Get Lit

‘Tis the season to look at fun holiday decorations and pretend we live somewhere with a more substantial snowfall.

by

For many people it’s the most wonderful time of the year, whether that’s because of family or faith. For others, it’s the lights. No matter if you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or some combination thereof (or none at all), it’s hard to deny the appeal of millions of twinkling lights against a crisp December sky.

So, don your mittens and scarves (even if you don’t need them in Middle Tennessee, they help set the mood). We’ve pulled together some of the best places to get into the spirit of the season this year—some are festive and family friendly, others are best for the 21 and over crowd. (Spoiler alert: Santa brings cocktails.)

GLOW Nashville

Many of the stops on our Christmas fun tour are tried and true Nashville classics. But GLOW Nashville is decidedly New Nashville. First Tennessee Park (soon to be called First Horizon Park), home of the Nashville Sounds, will become a mega-holiday experience. Scaffolding has been built over the seats to create a high-speed tubing experience, plus there’s a skating rink, a winter holiday shopping marketplace, the fun of the Band Box with a winter twist, and what they hope will be the city’s biggest Christmas tree. For the sake of comparison, the park’s iconic guitar-shaped scoreboard rises 82 feet tall. The Christmas tree at GLOW will be 100 feet tall. The family-friendly ballpark takeover is part of a six-year deal, so expect this to be Year One in over-the-topness. Most nights, the fun will take place from 4 to 10 p.m., so you can come once with the kids and maybe come back another time for a date night. Festivities will stay open later on New Year’s Eve. Ticket prices range from $15.99 for kids during the week to $29.99 for adults on weekends. There are family and senior discounts and VIP upgrades for parking and food. (glowholiday.com)

Gaylord Opryland

The OG of the Nashville Christmas scene, Opryland is back at it this year with family-friendly, wholesome goodness all over the resort. Don the borrowed blue parka to walk through two million pounds of carved ice in the A Christmas Story-themed ICE! display, complete with a two-story tall ice slide. The Opry House is the stage for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical. You’ll also find four-lane inner tubing, ice skating, and some serious light decorations throughout the hotel property (yes, that’s what the backup on Briley Parkway is all about). Prices vary for the different “A Country Christmas” elements: ICE! tickets are $21.99 for kids and $29.99 for adults. (tickets.gaylordopryland.com)

Franktown Festival of Lights

The Williamson County Ag Center is transformed into a mile-long drive-thru, so pile the kids in the car, grab some hot cocoa in a non-spill cup, and get ready to spend some quality car time together. This is one of those holiday lights experiences where you listen to Christmas music on the radio and wind your way through the electric tunnels. The $25 pay-per-car fee benefits Franktown Open Hearts, which serves inner-city at-risk youth and their families in Franklin. In addition to all the twinkling lights, there’s a Santa’s Village with milk, cookies, and camel rides for an additional charge. (eventbrite.com)

Dancing Lights of Christmas

Wilson County’s James E. Ward Agricultural Center is now the host of this decade-long tradition (it once was held in a campground site near Opryland). For 2.5 miles you’ll wend your way through a synchronized light show, listening to a playlist through the radio—although these are different takes on your favorite classics. The $30 per car fee covers the drive through the electric light forest. A Santa’s Village at the end includes snacks and photos with Kris Kringle for an additional fee. (thedancinglightsofchristmas.com)

Cheekwood

The botanical garden is transformed into a Holiday Lights wonderland, one that will appeal to you no matter which family members you bring. You can choose to wander through the gardens at night and roast some marshmallows with a s’mores kit. Catch carolers singing the songs of the season, check out live reindeer, or decorate a gingerbread house. A train display will appeal to kids while the decorated mansion tugs at the heartstrings of HGTV fans. Tickets start at $14 for kids and $19 for adults, but there are packages for families and different nights. (cheekwood.org)

Headquarters Beercade

The SoBro arcade bar is bringing back its Reindeer Games holiday pop-up this year. The two stories will include life-sized toy soldiers, a life-sized gingerbread house, displays themed around your favorite seasonal flicks (think: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and How the Grinch Stole Christmas), plus more than 5,000 Christmas lights, more than 20 free vintage arcade and pinball games, and a special seasonal cocktail list (Santa’s Snack, for example, has candy-cane infused vodka). This is grown-up fun open until 3 a.m. (hqnashville.com)

The Bobby Hotel

The rooftop of The Bobby Hotel will become a Nordic Village again in 2019, with heated igloos that were the chilly toast of Instagram last year, plus cabins, board games, twinkling lights, and great city views. Book through Open Table to reserve an igloo for you and friends or join a communal table through the end of the year. (bobbyhotel.com)

Miracle at Hidden Bar at the Noelle

Miracle pop-up bars bring themed décor, cocktails, and playlists to spread merriment literally across the globe—from Kamloops, British Columbia to Panama City. This particular holiday party in Nashville takes place at Hidden Bar at the Noelle hotel through the end of the year with drinks, such as the Snowball Old-Fashioned, served in themed glasses. If you really want to get in the spirit of the season, participate in what they hope will be the World’s Largest Ugly Sweater Party on Monday, December 2. (noelle-nashville.com/experiences)

The 92nd Annual Nashville Christmas Parade

Benefitting the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, this holiday spectacular is a beacon of goodwill and cheer. Kicking off December 7 at 8:30 a.m. from the corner of North 1st Avenue and Brandon Street, the annual parade includes dazzling floats, incredible performances by the likes of Billy Gillman, Bianca Ryan, Farewell Angelina, Lucas Hoge, and more. Follow its route as it moves south to Broadway and turns right at the end of 8th Ave. and celebrate one of Nashville’s longest running Christmas traditions (since 1927). (nashvillechristmasparade.com)

Zoolumination

What is being billed as the largest Chinese lantern festival in the country is lighting up 60 acres in the Nashville Zoo. There are some holiday scenes, but the focus on the event is zoo animals and creative scenes made from silk lanterns. The 200-foot-long dragon is sure to be the scene-stealer. The lanterns will be up through February 2, so they’re a great activity option if your family experiences post-holiday letdown. Tickets are $14 for kids; $19 for adults or spend an extra $10 for a season’s pass and come back often. Kids under 2 are free. (nashvillezoo.org/zoolumination)