“It’s the most wonderful time of the year”….. Temperatures are dropping, and the holiday season is upon us. November to New Year’s is my favorite time of the year because there are so many family-friendly fun events going on. We have gathered a list of everything you need to fill up your calendar with seasonal fun!
2022 Nashville Family Christmas and Holiday Event Round-Up
Events and Festivities
Christmas at Gaylord Opryland
Nov. 11, 2022 – Jan. 1, 2023
There is no better way to celebrate the holidays than gathering your family for Christmas at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville.
*ICE! Featuring Rudolph
*The Oak Ridge Boys Christmas Dinner
*Ice Tubing
*Gingerbread Decorating
*Rudolph’s Holly Jolly Breakfast
*Ice Skating
*Scavenger Hunt
*Christmas Lights & More!
November 19, 2022 – January 08, 2023 | 5 – 10 PM
2022 Holiday LIGHTS at Cheekwood features elegant and creative light displays along a one-mile walking path that sets the gardens aglow. With sparkling interactive features, s’mores and bar stations, and a 20-foot-tall poinsettia tree in the bedecked historic mansion, Holiday LIGHTS is the ideal, memory-making experience for visitors of all ages.
The Dancing Lights of Christmas
November 11, 2022-Jan 1, 2023
1033 Sparta Pike, Lebanon
Sunday–Thursday 5-10 pm
Friday–Saturday 5-11 pm
$30 per family vehicle*
Santa’s Village and pictures with Santa also available (Santa available through Dec.23)
November 25-December 31
AMERICA’S FIRST HOLIDAY MULTIVERSE EXPERIENCE
The Jingle Beat immersive holiday pop-up will take place at the Nashville Fairgrounds. This family-friendly experience will feature more than 100,000 square feet to explore, engaging installations, live performances, light and video displays, and delicious food and drinks. Ticket prices start at $24 (children 3 and under are FREE admission).
November 18- December 31, 2022, 5-9PM
4215 Long Lane- Williamson County Ag Expo Center in Franklin
The Festival of Lights is a rain or shine event that benefits FrankTown Open Hearts, a local nonprofit. This is the longest drive-thru holiday lights spectacular in Williamson County where we just added a half-mile extension! FrankTown Festival of Lights features over 200 displays that are synchronized to Christmas classics that guests can listen to on the radio as they enjoy the mile-and-a-half-long route.
In addition, we have FIVE Walkin’ Wednesdays where guests can park their cars and walk the lighted route. Finish the night by taking photos at the giant tree and making s’mores over the fire pit! This year’s Walkin’ Wednesdays are November 23, 30, and December 7, 14, and 28. Walkers are allowed on the route from 5:00-6:30 pm. The route opens each of these nights at 7:00 pm for cars. We have special character nights as well! Follow our Instagram and Facebook pages to keep up-to-date on all things FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS!
2nd Annual Christmas in Brentwood
December 4, 3-7PM
219 Granny White Pike, Brentwood
This community-wide celebration featuring Christian recording artist Point of Grace will be a fun and festive way to ring in the Advent season, celebrating the birth of Jesus! This free event, organized and hosted by Brentwood Academy, will feature family-friendly Christmas activities, culminating with the lighting of the Great Brentwood Academy Christmas Tree.
Christmas in Brentwood is excited to partner with the Nashville Rescue Mission. Attendees are encouraged to bring new undergarments such as large t-shirts, underwear, and socks to donate to the Nashville Rescue Mission, click the link below for their Christmas Wish List. This is a wonderful opportunity to give to those in need in our community.
Festivities include:
- Santa and Elves
- The lighting of the Great Tree
- Live Music featuring Point of Grace
- Nativity with Live Animals
- Trackless Train
- Bounce Houses
- Christmas Arts and Crafts
- Food Trucks and Coffee Bar
37th Annual Dickens of a Christmas
December 10-11, 10A-5PM
The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, TN’s 37th Annual Dickens of a Christmas is historic Downtown Franklin’s annual Victorian-themed outdoor street festival. Dickens of a Christmas recreates the time of Charles Dickens using historic downtown Franklin’s charming architecture as the backdrop. A variety of musicians, dancers and Dickens characters will fill the streets. Expect to see and interact with the nefarious Fagin from Oliver Twist; Jacob Marley, Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim and the rest of the Cratchit family from A Christmas Carol; and of course, a Victorian Father and Mother Christmas with treats for children.
Christmas Parades
Franklin Kiwanis Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 3, 2-5PM
The Franklin Kiwanis Club, partnering with the WCS Fine Arts Programs, presents a day of holiday fun to welcome Santa Claus to Franklin
City of Goodlettsville Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 3, 4PM
The Annual Goodlettsville Christmas Parade will take place on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 4:00pm. The theme for this year’s parade is Classic Christmas Movies
City of Clarksville Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 3, 5-7PM
Downtown Clarksville, the theme is Christmas Movies!
Hendersonville Christmas Boat Parade
Saturday December 3, 5:30-8:30PM
The Hendersonville “Deck the Hulls” Christmas Boat Parade brings a ton of family fun and excitement to your holiday season! This holiday spectacular is great for all ages and attracts thousands of spectators seeking to enjoy the beautiful boat showcase. This event is organized by HolidayFest with cooperation from the Hendersonville Parks Department.
Columbia Main Street Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting
Saturday, December 3, 6-8PM
The City of Columbia, in partnership with the Columbia Main Street Corporation, invites you to attend the annual Columbia Main Street Parade and Tree Lighting! This night time parade kicks off at 6:00 PM beginning at the Trotwood/W. 7th Street split and marches eastward into downtown and around the Courthouse Square, lasting approximately 1 1/2 hours. Stay with us as we transition from the parade to the tree lighting with about 20 minutes of live entertainment to allow time for parade participants to return to the Square for the tree lighting.
Saturday, December 3, 5PM
The parade begins at City Hall and ends at Veterans Memorial Park, where the tree lighting ceremony and fireworks show will take place. This year’s theme is “Fire Up the Holidays”. The grand marshal is Rutherford County Public Safety Director Chris Clark. Following the parade there will be Christmas carols, snacks, and pictures with Santa.
Saturday, December 3, 3PM
The parade will proceed down Main Street and end at Highway 70 and East Main St
City of Lebanon Christmas Parade
Sunday, December 4, 2PM
Theme: Home for the Holidays
Sunday, December 4, 2PM
Spectators will gather along the parade route to watch floats, bands, classic cars, dancers, and Santa & Mrs. Claus, as they travel northbound on Lowry Street toward Sam Ridley Parkway.
*The Christmas Parade Food Drive is an important tradition in the Town of Smyrna. We believe in neighbor helping neighbor, and we believe that no family in our community should experience food insecurity. Please help us shatter our previous record of 82,384 items collected to benefit Nourish Food Bank. Town personnel will collect food along the parade route
Leiper’s Fork Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 10, 2PM
Enjoy a good ole fashioned country Christmas parade in the heart of Leiper’s Fork. Hailed as “almost famous”, see cows, goats, pigs, antique tractors, floats and more in this wacky but wonderful event! Please arrive early as there is only ONE road thru the village and it will be closed at 1:50pm.
Saturday, December 10, 5-6:30PM
Get out your tinsel, your leg warmers, the Aqua Net, and all the neon you can find for the Spring Hill Christmas Parade 2022: Electric Boogaloo. That’s right, this year’s theme is the 1980s! Will there be breakdancing in the streets? We sure hope so!
Gallatin Christmas Parade presented by The Goddard School
Saturday, December 10, 12-2PM
This year’s theme is the 12 Days of Christmas.
Come enjoy this great Gallatin Tradition with your entire family! The parade will end with Santa Claus kicking off the holiday season!
City of Mt. Juliet Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 10th, 11AM
New Parade Route: Mt. Juliet League off of Lebanon Rd. to East Division Street off of N. Mt. Juliet Rd.
Sunday, December 11, 2PM
Theme: Christmas Through the Years
Santa Sightings
November 11th – December 16th
Park and enter at Entry 2, Santa will be waiting in between Coach and Ann Taylor.
*Caring Santa (sensory friendly event) is December 4th, 9-10:30A
*Pet Photos is December 11th, 6-8P
Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shop, Opry Mills
November 5th – December 24th
Experience the magic of Christmas at Santa’s Wonderland, reservations recommended
FREE 4×6 photo
November 11-December 24
Friday – Sunday 10am-8pm*
Monday – Thursday 12pm-8pm*
*10am-8pm daily from December 19- 22
Know Before You Go:
- Tickets must be purchased in advance, online. No on-site box office.
- Tickets are non-refundable. Optional ticket insurance is available for purchase.
- Event location is Delta Atrium.
- Additional fees for parking are non included in admission and charges will apply.
- Personal Photography is not permitted.
- Please arrive 5 minutes prior to scheduled time.
- Other restrictions may apply
Santa at Cool Springs Galleria
Friday, November 11 through Saturday, December 24
Visit Santa in the Center Court, lower level
- Monday – Thursday: 11am – 7pm, Friday – Saturday: 10am – 8pm, Sunday: 12pm – 6pm
*Please note: Santa takes a break to feed the reindeer from 3pm to 4pm on Monday thru Thursday, 1pm to 2pm and 5pm to 5:45pm on Friday & Saturday, and 2:30pm to 3pm on Sunday. - Pet photos with Santa: Mondays November 21, November 28, December 5, December 12, December 19; from 4pm to 7pm
- Character Appearances: Thursdays November 17, December 1, December 8, December 15; from 5pm to 7pm
- Titan Santa: Wednesday, December 7; from 5pm to 7pm
Santa’s Flight Academy at The Mall at Green Hills
November 17th – December 24th
Upper level near Macy’s
November 19th- December 24th (make a reservation and skip the line!)
*Santa Cares (sensory friendly) December 4, 2022 | 9:30 am – 11:00 am
Snaps with Santa at The Avenue Murfreesboro
*Happy Santa is a special event for children with special needs and their families to visit with Santa in a sensory reduced environment. Space for this event is limited, please reserve your time slot using this link. This year’s Happy Santa will be held in Suite 1450 located near Sunglass Hut and Talbots.
*Snaps with Santa for all kids is November 12th, 11A-2PM- Visit with Santa in Central Park just before we kick off the holidays with our annual Delight the Lights tree lighting!
Pictures with Santa, offered by Consign & Co
Thursday, November 10th, 6-8P *FREE, Murfreesboro
Our 4-Day Pop Up Kids Sale is happening November 9-12th! Stop in on Thursday 11/10 from 6pm – 8pm for pictures with Santa.
Holiday Kick off at L&L Market
Friday, November 11th, 6-8PM
L & L Market, 3820 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville
Each store in the Market will have a special discount or fun treat to help get you in the holiday spirit. There will also be photos with Santa & Mrs. Clause, so bring the kids!
Free Pictures with Santa at Baxter’s Mercantile of Columbia
Saturday, November 12th, 11A-2PM
Baxter’s Mercantile of Columbia- 808 S. Garden St
Join us for our annual free pictures with Santa at Baxter’s Mercantile of Columbia! Santa will be here November 12th from 11am-2pm. Be sure to bring your camera! Kids & pets welcome.
Breakfast with Santa by Bows & Ballcaps and HolidayFest
Saturday, November 26th
Bluegrass Yacht & Country Club, 550 Johnny Cash Parkway, Hendersonville
Please join us for the 16th annual Breakfast with Santa! Choose from two different seating times at 8:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. It will be a morning of family fun with a wonderful buffet breakfast, visits from special guests, crafts for the kids, and, of course, pictures with Santa! This event is the largest fundraiser of the year for BOWS & BALLCAPS, helping fund the organization’s constant supply of bows, ballcaps and other accessories to kids who are going through cancer at 10 children’s hospitals across the US. This event is also a toy drive for Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. Please bring a new, unwrapped toy for children who will wake up on Christmas morning in the hospital. You can find more information on the event and all that we do on our website www.bowsandballcaps.org. We are proud to be a part of Hendersonville’s HolidayFest. Visit www.holidayfesttn.org for information on other local events
Santa is coming to town! And straight to ENC!!
Saturday, November 26th, 9AM-Noon
East Nashville Chiropractic- 211 South 17th Street, Nashville
Santa is coming to town early!! Come with your little ones (or pet!) to our East Nashville Office for some holiday fun and family pictures, hot cocoa, coffee, and s’mores. Photos will be taken by a professional photographer and available for your electronic download and use via email after the event! Coffee and Cocoa will be generously provided by Flora + Fauna of Nashville! All photography donations will go to the Metro Police Christmas Charities.
*Cash donations will be accepted, as well as toy or bicycle donations.*
Saturday, December 3rd, 10th, 17th (10A-2PM) *FREE
Come downtown and get your family’s picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus in the historic Rutherford County courthouse for free. Visit with Santa and then do some shopping around downtown with locally owned small businesses for the holidays!
Pictures with Santa in La Vergne – Winter Festival
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at Veterans Memorial Park to meet with kids of all ages and take pictures. They will be there from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and again after the parade from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Pictures with Santa at Sweet CeCe’s
Sunday, December 4, 5-6:30PM, Sweet CeCe’s Nolensville, *FREE
Grab a sweet treat, and meet Santa! Bring your camera and entire family!
Wednesday, December 7th from 10 am – 12 pm *FREE Santa Claus is coming to town! Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at Linebaugh Library. Mrs. Claus will lead a special Christmas story time with stories and songs, and Santa will be available for pictures!
FREE Professional Photos with Santa @ Brandon Leonard State Farm
Thursday, December 8th, 5-7PM
7648 Hwy 70 S Ste 10 Nashville, TN 37221
Santa Claus is coming to town and will be at Brandon Leonard State Farm on December 8th from 5-7PM! Bring the family and enjoy free professional photos with Santa, hot chocolate, cookies and more! Professional photos by Anna Marie Creative. This event is totally free and open to the public.
Snapshots with Santa at Crieve Hall
Saturday, December 10th, 11A-2PM, Crieve Hall Church of Christ *FREE
Sunday, December 11th, 1-2:30
Hattie Jane’s Creamery, 3078 Maddux Way #Suite 100 Franklin
Join us for a holly jolly afternoon with Santa at Hattie Jane’s Creamery Franklin. Families will be invited to take photos with Santa to commemorate the special occasion, and children will receive a few special presents of their own. Each child will decorate a themed holiday ornament to take home, as well as build a festive ice cream parfait of their sugar plum dreams. Seating is limited and tickets are required for each child in attendance. Reserve your spot now for this special holiday memory!
Christmas Story Time with Santa & Mrs. Clause
Tuesday, December 13th, 10-11AM, Spring Hill Public Library
Mrs. Claus will get you in the holiday mood with a special story and some songs you might recognize. And Santa is stopping by, too! So be ready to tell him what you want for Christmas. You’ll even get to go home with a balloon animal!
Scouts BSA Troop 818’s Second Annual Breakfast with Santa
Saturday, December 17th, 7:30-10:30AM
Martin’s Bar-B-Que, 2076 Wall Street, Spring Hill
Breakfast slots are 30 minutes each. We can seat 60 people at a time, so please sign up for the total number in your party at a time slot that works for you. Photos with Santa will be available to be taken after you’ve finished eating.
Adults – $12 Children ages 4 to 11 – $10 Children 3 and under – FREE
Once you’ve purchased your tickets, please visit our Sign Up Genius at the link to reserve your preferred time slot.
