The question was “What are your favorite holiday things to do?” The moms made up a list and here are the top picks! (Updated for 2024!)
Christmas Lights
The Dancing Lights of Christmas
Middle Tennessee’s largest drive-thru Christmas light and music show.
http://www.thedancinglightsofchristmas.com/
FrankTown Festival of Lights
Williamson County’s own drive-thru light display at the Ag Center in Franklin.
http://franktownlights.com/
Chad’s Winter Wonderland
Drive-thru Lighting Event: Open every night from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve (weather permitting).
https://www.facebook.com/chadswinterwonderland/
Drive Thru Christmas Lights at Clarksville Speedway
Drive-thru Lighting Event: Enjoy over one mile and over a three million lights, from the comfort of your car.
https://www.clarksvillespeedway.com/other-events/christmas-lights/
Franklin Holiday Lights Trolley Tour
Sit back, relax, and listen to your favorite holiday music, while enjoying the beautiful lights of Franklin, TN and Williamson County on the Franklin Holiday Lights Trolley Tour.
https://www.hellotrolley.com/holiday-lights-tours
Hoover Lights (1390 Neil Road, Chapel Hill)
A synchronized Christmas light display in front of a single home in Chapel Hill, TN with over 80,000 lights. Viewers are able to watch and listen in their cars as the lights dance to music.
http://hooverlights.com/
Music City Light Show (5361 Skip Jack Dr, Antioch)
Synchronized Christmas lights set to music in front on a single home in Antioch, TN.
https://www.facebook.com/musiccitylightshow/
Christmas on the Cumberland
Over one million lights along the Cumberland RiverWalk! Free!
https://www.visitclarksvilletn.com/events/holiday/christmas-on-the-cumberland/
Cheekwood Holiday Lights
One million lights illuminating the gardens for the prettiest winter stroll of the season.
https://cheekwood.org/calendar/holiday-lights/
Opryland Hotel
Featuring more than two million lights and festive decor and many activities like ice skating, bumper cars, and a holiday scavenger hunt.
*Park at the mall and walk over to the hotel to avoid parking fees.
*Resort campus access is restricted most days throughout the holiday season starting at 2pm CT; room or event reservation will be required to enter after 2pm. Click here for more details on these restrictions.
https://christmasatgaylordopryland.marriott.com/
Luminaries in Brentwood
Neighborhoods line their streets with luminaries all over Brentwood on Saturday, Dec 14, 2024, 6:00 – 11:00pm (weather permitting).
Holiday Events
Morning with Santa
Santa Claus is coming to The Brentwood Library for Morning with Santa! Kids will be able to meet Santa, enjoy games, and more. The event is free, but participants must have a pass for the magic shows. Passes can be picked up at the Brentwood Library children’s desk. Saturday, December 7, 2024, 9:00am – 12:00pm.
https://brentwood-tn.libcal.com/event/13126746
Lighting of the Green at Lipscomb University
Free concert, free photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, free hot chocolate and cookies, Merry Marketplace shopping, and the lighting of a 30-foot tree in the Allen Arena mall. December 3, 2024 6:00-9:00pm.
https://www.lipscomb.edu/news/events
Brighten Brentwood Tree Lighting
The tree lighting will take place December 2, 2024 5:30 – 6:30pm at the John P. Holt Brentwood Library. The evening is filled with special music, holiday treats, complimentary hot cocoa, and live readings of The Polar Express in the Brentwood Library Reading Room. The event is free, but you must have a ticket for the reading. Tickets can be picked up at the Brentwood Library children’s desk.
https://www.brentwoodtn.gov/departments/community-relations/city-sponsored-events/holiday-events
Walk Thru Bethlehem
Live nativity includes costumed actors, live animals, and recreated scenes of Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth. Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 from 12:00 – 6:00 pm.
https://woodmontchristian.org/walk-thru-bethlehem/
Dickens of a Christmas
Dickens of a Christmas is Middle Tennessee’s largest outdoor Christmas festival, returning this year from December 14 – December 15, 2024 in Downtown Franklin.
https://williamsonheritage.org/events/dickens-of-a-christmas/
Paint Nights
Find free, live holiday-themed paint nights available this season on Facebook Events. Stay home and have a family paint night.
https://www.facebook.com/keepitcolourful/events
Nashville’s Nutcracker
Nashville Ballet is once again bringing Music City’s favorite holiday tradition to TPAC’s Jackson Hall, December 6-26, 2024. Read more about Nashville’s Nutcracker here.
https://www.nashvilleballet.com/nashvilles-nutcracker
Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shop
Free photos with Santa, crafts, games, and activities. Reservations are required for photos with Santa. Santa arrives on November 2, 2024.
https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/santas-wonderland
Owl’s Hill Marshmallow Hikes
Join a winter nature hike followed by hot chocolate and roasted marshmallows. Select dates Nov 30, 2024 through January 11, 2025. See website for dates and registration.
https://www.owlshill.org/marshmallow-hikes
Zoolumination at the Nashville Zoo
Visit the country’s largest Chinese Lantern Festival featuring over 1,000 colorful silk lanterns. Select days, November 14, 2024 – February 9, 2025.
https://www.nashvillezoo.org/zoolumination
Happy Noon Year
Adventure Science Center has the solution for a kid-friendly New Year’s party that gets everyone to bed on time. This is a sell-out event. Purchase tickets in advance.
https://www.adventuresci.org/
