It’s the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR {even in a mask and while social distancing}. I’m so thankful that there are lots of festive ways to spend the holidays and continue special traditions this year. I think we can all use as much cheer and joy as possible. Please check websites to stay up to date with safety precautions. What are you looking forward to for the holidays this year?
- November 13th through January 3, 2021
- Gaylord Opryland
- Explore acres of twinkling lights & decorations and exciting holiday activities, shows, and events, from ice tubing and ice skating to our all-new I Love Christmas Movies™ pop-up experience and The Oak Ridge Boys “Christmas in Tennessee” Dinner Show! Find all the details and book your packages here. Save up to 40% off when you bundle experiences. Use code NASHTN30 for 30% off I LOVE CHRISTMAS MOVIES (Offer valid November 13, 2020 through December 17, 2020, excluding Fridays and Saturdays. Valid up to 10 tickets. Not valid with any other discounts, bundles, promotions, or groups. Not retroactive. Other restrictions, taxes, and fees will apply.)
- November 20th through January 10th, 2021 Timed-ticketed event
- Cheekwood
- Over a million lights, new Nutcracker Marche in the Mansion, Reindeer Village, new Children’s Wonderland, S’mores Central, a letter writing station to Santa, Holiday Workshops and so much more! Timed tickets must be purchased online in advance.
- November 13th through January 3, 2021
- James Ward Agricultural Center (945 E. Baddour Parkway, Lebanon)
- Family owned The Dancing Lights returns for it’s 11th consective season with Tennessee’s largest synchronized light and music show with a 2.5 mile route and over two million lights dancing to upbeat Christmas music through your car stereo. Open rain or shine and on ALL holidays. $25 per family vehicle.
Christmas Cookie Decorating Class
- Every Sunday, November 29th through December 20th
- Pies by Gigi
- Gigi and her team will help ring in the season with lots of sprinkles, sweets, and fun. Enjoy the magic of Christmas with holiday music while you decorate and make special cookies for Santa and YOU! Register in advance here.
The Mall at Green Hills Santa Experience
- Through December 24th
- Mall at Green Hills
- Santa and his elves have reimagined Santa’s Flight Academy into a socially-distanced, non-contact holiday experience. All photo sessions are by reservation only and require pre-payment. Masks required at all times, including the photoshoot, for guests ages 2 and up (and Santa too!) Santa will maintain a 6’ distance from guests at all times. Heightened cleaning protocols and hand sanitizer provided. Make your reservation here.
- Thanksgiving Night through December 26th from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Williamson County Ag Expo
- The 3rd Annual Festival of Lights opens Thanksgiving Day! Enjoy driving through this holiday tradition that benefits local at-risk children.
- Deer Run is hosting lots of family fun this winter including Parents’ Night Outs (Dec. 11th and 18th from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.), Brunch with Santa (Dec. 12th and 19th), Cookie Baking and Decorating, Holiday Movies on the weekends and lots more! Cabins and lodge room rentals are also 25% off! Find all the details here.
- Beginning November 1st
- Santa’s Online
- Schedule your virtual visit with Santa this year to keep him healthy! Visits are scheduled every 15 minutes 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Eastern) Santa LIVE! Is proud to donate a portion of our proceeds to Pay Away the Layaway. Their mission is to inspire hope and spread kindness by helping families pay off layaway balances on gifts, school supplies, toys, books, games and clothes for KIDS. Bring magic into someone else’s home by bringing magic into your own!
- Through December 31st
- Nashville Fairgrounds
- JINGLE BEAT is an outdoor drive-thru light, sound and sensory experience that brings the enchanting and playful joys of the holiday season to life in an unforgettable adventure for all ages!
Pancakes and Pictures with Santa
- Saturday, December 5th and Sunday, December 6th
- Blue Barn 2710 Bristow Road, Columbia
- Stop by the Blue Barn for a visit to Santa’s Snowshop with pancake or cookie decorating, children’s crafts, food trucks, bounce houses, a petting zoo and more. Purchase your tickets here.
- Beginning November 13th (Fridays and Saturdays only from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.)
- Rooftop Lounge at Bobby Hotel
- Heated igloos are back this winter! Igloo reservations are available for up to 90 minutes for up to 5 guests with $250 food/beverage minimum. The igloos will have cozy blankets, holiday trees, festive menu items and more. To make a reservation, email [email protected]
- Sunday, November 22nd from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Thistle Farms
- A socially distanced shopping event with wine, sales, free gifts, and more. Attendance will be limited to 30 guests at a time. Tickets are $15 and include $10 store credit to be used that day, a wine ticket and essential oil. Purchase your tickets here.
North Pole Express Santa Excursion Train
- Select Saturdays November 21st and December 5th, 12th and 19th
- Tennessee Central Railway Museum (220 Willow Street, Nashville)
- Enjoy a ride on a restored classic streamlined stainless steel passenger train with Santa and his Elves! Refreshments and souvenirs also available.
- November 7th through December 24th
- Bass Pro Shop (Opry Mills Mall)
- Bass Pro Shop is offering free photos with Santa with safety measures in place. Guests must make online reservations for a contact free visit with Santa. There will also have free activity kits.
- Sunday, November 29th from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sugar Drop (574 Franklin Road, Suite 110 Brentwood, TN 37027)
- Santa is coming to Sugar Drop! Sugar Drop will be open Sunday, 11/29 for this exclusive private, one-day-only event! Join Sugar Drop for a photograph and cookie decorating experience! Guests sign up for a 30-minute window to allow for social distancing. Guests will not be able to enter the store until 10 minutes prior to their scheduled time slot. Each family will have 5 minutes with Santa and Amy Connors Photography. Guests will receive digital images of their session after the event. While families are waiting, they can enjoy cookie decorating with Mrs. Clause, ornament decorating, sip on a holiday cotton candy drink, fill out a Sugar Drop Wish List to hand to Santa, and will receive a sweet surprise gift, perfect for holiday baking!$100.00 includes the experience and photos for a family of up to 4 children. Sign up additional students for 20.00 each, a max of six people per family.10% of ticket sales will be given to support the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home. An Angel Tree will also be available to support their amazing work this holiday season. Due to Sugar Drop Covid restrictions, only two parents/or guardians are allowed with each family group. No additional guests, including extended family, are allowed for this event. A max of six people per family is allowed in at a time. Sugar Drop Staff and Amy Conners will be abiding by Williamson County Covid Requirements and will be wearing a mask during this event. Parents and or Guardians must wear a mask in accordance with Williamson County Covid Requirements but Santa will be enjoying cookies and milk throughout the day and students 12 and under will not be required to wear a mask. Masks will not be required during photos but are optional. Children can sit next to Santa, on his lap, or in the area around him. All necessary sanitation precautions will be taken between guests entering and exiting throughout the day . Safety precautions include Social Distancing, Sanitization Between Guests and Temperature Screening. Sign up here.
WinterFest at Fountains at Gateway
- November 20th through January 4th
- Fountains at Gateway in Murfreesboro
- Winterfest is back for another fun season of ice skating! Skate rentals are available or you’re able to bring your own! Check hours of operation and rates here.
- November 28th, December 28th through 31st, January 2nd, 9th and 16th
- Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary
- Enjoy a hike in the winter woods followed by hot chocolate and marshmallows. Register here.
Bows and Ballcaps Breakfast with Santa
- Saturday, November 28th from 8:30 a.m. or 11 a.m.
- Bluegrass Yacht & Country Club 550 Johnny Cash Parkway Hendersonville, TN 37075
- 14th Annual Breakfast with Santa to benefit Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. Guests will enjoy breakfast, visits from special guests, crafts for the kids and pictures with Santa. *Social distancing will be in place*. Please bring a new, unwrapped toy for children in the hospital. Purchase your ticket here.
- Wednesday, December 2nd through Friday, December 4th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Loveless Cafe (The Harpeth Room)
- Loveless Cafe is offering free family photos in Santa’s sleigh with a professional photographer. Please bring a canned good or new toy for a child in need. Photo time slots must be reserved in advance. **Santa will not be present** Social distancing will be practiced and other safety measures in place.
- Saturday, December 5th from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- 2416 Music Valley Drive
- Socially Distant Photos with Santa and his Retro Flying Ham Trailer, Live Music, Kids Crafting Station, Vendors and more!
- Friday, December 18th, Saturday, December 19th and Sunday, December 20th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- 1646 Sunset Road, Brentwood
- Enjoy a drive-thru nativity with real animals and thousands of Christmas lights.
Nashville’s Nutcracker Televised Premiere
- Premiere: Friday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m.; Re-Air Dates: Thursday, Dec. 24 at 7 p.m. and Friday, Dec. 25 at 3 p.m.
- Watch on NewsChannel 5 (WTVF Nashville), NewsChannel 5+, or the WTVF app that can be found on Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Amazon Alexa, and Google Play
- Nashville Ballet is partnering with CBS affiliate NewsChannel 5 to present a televised premiere of Nashville’s Nutcracker for the first time in company history! The holiday season simply isn’t complete without the heartwarming tradition of Nashville’s Nutcracker. Take a sparkling—and socially distant—journey through the Land of the Sweets and Music City’s glittering past right from the comfort of your own living room. The special two-hour production will feature all-new elements, including an introduction and narration by former Tennessee Titan Eddie George! Plus, NewsChannel 5 will present a unique behind-the-scenes special featuring coveted access into the making of the holiday classic.
- Gingerbread Finalists will be on display December 1st through the 13th and available to bid on in the silent auction. Gingerbread house kits can also be ordered through December 14th.
- The Harpeth Hotel, Franklin
- Davis House will host a gingerbread house competition amongst professional bakers and will award the Top 4 applicants with a prize package, which will include the display of each of their houses at The Harpeth Hotel in Downtown Franklin. The community will have the opportunity to view the houses on display at the hotel and will be able to bid on each of the houses in a silent auction to take place from December 1 and closing on December 13 at 8pm CST. Local celebrity chefs and bakers Summer Deepe (Summer’s Sweet Shoppe), Nate Clingman (The Bearded Baker) and Devin Walline (Executive Chef of 1799 Kitchen & Cocktails Restaurant at the Harpeth) will vote to determine the Grand Prize gingerbread house winner.
- The community will also have the opportunity to purchase their own Gingerbread Home Holiday Kits to make at home. Davis House will host a safe and festive drive-thru pick-up event on Saturday, De cember 19 from 1-4PM at the Davis House Franklin location. (Limited delivery is available for purchase within a 15-mile radius of the Davis House Franklin location).
Happiest Holidays to you!