Last Updated on August 28, 2024 by Tori’s VA
Nashville might be known for its music, but there is so much more that this city has to offer! There are so many Christmas things to do in Nashville, that you will have to start planning a trip here immediately. Or, if you already live in the area, start booking up your December weekends with these fun activities!
This post may contain affiliate links for activities, destinations and products that I love, and think you will too!
Why visit Nashville for Christmas?
There is a super wide variety of Christmas things to do in Nashville, so there is something for everyone. Want to make the holidays filled with lights and live music? Great! Hate country music? That’s okay too, there’s so much else to do. Have kids? Don’t worry, there’s activities they’ll love.
The weather is cold without being that below-freezing miserable type of cold. The middle of the day actually warms up to be super enjoyable during the holiday season! So, book a flight and get to Music City for Christmas!
How to get there?
Driving to Nashville is pretty easy for many on the East Coast as it is pretty centrally located. The drive is under 8 hours from many major cities!
Otherwise, fly into Nashville International Airport which services 26 passenger airlines and over 500 daily flights. All that to say, it’s pretty easy to fly to Nashville! Once you arrive, the airport is only about 15 minutes outside the city, a quick Uber ride or you can rent a car.
Where to Stay in Nashville During Christmas Time?
There’s tons of great hotels in Nashville to choose from, but I have a few personal favorites. If you’re visiting during the month of December, I would recommend that you stay at the Bobby Hotel. It’s located right in downtown, so it is within walking distance to many of the best Christmas things to do in Nashville.
But the best part is the rooftop bar that turns festive during December. The whole place becomes a 70’s inspired winter wonderland complete with igloos, campfires, holiday-inspired cocktails and an ice skating rink. Yes, an ice skating rink on the roof. This is one of the best Christmas things to do in Nashville, and can be right on top of your hotel room if you book at the Bobby Hotel.
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Christmas Things to do in Nashville
Gaylord Hotel
My all time favorite Christmas thing to do in Nashville is to visit the Gaylord Opryland Hotel for their massive holiday celebration and lights display. If you’ve never visited a Gaylord Hotel before, no matter the time of year, then you are sure in for a treat. The hotels are known for their atriums in the center of the hotels that are filled with plants, flowers, gorgeous décor, activities and restaurants. It’s an entire little town inside the middle of these hotels.
The Gaylord Opryland specifically has a river that runs through the atrium and you can actually take a boat ride around. It’s quite remarkable. The restaurants range from casual cafes, sports bars to fine dining.
But a visit to the Gaylord Opryland during Christmas is an entirely elevated experience. The whole atrium is decorated from top to bottom in Christmas lights and decor. The huge water fountain runs continuous holiday-themed shows. Bars are set up around the building for holiday themed drinks like hot cocoa and apple cider. And the Christmas music is on repeat.
Wander outside to the front of the hotel where they have even more lights, gigantic trees, and a nativity display that reads the story of the birth of Jesus on repeat. You can opt to jump on a horse drawn carriage to view the lights in style, for an added fee, and requires reservations.
Head to the back of the hotel for the bulk of the activities. They have multiple ice rinks, a sledding slide, and many other activities for kids and adults to enjoy. It’s like a mini amusement park, there’s seriously so much going on here!
Visiting the Gaylord Opryland is free on select days and times, however in 2021 they started requiring that you purchase one of the add-on tickets to enter during peak times. That usually meant during the evening on weekends, and on select days right around Christmas.
But don’t worry, If you don’t want to do any of the activities, and would just like to explore the grounds then you can just buy one ticket to the cheapest activity. Even the security guards were suggesting this trick, so I think it’s fair for me to share!
Want to really get the full experience at the Gaylord Opryland? Stay here instead and book a room that looks out over the gorgeous atrium. It is a completely unique hotel experience! Wherever you stay, make sure you visit the Gaylord Opryland as it is one of the best Christmas things to do in Nashville and makes for a super fun date night in Nashville too!
Christmas Shows at the Ryman and Grand Ole Opry
Want a Christmas thing to do in Nashville that fully embraces all that Music City is known for? Buy tickets to one of the Christmas shows at the best Nashville music venues while you’re here! Two of the best places to hear live music in town are the Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry.
The Ryman offers a variety of Christmas music shows leading up to Christmas day. In addition, you can see The Nutcracker performed here.
At the Grand Ole Opry, you can see the Opry Country Christmas show at one of their several showings. Or, if you prefer to see their regular Opry show then you can see that throughout the holiday season as well.
Pop-up Bars
For adults visiting Nashville, you’ll adore all of the holiday themed pop-up bars that show up around town this time of year. Would it even be a list of Christmas things to do in Nashville if I didn’t tell you where you could get a spiked apple cider?
These bars are a variety of indoor and outdoor locations with tons of fun holiday themes. They are all super different, but three things are constant. First, the decor is over the top. They go all out on these bars to really put you in the holiday spirit. Talk about insta-worthy photos.
Second, they all have delicious, strong and holiday inspired drinks. Sure, you can get a vodka soda, but that’s no fun. Try a hot cocoa with Baileys or Mulled Wine.
Finally, they almost always are hard to get into. Meaning, you either need a reservation (sometimes weeks in advance) or you have to get there early if you want to get in. On a Friday or Saturday that means getting there as early as 4 or 5pm!! These spots are hot commodities so make sure you don’t miss out.
If you are behind in the game, didn’t make a reservation and don’t want to head out that early, then try visiting the Bobby Hotel rooftop called Camp Bobby (mentioned above). It’s definitely popular, but from our experience it was easier to get into at the last minute when we were not prepared.
The bars in Nashville are already super fun, but when they get decked out in holiday décor it’s even better!
General Jackson Showboat
The General Jackson Showboat is a fun experience year round, but is especially fun during the holidays. It’s an incredible experience enjoying a gourmet meal, watching the band perform on stage and riding down the Cumberland River. The river runs through downtown Nashville, so you’ll get picture perfect views of the city skyline from the deck of the boat. The food really is delicious and the performers are talented and a lot of fun.
Throughout the entire month of December, literally almost every day, they run their special Christmas Cruise. They offer lunch time and dinner options at different price points. Want the ultimate experience? Book the New Year’s Eve cruise and count down to the New Year from the boat with the fireworks going off over the city and balloons dropping over the dance floor. We did this to ring in 2022 and it was the best New Year’s Eve experience we’ve ever had!
Holiday Lights Experience at Cheekwood
Cheekwood is an estate and gardens located just outside the city. The property is large and filled with history! During the holiday season, they hold their Holiday Lights Experience and decorate the property with one million lights that dance to the holiday music.
While you’re here, wander the property with hot chocolate in hand, visit the live reindeer, or roast a s’more over one of the fire pits. The mansion is decorated with over 500 poinsettias and they have special holiday art exhibits as well. It’s another one of the best Christmas things to do in Nashville with kids, but is a magical experience for adults too.
I also love visiting Cheekwood during Springtime in Nashville to see all of the beautiful blooms around the property!
North Pole Express Train
The Tennessee Central Railway Museum offers a train ride to the North Pole on select Saturdays throughout the holiday season, beginning as early as mid-November! The ride is 2.5 hours long and they have a 9am and 2:30pm option each day. You’ll get to meet Santa and his elves and food is available for purchase. But, these tickets sell out fast, so buy them early!
Not the cheapest experience on the list, but definitely a must do for families. Your kids will never forget the time they rode to the North Pole to see Santa!
Nashville’s Nutcracker
The Nashville Ballet is best experienced during the Christmas season when they perform Nashville’s Nutcracker. I don’t think there’s anything more traditional that you can do during Christmas time than to see the Nutcracker, and you don’t even have to go to NYC to enjoy the show!
With 15 performance dates and times, you’ll definitely be able to fit this into your schedule of Christmas things to do in Nashville.
East Nashville Holiday Market
Looking for handcrafted holiday décor? Maybe you need some Christmas gifts. Or, if you’re like me you just love a good market, even if there’s nothing you need. Support the local Nashville community and visit the East Nashville Holiday Market! This doesn’t run throughout the entire holiday season, so check the dates and see if you can make it!
Arrington Vineyards
While many of the Christmas things to do in Nashville on this list are extremely Christmas themed, this one is a little more subtle. Arrington Vineyards is the best spot in Nashville for wine drinkers, and is located just 30 minutes outside of the city. They decorate the property for the holidays and often hold a holiday event this time of year, so check the event calendar! The property is huge, and during the winter it’s not packed so you can have more space for you and your friends or family.
Visit the vineyard for a tasting and be sure to bring your best charcuterie board and blankets with you. It’s my family’s favorite thing to do when they visit and the winter is no exception.
Another plus, the vineyard is close to many of the best hikes in Nashville. So you could spend the morning hiking and then relax afterwards at the vineyard, a perfect day if you ask me!
I hope you have the most magical and festive Christmas in Nashville. I know we sure do!
