This post covers the top things to do in December in Nashville (updated for 2024), including nighttime activities, free things to do, and family-friendly options.
As local walking tour guides, we have the pleasure of spending our December here in Nashville.
First of all, the weather is generally pleasant, though this will depend on where you are coming from.
High temperatures typically range from the low to mid-50s F (11–13 C) at the beginning of the month to the upper 40s F (8–10 C) toward the conclusion.
Low temperatures at night and early morning hours often range from the mid to upper 30s F (2-3 C), dropping to the low 30s F (-1 to +1 C) toward the end of the month.
And there are so many things to do here that it really requires a full post. So, let's get to it.
Be sure to read our master post on things to do in Nashville for even more ideas.
TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN DECEMBER
This top 10 list has concerts, events, attractions, and festivals to check out during December.
Be sure to check out our popular Nashville posts:
- Hop-On Hop-Off Tours
- Tourist Attraction Discount Passes
- Country Music Hall of Fame Discounts
- Madame Tussauds Nashville
- Andrew Jackson's Hermitage Discounts
1. See a Concert
If you’re looking for a concert, Music City is the place to find it.
Of course, in Nashville, you can find concerts happening every night of the week.
Rock Concerts
- The Mavericks | December 1st, 2nd
- Old Dominion | December 15th
- Charles Wesley Godwin | December 7th, 8th
- Old Crow Medicine Show | December 30th
Opera/Classical Music
Holiday Concerts
- Amy Grant & Vince Gill: Christmas at the Ryman | December 13th-23rd
- Nashville Symphony: Home Alone in Concert | December 1st-3rd
- Nashville Symphony Chorus: Handel's Messiah | December 15th-17th
Concert Venues
Check out even more December Nashville concerts here, or read our post What to do at Night in Nashville.
2. Go to a Sporting Event
Nashville is a competitive city that loves sports, and December is a great time to catch a game.
It is also an excellent way to spend the day with the family.
Football
Hockey
Take a look here at other sporting events happening in December.
For more family-friendly activities, check out our full post.
3. Enjoy a Stage Performance
Music City isn’t just about concerts. You will find many other stage productions in the city.
Musicals/Theatre
- None in December
Comedy
- Adam Carolla | December 1st, 2nd
- Shiners | December 1st. 2nd, 14th, 15th, 16th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 28th, 29th, 30th
- Lavell Crawford | December 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th
Holiday
- Nutcracker! Magic of Christmas Ballet | December 18th-24th
- A Christmas Carol | December 1st-17th
- North Pole Express Santa Excursion Train | November 18th-December 16th
- The Illusionists: Magic of the Holidays | December 19th
Check here for even more shows on the stage in December in Nashville.
TIP: Check out this list of the best Nashville comedy clubs if you can’t make it to one of the shows we’ve listed.
4. See Backstage Nashville
If you're in Nashville for country music, you won't want to miss this show.
This new and popular event features some of Nashville's hottest upcoming singers as well as the folks who write their songs.
This is the place to visit if you want to catch a rising star or hear from people who have written for the likes of Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, and more.
The show takes place at 3rd and Lindsley Bar & Grill on December 16th and on December 30th.
Purchase tickets or learn more here.
5. See the Cheekwood Holiday Lights
Every year, the Cheekwood Estate & Gardens hosts a holiday lighting event throughout the month of December, with more than a million lights spread across 55 acres of botanic gardens!
Guests are invited to follow a one-mile walking path through the gardens and take part in interactive features.
Cheekwood Holiday Lights is open seven nights a week and usually runs from mid-November to mid-January.
Tickets go on sale October 18th.
6. Experience a Gaylord Opryland Christmas
The Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center will be hosting several incredible experiences that will help visitors get into the holiday spirit.
There will be ice tubing, a Snowball Build & Blast, ice skating, a riverboat Christmas cruise, a country Christmas breakfast show, a Christmas fountain show, and much more.
There will also be a chance to take photos with Santa and to listen to Mrs. Claus' read "Twas the Night Before Christmas."
This is sure to be one of the best family activities in Nashville, so we recommend getting your tickets as soon as possible!
7. FrankTown Festival of Lights
We love a good holiday light display, especially one we can enjoy from the warmth of our car!
The FrankTown Festival of Lights is a half-mile drive past over 200 synchronized displays.
There are also Walkin' Wednesdays where folks can get out of the car and enjoy s'mores and take photos.
This all takes place at the Williamson County Ag Expo Center.
The experience runs from November 17th to December 31st.
For a full list of things to do at night in Nashville, check out our full post here.
8. Zoolumination: Chinese Festival of Lights
The Nashville Zoo lights up this December with the country's largest Chinese lantern festival, Zoolumination.
There will be over 500 custom-made silk lanterns dotted across 60 acres, including a 200-foot-long dragon!
The display is open nightly from 5:00 - 9:00, on select dates between November 17th and January 7th.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Zoolumination website.
This is truly one event the whole family will enjoy.
9. See The Nutcracker
The Nashville Ballet will perform The Nutcracker December 18th-24th.
This ballet company has a great reputation, and their performance of The Nutcracker is sure to be a wonderful experience.
Tickets can be purchased here.
For more family-friendly things to do in Nashville in December, check out the kids' section below.
10. Save Money with a Nashville Tourist Attraction Discount Pass
With all the exciting things there are to do in Music City, we suggest getting a tourist city pass for Nashville.
All-inclusive passes are available, and others can include up to 55% discounts on retail prices for select attraction admission, gift shops, and restaurants.
Featured on various passes:
- Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage
- Musician’s Hall of Fame
- Madame Tussauds
- Hop-On-Hop-Off Tours
- Hard Rock Cafe
See our full tourist attraction discount pass comparison here.
THINGS TO DO AT NIGHT IN DECEMBER
Nashville has some incredible things to do after dark in December, including the concerts at the venues we've listed in our Top Ten section above.
Here are a few more nighttime activities for the month of December.
For more nighttime activities, visit our post on things to do at night in Nashville.
Find a Film at Belcourt Theatre
Escape the December cold at the Belcourt Theatre. This is a nonprofit historic movie theater and film center that has been in operation since the 1920s.
You can find showings for big Hollywood movies, small screenings from independent filmmakers, or special re-releases of classics.
To see what's on and to buy tickets, visit the Belcourt Theatre website.
Visit a Comedy Club
While most big cities have comedy clubs, each is unique to its location. It's a great way to meet locals and get a sense of a city.
In Nashville, Zanies has been around for over 30 years, and its a great place to catch a stand-up routine.
Professional comedians from across the country pass through its doors, and you can catch a show almost every night of the week.
There's also food and drink available to turn it into dinner and a show.
Enjoy Singo
Come out every Tuesday to Fat Bottom Brewing for a night of beer, music and bingo.
Along with a great show, there will be plenty of prizes to win as you bingo the night away. It's free to attend and there's no registration necessary!
Learn more about Singo here.
For more free things to do in Nashville, check out our master post here.
Experience Music City New Year's
Want to celebrate the last day of the year with some great country music and a fun crowd?
Try Nashville's Big Bash, a free event with live music.
The event takes place at Bicentennial Capital Mall State Park, on December 31st.
Be sure to let your friends and family at home know to keep an eye out for you because the event will be filmed and shown live on CBS.
Nashville has a bunch of free stuff to do year-round. We've mentioned some in our other sections, like the Beer, Bands, and Bingo event.
For even more budget-friendly ideas, check out our post on free things to do in Nashville.
Dickens of a Christmas
Historic Downtown Franklin has for almost 40 years hosted a free street festival that takes you back to the time of Charles Dickens.
As you stroll through you'll recognize the beloved characters of Dickens' stories like Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and more! Most of the activities are free, though some do cost a small fee.
There will be carriage rides, vintage craft demonstrations, foods to sample from the era, and more! To learn more, click here.
Take a Sightseeing Tour
There are loads of Nashville Walking Tours that are pay-what-you-wish.
Downtown Nashville is easily walkable, and we suggest starting your trip with a walking tour, whether you take a pay-what-you-like tour or lead yourself on our self-guided walking tour.
Another popular option is to take a bus tour of Nashville. A hop-on hop-off tour is a convenient form of transportation as well as a great source of insider information on Music City.
You can also find fun specialty tours such as a comedy bus tour or party bus.
Mt. Juliet's Vendor and Craft Fair
Now celebrating its 11th year, the Mt. Juliet Home for the Holidays Craft Fair takes place at Mt. Juliet Community center.
There will be over 70 vendors, silent auctions, swag bags, music, and Santa!
The event takes place on November 11th and is free to enter.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES IN DECEMBER
Nashville is super family-friendly! There are also so many activity options available, there is sure to be something to fit everyone's tastes.
A few activities we've listed above like visiting the museums open late listed in our nighttime section above are perfect for the whole family!
Be sure to read our master post on things to do with kids in Nashville for even more ideas.
Visit the Tennessee State Capitol
Visiting the Tennessee State Capitol is a great educational way to spend the day, plus it's free!
Built in 1859, it's one of the oldest state capitol buildings in the country.
You can even go on a free guided tour of the historic State Capitol and the grounds surrounding the building.
For more free things to do in Nashville in December, check out our free section above.
Go to a Museum
Indoor activities are preferred on a chilly December day!
There are a lot of great museums in Nashville, some of which kids are sure to enjoy:
- Adventure Science Center
- Madame Tussauds
- Belmont Mansion
- Cheeckwood Estate and Gardens
- The Parthenon
- Tennesee State Museum
- Lane Motor Museum
- Frist Art Museum
Music Related
- Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
- Glen Campbell Museum
- Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum
- Johnny Cash Museum
- George Jones Museum
- Patsy Cline Museum
Attend the Franklin Christmas Parade
In Franklin, just outside of Nashville, there will be a small Christmas Parade.
On December 3rd the parade travels down Main Street, welcoming Santa to their city.
Also in Franklin, there is a Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt on December 7th and 8th.
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