The Holidays in Nashville: Best Christmas Events, Parties & Things to Do – 2026 (And Thanksgiving!)

Nashville at the holidays is truly magical, despite the lack of snow. There are so many fun parties, movie nights, pop-up bars, festive crafts and markets and so much more! Here are the best Christmas events, parties & things to do in Nashville – Xennial edition! The Holidays in Nashville: Best Christmas Events, Parties & Things to Do

Thanksgiving:

For all the restaurants doing a day-of Thanksgiving meal or offering full meals to go, check out Nashville Guru’s list.

Support the Nashville Food Project by buying your thanksgiving sides from them. (Deadline to order is Nov. 18)

Nov. 12 – Nashville Flower Market: Thanksgiving Cornucopia Workshop in Donelson

Nov. 12 – Harding House: Pints with Purpose Supporting Tennessee Local Food in L&L in West Nash

Nov. 12 – The Coffee House: Gilmore Girls Trivia in Franklin

Nov. 14 – ​The Mahjong Club​: Mahjong Thanksgiving benefit with One Generation Away in Brentwood

Nov. 19 – Assembly Food Hall: Friendsgiving with Friends Trivia Downtown

Nov. 27-28 ​Basement East​: Guilty Pleasures 80s Tribute Post-Thanksgiving Bash (Final Shows) in East

Nov. 28 – ​Shelby Park​: Full Belly 5k and Fun Run in East

Dec. 2 – City Winery: Chef and Winemaker Dinner “Thanksgiving” Downtown

Christmas Events:

Pop-ups & Themed Menus

Open now except where indicated

* Ones that are good for locals and/or that I particularly liked!

Downtown & The Gulch

Assembly Food Hall – Gingerbread Lane (gingerbread house display with workshops)

Bacco – Snow Globe Bungalow; opens Nov. 13 – this is a new one, so I’m excited to check it out

Hidden Bar – Santa Baby

JW Marriott – Whiskey Wonderland life-size gingerbread house (reservations required)

Grand Hyatt & Lou/Na – Grand & Gilded and Curling; opens Nov. 20

Goodnight Nashville – Santa’s Backroom

Pushing Daisies – Pushing Poinsettias; opens Nov. 18

Union Station/Alligator Bar – Life at the Lodge; opens Nov. 20

East

*Bite a Bit Sushi – Harry Potter-themed Pop-up; opens. Nov. 30

*East Nashville Beer Works – Clark’s Cheer Works; opens Nov. 19

Germantown

*Geist: No cute name, it’s just beautiful (reservations are hard to come by, but I recommend going right as they open to sit at the bar)

*Le Loup – Alpine House/apres-ski; opens Dec. 3

Midtown/Music Row

Virgin Hotel – Elf’d Up; opens Nov. 13 (nothing to link to in Nashville yet, but this is the Chicago version)

West Nashville

* St. Nicky’s – Now That’s What I Call St. Nicky’s; opens Nov. 24

Berry Hill/Chestnut Hill/WeHo/South Nash

*Honkytonk Hideaway – Christmas AF; opens Nov. 13 (this asterisk is based on my experience two years ago, so take it with a grain of salt)

Donelson

Hilton BNA – Destination North Pole; opens Nov. 13 – this is a new one, so I’m excited to check it out

Suburbs

Tailgate Hendersonville – Home for the Holidays

TN Whiskey Trail – Fireside Tennessee at distilleries across the state

Other Ongoing Events & Activities:

Brooklyn Bowl: Winter Clothing and Food Drive Supporting People Loving Nashville in Germantown (Through Feb 1)

Dec. 3-20 – The Factory: It’s a Wonderful Life: Live Radio Play with Studio Tenn in Franklin

Dec. 4-20 – Nashville Repertory Theater – Frozen the Musical Downtown

Cheekwood – Holiday Lights & An Enchanted Noel in Belle Meade

Gaylord Opryland – Lots of happenings! Be sure to check for the dates the hotel is open to the public and for locals discounts to the other activities in Music Valley

The Hermitage – Christmas by Lamplight tours; Fridays and Saturdays starting Nov. 14

Music City Brew Hop – Christmas Light Tours and Christmas pop-up crawl

Nashville Yards – Rink Under Broad (with real ice!); opens Nov. 21

Ray Stevens CabaRay – Country Roads Christmas; runs through Dec. 19

Wedgewood Houston – Rink Under the Giant Guitar; opens Nov. 20

Nashville Zoo – no lanterns this year, but Glow Wild, the holiday light show, still sounds magical! Nov. 13-Jan. 3 in South Nash

Outside Nashville

Annabel Farms – Christmas tree and Christkindle Market. It’s going to be amazing! More details soon. Fri-Sun Nov. 27-Dec. 20 in Nolensville.

Lucky Ladd – Holly Jolly Festival of Lights; opens Nov. 27 in Eagleville

Parties, Crafts, Movies, Markets, and More!

Nov. 9 – Honeytree Meadery: Lord of the Rings Screening “The Fellowship of the Ring” in East

Nov. 12 – Belle Meade Historic Site and Winery: Christmas Open House with the Clauses, Arts and Crafts, Caroling and More in Belle Meade

Nov. 12-15 – ​TPAC​: Churchill and Roosevelt “The Christmas That Saved the World” Downtown

Nov. 13 – Fogg Street Lawn: Holiday Kickoff local market in the Gulch

Nov. 13 – Ceramic Souls: Holiday Ornaments, Trees and Hot Toddies Workshop in East

Nov. 15 – Christie Cookie: Santa’s Favorite Cookie Kids Recipe Contest entry deadline

Nov. 16 – Honeytree Meadery: Lord of the Rings Screening “The Two Towers” in East

Nov. 17 – Vinyl Tap: Fan Girl Trivia “Holiday Movie” Themed in East

Nov. 17 – The Factory: Night of Christmas Shopping in Franklin

Nov. 18 – The Lab at Zanies: Book Club Trivia “Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets” Benefit for Nashville Launch Pad in Melrose

Nov. 22 – ​Fisher Center​: Nutcracker Tea with the Nashville Ballet at Belmont

Nov. ​22 – Turnip Green Creative Reuse​: Mixed Media Nutcrackers in South Nash

Nov. 23 – Honeytree Meadery: Lord of the Rings Screening “The Return of the King” in East

Nov. 24 – ​WCPAC​: The Nutcracker with the Grand Kyiv Ballet in Franklin

Nov. 27-29 – ​Ryman​: Brett Eldredge: Glow Christmas show Downtown

Nov. 28 – The Golden Slipper: Shop Small Holiday Market in Germantown (many businesses)

Nov. 28 – The Grove at Whites Creek: Christmas Market in White’s Creek

Nov. 29 – Fat Bottom Brewing: Christmas Tea and Toy Drive for St. Luke’s in the Nations 

Dec. 2 – ​Bridgestone Arena​: Trans Siberian Orchestra Downtown

Dec. 3 – ​Union Station​: Holiday Bartender Bash Competition with Nashville Lifestyles Downtown

Dec. 3-6 – Walk of Fame Park – Nashvillage Holiday Market Downtown (also Dec. 10-13)

Dec. 5 – Croquet Cafe: Holiday Social with Lawn Games, Caroling, Performances and Toy Drive for Metro Police Christmas Charities in Centennial Park

Dec. 5 – Ceramic Souls: East Nashville’s Clay Crawl Holiday Market in East

Dec. 5 – ​Turnip Green Creative Reuse​: Quilted Stockings in Chestnut Hill

Dec. 6 – Erica Birch Home: Wreath Making with E’s Supper Club in Leiper’s Fork

Dec. 6 – Butcher and Bee: Sew Nash “Christmas Stockings” Workshop & Social in East

Dec. 6 – Belle Meade Historic Site and Winery: Holiday Wreath Making in Belle Meade

Dec. 6 – Cherries: Nashville Smut Dirty Santa Gift Exchange in East 

Dec. 6 – 3rd and Lindsley: Big Band Christmas Show Downtown

Dec. 6 – Nashville Public Library: Ugly Sweater Making with Hot Cocoa and More in Donelson

Dec. 6 – ​Turnip Green Creative Reuse​: Needle Felting Ornaments in Chestnut Hill

Dec. 6 – XUL Beer​: Sugar and Spice Book Co. Market in the Nations

Dec. 6 – ​Fat Bottom Brewing​: The Grinch Brunch in the Nations

Dec. 8-10 – ​The Ryman​: The Christmas Shows with Little Big Town Downtown (Tues-Thurs)

Dec. 9 – Bridgestone: Pentatonix Downtown

Dec. 10-13 – ​Walk of Fame Park​: Nashvillage Holiday Market Downtown

Dec. 11 – ​Theatres Near You​: The Holiday 20 Yr Anniversary One Day Re-Release

Dec. 11-12 – ​Nashville Fair Grounds​: Holiday Porter Flea Market in Berry Hill

Dec. 12 – Cool Springs Galleria – Gingerbread Houses & Santa in Cool Springs

Dec. 12 – Fifth & Broadway – Howdy Holidays with line dancing, Santa, and more Downtown

Dec. 12 – Sevier Park Community Center – Wreath workshop in 12 South

Dec. 13 – ​The Fisher Center​: Christmas Celebration with Music City Chorus and Friends at Belmont

Dec. 14 – ​The Factory​: Steven Curtis Chapman and Friends Christmas Concert in Franklin

Dec. 16 – Make Nashville: Holiday Mart with Local Crafters in East

Dec. 16 – The Fisher Center: The Nutcracker: Magical Christmas Ballet at Belmont

Dec. 11 – Primitive Coffee: Your Shantymen Singalong Christmas Edition in South Nash

Dec. 18 – Basement East: A Very Emo Christmas in East

Dec. 18 – 3rd & Lindsley: A Rat Pack Christmas Downtown

Dec. 18-19 – ​Troutt Theatre​: Workshop Reading of New Play “Christmastide” with Nashville Shakes at Belmont

Dec. 19 – 3rd and Lindsley: Rubiks Groove Christmas Spectacular Downtown

Dec. 19 – ​Basement East​: Johny Jackson’s Soul Satisfaction Christmas Dance Party in East

Dec. 19 – ​ACME​: Last Chance Holiday Market Downtown

Dec. 19-20 – The Fisher Center: Michael W. Smith Christmas at Belmont

Dec. 20 – ​Fat Bottom Brewing​: The Grinch Brunch in the Nations

Dec. 20 – The Truth: Derek Hough Dance for the Holidays in WeHo

Dec. 24-25 – For a list of all the restaurants and bars open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, be sure to check out this very helpful resource from Nashville Guru!

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There you have it – the Holidays in Nashville: Best Christmas Events, Parties & Things to Do! Happy holidays, and merry Christmas!

XO,
SB

P.S. If you’re looking for things to do this season that aren’t festive, Nashville and I’ve got you covered there, too! Be sure to sign up for my weekly events newsletter to stay in the loop of everything going on around town!

P.P.S. My NYE guide will be coming soon, so stay on the lookout for that one!