One of my favorite holiday traditions is getting in the car, turning on the holiday music, grabbing a hot cocoa, and driving through the local neighborhoods to see all the festive holiday 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 Night through New Year’s Eve
Times: 5-10p – Open every night
*Open regular hours Christmas Eve & Christmas Day
Price: $25 cash per car load
Good to Know: Over 3 million lights! Santa, Frosty and The Grinch will be there every night. Concessions available including fresh, hot cinnamon bread and more! Don’t forget to bring your letter to Santa!
Holiday LIGHTS at Cheekwood
Dates: November 21 – January 4
Times: 4:30 pm – 10 pm
*Closed on Thanksgiving Day and Night, Christmas Day and Night, and New Year’s Day. Cheekwood will be open New Year’s Eve (January 1, 2026) 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: $26-32
Youth (3-17) $20-26
Ages 2 & Under FREE
There is no Senior or Student discount for this event.
*Discounts for members
*Active duty and retired military personnel receive 50% off Gardens Only tickets on select Monday nights for up to 5 people with valid ID.
The ‘Merry & Bright’ package returns this year with two adult admission passes, parking for one vehicle, two drink tickets, two s’mores kits and a 10% discount coupon for the Holiday MArket all in one convenient purchase. The package costs $155 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 21 – 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 26, and Dec 3, 10, 17 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 8-11 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 10 through December 2 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 Nightly Lighting Ceremony
Dates: November 7 – January 3
Time: Daily, 5:15p
Price: Free
Location: Magnolia Portico
Carols and cheer light up the Magnolia Lawn! Join us nightly to sing Christmas carols and watch the spectacular tree lighting.
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
Dates: December 5 – 25
Times: 5 – 8p Nightly
Location: 312 S. Front Street, Murfreesboro
The much-loved Christmas Drive Through returns to Cannonsburgh Village! This event will be free and open each night, December 5th through December 25th. Load up the car and enjoy a festive way to add to those cozy holiday memories. Open to all ages. For additional information, email [email protected] or call 615-890-0355.
Lights on Trotters
Dates: November 21 – December 31, Nightly
Location: 1438 Trotters Lane, Rockvale, TN
Award Winning Residential Christmas Light Display!
Hundreds of Thousands of LED Christmas Lights!
FREE Walk-Thru Experience. One of a Kind Display.
Christmas on the Cumberland
Dates: November 22 – January 3
Times: 5-10p
Price: Free
Location: 640 N. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, TN 37040
Step into a winter wonderland along the scenic Riverwalk, where twinkling lights, festive cheer, and beloved holiday traditions come alive November 22 – January 3. Opening day, Saturday, November 22, features a Holiday Market from 2-8 p.m., live music, photos with Santa, and a dazzling drone show to kick off the season in style.
Create unforgettable memories as you stroll through over one million sparkling lights illuminating McGregor Park and the Cumberland Riverwalk. This free, family-friendly event is open nightly—weather permitting.
Zoolumination at the Nashville Zoo
Dates & Times: Nightly, November 13-January 4 | 5-9PM
Thursday-Sunday, January 8-February 8 | 5-9PM
Price: General Admission: Adults (13+ years) $25 | Youth (2-12) $21 | Children under 2 Free
*Parking for non-members $10.
See the zoo in a whole new light! Visit the country’s largest Chinese lantern festival featuring magical scenes of more than 1000 custom made silk lanterns! Special events include Zoolumination entertainers nightly at 6:00, 7:00 and 8:00pm at the Ajax Turner Amphitheater, Ice Skating at The Smashville Ice Rink and North Pole Village with trees, lights, holiday fun and Santa will visit each night, Nov. 28 to Dec. 24.
Know Before You Go – Advance tickets are suggested! Parking is $10. Members and Platinum Pass park free. This is a rain, snow or shine event. No refunds or rainchecks.
Holly Jolly Festival of Lights
Dates & Times: November 28 – December 21 (Wednesday through Sunday) 5-9PM
*BONUS DAYS: December 22 & 23 (Monday & Tuesday) 5-9PM
Price: General Admission (Ages 2+) – $16 | Children Under 2 – FREE
*Parking – FREE
Lucky Ladd Farms is excited to offer family-friendly holiday activities with our very own Christmas events. Stroll our nearly mile-long trail of outdoor Christmas lights in Middle Tennessee! All ages will enjoy this magical Christmas festival featuring thousands of twinkling lights, a live nativity scene with some of your favorite farm animals, and some of the best holiday light displays with fun photo ops in all of Tennessee.
Franklin Holiday Lights Trolley Tour
Dates: December 4 – 22, 2025
Times: 5:30-7:30p (Saturday-Sunday) | 6-8p (Wednesday-Friday)
Price: $33 per seat *Lap children no additional charge.
A Holiday Lights Tour is a MUST when you’re in the Holiday Spirit, so get ready to sit back, relax, and listen to your favorite holiday music, while enjoying the beautiful lights of Franklin, TN and Williamson County. Complimentary bottled water, and candy canes will be available on board the trolley!
*No tours on December 23rd, Christmas Eve or Christmas!
