Christmas in Nashville 2025: Holiday Events, Shows, and Light Displays
Christmas in Nashville brings a full season of holiday events, light displays, concerts, and family activities that transform Music City throughout November and December. While Franklin and Williamson County offer their own festive traditions, Nashville adds additional attractions like riverboat cruises, garden light trails, cirque performances, ballet, and country music holiday shows. This guide highlights the top Christmas events in Nashville for 2025 so you can plan where to go, what to see, and how to make the most of the season.
Nashville Christmas Experiences
Nashville offers several holiday experiences that go beyond traditional shows, giving visitors a chance to step inside worlds full of lights, music, and seasonal activities. From the towering indoor gardens of Gaylord Opryland to holiday cruises along the Cumberland River, these experiences offer entertainment for guests of all ages.
A Country Christmas at Gaylord Opryland
Christmas at Gaylord Opryland transforms the entire resort into a large-scale holiday destination, filling its indoor garden atriums with millions of lights, themed décor, and interactive attractions. Guests can experience the signature ICE! Exhibit, an elaborate walkthrough of hand-carved ice sculptures based on a classic holiday story, before exploring activities like ice tubing, ice skating, gingerbread decorating, seasonal shows, and family photo spots. The combination of indoor gardens, colorful displays, and immersive experiences makes the resort feel like its own holiday village, offering plenty to see and do across multiple areas of the property.
Dates: November 7, 2025 – January 3, 2026
Location: Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, 2800 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214
General Jackson Showboat Holiday Cruises
The General Jackson Showboat brings holiday magic to the Cumberland River with themed lunch and dinner cruises aboard its paddle-wheel riverboat. Each cruise blends dining, entertainment, and scenic views, making it a great pick for anyone looking for an experience-based outing.
Movie Night featuring ELF
Enjoy a Holiday Movie Night Cruise aboard the General Jackson Showboat featuring a special screening of ELF in the beautifully decorated Victorian Theater. Guests can watch Buddy the Elf’s hilarious journey while taking in scenic views of the Cumberland River. This cruise does not include a meal, but light food and beverages will be available for purchase, including classic movie snacks along with hot items such as chicken tenders and fries.
Date: November 30, 2025
Music City Christmas – Evening Cruise
The Music City Christmas Evening Cruise brings an elegant, dressed-up holiday experience to the General Jackson Showboat. This newly imagined production highlights the sophistication of Christmas in Nashville, combining vocals, polished choreography, and a full stage performance set against the backdrop of the Cumberland River. Guests are encouraged to put on their holiday best for this three-hour cruise, which includes an elegant dinner and reserved seating.
Dates: Select dates through December 23, 2025.
Tennessee Christmas – Midday Cruise
The Tennessee Christmas Midday Cruise brings a joyful holiday atmosphere to the Cumberland River, offering a lively musical production that celebrates the many sounds of a Tennessee Christmas. Guests enjoy performances by a full country showband, complete with pickers, fiddlers, and singers, who perform Christmas favorites made popular by artists like Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson, Elvis Presley, and Rascal Flatts.
Dates: Select dates through December 25, 2025.
Location: General Jackson Showboat, 2812 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214
Holiday Lights in Nashville
Nashville lights up in a big way during the holiday season, with amazing displays and glowing trails that turn some of the city’s most beloved attractions into nighttime destinations. From towering lanterns at the Nashville Zoo to the sparkling gardens at Cheekwood, these outdoor experiences offer a way to celebrate the season, enjoy the cooler weather, and make memories with family and friends.
Zoolumination Festival of Lights
Zoolumination transforms the Nashville Zoo into a dazzling nighttime experience, featuring more than 1,000 custom-made silk lanterns in new artistic designs, some stretching up to 100 feet long and 50 feet high. Guests can wander through radiant wildlife scenes where animals and imagination blend together in a breathtaking celebration of light. The event also includes North Pole Village, a festive area filled with trees, twinkling displays, and holiday décor, with nightly Santa visits through December 24th.
For visitors looking to add a hands-on activity to their evening, the Smashville Ice Rink offers the chance to skate outdoors beneath lantern-lit skies. Beyond the lights and skating, Zoolumination features live entertainment at the Ajax Turner Amphitheater, select animal habitats open after dark, 4D holiday films at the Chick-fil-A Adventure Theater, and plenty of warm drinks and seasonal snacks available throughout the zoo.
Dates: Nightly, November 13, 2025, through January 4, 2026
Location: Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, 777 Nolensville Pk, Nashville, TN 37211
Cheekwood Holiday LIGHTS
Cheekwood Holiday LIGHTS transforms Cheekwood’s gardens into a glowing winter experience along a one-mile trail illuminated by more than a million lights. A 28-foot Pixel Pine Tree greets visitors at the entrance, leading into the gardens where twinkling displays, seasonal drinks, and s’mores by the fire make for a cozy night out.
The Holiday Marketplace adds to the fun with ornaments, décor, and giftable items, along with a gift drive that invites guests to purchase something from any Cheekwood shop to support military families. The Historic Mansion, beautifully decorated by former Chief White House Florist Laura Dowling, is also open to explore.
Santa will be on-site December 6th through 21st, Saturdays and Sundays only, from 10 am to 3 pm. Families can stop by the Historic Stable and Tack Room to visit, drop off letters in Santa’s mailbox, and take their own photos.
Dates: November 21, 2025, through January 4, 2026
Location: 1200 Forrest Park Dr, Nashville, TN 37205
Seasonal Performances & Shows in Nashville
Nashville’s holiday entertainment scene offers something for every kind of outing, from classic ballet and country music traditions to cirque productions, candlelight concerts, and live-to-film symphony shows. These performances highlight the city’s rich arts culture and bring the season to life on stages across Nashville.
Pomp, Snow & CIRQUEumstance
This new Cirque holiday show takes audiences on a magical adventure with three best friends, POMP, SNOW, and CIRQUEumstance, as they spread Christmas joy around the world. Based on the acclaimed book and TV series, the production follows the trio from their secret school, where they learn music, magic, and circus skills, to their mission from Santa to share their talents and teach timeless lessons.
The performance features world-class acrobatics, original music, and Broadway-style staging, brought to life by 26 international performers. Elaborate sets, dazzling costumes, and a festive holiday score make this a standout seasonal show for all ages.
Dates: November 25 through December 31, 2025
Location: Gaylord Opryland, 2800 Opryland Dr., Nashville, Tennessee 37214
Nashville Ballet Presents Nashville’s Nutcracker
Nashville Ballet brings the holiday season to life with the return of Nashville’s Nutcracker, a beloved tradition choreographed by Artistic Director Emeritus Paul Vasterling. This Emmy Award–winning production blends history, imagination, and timeless storytelling, creating a world of wonder that has become the crown jewel of Middle Tennessee’s holiday season. Audiences of all ages are invited to journey with Clara and her Nutcracker Prince through twinkling snowflakes, a breathtaking Kingdom of the Sweets, and a daring battle with the Mouse King, all accompanied by live music from the Nashville Symphony.
Set against a backdrop inspired by Music City’s past, this uniquely Nashville retelling celebrates community, creativity, and the magic of the holidays. With stunning costumes, grand sets, and a joyful, heartwarming spirit, Nashville’s Nutcracker continues to captivate longtime fans and first-time attendees alike.
Dates: Select dates from November 29 through December 28, 2025
Location: Andrew Jackson Hall, Tennessee Performing Arts Center, 505 Deaderick St, Nashville, TN 37243
Opry Country Christmas
Opry Country Christmas brings the holidays to life on the Opry’s world-famous stage, offering a mix of holiday favorites and country classics. Returning during the Opry’s 100th year, the show transforms the Opry House into a Nashville winter wonderland, complete with bright lights, standout performances, and seasonal music that makes it one of the city’s signature holiday traditions. This season features 11 nights of stellar lineups, with performances by Lainey Wilson, Jon Pardi, Mandy Barnett, The Gatlin Brothers, John Berry, and many more.
Guests can also book the Opry Backstage Tour, which shares stories from a century of Opry history and offers a look behind the scenes. On November 30th, Santa will be on hand for on-stage photos as part of the daytime tour experience.
Dates: Select dates, November 30 through December 23, 2025
Location: Grand Ole Opry, 600 Opry Mills Drive, Nashville, Tennessee 37214
Holiday Performances with the Nashville Symphony
Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center offers several standout holiday programs each December, pairing beloved seasonal entertainment with the power of a live orchestra. From classic films presented with full symphonic scores to time-honored choral masterpieces, these performances bring music, nostalgia, and tradition together in one of the city’s most iconic venues.
Home Alone in Concert
Home Alone in Concert brings the classic 1990 holiday film to the big screen with a full orchestra performing John Williams’ iconic score live. Featuring the Nashville Symphony & Chorus, the event combines beloved movie moments with the richness of a live musical performance, creating a fresh and memorable way to experience this Christmas favorite.
Date: December 5 through 7, 2025
Location: Schermerhorn Symphony Center, 1 Symphony Pl, Nashville, TN 37201
Elf in Concert
Elf in Concert brings the beloved holiday film to the big screen with a live symphony orchestra performing the score. As Buddy’s cheerful journey unfolds, the music fills the theater with even more warmth and energy, creating a fun seasonal outing for all ages.
Dates: December 10 and 11, 2025
Location: Schermerhorn Symphony Center, 1 Symphony Pl, Nashville, TN 37201
Handel’s Messiah
Handel’s Messiah remains one of the most performed and beloved works in the classical repertoire, and the Nashville Symphony and Chorus continue the tradition with a moving presentation of the nearly 300-year-old oratorio. Composed in just 24 days, Messiah is known for its powerful choruses, expressive solos, and the timeless Hallelujah chorus. It’s a cherished seasonal concert for many and a meaningful way to experience one of classical music’s most enduring holiday works.
Dates: December 19 through 21, 2025
Location: Schermerhorn Symphony Center, 1 Symphony Pl, Nashville, TN 37201
Candlelight Holiday Concerts at The Parthenon
Candlelight concerts bring a warm, intimate glow to the holiday season with classical programs performed by the Listeso String Quartet inside the Parthenon. Surrounded by candlelight in one of Nashville’s most striking venues, guests can enjoy elegant arrangements of seasonal favorites, beloved carols, and iconic works from The Nutcracker.
Christmas Carols on Strings
Candlelight brings a holiday glow to the season with a special concert of Christmas Carols on Strings performed by the Listeso String Quartet. In an intimate, candlelit setting at The Parthenon, guests can enjoy a full program of classic holiday music arranged for strings. The tentative setlist includes classic holiday favorites such as Silent Night, Joy to the World, and many more. Designed for guests ages eight and up, it’s an elegant way to enjoy the music of the season.
Dates: December 7, 18, and 19, 2025
Location: The Parthenon, 2500 West End Ave., Nashville, TN, 37203
Christmas Special featuring The Nutcracker and More
Performed by the Listeso String Quartet, the Candlelight Christmas Special features a program of seasonal favorites and iconic works from The Nutcracker. Guests can expect a performance that includes O Holy Night, The Snow Is Dancing, selections from Tchaikovsky’s The Seasons, Waldteufel’s Skaters’ Waltz, Vivaldi’s Winter, and a full suite of highlights from The Nutcracker. With its intimate setting, candlelit atmosphere, and timeless music, this concert offers a memorable way to celebrate the season at one of Nashville’s most unique venues.
Date: December 21, 2025
Location: The Parthenon, 2500 West End Ave., Nashville, TN, 37203
Vince Gill & Amy Grant: Christmas at the Ryman
Each holiday season, Vince Gill & Amy Grant: Christmas at the Ryman returns to the historic Ryman Auditorium, filling the venue with classic carols, seasonal favorites, and a few of the duo’s own well-loved hits. This Grammy-winning pair has turned the annual concert into a cherished Nashville tradition, known for its warm storytelling, standout musicianship, and joyful mix of familiar holiday songs.
Dates: Select dates, December 10 through 20, 2025
Location: Ryman Auditorium, 116 5th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219
Christmas with C.S. Lewis
Christmas with C.S. Lewis offers a thoughtful look at a pivotal moment in the author’s life, rooted in the real conversation that reshaped his understanding of Christmas. In his early adulthood, Lewis dismissed the Nativity as a sentimental myth until a meaningful exchange with his close friend J.R.R. Tolkien. Set on Christmas Eve at his home near Oxford, the performance imagines Lewis welcoming a group of American visitors into an evening of warmth, humor, and candid reflection. What begins as a festive gathering unfolds into a moving meditation on belief, tradition, and the deeper meaning of Christmas.
Date: December 18 through 21, 2025
Location: Johnson Theater, Tennessee Performing Arts Center, 505 Deaderick St, Nashville, TN 37243
Plan Your Holiday Season in Nashville
With so many holiday attractions, concerts, tours, and light displays, Nashville offers an easy way to round out your seasonal plans, whether you’re staying close to Williamson County or making a quick trip north. Event dates and times can shift as the season approaches, so be sure to check each organizer’s website for the latest details before you go. If you found this guide helpful, consider bookmarking it or sharing it with friends and family planning holiday outings this year.
More Holiday Events to Explore
For seasonal outings closer to home, FrankTown Festival of Lights Begins Friday: Drive-Through Christmas Lights in Franklin offers a look at the mile-and-a-half light display at the Williamson County AG Expo Center, one of the most popular seasonal attractions in the area. If you’re interested in local shopping and handmade goods, Holiday Markets in Franklin and Williamson County, TN: Handmade Gifts, Local Vendors, and Festive Fun highlights seasonal markets featuring artisan items, décor, and locally made gifts. To round out your holiday plans, The Franklin Theatre Holiday Movies 2025 shares the lineup of classic films and seasonal favorites returning to the historic downtown theater throughout December.
