One of my favorite family traditions is getting in the car, turning on the holiday music, grabbing a coffee or cocoa, and driving through the local neighborhoods during the holiday season to see all the lights and beautiful displays. I encourage you to add this to your family list of to-do’s during December.
We have gathered the best holiday lights in Nashville — and the surrounding areas! There are lots of great ones, and if we’ve missed any, we’d love for you to let us know in the comments. Happy holidays!
Chad’s Winter Wonderland
Dates: Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, open every night
Times: 5-10P
Open regular hours Christmas Eve & Christmas Day
Price: $25 per car load
Good to Know: Chad has added a lot of new stuff again this year that you will not want to miss! Some new things are even MORE live animals, a drive thru Nativity Scene. Don’t forget to bring your letter to Santa. We have a special mailbox just for him. Santa will be there every night!
Holiday LIGHTS at Cheekwood
Dates: November 22nd – January 5th
Times: 4:30 pm – 10 pm; Cheekwood is closed Thanksgiving Day and Night, Christmas Day and Night, and New Year’s Day. Cheekwood will be open New Year’s Night (January, 1, 2023) from 5 – 10 PM
Nashville’s classic holiday tradition returns, featuring a one-mile walking path with elegant and creative displays of lights that set Cheekwood Estate & Gardens aglow. With over one million lights twinkling throughout the gardens, s’mores, seasonal libations and a Holiday Marketplace, Holiday LIGHTS is a memory-making experience for visitors of all ages.
Price:
Adults: Gardens Only $26-29 | Gardens and Mansion $28-31
Youth (3-17) Gardens Only $20-23| Gardens and Mansion $22-25
Ages 2 & Under FREE
*Discounts for members
*Active duty and retired military personnel receive 50% off Gardens Only tickets on Monday nights for up to 5 people with valid ID.
*Discounted tickets are available on select Monday – Thursday nights for 8:30 PM Gardens Only entry. Price is $20 per person (adult or youth). Look for “Late Night LIGHTS” ticket options on the calendar.
The ‘Merry & Bright’ package returns this year with two adult admission passes, two drink tickets and two s’mores kits all in one convenient purchase. The package costs $100 for members and $125 for non-members.
Buy tickets here.
Good to Know: The route is a little over a mile, and is self-guided.
Franktown Festival of Lights
Dates: November 22- December 31
4215 Long Lane- Williamson County Ag Expo Center in Franklin
Times: 5-9 nightly
Price: $35 per vehicle
Walking Wednesdays: On select Wednesday nights, invite your friends and family to join you for a delightful stroll along the illuminated path, capture moments by the Christmas Tree, and enjoy s’mores by the cozy fire. This unique experience is open for walkers each Wednesday from 5:00-6:30PM. The ticket price remains the same so load up the car! Feel free to bring your furry friends, as dogs on leashes are welcome. The route opens to vehicles at 7:00PM on these special evenings.
*This unique experience is open for walkers Nov 27, and Dec 4, 11, 18 from 5:00-6:30PM
Good to Know: 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. Follow our Instagram and Facebook pages to keep up-to-date on all things FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS!
The Dancing Lights of Christmas
Dates: November 8- January 4
Times: Sunday–Thursday 5-10 pm and Friday–Saturday 5-11 pm
Price: $35 per family vehicle* (cash and credit cards accepted)
*FREE to all veterans and military November 10-13 and enjoy $5 all season for military discount
Good to Know: To support Second Harvest Food Bank, bring at least 3 non-perishable food items or canned goods Mondays and Tuesdays on November 11 through December 3 for $5 off per car admission!
Includes Santa’s Village admission, visiting with Santa, and petting the animals in the petting zoo are included with your light show admission! *Through December 23rd
Gaylord Opryland
Dates: November 8th – January 4th
Time: Daily, 5P-midnight
Price: Free
Good to Know: There is a fee to park at the hotel; but, if you’re willing to walk, you may be able to find parking at the mall and walk over.
Drive Through Christmas Lights at Cannonsburgh Village
Free Admission
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
Opening December 6th
5 – 8 p.m.
312 S. Front Street, Murfreesboro
Cannonsburgh Village is hosting a Drive-Through Christmas Lights event! Load up the car and enjoy a festive way to add to those cozy holiday memories. Cannonsburgh Village will come to life with a Christmas light display on the first three weekends in December on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays December 6th-22nd from 5-8 pm. Open to all ages. For more information contact Cannonsburgh Village at 615-890-0355.
Lights on Trotter
Dates: Open from Thanksgiving to New Years Eve
1438 Trotters Lane, Rockvale, TN
Half a Million LED Christmas Lights
FREE residential Walk-Thru One of a Kind Display.
