Christmas in Nashville is a whimsical, magical thing. Its cold and wintery, but the weather is still mild, there is Christmas music pouring out of every speaker throughout town, and Nashvillians’ already friendly nature is emboldened with Christmas cheer. Even during such a tough year that has kept us indoors and isolated, local businesses in Nashville have found a way to safely bring joy to us this holiday season. We wanted to compile a guide of our favorite winter things to do in Nashville for families, couples, friends, and everyone in between.
Adventure Science Center:
The Adventure Science Center is known for bringing science and family fun together. This holiday season, they are offering a variety of different shows, exhibits, and workshops that will excite the young and the old in your family.
All Aboard for Trains
Polaris
Winter's Cold Live Science Show
Winter Wonder Weekends
Merry-Making Workshop
The Best Hot Chocolate in Nashville goes to Sip Cafe
Sip Cafe’s velvety hot chocolate with warm you all the way to your toes on a hold winter night, plus they have great coffee for the adults in your party.
Cheekwood- Nutcracker Marche in the Mansion
Cheekwood Botanical Gardens is a hidden treasure in Nashville. This holiday season, they will display a collection of over 80 traditional and non-traditional nutcrackers throughout the period rooms inside the Historic Mansion & Museum. This exhibit will be on view during both daytime and evening hours, and will even include Wizard of Oz themed nutcrackers.
In partnership with Nashville Ballet, Cheekwood will display original costumes and stage props from Nashville’s Nutcracker as a part of The Nutcracker Marche exhibition. Witness this timeless holiday story unfold before your eyes through vignettes across Cheekwood’s period rooms.
Frist Museum
The Frist Art Museum holds a special place in my heart because it was the place my now-boyfriend-of-4-years took me on our second date. Its intimate, quiet, and romantic- the perfect date night for art loving couples needing some time away
Current exhibitions- Albrecht Dürer: The Age of Reformation and Renaissance
Foster from the Humane Association
If you’re an animal lover, fostering over the holidays might be the perfect thing for you. For the 3rd year in a row, the Nashville Humane Association is looking to create some holiday magic with Silent Night at the Shelter. The NHA is looking for short-term foster families to invite a shelter pet into their homes from December 24-26- this gives their dogs and cats a warm place for the holidays and gives the shelter workers a nice break for Christmas
Tennessee Central Railway Museum- Polar Express
The Polar Express comes alive when you ride on a restored classic streamlined stainless steel passenger train. With Santa, his Elves, and your whole family you can embark on a 64 mile, 2 hour round trip winter adventure!
Dancing Lights of Christmas Drive Thru
Family owned and operated, the Dancing Lights of Christmas is Tennessee's largest synchronized light and music show with a 2.5 mile route and over two million lights dancing to some upbeat, traditional, and rockin' Christmas tunes coming through your car radio so each visit is a new experience. It's a great way to spend a "socially distanced" evening with the entire family and celebrate the magic of Christmas without having to leave the comfort of your own vehicle!
Gaylord Opryland
Over 3 Million lights turn the Gaylord Opryland Hotel into a magical destination that people from all over travel to see. While they are not having their annual ICE! exhibit, they have others to choose from, like the I Love Christmas Movies Exhibit where you can walk through your favorite Christmas movies in their new 17,000 sq. ft. multi-sensory exhibit.
Heated Igloos at the Bobby Hotel
The igloos are officially back at the Rooftop Lounge for the winter, and the Bobby Hotel ready to make it a season to remember. Seatings for up to 5 folks are available on Friday & Saturday nights, 5 pm – 11 pm and a heated cabin is available for up to 8 folks.
-Wishing you and your family a very happy holiday season,
Maelyn
