Music City doesn’t stop when the thermometer drops. Stay warm when the temperatures are low with this Winter Bucket List in Nashville.
Stages are not the only things that light up during the holidays in Music City. Christmas at Gaylord Opryland is a holiday tradition in Nashville, providing a magical holiday experience. Savor the sights and sounds of the season at Cheekwood LIGHTS, with one mile of enchanting holiday lights throughout the gardens. Watch The Nashville Zoo shine bright during Zoolumination as more than 500 custom-made silk lanterns will be spread across 60 acres. Or experience the Nashville Christmas Festival offering a light hayride adventure with games, photo ops, live bluegrass and carols, a pole barn of Frazier fir trees, fire pits with s'mores and hot cocoa, food trucks, and more! See Music City in Lights.
Cheekwood LIGHTS | Christmas at Gaylord Opryland | Nashville Christmas Festival | Nashville Light Tour | Zoolumination
Music City loves to celebrate each season by decking the halls with temporary pop-ups decorated with unique themes and offering special menu items. From hotels and restaurants to dive bars, you will find the perfect pop-up that will have you singing with merriment.
Bobby Hotel | East Nashville Beer Works | Fairlane Hotel | Grand Hyatt | Jane's Hideaway | Nicky's Coal Fired | Noelle Hotel | Pancake Pantry | Sports & Social Green Hills | The Westin | Union Station Hotel | Virgin Hotel
It's the most wonderful time of the year when Nashville's creative spirit can be found throughout the city, and the craft cocktails are no exception. Spread Christmas' cheers' and enjoy a seasonal cocktail in the crisp open air with outside dining surrounded by heaters or relax inside.
Fox Bar & Cocktail Club | L.A. Jackson | PlayDate Nashville | PROOF
'Tis the season for spreading cheer and singing holiday songs for all to hear! Nashville has the perfect mix of genres with cuts of country, bluegrass, rock, pop, Americana, gospel, classical, and blues, all blending in perfect harmony. The music and entertainment scene is as diverse as the songwriters and musicians who make up the community. Find your sound at a holiday concert happening in Nashville.
Grand Ole Opry | Ryman Auditorium | Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Every winter, the spotlight in Nashville turns to center stage for shows you won’t soon forget. Be part of the audience as Broadway's hit musicals like Nashville Ballet's Nashville Nutcracker (December 6-26), Peter Pan (January 7-12, 2025), and more take the stage this winter season. Experience the unforgettable magic of the performing arts in Music City.
Nashville Ballet | Nashville Children’s Theater | Nashville Repertory Theatre | Nashville Opera | OZ Arts Nashville | Studio Tenn | Tennessee Performing Arts Center
Nashville turns into a winter wonderland during the holiday season. Glide through Music City with your family at a pop-up ice skating rink or a Nashville Sportsplex. Lace-up your skates and hit the ice.
Ford Ice Center | Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention | The Rink Above Broadway
A little retail therapy might be exactly what you need to keep warm during these winter months. Nashville shops offer something for everyone: records by local musicians, vintage items, jewelry, and more. Find a local treasure and take a piece of Nashville home with you.
Emerson Grace | Fifth + Broadway | Imogene + Willie | L&L Market Place | Judith Bright | Music City Shop | Project 615
The best winter days in Music City start with a freshly made cup of hot chocolate! With an abundance of local coffee shops AND a delicious selection of pastries and breakfast options, you won’t have trouble finding this holiday favorite. Explore the charming, cozy, hip coffee shops in Nashville’s captivating neighborhoods.
8th & Roast | Barista Parlor | Crema | D’Andrews | Frothy Monkey | Loews Nashville Hotel | Prickly Pear Coffee Co. | Stay Golden | Stompin’ Grounds
Wine and winter tend to pair well together. Warm up with a glass of red wine, or get festive with your favorite bubbly. Whether you prefer red, white, sparkling, or rosé, enjoy a glass from a Nashville winery at the end of a chilly day (or any day).
Arrington Vineyards & Winery | Belle Meade Winery | City Winery | Grinder's Switch Winery | Love and Exile Bar | Natchez Hills Winery | Sixty Vines
There's nothing like a shot of Tennessee whiskey to warm you up during the winter. Single-barrel bourbon, rye, gin, and white whiskey are just a few of the local spirits you can sip on a distillery tour. Nashville also appeals to the ice-cold draft beer and craft cider drinker. From smaller micro-breweries to larger taprooms complete with full food menus, Nashville has a variety of local beers, breweries, and cideries that will satisfy any beer enthusiast.
6th & Peabody | Big Machine Brewery and Distillery | Buds & Brews | East Nashville Beer Works | Fat Bottom Brewing Co | Hi-Wire Brewing | Jack Daniel Distillery | Jackalope Brewing Company | Music City Brew Hop | Nashville Barrel Co | Nashville Craft Distillery | Nelson's Green Brier Distillery | Tennessee Brew Works
Can you handle the heat of some down-home cooking that has served Nashville locals and visitors for decades? A city of creators, Nashville is known for the creation of hot chicken – fried chicken doused in fiery spices and served on a bed of white bread with a pickle. You have not been to Music City until you have tried this Nashville original with heat levels ranging from mild to XXX Hot.
Acme | Hattie B’s | Party Fowl | Prince’s Hot Chicken | Smokin Chicken | Whiskey River Saloon
Come inside from the cold and into a Nashville music museum. Priceless artifacts, including countless recordings and photographs, numerous stage costumes, musical instruments, and more, can be found throughout music museums in Music City. Peek into the past lives of musicians from all genres who have helped shape Nashville into Music City.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum | Johnny Cash Museum | Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum | National Museum of African American Music | Patsy Cline Museum | Willie Nelson and Friends Museum
Nashville is home to multiple professional sports teams and sporting events, and loyal fans travel from near and far to experience the thrill of the games. We completely understand a fan’s need to cheer on their team, so whether you are watching from the sidelines or joining the crowd in a sports bar, you can find an action-packed place in Nashville to tune into your favorite game.
Music City Bowl | Nashville Predators | SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament | Tennessee Titans
Spend the last night of the year at Jack Daniel's New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash! with hours of live music, fireworks, and the signature midnight Music Note Drop. Keith Urban, Kane Brown, and Jelly Roll will headline the FREE main stage event at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. Book now to take advantage of exclusive lodging rates!