Where to See Beautiful Holiday Lights in Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, Photo by Nathan Zucker
There are so many ways to enjoy the astounding holiday lights in Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee! Whether you want to drive or walk through a path of interactive light displays at FrankTown Festival of Lights, walk through Cheekwood Garden & Estates’ stunning light exhibits, or witness awe-inspiring light shows at Gaylord Opryland and Zoolumination, there are so many festive options! You can also enjoy traditional Christmas lights and decorations throughout the city from the Franklin Christmas Tree Lighting on the Square and onboard the Franklin Holiday Lights Trolley Tour. Keep reading to discover where you can enjoy the wonders of this holiday season!
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Franklin Christmas Tree Lighting on the Square.
Downtown Franklin
Downtown Franklin is overflowing with historic charm and nostalgic scenery, especially during the holidays! Since the city celebrated the Annual Franklin Christmas Tree Lighting on the Square on December 1st, Franklin’s giant Christmas tree can be seen on the square, surrounded by the bows, ribbons, and other holiday decorations found throughout downtown’s brick sidewalks and Victorian storefronts. Finish up your holiday shopping at over 70 shops among Franklin’s picturesque downtown streets, decorated in the traditional Christmas fashion and lit up with gorgeous lights!
Franktown Festival of Lights
FrankTown Open Hearts’ Annual Festival of Lights will be presented every night from 5- 9pm until New Year’s Eve at the Williamson County Ag Expo Park. This 1.5-mile drive-thru holiday light show features over 200 light displays synchronized to a Christmas radio station! They will have Walkin’ Wednesdays take place every Wednesday evening from 5- 6:30pm, where you are invited to walk the lighted trail, make s’more over the fire, and take photos at the Christmas tree! Proceeds support FrankTown Open Hearts’ and their mission to enhance the lives of local at-risk youth through mentorship, spiritual development, academic tutoring services, hands-on programming, and more.
Franklin Holiday Lights Trolley Tour
Hello Trolley’s Franklin Holiday Lights Tour invites you onboard one of their trolleys to experience the beautiful lights of Franklin while enjoying classic holiday music! Routes will feature neighborhoods decked out in Christmas lights and decorations, the extraordinary light displays at FrankTown Open Hearts’ FrankTown Festival of Lights, and the Christmas charm of downtown Franklin! Tours are approximately 1.5 hours long and will take place on select dates up until December 22nd. There will be complimentary water and holiday treats available, so climb aboard Hello Trolley’s Franklin Holiday Lights Tour for an all-encompassing trip through the Christmas lights of Franklin, Tennessee!
Photo by Seth McGaha
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens is a 1930’s estate with a historic mansion and 55-acre botanical garden in Nashville. Cheekwood Estate & Gardens will be showing dazzling holiday lights every night from 5- 10pm until January 7th. Witness their creative light displays on a mile-long walking trail in their gorgeous gardens. With interactive displays, s’mores, hot chocolate, bar stations, and a poinsettia tree spanning 20 feet into the air, this is an enchanting experience for all ages to enjoy this Christmas season! Their Merry & Bright Package includes 2 adult tickets, 2 drink passes, and 2 s’more kits. Spend a holiday evening admiring the lights at this Nashville tradition!
Photo by Seth Parker
Gaylord Opryland’s 40th Annual A Country Christmas
The Gaylord Opryland Hotel will be lit up with Christmas lights every night until the new year, with over 3 million holiday lights on display. Their nightly lighting ceremony invites you onto the Magnolia Lawn at 5pm to enjoy Christmas carols and the Gaylord Opryland Christmas tree lighting! Gaylord Opryland will also be hosting the Delta Atrium Light & Fountain Shows every night, where you can witness incredible displays of light, water, and holiday music synchronizations among their fully decorated, gorgeous atrium. The holiday magic doesn’t stop at the lights – you can enjoy live entertainment, exciting attractions, nightly tree lighting and caroling, ice skating, photos with Santa, carriage rides, dinner shows, and so much more this Christmas season at Gaylord Opryland’s 40th Annual A Country Christmas!
Zoolumination at Nashville Zoo
Presented by Anheuser-Busch, Zoolumination: Chinese Festival of Lights will be displayed at the Nashville Zoo every night from 5- 9pm until January 7th and every Thursday through Sunday until February 4th. Zoolumination: Chinese Festival of Lights is America’s largest Chinese lantern festival with mesmerizing scenes of over 1,000 silk lanterns, all custom-made. This fantastical event features live entertainment from Chinese acrobats, hot chocolate, sweet treats, animal visits, and more. Reserve a spot now to walk through this wonderland of lights, lanterns, and Chinese folklore at the Nashville Zoo- Santa will be visiting every night leading up to Christmas Eve!
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