Nashville Holiday Lights 2026: A Family Guide to the Light Shows, Parades and Santa Visits
The holiday light season around Nashville starts earlier than usual this year, and there is more of it. The Nashville Zoo is debuting a new light show, Cheekwood and Franklin's drive-through display both open the same November weekend, and a Gaylord Opryland attraction turns a famous movie house into ice. Here is how the pieces fit together for a family with kids, roughly in the order they open. Dates, hours and prices are as posted by each organizer as of Sept. 30, so double-check before you buy tickets.
The light shows
ice! featuring Home Alone at Gaylord Opryland — Nov. 6 through Jan. 2. A walk-through of the McCallister house carved from ice, with morning, afternoon and evening sessions. The visit itself runs roughly 20 to 40 minutes, so it pairs well with something else that day. Children under 3 are free with a paid adult, and pricing varies by session.
Glow Wild at the Nashville Zoo — Nov. 13 through Jan. 3, nightly from 5 to 9 p.m. A new holiday show of glowing animal displays and an 85-foot synchronized Christmas tree, replacing Zoolumination this year. A single night is $27, the Platinum Pass is $39, parking is $10 and an ice rink add-on is $12. Children under 2 are free.
Holiday LIGHTS at Cheekwood — Nov. 20 through Jan. 3, nightly from 4:30 to 10 p.m. The botanical garden after dark, with peak and off-peak pricing. Youth tickets (ages 3 to 17) run $20 to $26 and adult tickets $26 to $32; members pay less and age 2 and under are free. Going early in the evening is the easiest way to keep small kids happy.
FrankTown Festival of Lights — Nov. 20 through Dec. 31, nightly from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Williamson County Ag Expo Park in Franklin. A drive-through display, so pajamas and a thermos of cocoa are a fine plan. There are also Walking Wednesdays on Nov. 25 and Dec. 2, 9 and 16 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. if your crew would rather be on foot. The organizer lists ticket details as coming soon.
Parades, tree lightings and Santa
Hermitage Tree Lighting — Thursday, Dec. 3, 4 to 7:30 p.m. A neighborhood tree lighting with food trucks, live entertainment, kids' activities and Santa. Festivities start at 4 and the lighting is at 6:30.
Holiday Happening! at the Thompson Lane library — Thursday, Dec. 3, 5 to 7 p.m. Crafts and snacks, then a visit from Mrs. Claus and Santa with songs and photos.
Franklin Christmas Parade — Saturday, Dec. 5, 1 p.m. The Downtown Franklin Rotary Club's parade down Main Street, held the first Saturday of December.
Shop Local Holiday Market with Santa — Saturday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Nashville Farmers' Market. Free admission and free parking, with live music, crafts, cookies, caroling and free photos with Santa.
DIY Snow Globes at the Hermitage library — Sunday, Dec. 6, 2:30 p.m. A drop-in craft for kids and adults, while supplies last.
Dickens of a Christmas in Franklin and the Gallatin Christmas Parade — Saturday, Dec. 12. Dickens starts at 10 a.m. in downtown Franklin and Gallatin's parade steps off at noon, ending with Santa Claus.
Stage shows and museums
Nashville's Nutcracker — Nov. 27 through Dec. 27 at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. The Nashville Ballet's holiday tradition, with matinees on many dates.
Frozen — Dec. 4 through Dec. 20 at the James K. Polk Theatre, with several afternoon shows. Check each listing for times.
Frist Family Sunday — Sunday, Dec. 13, 1 to 5 p.m. Kid-friendly programming, family tours and multisensory gallery experiences, with the Martin ArtQuest stations open 1 to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free for members and for guests 18 and younger.
Planning tips
If you can, book the paid light shows for a weeknight, which tends to be easier with little kids than a weekend. If you are only picking one, Cheekwood and Glow Wild are the walking shows, FrankTown is the one you can do from the car, and the Gaylord ice house is the short indoor stop. Add the free options, like the Farmers' Market Santa morning and the library crafts, to balance the budget. All of these are on the Nashville family events calendar, and new December dates are added as organizers post them.
