December is always a busy month, and this year is no exception — there’s plenty of holiday fun to be had all around Nashville. From dazzling lights and holiday markets to visits with Santa himself, soak in the final days of 2024 with these can’t-miss December events!
Through January 2025: Carols & Barrels Pop-Up Bar Trail
The Tennessee Whiskey Trail is making it extra easy to plan your pop-up bar adventures this holiday season! They’ve rounded up details on some of the best Christmas bars in and around Nashville, including Peg Leg Porker Spirits Tasting Room, Standard Proof Whiskey, and Jack Daniel’s at the Omni Nashville Hotel. To see a complete list of bars and download your pop-up bar passport, visit tnwhiskeytrail.com.
Through January 4, 2025: A Country Christmas
Returning for another year, Gaylord Opryland’s Country Christmas offers fun for the entire family. This year’s premier event, ICE!, features larger-than-life ice sculptures and immersive scenes from Frosty the Snowman. Similar to years past, additional activities include ice skating, horse-drawn carriage rides, ice tubing, and more. christmasatgaylordopryland.marriott.com
December 1, 8, 15 & 22, 2024: Breakfast with Santa
Get ready for a magical morning filled with holiday cheer! On select days in December, you and your family can enjoy a special breakfast while meeting Santa Claus at Grand Hyatt Nashville. The breakfast buffet includes pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, and sweet holiday treats. Admission is $22.50 for children and $45 for adults. hyattexperiences.com
December 3, 10 & 17, 2024: Deck the Balls! Sequined Ornament Workshops with Libby Callaway
Join Nashville creative consultant Libby Callaway to learn to make the sequined ornament of your dreams. Decorating these colorful, sparkly styrofoam balls has been an annual tradition in Libby’s family since the 1940s, when her paternal grandmother would spend every fall making them to sell at the St. Luke’s church bazaar in Cleveland, TN. Today, the tradition lives on with these hands-on workshops. Absolutely no experience is necessary to take part in one of the two-hour courses, held in the lobby bar of The Graduate Nashville. There are three dates to choose from: December 3, 10, and 17. Send an email to [email protected] to reserve your spot. Registration is $125.
December 4, 11, 18 & 24, 2024: Holiday Screenings at W Nashville
Join W Nashville in the Living Room for festive screenings of your favorite holiday films, including Love Actually (December 4), The Holiday (December 11), Four Christmases (December 18), National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (December 24), and Elf (December 24). You can also purchase specialty cocktails and eggnog. eventbrite.com
December 5, 2024: Merry, Bright & Everything Nice Open House
On December 5, visit shop.woodsaesthetics.com to enjoy special savings during its virtual Merry, Bright & Everything Nice Open House. Specials include 20% off everything — including services, products, and gift cards. You can also purchase specially priced treatments like Botox, fillers, and dermaplaning.
December 5 – 7, 2024: Diamond Cellar Holiday Gala
Join Diamond Cellar for its biggest savings event of the year! The annual Holiday Galla offers exclusive deals on diamonds and designer pieces — all up to 25% off. Event hours are Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can also shop the gala online at diamondcellar.com.
December 5 – 16, 2024: Festival of Trees
This annual event at Stephens Valley includes thousands of holiday lights, decorated Christmas trees, a holiday market (December 7), and pictures with Santa (December 7). While the event is free to attend, Stephens Valley asks attendees to bring a donation for Bellevue Community Food Bank. The fun runs daily from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. stephensvalley.com
December 5, 6, 10, 12 13, 17, 19, 20, 24, 26, 27 & 31, 2024 + January 2 & 3, 2025: Holiday Teas at Cheekwood
Treat yourself and your loved ones to an afternoon tea at Cheekwood’s Café 29. Enjoy table-side service with a classic holiday-inspired menu featuring a selection of seasonal teas, bite-sized sandwiches, and freshly baked sweets for parties of two or four people. To see the complete menu and reserve your table, visit cheekwood.org.
December 6, 2024: Margaret Ellis Jewelry Once-A-Year Sample Sale Begins!
It’s back! Don’t miss the Margaret Ellis Jewelry Once-A-Year Sample Sale, a Nashville tradition for over 40 years. The Berry Hill Studio door will open on Friday, December 6 at 9 a.m. for early access to a wide variety of classic favorites, unique variations, and one-of-a-kind handmade artisan jewelry — all at up to 75% off! If you can’t make it in person, the online sale begins at noon the same day at margaretellisjewelry.com. It will run through the end of December but shop early (in person on December 6!) for the best selection.
December 6, 2024: Hi, Finch Holiday Open House
From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on December 6, visit Hi, Finch to celebrate the start of the holiday season! The free event offers some of the best skincare sales of the year. To RSVP, visit eventbrite.com.
December 6, 2024: A Jacksonian Christmas
Join Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage for A Jacksonian Christmas, an evening full of photos with Santa, face painting, balloon art, s’mores, food trucks, and shopping. Open-house tours of The Hermitage Mansion allow a more personal look into the home of the Jackson family and many of their Christmas traditions, while a horse-drawn wagon tour describes the customs of the holiday season for the enslaved on the property. Admission begins at $10, and you can purchase tickets HERE.
December 6 – 8, 2024: A Symphony of Rats
Offering video imagery and a frenetic assortment of equipment, The Wooster Group transforms OZ Arts Nashville into a mad scientist’s laboratory for their latest production, A Symphony of Rats. The performance explores the absurdity of presidential powers and the hilarity of masculine fantasies about interstellar control. Performances begin at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets start at $30. ozartsnashville.org
December 6 – 26, 2024: Nashville’s Nutcracker
Embark on a magical journey this holiday season with Paul Vasterling’s Nashville’s Nutcracker. Set against the backdrop of the vibrant city and featuring live music by The Nashville Symphony, this performance invites individuals of all ages to revel in the splendor of the Sugar Plum Fairy’s kingdom, the fierceness of the Mouse King, and the timeless adventure of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince. To see the schedule and purchase tickets, visit nashvilleballet.com.
December 7, 2024: Winter at Westgate Holiday Event
Celebrate the season by shopping local at Westgate Shopping Center! Whether you’re shopping for others or yourself, stores include Magpies, Fix Juice Co., Pure Sweat + Float Studio, Nashville Yoga Co., The Kitchen, Harvest Wine and Spirits Market, The French Shoppe, and the newly relocated Katy’s Hallmark. For additional details, visit the event’s Facebook page.
December 7, 2024: Maileg Event at Hester & Cook Franklin
Join Hester & Cook for an exciting Maileg event with representative Sassier Senoff. Explore the magical world of stuffed bunnies, mice, and more. Little visitors always love to play with the miniature dollhouses and furniture, so they’re sure to love this event, too! The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and also includes light refreshments, gifts with purchases, and a giveaway. hesterandcook.com
December 9 & 10, 2024: Feast of Seven Fishes
Amerigo is excited to announce the return of its annual holiday Italian celebration, the Feast of the Seven Fishes! The evening typically consists of seven different seafood dishes, and Chef Steven Robilio hosts a seven-course dinner with curated wine pairings for each course. Guests are seated family-style in the private dining rooms, and dinner begins at 6 p.m. Click HERE to reserve your table for the Cool Springs event on December 9 and HERE for the Nashville event on December 10.
December 13 & 14, 2024: Porter Flea Holiday Market
Complete your remaining holiday shopping at the Porter Flea Holiday Market, where you can find everything from jewelry and apparel to home decor and sweet treats. This year’s vendors include Apple and Oak, Brownlee, Heavyweight Ceramics, Midnight Oil, and many more. A ticketed preview event takes place at the Nashville Fairgrounds on Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The free event continues on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. porterflea.com
December 14, 2024: Adult ARTlab: Traditional Japanese Bookbinding with Suminagashi
Join the Frist Art Museum and artist Rima Day for this workshop inspired by Journey through Japan: Myths to Manga. Explore suminagashi, a traditional Japanese marbling technique using sumi ink on a water surface, and then create your own book cover for a notebook using this method. Admission is $60 for Frist members and $75 for non-members. fristartmuseum.org
December 14, 2024: Rudolph’s Red Nose Run 5K
Rudolph’s Red Nose 5K is a family-friendly event that benefits NeedLink Nashville, a nonprofit organization providing short-term assistance to those in need. Be sure to stick around after the race to enjoy coffee, breakfast sandwiches, and live music. Registration is $44.79, and a virtual race option is also available. The event begins at 9 a.m. at Shelby Park. rudolphsrednoserun.raceroster.com
December 18, 2024: Open House Christmas Party at Hatef Aesthetics
Join Hatef Aesthetics on December 18 for its Open House Christmas Party! From 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., you can enjoy exclusive event specials, giveaways, in-person demonstrations, goodie bags, complimentary hor d’oeuvres and beverages, and more. To RSVP to the event, text (615) 678-6273.
December 20, 21, 27, 28 & 31, 2024: Marshmallow Hikes
Join Owl’s Hill for its annual Marshmallow Hike series. After strolling through the nature sanctuary’s winter woods, treat yourself to hot chocolate and roasted marshmallows. Hikes begin at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. Registration starts at $11 per hiker. (Note: Children 2 and younger receive free admission.) owlshill.org
December 21, 2024: Brunch With Santa
Visit Blue Aster at The Conrad to enjoy a delicious morning meal with Santa Claus! The fun begins at 11 a.m., and admission is $65 per adult and $35 per child. For additional details and to reserve your spot, visit opentable.com.
December 31, 2024: Midnight Hour: A Hollywood Affair
L.A. Jackson’s Midnight Hour rolls out the red carpet this New Year’s Eve, and they’re doing it ‘Old Hollywood’ style! Head to the rooftop bar for a Hollywood Affair, which includes live entertainment, an open bar, hors d’oeuvres, and a midnight champagne tower toast. Tickets for this black-tie affair are $300. The fun kicks off at 9 p.m. resy.com
December 31, 2024: Jack Daniel’s New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash
Nashville’s annual New Year’s Eve bash is a must-attend event at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. This year’s celebration includes all the usual fun — from the midnight Music Note Drop to live music and fireworks. The musical lineup includes performers like Keith Urban, Kane Brown, and Jelly Roll. If you can’t attend the in-person event, New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash is also televised on CBS, starting at 6:30 p.m. CST. visitmusiccity.com
Happy December, Nashville!
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To see even more great Nashville events, visit our Happenings calendar.
