Nashville–Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin · November 15, 2026 – January 1, 2027
Christmas and holiday events for kids in Nashville
20 tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays and holiday shows around Nashville, November 15 to New Year’s Day. 8 are free.
Updated Oct 24. Every listing links to its organizer’s page.
Don’t miss
- Light displays
Through Jan 1
Glow Wild Holiday Lights at Nashville Zoo
Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
From $27All ages
- Light displays
Through Jan 1
Holiday LIGHTS at Cheekwood
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens
From $20All ages
- Nutcracker and shows
Sun, Nov 22 · 2:30 PM
Mixed Media Nutcracker Craft at Hermitage Library
Nashville Public Library — Hermitage Branch
Free
NovemberSun, Nov 15 – Mon, Nov 30
- Christmas
Fri, Nov 20 · 6:00 PM
Christmas by Lamplight Tour at The Hermitage
Andrew Jackson's Hermitage
Paid
- Nutcracker and shows
Sun, Nov 22 · 2:30 PM
Mixed Media Nutcracker Craft at Hermitage Library
Nashville Public Library — Hermitage Branch
Free
- Nutcracker and shows
Fri, Nov 27 · 2:00 PM
Nashville's Nutcracker
Jackson Hall, Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC)
PaidAll ages
DecemberTue, Dec 1 – Fri, Dec 18
- Santa visits
Wed, Dec 2 · 7:30 PM
Elf in Concert with the Nashville Symphony
Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Paid
- Tree lightings
Thu, Dec 3 · 4:00 PM
Sixth Annual Hermitage Tree Lighting
Nashville Public Library — Hermitage Branch
FreeAll ages
- Tree lightings
Thu, Dec 3 · 4:30 PM
Madison Library Holiday Tree Lighting Party
Nashville Public Library — Madison Branch
FreeAll ages
- Christmas
Thu, Dec 3 · 5:00 PM
Holiday Happening! at Thompson Lane Library
Nashville Public Library — Thompson Lane Branch
Free
- Christmas
Sat, Dec 5 · 10:00 AM
Holiday Open House at the Discovery Center
Discovery Center at Murfree Spring
From $5
- Markets and festivals
Sat, Dec 5 · 10:00 AM
Jacksonian Christmas Festival at Tulip Grove
Andrew Jackson's Hermitage
PaidAll ages
- Nutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 5 · 11:00 AM
Holiday Concert with The Ukedelics at the Main Library
Nashville Public Library — Main Library
Free
- Santa visits
Sat, Dec 12 · 10:00 AM
Daytime Visits with Santa at Cheekwood
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens
With admissionAll ages
- Christmas
Sat, Dec 12 · 10:00 AM
Dickens of a Christmas in Downtown Franklin
Main Street, Historic Downtown Franklin
All ages
- Santa visits
Sat, Dec 12 · 11:30 AM
Santa Comes to Inglewood Library
Nashville Public Library — Inglewood Branch
Free
- Christmas
Thu, Dec 17 · 10:00 AM
Homeschool Day: Christmas at The White House
Andrew Jackson's Hermitage
From $11Ages 5–11
Christmas breakSat, Dec 19 – Fri, Jan 1
All seasonLight displays, Santa visits, shows and exhibits that run for weeks. Check the organizer’s page for open nights and times.
- Light displays
Through Jan 1
Glow Wild Holiday Lights at Nashville Zoo
Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
From $27All ages
- Christmas
Through Jan 1
ice! featuring Home Alone at Gaylord Opryland's A Country Christmas
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
Paid
- Light displays
Through Jan 1
Holiday LIGHTS at Cheekwood
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens
From $20All ages
- Nutcracker and shows
Through Dec 27
Ken Ludwig's 'Twas the Night Before Christmas at Nashville Children's Theatre
Nashville Children's Theatre
PaidAll ages
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Quick answers
What free Christmas events are there for kids in Nashville?
8 listed. Coming up:
- Mixed Media Nutcracker Craft at Hermitage Library · Sun, Nov 22 · Nashville Public Library — Hermitage Branch
- Holiday Happening! at Thompson Lane Library · Thu, Dec 3 · Nashville Public Library — Thompson Lane Branch
- Madison Library Holiday Tree Lighting Party · Thu, Dec 3 · Nashville Public Library — Madison Branch
- Sixth Annual Hermitage Tree Lighting · Thu, Dec 3 · Nashville Public Library — Hermitage Branch
For organizers
Hosting a tree lighting, Santa visit or holiday show in Nashville?
List it on Grassy Knees and it can show up on this Christmas page, in the metro’s weekend picks and in the app. Free to post until Oct 31.
How this list works
Tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays, Nutcrackers, menorah lightings and Noon Year’s Eve parties, beyond your own block. This page collects every event and program in our Nashville listings whose title names Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Santa, holiday lights, the New Year or the like, dated between November 15 and January 1. 20 are still ahead. Each one opens its listing page, which links to the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. Dates are in Central Time.