Nothing brings holiday joy like dazzling light displays, and Nashville knows how to shine! From drive-through spectacles to twinkling attractions, these attractive spots offer magical experiences for all ages. Prepare to be amazed by Music City's holiday sparkle!
Seeing sparkly lights twinkle in the night sky is a sure way to get into the holiday spirit. It’s one of those pleasures that hits differently for adults and kids. Music City loves sparkle and bling all year, so it makes sense that a number of Nashville-area attractions have giant holiday light displays. Several of them require a car to drive through, so, if you didn’t drive to town, consider getting a rental car to experience these seven illuminating experiences. Some charge admission by the car, rather than per person, so load up some friends and start gazing.
Cheekwood Estate and Gardens The city’s signature botanic gardens light up this time of year. You can walk through outdoor trails of bedazzled trees and warm up after with s’mores, seasonal beverages and touring the decorated indoor historic mansion. A small holiday market is a good place to find stocking stuffers. The lights are lit Nov. 22, 2024-Jan. 5, 2025.
Chad’s Winter Wonderland Lebanon is 28 miles east of the Bobby Nashville and it is worth the drive to experience Chad’s Winter Wonderland. It’s a drive-thru outing with more than 3 million lights and handmade art and signage, all set to music. Chad himself has been building and painting these displays for decades. Santa and the Grinch will be there for the kids. Open Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day.
Gaylord Opryland Resort Christmas at Opryland is a Nashville institution. Head over to Music Valley for millions of lights inside and outside the mammoth hotel, as well as ICE!, a walk-through world of ice carvings at just 9 degrees (they’ll loan you a parka to keep warm), plus snowball throwing, ice skating and other seasonal activities. The lights are on from Nov. 8, 2024-Jan. 4, 2025.
The Dancing Lights of Christmas About 30 miles east of the Bobby Nashville is the area’s largest synchronized drive-thru light display. You’re charged by car, not by person. Lines can back up, so going on weekdays is recommended. After the lights and the funky music, you can head to the petting zoo or Santa’s Village. The lights are on Nov. 8, 2024-Jan. 4, 2025.
Franktown Festival of Lights This drive-thru holiday light display in suburban Williamson County offers Walkin’ Wednesdays, too! You can ditch the car (or take a Lyft) and then walk through the more than 200 different synchronized displays. Lights are on from Nov. 22, 2024 – Dec. 31, 2024.
Zoolumination Most of the zoo’s animals go to sleep before dark, but the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere will be wide awake for the country’s largest display of colored silk lanterns. They’re on display daily between Nov. 14, 2024-Jan. 5, 2025 and Thursdays – Sundays Jan. 9, 2025-Feb. 9, 2025.
Rep. John Lewis Way North If you just want to see some twinkly lights and not get in a car, simply walk one block west from the Bobby Nashville to Rep. John Lewis Way North between Church and Union streets and see the white lights that line the sky year-round.
