When snow finally hits Middle Tennessee usually right around mid-January, it feels like a gift. The world slows down, neighborhoods get quieter, and kids wake up buzzing with excitement the second they look outside.
Instead of trying to “fill the day,” think of a snow day as a rhythm. Here’s what the perfect Nashville snow day itinerary looks like from morning to night.
Morning: Sledding + Big Energy Burn
Sledding: Nashville’s Hills Are the Real MVP
One thing Nashville does exceptionally well? Hills.
From neighborhood streets to grassy slopes tucked inside subdivisions, sledding spots seem to appear everywhere once snow sticks. Half the fun is scouting the neighborhood to find the best hills—kids quickly figure out where to go, and before long, those spots turn into sledding hangouts.
Expect this to last hours. Our kids sled nonstop, run inside for hot chocolate, peel off soggy gloves, and head right back out again. Neighbors bring out sleds, pool floats, cardboard boxes—whatever slides—and suddenly it feels like a community event.
Snowball Fights
Once sledding slows, snowball fights naturally take over. Keep rules simple (no faces, parents are fair game) and let the chaos happen. Loud, messy, and full of laughter—just as it should be.
Late Morning: Snow Creations & Busy Bee Energy
Build Snowmen (and Snow Everything Else)
This is when creativity takes over.
Snowmen don’t need to be perfect—or even snowmen. Let kids build tiny snow people, giant lopsided creations, snow animals, forts, or entire snow families. Sticks, leaves, pinecones, scarves, and whatever you can find make the best accessories.
This is the busy bee part of the day—everyone outside working on their snowy masterpieces.
Midday: Snow Treats + Creative Extras
Make Snow Cones
A snow day rite of passage.
Grab clean snow, add flavored syrup, juice, or a sprinkle of Kool-Aid powder, and suddenly snow becomes dessert. It’s simple, messy, and unforgettable.
Pro tip: designate one bowl as the official snow cone bowl so everyone’s on the same page.
Create Ice Globes for the Front Walkway
You’ll need:
- Balloons
- Water
- Food coloring
- Cold weather
How to do it:
- Fill balloons with water.
- Add a few drops of food coloring.
- Tie and place outside to freeze.
- Once frozen solid, peel off the balloon.
You’ll be left with beautiful, marble-like ice globes that look magical lining your front walkway—simple, creative, and screen-free.
Afternoon: Warm Up + Neighborhood Snow Stroll
Take an Indoor Break
After a full morning outside, it’s time to warm everything back up.
Put on a favorite movie and let it play while you watch the snow fall through the windows. Enjoy a hot meal—soup, chili, grilled cheese—whatever feels cozy. Pour mugs of hot cocoa, kick off wet socks, and let everyone thaw out.
Pro mom move: toss snow pants, gloves, hats, and socks straight into the dryer. When everyone’s ready to head back out, everything is warm, dry, and toasty, which somehow makes round two even better.
Build a fire indoors and let the snow melt away for a bit.
Neighborhood Snow Walk
Now that everyone’s had the morning to build, sled, and create, it’s the perfect time for a slow neighborhood stroll.
Walk around and admire all the snowmen, forts, and sled tracks the busy bees have been working on all morning. You’ll spot creative masterpieces, familiar neighbors, and dogs experiencing snow for the first time. It’s calm, quiet, and one of the most underrated parts of a snow day.
Evening: One Last Snow Moment + Wind Down
If there’s still snow on the ground, squeeze in one last quick trip outside—just enough to say you did. Then it’s baths, pajamas, and a slower-than-usual bedtime.
Let dinner run late.
Let bedtime stretch.
Snow days aren’t about schedules they’re about memories.
