ryman this Christmas season, For King & Country will be doing their A Drummer Boy Christmas show there and this is going to be a MUST SEE!
Watch a Christmas Classic At The Historic Franklin Theater
Built in 1937, the Historic Franklin Theater is a perfect place to get in the Christmas mood.
They will have several Christmas themed movies and even live performances happening throughout the month of December. To check out their full calendar of events click here.
Your Favorite Christmas Movies With Live Music!
If seeing one of your favorite holiday films be brought to life sounds exciting to you, then you should go see a Christmas show where all of the music is live at the Nashville Symphony Schermerhorn Symphony Center!
From Home Alone to Elf, they have a great Christmas lineup and even have live performances as well.
We all watch our favorite Christmas movies every year, this time do it with a twist and watch it with the music and sound effects being done live!
Free Ice Skating!
World Outreach Church located just south of Nashville in Murfreesboro has been doing free ice skating for the Christmas season for years now.
While the ice skating is free, it is first-come, first-serve basis so know that you may have to wait awhile going into it. But totally worth it for a free, family outing!
If the line is just too long, scoot on over to another ice skating rink in Mufreesboro called Winterfest. It isn’t free though as it costs $15 for 13+ and $12 for kids 4-12. Kids 3 and under are free with admission.
And for downtown Nashville ice skating, check out The Rink Above Broadway at the Grand Hyatt. Price is $10 pp Mon-Th and $15 pp Fri-Sun. Reservations aren’t required but definitely recommended as anything in downtown Nashville gets booked up fast!
Michael W. Smith: Every Christmas Show
Michael W. Smith is a multi-platinum singer-songwriter and will be coming to Nashville this Christmas season for his Every Christmas concert tour.
This is concert is designed for the whole family and Michael and his friends will be performing their most popular Christmas classics at the Fisher Center at Belmont University.
A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live On Stage
If you want to know what Christmas is all about (this is a nod toward Linus’ famous speech in case you didn’t already catch that lol), join the Charlie Brown gang in Nashville this year with their live show at The Fisher Center (located at Belmont University)!
Winter Frolic at The Hermitage
President Andrew Jackson’s home here in the Nashville area puts on a very unique event called The Winter Frolic.
The Frolic is designed to give you a glimpse into what President Jackson’s life was like while he was in the White House.
From winter games that he liked to play with his family to decorations and festive drinks – you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time at the Winter Frolic held on January 4th.
This is a great gift to give since it is after Christmas. We gave it to my in-laws last year and they had a great time!
Pontoon Saloon’s Holiday Cruise
Take on the Nashville’s Christmas skyline from another angle – by boat! Pontoon Saloon has holiday sunset & skyline cruises available to the public or you can do a private tour.
Classic Nashville Christmas Must-Do Spots
Opryland Hotel
If you want lights, entertainment, ice sculptures, yummy food and even a boat ride on an indoor river – then Opryland Hotel has to be #1 on your “Christmas in Nashville” list!
They “Decks the Halls” like no other and it is the perfect place to kick off your Christmas season! With over 2 million pounds of hand-carved ice sculptures in their ICE! exhibit (this year it is decorated as Frosty the Snowman) and 3 million Christmas lights, there is no way that you can’t feel festive after a visit to Opryland!
Plus, they have over 20 holiday events and activities from a Country Music Dinner Show to the free fountain light show, you can find all of their events by clicking here.
Pro Tip – park at the Opryland Mall and walk over to the Opryland Hotel to save yourself their incredibly high parking lot fees!
Cheekwood Gardens
Cheekwood Gardens is another spot that tops the list as they have over 1 million lights strung throughout a one-mile walking path on the 55-acre estate.
This year, there is an extra-special treat if you tour the historic mansion as it has been decorated by former White House florist Laura Dowling!
And if are looking for a place to have your dog’s photo with Santa – Cheekwood is it! Check out their full list of activities, including pups with Santa, here.
FrankTown Festival of Lights
If it is just too cold and you want to stay inside your toasty car, then the FrankTown Festival of Lights is the thing for you!
The mile-and-a-half light show has synchronized lights to music that you play on your car radio making it extra fun as you can sing along to the light show. Kids love this!
After you drive through all of the Christmas lights, you can park and walk over to the fire pits to make s’mores, take photos, and even grab a bite to eat from the food truck.
Opry Country Christmas
Take something as famous as Christmas and pair it with something as famous as The Grand Ole Opry and there is no doubt that you will have a great time!
The Grand Ole Opry will have 10 nights of Christmas shows with big stars so grab your tickets now before they sell out!
Nutcracker & A Christmas Carol at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center!
TPAC is the place to go this Christmas in Nashville for the beloved Christmas Carol and The Nutcracker!
These timeless plays are a staple at Christmas for so many so plan your night out at this beloved Nashville theater this season!
Mocktails Or Cocktails At Nashville’s Christmas Pop-Up Bars!
Nashville is known for it’s honky-tonks but there are enough pop-up festive bars across this city to completely rival Lower Broadway.
Even though I’m a mocktail girl, I’m also a big fan of visiting these places for the esthetics and to see how creative the teams were in decorating.
Because these have become so popular, wait times can be very long so make sure to book reservations!
For a full list of the area’s pop-up bars, check out Nashville Guru as they have done a great job at compiling it all!
Dickens Of A Christmas
Just south of Nashville is the Historic Franklin, TN – the home to the Dickens of a Christmas festival! This festival has been running for 39 years and has become a beloved event across Middle TN.
Expect to see characters such as Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, a Victorian Father and Mother Christmas and the nefarious Fagin from Oliver Twist!
The festival will be held on December 14-15. See you there!
Santa’s Not The Only One On A Rooftop…
Nashville has a ton of rooftops and pretty much all of them will be decorated for the Christmas season, but I have to include one of my favorites to this list – Camp Bobby located on the rooftop of The Bobby Hotel.
I love this spot all year round actually but there is something super fun about it during the winter as they have the igloos and a great view of the Batman building. Plus, their bus that they have on the top is so unique!
Leiper’s Fork Christmas Parade
Historic Leiper’s Fork is just west of downtown Franklin and their Christmas parade is something that everyone should put on their list!
Not only is Leiper’s Fork just a fun place to visit as it is such a quaint little town (like if you blink, you’ll miss it!) but it is the kind of town that country songs are made of!
So come on out to Leiper’s Fork on Saturday, December 14th at 2pm – another place where we could run into each other!
Nativity Scenes and Christmas Church Concerts
The Christmas season is a super fun and enjoyable season but I definitely want to add in that this is the time of year where the world comes together to celebrate Jesus’ birth (although He wasn’t born at this time…more about that in another blog post later. š )
Nashville has a church on every corner and almost all of them will be holding special events throughout the month. From Christmas concerts, to walk-thru nativity scenes, to Christmas Eve candlelight services.
I highly suggest taking time this season to reflect on the Lord and how He sent His Son as His redemptive plan for us!
The Wrap Upā¦The 2024 Nashville Christmas Bucket List!
There is plenty for you to experience when it comes to visiting Nashville at Christmas time! From concerts to theater to Christmas lights galore…Nashville is a perfect spot to either visit or do a staycation for this season.
I hope that this list has helped you plan some fun things to do and I hope that you try at least one thing that is on the “unique” items list!
Thanks for readingā¦now go live that Free Life, my friends!
