Holiday Happenings

Chattanooga Area

Rock City Enchanted Garden Lights (Nov. 17, 2023 – Jan. 6, 2024)  Warm your heart during this nighttime, kid-friendly Christmas event as you walk through Rock City Gardens’ winter wonderland. Just a quick drive from downtown Chattanooga, this magical Christmas lights experience is one of Chattanooga’s most memorable winter events.

Chattanoga’s Holiday Trail of Lights (all season-long) Enjoy Christmas lights at your own pace with the self-guided tour of holiday displays around the city. Download the interactive map and set off to find Christmas cheer around every corner.

MIRACLE on Broad Street (Nov. 15-Dec. 31) It’s a Christmas MIRACLE – this holiday popup bar is back at No Hard Feelings! Sip on holiday cocktails and get ready to dance the night away with Christmas music under an array of twinkling lights and quirky decorations.

Knoxville

Peppermint Trail (Nov. 24, 2023 – Jan. 7, 2024) Follow the city-wide Peppermint Trail on the sidewalks of Downtown Knoxville and discover all sorts of seasonal treats along the way from peppermint ice cream to peppermint hot chocolate.Indulge in candy cane coffees and handcrafted Tennessee Whiskey cocktails as you sip and shop your way through the city.

Holiday on Ice (Nov. 24, 2023-Jan. 2, 2024) An open-air ice rink, nestled under the Christmas lights of downtown Knoxville? Count us in! Take your kids and friends for a skate around the rink in the heart of Market Square while listening to music. Admission includes entry fee, skate rental and unlimited time on the ice. It’s a chilly good time on the trail!

MIRACLE at Old City (December 2023 – Jan. 2, 2024) In the heart of Knoxville’s Old City you’ll find not one but two Tennessee Whiskey Trail distilleries. For a limited time you can pair these passport stops with a holiday pop-up bar. Eclectic holiday cocktail glasses, crafted cocktails and Christmas lights await you at Brother Wolf’s MIRACLE makeover!

Bristol

Winter Wonderland (all season-long)  Enjoy a unique holiday experience as Downtown Bristol transforms into a Winter Wonderland this season! Take a stroll down Cumberland Square and enjoy seeing more than 20 holiday trees, all of which have been decorated by a different person, local business or nonprofit organization! You’ll find dazzling Christmas lights, a Christmas Selfie Station and so much more.

Speedway in Lights (Nov. 17, 2023 – Jan. 6, 2024)  Over 3 million lights await you at the Bristol Motor Speedway.The region’s most dazzling holiday light show returns to wow you at every turn! A trek along this festive raceway wouldn’t be complete without a stop at their Christmas Village for shopping and ice skating.

The Smokies

Skiing and Skating at Ober Mountain (Early-mid December – early March 2024)  No snow where you are? Snow problem! Head to Ober Mountain and get your wintery fix with their snow offerings. From snowboarding and skiing to tubing and play zones, there’s no shortage of fun to be had at Tennessee’s ski resort.

Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood (Now – Jan. 6, 2024) Voted America’s Best Christmas Event for more than a decade, the sparkling lights of Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas are sure to wow you. Enjoy more than 6 million lights, award-winning holiday performances and an all-new Christmas drone show called Joyful! Season of Light.

Old Forge Distillery’s Whiskey Wonderland (Nov. 15 – Jan.15 ) – Step into Old Forge Distillery’s lounge to experience holiday-themed cocktails while enjoying the area’s Smoky Mountain Winterfest. Visit with Santa Dec. 2 at the distillery for Cocktails with a Claus.

Wilderness at the Smokies (Nov. 10, 2023 – Jan. 15, 2024) Where on earth can you splash around a water park AND go ice skating? The Wilderness of the Smokies, of course. The resort will host a 3,200 square-foot ice rink where music, holiday lights and a Winter Wonderland snack area can be enjoyed. A DJ will be onsite Fridays and Saturdays beginning Nov. 11 and performances by figure skaters from The Ice Chalet will take place Fridays beginning Dec. 15.

Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland at Smoky Smoky Mountain (Nov. 17, 2023 – Jan. 7, 2024) Be dazzled by millions of lights as you drive through amazing Christmas light displays. After your drive, visit Snowy Mountain to enjoy extra-large yard games, roast s’mores around a fire pit, Santa visits and more.

Smoky Mountain Lights (Nov. 25, 2023 – Jan. 2, 2024) Explore Townsend, Tennessee this season and enjoy some reprieve from the holiday hustle and bustle.There’s no shortage of Christmas cheer in this quiet small town, just ask the locals! The city is hosting “Smoky Mountain Lights” – a  Christmas light drive-through show nightly at the Townsend Visitor Center.

Memphis Area

Christmas at Graceland (Nov. 16, 2023 – Jan. 8, 2024) : Celebrate a blue, blue, blue, Christmas at Elvis’ Graceland. See how Elvis decorated for Christmas with traditional Christmas lights, Elvis’ Santa and sleigh lawn decorations, a life-size nativity and the famous red velvet curtains. It’s easy to see why the mansion has been voted year after year as USAToday’s “Best Holiday Historic Home Tour.”

Memphis Zoo Lights (Nov. 24, 2023 – Jan. 6, 2024) Ice skating, ferris wheel rides, hot cocoa, s’mores and more can be found this year at the Memphis Zoo Lights Bundle up, take in the sights, see the Christmas lights and visit with Santa.

Holiday Wonders at the Garden (Nov. 24 – Dec. 30)  Perfect for a date night or kid-friendly outing, Holiday Wonders at the Garden presented by Memphis Botanic Garden is a unique holiday exhibition. Enjoy signature cocktails and libations, hot chocolate and apple cider. See falling snow in My Big Backyard and explore Playhouse Lane after dark. Snap a selfie at the photo-worthy Merry Memories station. And, don’t miss Santa’s sleigh in the Northern Lights exhibit. For 2023, enjoy a new area of festive photo-ops, character engagements and food trucks on weekend nights.

MIRACLE at The Liquor Store (December)  There’s so much to be thankful for this year but to be honest – we’re especially grateful to hear that the MIRACLE pop-up bar at The Liquor Store on Broad Avenue is back for the holiday season. This immersive holiday experience is sure to have you merry and bright with themed cocktails and over-the-top Christmas decor.

Nashville Area

Cheekwood (Nov. 18, 2023 – Jan. 7, 2024) Reserve your tickets now for Holiday LIGHTS at Cheekwood.With creative light displays, a mile-long walking trail, sparkling interactive features, s’mores and bar stations – it’s easy to see why Holiday LIGHTS is the ideal, memory-making experience for visitors of all ages and a Nashville must-do Christmas activity.

The Dancing Lights of Christmas (Nov. 10 – Dec. 31) This drive-thru Christmas light display will have you rocking out to holiday music rain or shine at Wilson County Fairgrounds/Ward Ag Center, about 33 miles from downtown Nashville. Dancing Lights of Christmas is Tennessee’s largest drive-thru light and music show. Admission includes Santa’s Village, visiting with Santa and the petting zoo.

Holiday pop ups From Christmas Vacation in a hidden bar to rooftop snow globes with views of the city, there are no shortages of holiday pop-up bar experiences in Nashville this year! We couldn’t pick a favorite to mention so we decided to list them all! Go ahead, get your yuletide on and be sure to let us know which one was YOUR favorite!

Noelle’s Hidden Bar’s Ralphie’s Christmas Nov. 8, 2023 – Jan. 8, 2024
JW Marriott’s Starlight Nov. 18, 2023 – Jan. 7, 2024 – featuring an exclusive cocktail by Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery.
Bobby Hotel’s Camp Bobby Now – February 18, 2024
Westin Nashville’s Winter Ski Chalet Nov. 16, 2023 – February 2024
Holston House’s Old Fashioned Christmas Bar
The Fairlane Hotel’s Misfit Bar
Union Station Nashville Harry Potter-themed Pop-Up Now – Dec. 31
Pearl Diver’s MIRACLE
W Hotel’s The Lodge

Franklin Area

Leipers Fork Parade (Dec. 9 | 2 p.m. CST) Watch the unique, annual Leipers Fork Christmas Parade featuring dressed up horses and cattle, festive tractors, marching bands, Christmas characters and small town holiday cheer.

Dickens of a Christmas Festival (Dec. 9-10) Take part in this holiday tradition in historic downtown Franklin. Main Street is transformed into Charles Dickens’ world, complete with dancers, musicians and characters from Dickens’ famous novels like Fagin from Oliver Twist and Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol. Snap a photo with Victorian Father and Mother Christmas and enjoy holiday treats, arts and crafts and, of course, the whiskey lounge.

Clarksville Area

Christmas on the Cumberland (Nov. 18, 2023 – Jan. 2, 2024) Create core memories this holiday season at Christmas on the Cumberland in Clarksville, about 50 miles from downtown Nashville. Fill the thermos with hot cocoa, bundle up and enjoy the views of over 1 million Christmas lights along the McGregor Park Riverwalk. This dog-friendly holiday trail includes local vendors and concessions on the weekends.

Christmas Lights at the Clarksville Speedway (Nov. 21 – Dec. 30) Start a new Christmas tradition with your family by enjoying this more than 1-mile drive-thru display featuring over 3 million lights. Special admission is included on select nights. Check the calendar for more details.