christmas towns to visit in tennessee

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15 Best Christmas Towns In Tennessee To Visit In 2024 With Festive Events + Markets + Mass

Where to go in Tennessee for the Christmas holiday spirit? Read this article with a list of the best Christmas towns in Tennessee with Christmas markets and holiday activities. 

ALSO READ : 👉🏼 St Augustine Night Of Lights – Christmas In St Augustine + Best Things To Do

Christmas Towns In Tennessee – Tennessee Christmas Vacation

Tennessee’s magical Christmas towns captivate with their enchanting blend of historic charm, festive events, and vibrant markets, creating a warm and welcoming holiday atmosphere that resonates with the season’s spirit. Plan your Tennessee Christmas vacation after reading this article.

Weather – Tennesse Christmas Vacation Tour

Tennessee experiences a diverse Christmas weather, ranging from mild temperatures in the low 40s Fahrenheit (4-9°C) in the western regions to cooler temperatures in the 30s (1-4°C) in the eastern areas, providing a chance for a cozy, sometimes even white, holiday experience.

👉🏼12 Best Christmas Towns In North Carolina To Visit In 2024 + Christmas Markets & Mass

Gatlinburg – Magical Tennessee Christmas town

Gatlinburg transforms into a winter wonderland with millions of twinkling lights, creating a magical atmosphere. Gatlinburg is one of the best Tennessee Christmas towns to celebrate your holiday spirit. 

Christmas Market:  Gatlinburg’s Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community Christmas Show features local artisans’ unique handmade gifts and crafts, creating a festive shopping experience.

👉🏼Gatlinburg In Winter Tn – Best Things To Do In Winter + Cabin Stay Options + Events

Christmas Things to Do:

• Witness the enchanting Winter Magic Trolley Ride of Lights.
• Visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for festive hikes.
• Experience the renowned Gatlinburg Christmas Parade.

Christmas Mass  – Gatlinburg, a smaller town in Tennessee, doesn’t have a cathedral in the traditional sense. However, consider local churches if you’re looking for a place to attend Christmas Mass. One of the notable options is the  Gatlinburg First United Methodist Church , which often holds special Christmas services.  

ALSO READ : 👉🏼Celebrate Christmas In Nashville – Nashville Christmas Vacation Planner + Best Activities

Franklin 

Franklin offers a nostalgic Christmas experience with its historic charm and community-oriented celebrations. Franklin is the best historic and magical Tennessee Christmas town.

Christmas Market:  The Dickens of a Christmas festival includes a delightful holiday market where vendors showcase Victorian-inspired crafts, gifts, and festive treats.

• Enjoy Dickens of a Christmas, a Victorian-themed celebration.
• Shop in the charming downtown district.
• Attend festive concerts at the Franklin Theatre.

Christmas Mass  – In Franklin, Tennessee, one of the notable places to attend Christmas Mass is the  St. Philip Catholic Church .

Chattanooga

Chattanooga blends traditional and unique holiday experiences with scenic attractions and festive markets.

The Chattanooga Holiday Market in the First Tennessee Pavilion offers a wide array of handmade goods, local produce, and festive treats in a vibrant market setting.

👉🏼Best Things To Do In Chattanooga TN This Weekend

• Visit the Rock City Gardens for the Enchanted Garden of Lights.
• Experience the Polar Express at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.
• Enjoy the Chattanooga Holiday Market.

Christmas Mass  – In Chattanooga, Tennessee, you can attend Christmas Mass at the  Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul . The Basilica, located in downtown Chattanooga, is a beautiful Catholic church with a rich history and often holds special services during the Christmas season.

Knoxville’s festive events and vibrant downtown make it a lively destination for Christmas enthusiasts. Knoxville shines as one of the best Christmas towns in Tennessee, blending festive traditions, dazzling lights, and a vibrant community spirit to create a holiday experience like no other.

Christmas Market:  The Market Square Holiday Market transforms Knoxville’s downtown with a European-style market featuring local vendors offering holiday crafts, ornaments, and seasonal delights.

• Attend the Fantasy of Trees event.
• Explore the Christmas in the City celebration.
• Participate in the Peppermint Trail for seasonal treats.

 The  Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus  is a prominent Catholic cathedral in Knoxville known for its grand architecture and significant religious events. It is likely to host special Christmas Mass services.

Jonesborough:

Jonesborough offers a quaint and cozy Christmas atmosphere with its historic architecture and community-centric events.

Christmas Market:  Jonesborough’s Holiday Mart showcases the work of regional artisans, allowing visitors to find unique, handcrafted gifts while enjoying the town’s historic charm.

• Experience the historic storytelling tours.
• Participate in the Progressive Dinner Tour.
• Enjoy the Main Street Christmas Tree Lighting.

Christmas Mass – Jonesborough, being a small town, may not have a traditional cathedral. However, one of the notable churches in the area where you can attend Christmas Mass is the Jonesborough United Methodist Church . It’s a historic church with a strong community presence.

ALSO READ 👉🏼 : 18 Best Christmas Towns In California To Visit In 2024 + Christmas Markets, Places To Go

Sevierville:

Sevierville combines holiday lights, shopping, and entertainment, making it a perfect family destination.

Christmas Market:  Sevierville’s Tinsel and Treasures Craft Show brings together local and regional artisans, offering a diverse selection of handmade crafts, decorations, and festive goodies.

Sevierville deserves a spot on the list of Tennessee Christmas vacation with its magical blend of festive attractions, dazzling light displays, and a warm, family-friendly atmosphere that captures the true spirit of the season.

• Explore Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland.
• Attend the Winterfest Kickoff.
• Shop for unique gifts in the Tanger Outlets.

Christmas Mass – In Sevierville, Tennessee, you might consider attending Christmas Mass at Holy Cross Catholic Church .

Leiper’s Fork:

 Leiper’s Fork offers a cozy and intimate Christmas celebration with its small-town charm and festive events.

Christmas Market:  The Leiper’s Fork Christmas Village Market highlights local artists and artisans, allowing visitors to discover one-of-a-kind holiday treasures.

• Attend the Holiday Village Market.
• Experience the Christmas Parade.
• Enjoy live music in this charming village. 

Christmas Mass – Leiper’s Fork, being a small and charming village in Tennessee, may not have a cathedral. However, there are local churches that offer Christmas services. One such church to consider for attending Christmas Mass or services in the Leiper’s Fork area is Leiper’s Fork United Methodist Church.

Memphis combines festive lights with its rich cultural scene, creating a unique Christmas experience.

👉🏼10 Best Road Trips From Memphis – Perfect Weekend trips With Things To Do + Hotel Stay Options

Christmas Market:  The Memphis Holiday Market at the Memphis Zoo features a festive market atmosphere with holiday gifts, crafts, and seasonal treats for the whole family.

• Visit the Memphis Zoo Lights.
• Experience the Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees.
• Enjoy the holiday lights at Shelby Farms Park.

Johnson City:

Johnson City offers various Christmas activities, from traditional parades to unique underground light displays.

Christmas Market:  The Johnson City Holiday Market at Founders Park offers a delightful shopping experience with various vendors showcasing holiday-themed crafts and gifts.

• Attend the Johnson City Christmas Parade.
• Explore the Tannenbaum Christmas Shop.
• Experience the Lights Spectacular at Appalachian Caverns. 

Christmas Mass – In Memphis, Tennessee, you might consider attending Christmas Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception . It is the mother church of the Catholic Diocese of Memphis and is known for its beautiful architecture and significant religious events.

Pigeon Forge:

Pigeon Forge is a hub of holiday entertainment with its theme park celebrations and unique attractions.

Christmas Market:  Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas includes a picturesque Christmas Craft Village, where artisans showcase their skills and offer handmade holiday goods.

• Visit Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas.
• Experience Christmas at the Titanic Museum.
• Stroll through the festive Island at Pigeon Forge.

Christmas Mass – In Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, you may consider attending Christmas services at St. Mary Catholic Church . While Pigeon Forge may not have a cathedral, St. Mary Catholic Church is a notable church in the area that often holds special services and celebrations during the Christmas season.

Columbia offers a blend of history and holiday cheer, making it a charming destination for Christmas festivities.

Christmas Market:  The Columbia Main Street Christmas Market brings together local vendors, offering everything from handmade crafts to festive treats, creating a joyful shopping experience.

• Attend the Parade.
• Explore the historic downtown district.
• Enjoy the Columbia Main Street Christmas Tree Lighting.

Christmas Mass – In Columbia, Tennessee, you might consider attending Christmas Mass at St. Catherine Catholic Church . 

Murfreesboro:

Murfreesboro provides a historical backdrop for Christmas celebrations with its well-preserved landmarks and community events.

Christmas Market:  The Oaklands Mansion Christmas Marketplace allows visitors to explore unique holiday gifts and crafts while enjoying the historic surroundings of the mansion.

• Experience the Oaklands Mansion Christmas Candlelight Tour.
• Attend the Christmas in the Park event.
• Explore the festive lights at Cannonsburgh Village.

Christmas Mass – In Murfreesboro, Tennessee, one of the notable churches where you can attend Christmas Mass is St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church .

Clarksville:

Clarksville’s riverfront lights and community events create a festive atmosphere for visitors of all ages. 

Christmas Market:  The Christmas on the Cumberland event includes a charming market with local vendors, allowing shoppers to shop for holiday gifts and decorations.

• Attend the Christmas on the Cumberland light display.
• Explore the Downtown Commons Ice Rink.
• Enjoy the annual Christmas parade.

Christmas Mass – In Clarksville, Tennessee, you might consider attending Christmas Mass at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

Bristol offers a unique blend of Christmas events, combining the excitement of motor speedway lights with traditional parades.

Christmas Market:  The Christmas Village in Downtown Bristol offers a festive market experience with various vendors selling everything from handmade crafts to seasonal treats.

• Attend the Bristol Christmas Parade.
• Experience the Bristol Motor Speedway Speedway in Lights.
• Explore the downtown holiday decorations.

Christmas Mass – In Bristol, Tennessee, one of the notable churches where you can attend Christmas Mass is St. Anne Catholic Church . 

Cleveland provides a warm and welcoming Christmas experience with community-focused events and festive decorations.

Christmas Market:  The Main Street Cleveland Christmas Market features local artisans and vendors, creating a festive atmosphere for holiday shopping in the heart of downtown Cleveland.

• Visit the Main Street Cleveland Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes.
• Attend the Christmas Parade.
• Explore the holiday decorations in downtown Cleveland.

Christmass Mass – In Cleveland, Tennessee, one of the notable churches where you can attend Christmas Mass is St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church.

From Gatlinburg’s shimmering lights to Jonesborough, Tennessee’s cozy traditions, it offers a unique and unforgettable yuletide experience. 

There are so many magical Christmas towns in USA, with famous Tenessee Christmas towns. So plan your Tennessee Christmas Vacation after reading about things to do at these Christmas Towns in Tennessee. 

Read more on Tennessee Travel

• 10 Unique Romantic Getaways In Tennessee With Romantic Stays (Weekend Getaways)
• 8 Best Scenic Drives in Tennessee – Day Road Trips + Scenic Stopovers
• 10 Best Road Trips From Chattanooga – Scenic Drives Near Chattanooga TN
• Best Things To Do In Chattanooga TN This Weekend
• Best Ruby Falls Tour Chattanooga Tennessee

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Discover the best that Southern USA has to offer! Hidden gems, vibrant cities and more!

12 Festive Places To Celebrate Christmas In Tennessee

October 9, 2021 //  by  Southern Trippers

If you’re looking for festive places to experience Christmas in Tennessee, we’ve got you covered! The Volunteer State shines no matter what time of year, but Christmas time offers a little something extra. The Christmas lights, festivals, events, and general festiveness of the state are a sight to behold. In Tennessee, you will be able to find a plethora of fun Christmas activities to participate in. You can go ice skating, watch performances, attend festivals, drive through neighborhood after neighborhood of houses that are beautifully adorned with Christmas decorations, and much more! Tennessee is a really wonderful place to experience Christmas as there are many big cities that get into the Christmas spirit by offering visitors tons of Christmas activities and the mountain scenery in the eastern part of the state adds even more frivolity to the Christmas season. Which of these Christmas in Tennessee activities will you do first?

Experience Tennessee Christmas Magic in Gatlinburg

There’s nothing better than experiencing Christmas in the Smoky Mountains. The town of Gatlinburg offers Christmas fun around every corner during the holiday season. Whether you are a festival fanatic or you’re just looking for some lovely Christmas ambiance, Gatlinburg has you covered! If you’re looking for a place to see the Gatlinburg Christmas lights, a visit to the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park is in order! The Gatlinburg SkyBridge at Christmas is lit up beautifully for an event called Lights Over Gatlinburg and it is a must-see for Christmas in Tennessee. Walk over the 300-foot tunnel bridge that is covered with more than 40,000 lights, check out the 30+ foot Christmas tree, and much more in the Sky Park. While you’re exploring everything that Gatlinburg has to offer at Christmas time, don’t overlook the Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade that takes place on the parkway. During past parades, more than 80,000 people have shown up to watch the spectacle that includes hundreds of decorated floats! If parades aren’t your things, consider checking out Gatlinburg Tunes and Tales where you can listen to stories, live music, and see all of your favorite North Pole inhabitants.

Christmas at Dollywood

Some would say that a trip to Pigeon Forge isn’t complete without a visit to Dollywood. This is so true when it comes to Christmas in Tennessee. The stunning display of lights at Dollywood is a must-see at Christmas time! With the walkways and buildings adorned with millions of Christmas lights during the season, this Tennessee theme park is a spectacular display of the Christmas spirit. The light season in the park starts in November and runs through to the beginning of January, so you have plenty of time to schedule a trip to Dollywood during the holiday season. Dollywood also offers Christmas shows in the park. There’s no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than by listening to Christmas carols and watching classic Christmas stories acted out on stage. There are also opportunities to play reindeer games, decorate cookies, and see classic Christmas characters. Of course, kids are also able to get their picture taken with Santa!

Christmas in Nashville

Christmas in Tennessee just wouldn’t be the same without the Christmas festivities in this lovely Tennessee town. A Country Christmas at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center is a can’t miss when visiting Nashville during Christmas time . The fun is boundless at Opryland! From dinner shows, scavenger hunts, and Santa to Rudolph’s Holly Jolly Breakfast, bumper cars, and more, Christmas at Opryland is perfect for families. Cheekwood Estate & Gardens is another site in Nashville that goes big for Christmas. You can see amazing light displays, a 20+ foot Christmas tree covered in orchids, Children’s Wonderland, the Dancing Lights of Trains, and more during your visit. The Nashville Ballet puts on a performance of the Nashville Nutcracker. The classic ballet gets a Nashville twist in this rendition of the beloved performance. The stunning costumes, twinkling lights, and incredible talent you will see during the show will have you wanting to make watching the performance your new Christmas tradition!

Drive Through The Brentwood Neighborhoods

The lovely Tennessee town of Brentwood offers visitors an amazing display of the Christmas spirit each year. For more than twenty years the neighborhoods in Brentwood have filled their streets with Christmas lights and decorations and it’s called the Sunnyside Drive Christmas Lights Display. A drive through the neighborhoods of Brentwood to see the Sunnyside Drive Christmas Lights will plant you firmly in the Christmas spirit and leave you in awe. Although it’s free to drive through the neighborhoods, the houses that participate in the lights take donations each year for the Shriner’s Hospitals For Children.

Visit The Historic Rock Castle

Spend Christmas in Tennessee by diving into history. The Historic Rock Castle in Hendersonville was built in the late 1700s and was the home of General Daniel Smith and his wife Sarah. Both were early Tennesseans. Daniel created the first map of Tennessee, has been credited with the naming of the state, and was a surveyor who helped form the line between Kentucky and Tennessee. This historic home is breathtaking at Christmas time. The wreaths and garland hung from the fences around the property and on the home are a welcome sight around Christmas time, especially when there is snow on the ground; the atmosphere is so welcoming! During the holiday season you there’s a lot of learning and fun to be had at the home. You can take a free tour of the home, enjoy refreshments, the holiday gift shop, and appearances from Santa. This event is always offered for free to the community during this time of year and no tickets are necessary. This is a great opportunity to not only enjoy the holiday season but learn a bit about the history of Tennessee as well.

Go Christmas Lights Hopping in Memphis

For those who love checking out the Christmas lights every year, you will love Christmas in Memphis! You will find that there are so many fantastic places to drive through and walk through to see Christmas lights in Memphis each year. The largest light show, not only in Memphis but in the mid-south, is the Starry Nights at Shelby Farms Park. This light display is a drive-through attraction and has more than three million lights! The Zoo Lights at the Memphis Zoo is another amazing light display in the city. With fun features like light tunnels, s’mores kits, hot chocolate, and a 90 foot LED Ferris wheel, this site is a must-see in Memphis. You can also see other light displays, including the Collierville Holiday Light Tour, Enchanted Forest: Festival of Trees at Pink Palace, and the Holiday Wonders at the Memphis Botanic Garden. Each year at Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley, you can attend the lighting ceremony where they light up the mansion and ground for the holiday season.

Christmas in Knoxville

Known for delicious southern food, a wonderful downtown, and for being an exciting city to visit when in the Volunteer State, Knoxville is an exciting place to experience Christmas in Tennessee. This Tennessee city is delightful for both adults and children at Christmas time. You will find downtown to be decorated beautifully for the holiday, complete with a 40+ foot Christmas tree! A favorite holiday tradition in Knoxville is at the zoo! Zoo Knoxville is wonderfully decorated for the holiday with lanterns, tree lights, and more for visitors to enjoy. You can also enjoy the Knoxville Neighborhood Holiday Trails. Grab a map online of the neighborhoods that are participating and take a driving tour of the trails to enjoy the Christmas Lights that are on display. You can also follow the Peppermint Trail. The trail takes you to bakeries, bars, restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, and other places in the city that offer peppermint specials and are adorned with peppermint-themed light displays. New events and festivals are always being put on in the city. Make sure to check the Visit Knoxville website to see what amazing events will be held in the city this year!

Snow Tubing in Tennessee

Snow tubing is a real treat in the state of Tennessee. You can find many opportunities to enjoy the snow and cold weather around Christmas time by swinging by one of these snow tubing locations. Arguably the most popular place to snow tube in the state is at Ober Gatlinburg. This site is a popular attraction in eastern Tennessee that offers snowboarding, a skylift, skiing, and other fun activities. Kids as young as age three can participate in snow tubing at Ober Gatlinburg. Sessions last for 90 minutes and they have a wonderful “magic carpet” that is like an outdoor escalator that takes you to the top of the hill for each new run so that you can avoid climbing the hill each time! Another option for snow tubing is at Pigeon Forge Snow. This site is open year-round in the heat, cold, rain, or shine. Fun for adults, teens, all the way down to young kids, Pigeon Forge Snow is a super fun thing to do during Christin in Tennessee. The snow is made entirely of water and the inside temperatures are always around 60-70 degrees! This is a super unique experience and it’s actually the first attraction of it’s kind in America.

Experience Christmas in Columbia

Christmas in big cities is a blast! However, if you want a true small-town experience for the holiday season, a visit to the town of Columbia is a must. This lovely Tennessee town has been hosting a Christmas parade on Main Street since 1986! You can take part in the festivities and watch the bands, clubs, groups, classic cars and motorcycles, and more drive in the parade. The yearly Maury Christmas Tour of Homes is a holiday tour that takes you on a tour of some of the most beautiful and historic sites in the area. You can see these sites at your own pace over the span of two days. The tour includes the Rippavilla, Polk Home, Grace Episcopal Church, Elm Springs, and The Athenaeum. There are many other fun Christmas activities to take part in Columbia. If you will be visiting with kids, you can swing by the Children’s Museum to have Cookies with Santa. There’s also a free holiday market in nearby Thompson Station at the historic Homestead Manor and a place at the Polk Memorial Gardens where people light candles for loved ones. For those visiting with kids, above all, make sure you don’t miss the Blue Barn Christmas Market and Winter Festival. There is a Santa’s Snow Shop, pancake making, Christmas cookie decorating, crafting, a petting zoo, bounce houses, shopping, food trucks, and other fun Christmas activities for you at this Columbia festival!

Christmas in Chatanooga

Will your Christmas in Tennessee include a visit to Chatanooga? It should! Christmas time is really fun in Chatanooga! One of the most fun activities during this time of year is to follow along the Holiday Trail of Lights. The trail shows you twelve-holiday activities that will add to your holiday fun. Along this trail, you can find train excursions, animal encounters, gingerbread-house workshops, artist demonstrations, and much more holiday fun. Have you ever watched the Polar Express? You can have your very own Polar Express experience on the Tennessee Valley Railroad’s Christmas Dinner Time. The train offers a four-course dinner and travels leisurely through urban East Chattanooga. You can enjoy your meal in a beautifully restored vintage dining car amid Christmas decorations and a lovely atmosphere. During Christmas in Chatanooga, you will also be able to experience the Holiday Lighted Boat Parade. You can watch this festive event along the Chatanooga Riverfront. The boats are all lit up and in the Christmas spirit for the season and watching the boats float by is a fun event during an evening in the city. If you are visiting the city with kids, a stop by the Gingerbread Workshop at the Creative Discovery Museum is a must! Enjoy making sweet gingerbread houses with icing and candy decorations, drink some hot chocolate and enjoy the holiday at this Chatanooga museum!

Visit Winterfest

This annual festival is a must-do during Christmas in Tennessee. More than five million lights are used to decorate the town and turn it into a winter wonderland for visitors to the mountain town of Pigeon Forge. There are many intriguing places throughout the city to see the stunning lights displays. A must-see during Winterfest is The Island in Pigeon Forge. You can see millions of lights, thousands of ornaments, appearances by Mrs. and Mr. Claus, carolers, and more. The best way to see Christmas lights is on the Winterfest Driving Tour of Lights. The tour begins at the north end of the parkway and allows you to see not only millions of lights but also native wildlife on the door. You can see black bears, foxes, and other native critters on your drive. You may also catch a glimpse of the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel which towers at 200 -foot-tall and is covered in tons of sparkly Christmas lights!

Go Ice Skating

Is ice skating what you thinking of when you are planning for Christmas in Tennessee? Ice skating can be fun any time of year, but it’s extra special during the holiday season when you are surrounded by twinkly lights, festive decor, and Christmas music. There is a fun setting where you can ice skate during the Christmas season in Tennessee. Gaylord Opryland in Nashville offers ice skating during the holiday season at their 9,000 square-foot skating rink. The rink is outdoor and made with real ice. Plus, if you don’t know how to skate, lessons are available! The Wilderness at the Smokies also has an outdoor skating rink. This rink opens in November and stays open through the holidays until the beginning of January. Lastly, you can also find ice skating at the Tennessee visitor favorite, Ober Gatlinburg. Their ice arena is indoors and is the centerpiece of their enclosed mall. Although the arena is open year-round, it’s a particularly wonderful experience during Christmas time!

With all of the holiday joy that can be found during Christmas in Tennessee, it can be hard to decide which events and attractions to see! Whether you go Christmas lights hopping, on the hunt for delicious holiday treats, or if you are feeling more adventurous and want to participate in snow sports, you will find a lot of fun and exciting experiences! Which of these cool things to do in Tennessee at Christmas time will you try out this year?

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13 Tennessee Towns That Will Make You Feel Like You’re in a Hallmark Christmas Movie

• Activities and Interests
• Destinations
• Hallmark Christmas Movies
• Seasonal Travel
• United States

Note: The Travel Awaits team regularly updates content to provide the latest, and most accurate information to our readers. The updated content in this article may not reflect the views or opinions of the original author.

“A tender Tennessee Christmas is the only Christmas for me.” Amy Grant/Gary Chapman

Twinkling lights glistening in a thin blanket of snow, friends and family gathered around a tree singing Christmas carols and enjoying some holiday cheer. Horse-drawn carriage rides and streets decorated in garland and bows. It sounds like something out of a fairytale or a Hallmark Christmas movie on Christmas Eve, doesn’t it?

There are many Christmas towns in Tennessee with enough holiday spirit they could easily be the perfect setting for a Hallmark movie. In fact, Hallmark agrees; Memphis was the setting for Christmas in Graceland in 2018 and the sequel Wedding at Graceland . In 2019, Christmas at Graceland: Home for the Holidays was filmed there.

Let’s look at a few other towns in Tennessee where you can visit and enjoy their Southern hospitality and Hallmark movie atmosphere. You, too, can enjoy a tender Tennessee Christmas .

The towns are listed in no particular order.

Visit Franklin hosted a stay. All opinions are my own.

13 Best Tennessee Christmas Town Destinations

1. collierville.

A quaint downtown, festive with garland, bows, lights, horse-drawn carriage rides, and Santa visits on the town square create a magical holiday feeling. The festivities begin on November 22, 2022, with the lighting of the 35-foot town Christmas tree. There will be live entertainment and free hot chocolate for everyone as the countdown to the tree lighting begins.

You will find 250,000 holiday lights twinkling in the historic district from Thanksgiving through New Year’s. You can enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides through town to enjoy the lights on select dates.

Speaking of lights, Collierville’s Holiday Light Tour will take place December 8 through 23. Last year’s tour featured 105 locations!

Christmas in Collierville is the highlight of the season, happening on Saturdays beginning November 26 through December 17. Santa will greet the children in the gazebo on the town square for those memory-making photos. Families can walk around town and capture memories along the Holiday Photo Stroll.

Thousands line the streets of Collierville for the annual Christmas Parade. This year’s parade will be held on December 2.

2. Jonesborough

Dubbed the “ Storytelling Capital of the World ,” Jonesborough pulls out all the stops to celebrate Christmas. The lighting of the town Christmas tree on Main Street kicks off the season the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The event also includes a story told by a local storyteller and familiar Christmas carols echoing through the streets.

Throughout the season, Historic Jonesborough keeps the Christmas spirit alive with fun holiday happenings every Saturday during December.

Each Saturday has a different theme, and Santa is available for photos with the children as he listens to their Christmas wishes. Toys are collected for underprivileged children in the community, and complimentary gift wrapping of all downtown purchases is available.

The second Saturday in December is the annual Jonesborough Christmas Parade held in the evening with lighted floats. In addition to the floats, entries include church choirs, fire trucks decorated for Christmas, a live nativity scene, and more.

Other events include a Holiday Tour and Tea, a progressive dinner, and more. 

Jonesborough is a place for making old-fashioned Christmas memories to last a lifetime.

Historic Keebler Estate Guest House $116/nightly avg

Secluded Blue Ridge Mountain Cabin $154/nightly avg

3. Franklin

The quaint city of Franklin hosts an annual Christmas parade on the first Saturday in December. The parade features more than 100 entries, including bands, community groups, businesses, and floats ushering in the Christmas season. Crowds line the streets to wave at Jolly Ol’ St. Nick as he arrives in Franklin. Santa will be available to visit with the children, and other festivities will happen along the quintessential main street.

Remember yesteryear at the annual Dickens of a Christmas Festival held in historic downtown Franklin on the second weekend of December. The weekend-long event brings characters to life from Oliver Twis t and A Christmas Carol . During the event, you can wander through the Victorian Village and taste Victorian-era holiday treats. Have a chat with Ebenezer Scrooge, visit with Father Christmas, and enjoy carolers singing.

To make getting from place to place easier, new this year is The Franklin Hop , a hop-on/hop-off tour that makes five different stops around Franklin and puts you in close proximity to over 50 places of interest.

4. Knoxville

Homes and businesses shimmering with lights and decorated with wreaths and garland whisper “Happy Holidays” as you visit. Overflowing with holiday activities for kids of all ages, including adults, makes Knoxville an excellent holiday fun choice.

The illumination of the 42-foot Christmas tree at Krutch Park along with a forest of twinkling trees, a huge parade, the Peppermint Trail, and even an Elf on the Shelf® Scavenger Hunt add to the Christmas cheer.

Take a stroll through the downtown Winter Wonderland to enjoy over 100,000 lights with garlands decorating the doors, windows, patios, and trees. You can find peppermint specials in every boutique, bar, bakery, coffee shop, and restaurant as you follow the Peppermint Trail , and there are even peppermint-themed lighting displays.

Kids will be thrilled with the idea of participating in a scavenger hunt and finding which store or location Elf on the Shelf® lands each day. Santa has permitted the elves to visit Knoxville from Friday, November 25, 2022, to Sunday, January 8, 2023. If you find 20 elves, you can register for a prize. The businesses downtown select a theme each year and decorate the storefronts accordingly.

Knoxville neighborhoods battle to see who has the best decorations, and the entire community gets involved in the season’s activities.

5. Union City 

Located in northwest Tennessee, Union City has a quaint downtown decorated with festive lights, and in town, it has Discovery Park America . It is an incredible museum by day, but when the sun goes down, the Let It Glow light show begins with over one million synchronized lights sparkling to Christmas songs. The entire 50 acres of the heritage park provide a drive-thru/walk-thru light show.

Hot chocolate and other refreshments are available for purchase, as well as local, handmade gifts.

You can enjoy Let It Glow in Union City from November 11 through December 30.

6. Pigeon Forge

A festive holiday destination, Pigeon Forge is magical with glittering lights and decorations. Winterfest Driving Tour of Lights shines throughout the holidays well into February. Over five million sparkling lights illuminate your drive. The Trolley Ride of Lights allows you to enjoy the seasonal display while gliding through Pigeon Forge. You can also enjoy them from a pink Jeep or a helicopter tour.

New this year is the addition of the Wonders of Light Walking Trail along the scenic Riverwalk nature trail. It features 20 new light displays some standing more than 25 feet tall. Tennessee’s top attraction, Dollywood , flips the switch for its 6-million sparkling light display in early November. Its celebration, Smoky Mountain Christmas, has been named the “Best Christmas Event” in the Smoky Mountains and runs till January 1.

A Christmas light show, stories told on stage, and the “Merry & Bright” fireworks display synchronized to Christmas tunes make this one of the merriest events in Tennessee on Christmas Eve. 

Pigeon Forge also hosts a 2,000-square-foot complex known as The Incredible Christmas Place . Inside you will find more holiday cheer and decor than you can imagine. Santa’s Haus has photo-ops, ornament making, arts and crafts, cookie decorating, storytime with Santa, and more.

Be sure to visit the Old Mill historic district. It is visible for miles with illuminated scenes and colorful Christmas lights.

7. Sevierville

Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland showcases lights dancing in rhythm to Christmas music played on your car radio as you drive through the custom-built, all-LED displays surrounding you with holiday magic. This year they added some extra oomph with a new 50-foot tree of light sitting in a gigantic field of dancing lights. The Great Smoky Mountains serve as a backdrop for the 15 million lights and displays that line the parkway for a festive experience.

Sevierville has a few new things this Winterfest. Shadrack’s Super-Sized Christmas Adventure will be an immersive experience that pulls guests into the story. Sevierville is the only location with both shows. It opens on November 25.

Sevierville’s newest outdoor attraction is SkyLand Ranch. You ride a scenic chairlift to the mountaintop ranch. There you will find rides and entertainment, and it also features SkyLand Santa Village.

Visitors can enjoy the town tree-lighting event, Christmas at the Courthouse on December 2, and the 60th Annual Sevierville Christmas Parade will wind through the historic downtown streets at 11 a.m. on December 3.

8. Gatlinburg

Nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg has much to offer visitors when it comes to holiday cheer. America’s longest suspension bridge becomes “ Lights Over Gatlinburg ” from mid-November through late January. The park is covered with dazzling lights and seasonal decorations. Christmas music plays in the background, and the cafes serve hot chocolate.

This year they are bringing back the 300-foot tunnel of lights on the Gatlinburg SkyBridge!

An old-fashioned Christmas is celebrated in historic Rugby on the first two Saturdays of December. Christmas spirit is alive and well in the historic settlement as the holidays approach. The Victorian-era village is decked out like it is still 1880 with live garland and window candles.

Christmas in Historic Rugby includes a visit from Father Christmas, street carolers strolling in the village, hot drinks and cookies, holiday shopping, and more.

10. Bristol

Known for its speedway, Bristol showcases the largest holiday light show in the region, beginning November 18 through January 7. Bristol Motor Speedway turns into the Speedway in Lights with over 2 million twinkling lights.

Other activities in this Hallmark Christmas USA town include an ice rink and a Christmas Village.

11. Smithville

The first weekend in December kicks off the merriment in charming Smithville. The parade through town is on Saturday followed by the heartwarming Christmas on the Square . The Festival of Trees begins on Monday with the trees staying on display until January.

The whole town gets involved with the festive Christmas on the Square event. Attendees can vote for the best ‘live” window scene, enjoy refreshments, smile in the free photo booth, shop in local stores, visit with Santa, and more.

Those walking through the Festival of Trees Christmas wonderland will enjoy approximately 50 trees adorning the hallways. It is a free event, but organizers request a new, unwrapped children’s gift to be placed under your favorite tree. Visitors can also vote on the trees.

12. Granville

Historic Granville sits on the banks of the Cumberland River one hour east of Nashville. This hidden gem provides a true Hallmark town experience with its “A Christmas Hallmark Movie Town” event that runs from November 11 through December 31. It includes the Festival of Trees, Antique Toy Show, Historic Victorian Home Tour, strolling Christmas characters, and storybook streets. Stroll through town and visit its 8 museums, shop, and eat great food.

Known as Tennessee’s quaint Mayberry Town, it is full of memorabilia from The Andy Griffith Show . For an extra special experience, plan to attend a Mayberry Christmas Dinner Theater presentation or one of the Christmas Bluegrass Dinner Shows.

On December 10, they turn the town into a Hallmark movie set with victorian flair. “A Victorian Christmas Comes to These Hills” includes a parade and activities for all ages.

Earlier this year, Granville was rated #1 of the “10 Small Towns in the U.S. That Feel Like Stepping Back in Time” by Bestlife.

13. Rock City

Think of Rock City as the perfect place to celebrate the holiday season. It is an icon of Chattanooga with hundreds of thousands of visitors driving up Lookout Mountain to see the festive displays. Located right on the northwest Georgia-Tennessee border, Rock City is a magical place to visit all year round but is especially amazing during the Christmas holidays.

Its Enchanted Garden of Lights is arguably one of the memorable festive events. The park is only open during the daytime, but for the holiday season, the garden is open for a nighttime show of dazzling lights, holiday decorations, stunning color-changing displays, and nighttime views of Chattanooga down in the valley.

See Rock City decked out in thousands of Christmas lights, meet fun characters, grab a hot chocolate, and get to talk to Santa Claus. Seeing all four “realms of wonder”: Magic Forest, Arctic Kingdom, North Pole Village, and Yule Town will have you almost shivering with excitement. 

With so many festive events scheduled throughout November and December, you can easily spend those two months within the city limits and still not see it all.

No matter which Tennessee town you choose to visit over the holidays, you will be greeted with warm, genuine Southern hospitality, homespun Christmas charm, and the small-town friendly atmosphere showcased in Hallmark Christmas movies. 

Who knows, after a visit, you might be saying, “A tender Tennessee Christmas is the only Christmas for me.”

What Are the Best Christmas Towns in Tennessee Like?

With Christmas parades, holiday decorations, and tree-lighting ceremonies galore, the best Christmas Towns in Tennessee certainly have a heart for the holidays. Some towns embrace the spirit of the holiday season so thoroughly, they should be a setting for a Hallmark movie.

What Is the Best Christmas Town in Tennessee?

According to a study by photo book brand Mixbook, one of the best Christmas towns in Tennessee is Pigeon Forge. Emerging in the top spot this East Tennessee town welcomes the holiday spirit with its Appalachian warmth and festive allure.

Does It Snow on Christmas in Tennessee?

December in Tennessee sees less than 2 inches of snow falls on average and it very rarely sticks to the ground. To see snow on the ground in the holiday season, your best bet is to head up to higher elevations in the mountains, where it is generally cold enough for snow to stick.

Is Tennessee a Good Place to Go for Christmas?

It certainly is. There are few things as enchanting as the best Christmas Towns in Tennessee. There’s something special about spending the holiday season in this amazing southern state. Both visitors and residents take in the holidays with hospitality, music, and a childlike wonder. 

Which Town in Tennessee Puts One of the Best Christmas Lights Displays?

Rock City in Southeast Tennessee is all dressed up for the Christmas season, with over a million lights and one of the world’s largest walk-through Christmas trees. This winter wonderland ranks among the best Christmas light displays in the state.

Robin O’Neal Smith is a freelance and travel writer. A young baby boomer, Robin and her husband have traveled throughout North America, many of the Caribbean Islands, and Europe. She loves cruising and inspiring others to live their dreams of travel. Follow her travels on her personal site where she discusses travel, food, and more!

Christmas in Tennessee: Festive Towns & Holiday Activities

By: Author Laurin

Posted on Last updated: January 2, 2024

Categories Accommodation , Activities

Planning to spend Christmas in Tennessee this year?

Are you a local looking for new traditions or simply looking for fun holiday events? Either way, we’ve got you covered!

When it comes to celebrating Christmas, the Volunteer State offers a huge, diverse range of events and activities.

Tennessee’s varied terrain and weather mean there’s something for everyone. From the snow-capped Smoky Mountains to the milder climates in cities like Nashville.

In this guide, we’ll dive deep into some of the top things to do for Christmas in Tennessee.

Additionally, we’ll highlight some of the most festive towns , the best places to stay, where to eat, and more. Because we’re Tennesseans ourselves, we’ll share not only well-known spots but some hidden gems , too.

Specifically interested in what to do for Christmas in the Smoky Mountains or Nashville ? Be sure to check out our other guides.

This article focuses on all the other wonderful places to celebrate the season across the state.

Table of Contents

The Complete Guide to Spending Christmas in Tennessee

Tennessee’s Christmas celebrations are as diverse as its landscapes. In addition to the diverse geography and weather, every region has its own distinct culture and traditions.

Whether you prefer the charm and slow pace of small towns or the hustle and bustle of a big city , you’ll find the perfect Christmas in Tennessee.

Festive Hotels to Stay in Tennessee for Christmas

Several Tennessee hotels go all out for the holiday season. No matter what city you spend Christmas in Tennessee in, these hotels will make you feel like you’re visiting The North Pole!

1. Gaylord Opryland Resort (Nashville )

2. The Inn at Christmas Place (Pigeon Forge )

3. The Tennessean (Knoxville )

4. The Peabody Hotel (Memphis )

5. The Hermitage Hotel (Nashville )

Top 10 Christmas Activities & Events Across Tennessee

1. pinnacle speedway in lights (bristol).

Kick off Christmas in Tennessee with one of the state’s most thrilling (and most popular) holiday events in Bristol, TN!

At the Bristol Motor Speedway, Pinnacle Speedway in Lights is a dazzling drive-through light display spanning four miles — transforming the entire speedway into a winter wonderland!

With millions of lights and themed displays , this event is a sensory feast. Theme zones include Victorian Village, Snowman Maker, Ripley’s Sea of Illumination, and more. It’s a perfect family outing, too.

While you’re at the speedway, don’t miss Christmas Village in the infield or the ice rink near the north entrance. This event really is wildly popular, so be sure to book tickets in advance .

2. Christmas at Graceland (Memphis)

Elvis Presley reportedly LOVED the holidays. So, it should come as no surprise that his beloved Graceland mansion undergoes a magical transformation during Christmas time.

Christmas at Graceland is a one-of-a-kind experience where you can tour the Graceland Mansion , all decked out for the holidays.

The beautiful, traditional Christmas decor you see is exactly how Elvis and his family decorated! Of course, plenty of blue lights illuminate the driveway and other areas!

In addition to the tours, you can book a special overnight package that includes accommodations. There are also some special events you may want to attend.

• Annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony – Thursday, November 16
• Graceland Holiday Concert Weekend – December 1-2

More things to do in Memphis in Winter

3. Cut Down Your Own Christmas Tree

Dreaming of a traditional Christmas experience ? Consider visiting one of the many Christmas tree farms across Tennessee, where you can pick and cut down your own tree .

This hands-on activity is perfect for couples and families, and creates lasting memories. Who knows, you may even start a new tradition!

There are probably dozens of places we don’t even know about. But, to get you started, here are a handful of ideas for where you can cut down your own Christmas trees.

Christmas Tree Farms in West Tennessee

• Wells Tree Farm (Newbern): Family-owned farm that provides hand saws or will cut your tree for you. Professional photography sessions also available, with prior arrangements.
• Duncan Christmas Tree Farm (Selmer): 35 acres of trees, as well as handmade wreaths and garland available for pre-order. Complimentary hayrides, cocoa, and cider when you visit. Photography sessions available on weekends throughout the season.

Middle Tennessee Christmas Tree Farms

• Wildwood Christmas Tree Farm (Woodbury): Open the Saturday before Thanksgiving through December 10, and by appointment on Christmas Eve. Cut your own or buy a pre-cut tree. The farm also offers hay rides, a tree house play area, and a craft room for painting ornaments.
• Southern Grace Tree Farm (Culleoka): Offers a variety of cut-your-own pine and spruce trees from Thanksgiving weekend through December 10. You can also get pre-cut Fraser firs as early as November 18, and pre-order garlands and wreaths are available.

Christmas Tree Farms in East Tennessee

• Roan Valley Tree Farm (Johnson City): Well-established farm with over 25,000 trees, including cut your own or pre-cut. It even provided the White House tree in 1993! There’s also a restaurant onsite, open on weekends in a 200-year-old barn.
• Bluebird Christmas Tree Farm (Heiskell): Just 20 minutes from Knoxville, this farm offers both choose-and-cut and pre-cut trees. Check out the 1800s log home on the farm, too!

4. Leiper’s Fork Christmas Parade

For a big dose of small-town charm, head to Leiper’s Fork, just outside of Franklin, TN .

The annual “almost world-famous” Christmas parade is something you won’t ever forget.

This normally sleepy village comes to life with what’s been called the “wackiest parade in Tennessee.”

Expect colorful floats, but not the usual ones. The floats here are tractors, vintage trucks, horse-drawn carriages and wagons, and farm animals . The crazier and more over the top, the better!

This parade is one of the most cherished traditions representing Christmas in Tennessee. Even celebrities (particularly country music singers) have been known to show up!

5. Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas (Sevierville)

Although we have a whole guide dedicated to Christmas in the Smokies , Dollywood does holidays so well that this deserves another mention.

Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas is so magical as it features millions of twinkling lights , festive decorations, and tons of holiday shows and entertainment.

Even the park’s already amazing food and rides get a festive holiday upgrade!

New this year, there’s also a Christmas drone show each night.

Dollywood even has onsite accommodations, so consider turning your visit into the whole getaway. The park offers several different packages .

6. Candy Land Christmas (Johnson City)

Our home of Johnson City transforms into a real-life Candy Land in December .

The “Candy Land Christmas” celebration gets the entire community involved, really embracing what the holiday season is all about.

From the Saturday after Thanksgiving until early January, 150 decorated Christmas trees take over the town . They’re on display in King Commons and Founders Park, AKA “Cupcake Commons” and “Gumdrop Forest.”

What makes this one of the best events for Christmas in Tennessee, though, is that these aren’t just any decorated trees. Local residents, businesses, organizations, and other community members sponsor and decorate each tree!

Everyone votes and then, at the end of Candy Land, a winner is crowned for bragging rights.

New for 2023, the city put together an interactive map of all the trees. Search for your neighbors’, company’s, etc., and vote!

7. Tennessee Valley Railroad Holiday Trains (Chattanooga)

Step back in time and channel your inner child to experience the enchantment of a magical holiday train ride . Chattanooga’s Tennessee Valley Railroad offers a range of holiday-themed train rides.

And what says ‘Christmas in Tennessee’ better than boarding an exciting, scenic train ?

Options include the North Pole Limited , a Christmas Tea train, Santa’s Hiwassee Holiday Train, the Christmas Dinner Train, and a Holiday Lights train.

Note that these holiday trains are wildly popular, and they DO sell out year after year. We highly recommend booking as early as possible .

8. Christmas on the Cumberland (Clarksville)

Clarksville’s “Christmas on the Cumberland” takes place right along the popular riverwalk .

The glimmering holiday event features over a million lights illuminating several themed displays along a half-mile stretch of the Cumberland RiverWalk at McGregor Park.

Simply walk through the light displays, passing under archways and through tunnels of lights, and by areas like “Toy Land.” Best of all, Christmas on the Cumberland is free .

Also, don’t miss the grand opening ceremony on November 18th. Not only does it kick off Christmas on the Cumberland, but it’s also the annual Christkindl Market .

(Open nightly from November 18 through January 2).

This European-style market is truly unique among other Christmas in Tennessee events. Shop craft vendors in the open-air market, sample German goodies, and visit with Santa!

9. Lighting of the Barrel Tree (Lynchburg)

Few things are more synonymous with Tennessee than Jack Daniel’s .

The world-famous distillery in Lynchburg also just happens to host one of the most unique celebrations for Christmas in Tennessee — lighting the Jack Daniels Barrel Tree.

Every year shortly after Thanksgiving, the tiny town lights its community tree. Except, instead of a traditional Christmas tree like countless other towns have, Lynchburg’s is made of whiskey barrels .

About 200 barrels make up the tree, which towers over the distillery’s Whiskey Garden.

And the best part is you can purchase one of these barrels after December 1st, where 100% of proceeds go towards Jack Daniel’s Operation Ride Home program — helping bring military members home for the holidays.

Whiskey enthusiasts travel from all over the country for this beloved annual event. You can also enjoy cocoa, cookies, and other classic holiday treats, as well as live music .

10. Dickens of a Christmas (Franklin)

Charles Dickens’ famed classic, ‘A Christmas Story,’ comes alive on the streets of Franklin every December.

It’s such a special holiday event that over 100,000 people come to the small town for it annually!

Period actors recreate the story itself, so you may bump into Tiny Tim or Ebenezer Scrooge on the streets. The real-life characters (along with residents and visitors) fill the streets for the weekend festival.

Dance, sing, and carol, all with historic Franklin as the backdrop.

In addition to the main event, Dickens of a Christmas has craft and food vendors. You’ll also find live music, a kid zone, a special whiskey lounge, and more.

Festive Christmas Towns in Tennessee

Remember, this is just a highlight of all the amazing places to experience Christmas in Tennessee. But these towns are known for going all out for the holidays!

1. Knoxville

Knoxville is a bit of a “sweet spot” when it comes to Christmas in Tennessee. It’s a big city but has a true small-town feel and beautiful mountain scenery.

Downtown, Krutch Park, and Market Square all become winter wonderlands.

Visit holiday markets, stroll through light displays, and skate on the outdoor ice rink .

Two particular favorites are the annual city-sponsored scavenger hunts. Children (and kids at heart) will love looking for the Scout Elf during the Elf on the Shelf Adventure .

And everyone looks forward to finding peppermint-themed treats along the Peppermint Trail .

More Things to Do in Knoxville for Christmas

2. Jonesborough

Jonesborough , Tennessee’s oldest town , is a great place to experience a classic Southern Christmas.

The town is also the “ Storytelling Capital of the World .” So as you can imagine, it goes all out for the holidays!

“Christmas in Ole Jonesborough” runs every Saturday between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Every Saturday features a different theme, such as “Doggone Christmas” and “Whoville Christmas” .

Santa is on hand each weekend, and kiddos can bring him their wishlists.

Storytelling, of course, is a major part of Jonesborough’s holiday celebrations. Look for special holiday-themed pop-up events all season long!

3. Granville

Looking for a classic, storybook-perfect place to celebrate Christmas in Tennessee?

Head to historic Granville, an hour east of Nashville on the Cumberland River.

Granville at Christmas truly feels like you’re stepping onto the scene of a Hallmark movie . In fact, the town’s 2023 theme is, “Christmas in Grand Hallmark Style.”

Celebrate for a whole month , with events ranging from parades to walking light tours. Plus, there are Christmas concerts, the Festival of Trees, antique home tours, and the annual town parade.

4. Franklin

Franklin is one of the most festive towns to enjoy Christmas in Tennessee, thanks to its charming blend of history, holiday traditions, and events .

Events like the annual Franklin Christmas Parade and Dickens of a Christmas festival (mentioned above) make the historic downtown district come alive.

Plus, Franklin itself is picture-perfect. It’s also that old-school type of town where every single storefront and street lamp gets decorated.

5. Bell Buckle

Teeny-tiny Bell Buckle offers a classic Christmas in Tennessee.

The “ Old Fashioned Christmas ” event features things like sleigh rides , cocoa, and caroling. Enjoy pet parades, community fire pits with s’mores, and gingerbread house decorating.

One of the most unique things about Bell Buckle’s holiday celebrations is that they even use old-school decorations . Think big outdoor bulbs before LEDs, sparkly tinsel, and glow molds.

Oh, and best of all? EVERYTHING is FREE during Old Fashioned Christmas!

What do you think about spending this Christmas in Tennessee? Let us know in the comments below!

• 🎄 Christmas in The Smoky Mountains: Festive Things to Do for the Holidays
• 🎅 Christmas in Nashville: Festive Things to Do for the Holidays
• 🎁 Christmas in Knoxville: Most Festive Things to Do for the Holidays
• ❄️ Winter in Memphis: Magical Things to Do & Places to Visit
• ☃️ Gatlinburg in Winter: 12 Magical Things to Do
• 📸 21 of the Best Small Towns in Tennessee

🎄 SAVE FOR CHRISTMAS IN TENNESSEE 🎄

Dale, Let's Travel!

Ready? Okay, vamos. Time to have fun!

• Dec 5, 2023
• 11 min read

21 Best Things to Do for Christmas in Tennessee

Updated: Dec 11, 2023

The holiday season in Tennessee is a wonderland of Christmas lights, holiday traditions, and many festive events for the whole family. If you are seeking the ultimate Christmas experience, look no further! Here are 21 of the best things to do across the state to put you in the Christmas spirit and a few other fun things worth checking out while in Tennessee. 

Christmas Fun

1. Holiday LIGHTS at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens

Address: 1200 Forrest Park Dr, Nashville, TN 37205

Pricing: adult tickets begin at $26.

Cheekwood Estate & Gardens in Nashville ignites the holiday season with its celebrated Holiday LIGHTS event, running from November 18th to January 7th. As the sun sets, the estate transforms into a jubilant wonderland, offering a one-mile walking path adorned with over a million lights, casting a magical glow. Visitors can meander through this festive spectacle, enveloped in the joyful ambiance while indulging in seasonal libations and savoring s'mores. The Holiday Marketplace adds to the merry atmosphere, making it a perfect spot for families and friends to create cherished memories amidst the twinkling lights and cheerful spirit.

2. Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas

Address: 2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863

Pricing: starting at $82 per adult for a 1-day ticket.

Step into the enchanting world of Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas, where the magic of the holiday season comes alive at the Pigeon Forge theme park. From early November through January 6, the park radiates with over 6 million lights and numerous Christmas trees, creating a dazzling spectacle that embraces the holiday spirit. Take delight in the Christmas Parade of Many Colors, featuring floats adorned with twinkling lights, while the iconic Dollywood Express, a 110-ton coal-fired train, winds through the park, offering a festive journey for visitors.

Indulge in the joyous ambiance with captivating christmas-themed shows and a live nativity, complemented by the park's renowned roller coasters and attractions, including the new big bear mountain. as the evening descends, witness the winter sky aglow with a mesmerizing christmas drone show, adding an extra layer of wonder to this cherished celebration. with festive flavors, heartwarming entertainment, and seasonal shopping set against the backdrop of the great smoky mountains, dollywood's smoky mountain christmas promises an unforgettable holiday experience for the entire family.

For more details, check out our blog post, Your Guide to Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas .

3. Winterfest Driving Tour Of Lights

Address: Pigeon Forge Parkway

Pricing: free.

Explore the magic of Pigeon Forge's Winterfest Driving Tour of Lights, running from early November to mid-February. With over 5 million twinkling lights along the Parkway and Gatlinburg, immerse yourself in holiday cheer as you encounter the enchanting 12 Days of Christmas display, picturesque light-covered bridges, and the whimsical Fairytale Fantasy scenes. Whether self-guided or with local tour guides, this sparkling adventure invites you to enjoy the festive landscapes, creating cherished memories in this winter wonderland.

4. Christmas at Ober Gatlinburg

Address: 1339 Ski Mountain Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

Pricing: starts at $29 per person.

Experience the festive wonder of Christmas at Ober Gatlinburg! Start with a visit to the Fudge Shop for delectable Gingerbread Cookies, an absolute must during your visit. From Whittler Dave's craft displays to free daily Christmas crafts, the holiday spirit abounds. Throughout December, delight in daily carolers, cozy fireside s'mores, and enchanting nightly readings of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Do not miss the spectacular ice sculptures and ice skating demonstrations on december 10th, and on weekends, treat the kids to face painting while capturing timeless memories with free santa photos on select dates. plus, with a guaranteed 100% chance of snow and fun, explore ober gatlinburg's array of activities, from the tennessee flyer to the wildlife habitat, ice bumper cars, and more, promising entertainment for the entire family all season long..

5. The Pinnacle Speedway In Lights

Address: 106 Thunder Valley Dr, Bristol, TN 37620

Pricing: $20 for sunday - thursday night and $25 for friday and saturday night per car with up to 8 passengers.

Experience the magic of The Pinnacle Speedway In Lights, a breathtaking holiday spectacle at Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway. From November 17th to January 6th, embark on a 4-mile journey through a dazzling display of 3 million lights, with the opportunity to drive around "The World's Fastest Half-Mile" track, creating a festive drive like no other. Make a pit stop at the Christmas Village, nestled in the popular infield location, adding to the enchanting atmosphere of this extraordinary light show experience.

6. Christmas at the Gaylord Opryland Resort

Address: 2800 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214

Pricing: price varies per attraction and packages.

Experience the enchantment of Gaylord Opryland Resort's A Country Christmas featuring ICE! showcasing The Polar Express™ movie scenes intricately sculpted from over 2 million pounds of ice. Whether as an overnight guest or day visitor, revel in live shows, dazzling displays, and festive activities for all ages. Glide across the 9,000-square-foot outdoor ice skating rink or feel the thrill of zooming down the 15-foot-high ice tubing hill.

Join Snoopy's Merry Scavenger Hunt to help decorate his iconic doghouse and partake in Mrs. Claus's festive Christmas Traditions celebration, filled with classic tales, sing-alongs, and warm, freshly baked cookies. Hop aboard the Delta Riverboat Christmas Cruise, explore the 12 Days of A Country Christmas, and enjoy bumper cars, snowball build & blast, and much more in this holiday extravaganza at Gaylord Opryland Resort! For more details about ICE! and celebrating Christmas at a Gaylord Hotel, check out our blog post, ICE! is back at the Gaylord Texan and The Grinch is here too .

7. SkyLand’s Festival Of Lights

Address: 1620 Parkway Sevierville, TN 37862

Pricing: adult tickets start at $18.99.

Experience the magic of the holiday season at SkyLand Ranch's Festival of Lights, a dazzling extravaganza nestled in the Smoky Mountains from November 3rd to February 18th. Witness over 100 displays featuring up to 1 million lights illuminating enchanting scenes like a light-up nativity, cowboy displays, and a stunning 25-foot LED Christmas tree at the heart of the courtyard. Guests will be captivated by a mesmerizing tunnel of lights leading to the Legacy Lookout, offering a panoramic view of millions of city lights below.

Explore themed areas, including a realistic nativity scene, and indulge in the festive ambiance of skyland café & bakery, transformed into a north pole bakery for delightful holiday treats. skyland's festival of lights, presented by food city, invites visitors to revel in this enchanting spectacle during smoky mountain winterfest from 6 pm to 9 pm nightly. do not miss this breathtaking holiday event.

8. Polar Express Train Ride at Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

Address: 45 Mitchell St. Bryson City, NC 28713

Pricing: adult tickets begin at $44.

Embark on a magical journey aboard THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride by the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, departing from Bryson City Depot. Experience the enchantment of the beloved holiday story as the train travels to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus, delighting in hot chocolate, sweet treats, and festive singing along the way. Witness the joy on children's faces as Santa presents each with a special gift—a silver sleigh bell. While tickets for 2023 are sold out, secure your spot for the 2024 adventure and create cherished memories on this magical ride!

9. Enchanted Christmas at Anakeesta

Address: 576 Parkway Gatlinburg, TN 37738

Pricing: adult tickets begin at $34.99.

Experience the enchanting glow of Anakeesta's Enchanted Christmas located in Downtown Gatlinburg. This event is a mesmerizing celebration of tens of thousands of twinkling lights illuminating the mountaintop park from November 10th to December 31st. Explore Firefly Village's holiday-lit charm, discover Black Bear Village resonating with Christmas music, and wander through Arctic Alley's tens of thousands of lights synchronized to festive soundtracks. Follow the sensory walk in Vista Gardens and experience the captivating allure of the forest with the TreeTop SkyWalk at night, transforming Anakeesta into a magical wonderland after sundown.

Included with park admission, revel in diverse entertainment such as the melodic tunes of the anakeesta carolers and the delightful aerial performances of lolly swirlycanes, a hoop artist in a whimsical candy cane costume. visit the newly opened stone village to witness astonishing acts by a juggling stilt walker, captivating audiences with mesmerizing displays of dexterity and balance amid the holiday cheer..

10. Christmas at Dolly Parton's Stampede

Address: 3849 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863

Pricing: tickets start at $59.99.

Immerse yourself in the festive spirit at Dolly Parton's Stampede in Pigeon Forge for an unforgettable Christmas experience. Enjoy a four-course holiday feast while witnessing thrilling horse riding stunts, spectacular special effects, and phenomenal music productions amidst a North Pole and South Pole rivalry. Delight in the heartwarming live nativity scene featuring three kings, camels, and radiant angels, capturing the essence of the season amid playful elves, Santa's visit, and beloved holiday music. This entertaining show, filled with nostalgia and adventure, promises family-friendly fun for all ages in the scenic Smoky Mountains.

11. Pigeon Forge Snow

Address: 2533 Teaster Ln, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863

Pricing: prices start at $9.99, but vary based on the day and activities .

Experience the thrill of year-round snow tubing at Pigeon Forge Snow, America’s premier indoor snow park. With options for one hour of tubing and 30 minutes of snow play, it is the perfect destination for family fun, catering to all ages under any weather conditions. Watch your loved ones enjoy the slopes from the second level, designed for observation, relaxation, and convenient access to the snack bar, ensuring an unforgettable snowy adventure for everyone.

12. Music City Christmas Evening Cruise

Address: 2812 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214

Pricing: adult ticket prices begin at $100, immerse yourself in the elegance of music city christmas aboard the general jackson showboat in nashville for a holiday experience like no other. from timeless classics by bing crosby and nat king cole to modern favorites by mariah carey and michael bublé, enjoy a spectacular production featuring nashville's top vocalists, dancers, and an all-star live band, now enhanced with a dynamic horn section. be enchanted by broadway-style dance numbers, stunning costumes, and a captivating multimedia display that embodies the true spirit and magic of christmas. prepare for a night to cherish and mark a new annual tradition by donning your holiday best and joining the unforgettable music city christmas celebration.

13. Tennessee Christmas Midday Cruise

Pricing: Adult ticket is $72

Embark on an authentic tennessee christmas journey aboard the tennessee christmas midday cruise, running from november 17th to december 25th, 2023. this musical delight showcases holiday classics by iconic tennessee artists like garth brooks, blake shelton, reba mcentire, and elvis presley, blending bluegrass from the great smoky mountains and rhythm and blues from memphis. culminating in a heartfelt celebration of the true meaning of the season, immerse yourself in this musical tribute as you cruise down an authentic tennessee riverway for an unforgettable holiday experience..

14. FrankTown Festival of Lights

Address: 4215 Long Lane Franklin, TN 37064

Pricing: $34.69 per car with up to 8 passengers .

Experience the enchantment of the FrankTown Festival of Lights, a nightly spectacle running from November 17 to December 31, 2023, at the Williamson County Ag. Expo Center. Enjoy a mile-and-a-half drive-thru shuttle display adorned with over 200 synchronized lights, set to harmonious holiday tunes, with special character nights on select dates. Every Wednesday from 5:00-6:30 pm, join a leisurely walk along the illuminated path, capturing memories by the Christmas Tree and indulging in s'mores by the cozy fire pits, providing a unique experience for all, including furry friends on leashes - the route opens to vehicles at 7:00 PM on these special evenings!

15. Zoo Lights at Memphis Zoo

Address: 2000 Prentiss Pl, Memphis, TN 38112

Pricing: $19 per person for non-members ($14 per person for members).

Prepare for a magical holiday adventure at Truist Zoo Lights in Memphis Zoo! Wander through mesmerizing light displays, including the iconic Light Tunnel, and be captivated by new features like the Gingerbread Forest and the enchanting Chinese lanterns, all accompanied by performances from Magic Mr. Nick. Glide across the ice skating rink or savor the warmth of s'mores and hot chocolate, with boozy options available for those 21+. Do not miss the chance to meet Santa Claus and share your holiday wishes at this merry event, perfect for romantic outings, family gatherings, or festive evenings with friends, open from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM on select nights between November 24 and January 6.

Other Fun Things

16. Waterfall Hunting

Explore Tennessee's stunning waterfalls during the Christmas season for an unforgettable adventure. Start at Falling Water Falls State Natural Area for picturesque streams and distant waterfall views atop the mountain. Rainbow Lake Wilderness Park offers a thrilling bridge over a stream, while the uphill trek to Laurel Falls Trail leads to a breathtaking, sizable waterfall, though it might test your endurance. Each location promises unique experiences, from goofy stream-side photos to the challenge of uphill climbs and the awe-inspiring sight of cascading waters, making it a memorable holiday waterfall hunting expedition. These are just a few of the breathtaking waterfalls in Tennessee, so the world is your oyster! 

17. Ruby Falls

Address: 1720 South Scenic Hwy, Chattanooga, TN 37409

Pricing: cave walk to ruby falls adult ticket - $25.95.

Explore the mesmerizing depths of Lookout Mountain at Ruby Falls, where a guided Cave Walk unveils the awe-inspiring 145-foot underground waterfall, the tallest accessible to the public in the United States. Descend 260 feet via a glass-front elevator and traverse the cavern trail, witnessing ancient formations and hearing the captivating story of the cavern's accidental discovery. This unique adventure boasts a one-mile round trip exploration, showcasing stunning rock formations and the thundering spectacle of Ruby Falls during an approximately 1 to 1-hour 20-minute tour.

18. Lookout Mountain Incline Railway

Address: 3917 St Elmo Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37409

Pricing: $15 per adult.

Ascend Lookout Mountain with a thrilling ride on the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, a funicular train with stations both at the mountain's summit and its base. This gravity-defying railway boasts a 72.7% grade, earning its title as the world's steepest passenger train and affectionately known as "America's most amazing mile." While seemingly intimidating, the steady ascent and descent provide a safe and exhilarating experience, offering passengers a breathtaking journey up and down the mountain's precipitous incline.

19. Downtown Nashville

Downtown Nashville offers a dynamic experience, from exploring the city by Segway Tours for a faster way to see the sights to enjoying a thrilling Monster Truck Tour through iconic spots like Nissan Stadium and Honky Tonk Highway. The area is vibrant, hosting attractions like the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, making it a prime destination for music enthusiasts and a lively hub for restaurants and Honky Tonks along its iconic strip.

20. Opry Mills Mall

Address: 433 Opry Mills Dr, Nashville, TN 37214

Pricing: it depends on the activities, but entrance to the mall is free, opry mills mall provides a typical shopping experience with numerous stores and a bustling food court featuring a carousel for added entertainment. moreover, the mall boasts various engaging attractions such as madame tussauds, where visitors can interact with lifelike wax figures of famous country singers and perform on a replica grand ole opry stage. the mall is also home to the lively great big game show, offering contestants rounds of trivia and interactive mini-games, ensuring a day filled with entertainment beyond the typical shopping experience. additionally, during the christmas season, guests can meet and take pictures with santa claus, adding to the festive atmosphere of the mall..

21. The Island at Pigeon Forge

Address: 131 The Island Dr, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863

Pricing: free admission and parking.

The Island at Pigeon Forge is a vibrant entertainment complex nestled alongside the Little Pigeon River, offering over 60 unique shops, plenty of dining options, including Paula Deen's Family Kitchen, and a lively atmosphere with live music, games, and rides. At the heart of the Island stands the impressive 200-foot Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, dominating the skyline and offering stunning views of the surroundings. Visitors can also enjoy the captivating Island Show Fountains, the Margaritaville Island Hotel, the Ole Smoky Distillery's stage, and an enchanting nightly water show that adds to the festive ambiance.

Happy Howdy-days! 

Are you ready to immerse yourself in the holiday spirit in Tennessee? With an array of holiday events, stunning light displays, and heartwarming traditions, Tennessee is a great place to enjoy your Christmas vacation!

Have you been to any of these christmas events in tennessee if so, let me know in the comments below - i want to know about your favorite one if you have not gone, are they on your bucket list of places to visit now let me know in the comments below, and share this article with the person or people you want to go with either way, subscribe below to learn about other places you should add to your "to visit" list ready okay, vamos. time to have fun.

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*This article is not sponsored by any of the above-mentioned businesses or their affiliates.*

** pictures above are not from the specific christmas event itself, but rather a visual depiction of christmas and/or the related topic. **, recent posts.

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Experience Small Town Tennessee Charm This Holiday Season

Walk along town squares; slip into family-owned boutiques; and, enjoy a Made in Tennessee Christmas in our charming small towns.

Featured in this Article:

Christmas Towns Near Knoxville Christmas Towns Near Johnson City Christmas Towns near Chattanooga Holiday Towns near Nashville Christmas Towns near Jackson Holiday Towns near Memphis  

Tennessee has loads of holiday celebrations in charming small towns that will fill you with warmth and cheer. Here are just a few towns to visit and experience the magic of the season.

Christmas Towns Near Knoxville

The Victorian-era village Rugby  comes alive each holiday season to spread joy and cheer to locals and visitors alike. Experience how Christmas was celebrated in the 1880s during Christmas at Rugby with holiday music, hot drinks and cookies, historic buildings decorated for the holidays, carolers throughout the village and a visit from Father Christmas. Take a tour of the historic buildings throughout the village, see the tree lighting ceremony complete with free Wassail and cookies, find the perfect gifts at local shops and see local artisans and shop their creations. 

The small town of Loudon hosts several holiday events that are not to be missed. All through December, you can drive or walk-through the Christmas light displays during Loudon Lights at Loudon Municipal Park. Feel merry and bright during Christmas in the Park featuring festive treats, more than 100,000 twinkling lights, carriage rides, horse-drawn hay rides, a bonfire for s'mores, food trucks and an opportunity to place your letter to Santa in Santa's Mailbox. Enjoy breakfast and lunch with Santa and don't miss the Loudon Christmas Parade featuring floats, bands and more.

Christmas Towns Near Johnson City

Jonesborough.

There's no shortage of Christmas cheer in Tennessee's oldest town, Jonesborough . Every Saturday from Thanksgiving to Christmas, the town decks its halls for Christmas in Olde Jonesborough, an event featuring a different theme each week, Santa visits for children and downtown shopping in local boutiques. Bring an unwrapped gently used or new toy to donate to underprivileged children in the community. Enjoy the lighting of the Christmas tree which includes caroling, a Christmas story told by a local storyteller and more. The Celebration of Trees, a progressive holiday dinner, the kid-friendly At Home with Santa and the award-winning annual Holiday Tour & Tea are just a few of the events that will help you make precious family holiday memories. Claim your spot on the parade trail for the nighttime Jonesborough Christmas Parade featuring bands, church choirs, floats illuminated with Christmas lights and a live nativity scene. 

Christmas Towns near Chattanooga

Make new family memories and traditions at "Light Up Pikeville" that kicks off with the annual Christmas parade through the month of December in the quaint town of Pikeville . Each weekend in December has different events including horse-drawn carriage rides, visits with Santa, a concert by Carrie Hassler, a live nativity, decorated Christmas trees and caroling. Enjoy the festive decorations downtown and pop into the local shops that have unique gifts for all your loved ones.

Holiday Towns near Nashville

Leiper's fork.

The beloved Leiper's Fork Christmas Parade includes local school bands, antique tractors, horses, surprise appearances by celebrities and creative floats as make their way through Leiper's Fork's downtown . Past Grand Marshals of the parade have included singer/songwriter Lee Roy Parnell, Pam Tillis, Chris Janson, John Schneider and others. After the parade, do some local boutique shopping at  Patina Home & Garden or Props Antique, make a s'more at one of the community fire pits. Enjoy a meal and live music at Fox & Locke .

Christmas is heralded in with the lighting of a 40-foot tree in the center of  Dogwood Park  in  Cookeville . The holiday weeks are filled with Christmas-inspired activities ranging from downtown carriage rides, meet and greets with Santa, concerts, Christmas Movies in the Park and the Christmas Forest exhibit at the  Cookeville History Museum . While in the area, check out  Monterey, Tennessee 's Christmas Home & Hearth Celebration; the more-than-50-year-old evening Christmas Parade through downtown Cookeville ; and the drive-through light attraction  Hidden Hollow Lights  that is open Thanksgiving evening through New Year's Day. 

Columbia  goes all out for Christmas with a full calendar of community events. Get an early start on your holiday shopping at  A Very Maury Christmas . You'll find more than 40 vendors with Tennessee made goods and crafts for sale at the market. Herald in the holiday season at the  35th annual Columbia Main Street Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting . Marvel at the 40-foot Christmas tree and enjoy live entertainment. Finally, take a stroll through the beautiful historic architecture of Columbia at the  Maury Christmas Historic Home Tour . Tour some privately owned homes and historic landmarks at your own pace, taking in the beautiful holiday decor and history.

Bell Buckle

The charming town of Bell Buckle hosts the annual Old Fashioned Christmas on Saturdays in December with the annual Quilt Walk. You'll be filled with holiday spirit as you enjoy activities like free sleigh rides with Santa, a Quilt Walk Tour of Homes, a performance by the Flat Creek holiday dancers, a pet parade, s'mores around fire pits and more. Pop into the local boutiques for unique holiday shopping and to support local artists. The Quilt Walk features a stunning display of patterns and styles of traditional and modern quilts. Marvel at the handmade designs and embroidery of the quilts on display at the homes included on the tour. Take a self-driving tour or take advantage of the some of the transportation options. The popular Night Market will take place with outdoor games, holiday shopping and handmade crafters along with live music, food vendors and a showing of classic holiday movies.

Smithville heralds in the holidays with the annual Christmas Parade and Christmas on the Square event. The parade includes floats, bands and more marching. After the parade, Christmas on the Square kicks off with a free photo booth, local shopping at the downtown boutiques, festive outdoor displays and Christmas music at the Smithville City Hall and the DeKalb Courthouse and a "Live" Windows Contest at businesses and offices downtown featuring "live" scenes in the decorated windows. See Santa at the Justin-Potter Library and the lighted decorations at Evins Park.

Christmas Towns near Jackson

See more than 1 million lights synchronized to Christmas songs during  Discovery Park of America's "Let It Glow" light show in November and December. The annual, drive-thru light show occurs on the 50 acres of the heritage park. You can even walk through part of the light show on the grounds. Food and beverages like hot chocolate will be for sale. Shop local, handmade gifts, Christmas carol karaoke and more holiday surprises.

Savannah, Tennessee and other surrounding towns in Hardin County light up for the holiday season with festive events and decorations. The Pickwick Christmas Parade kicks off the holiday season each year featuring floats, bands, light displays and more. Savannah hosts the annual Christmas on Main, a series of weekend events in December that brings thousands of light displays to the historic district along with carriage rides, movies, ice skating, local crafts and more. Additional events include the Savannah Christmas Parade, Christmas in the Park at Pickwick Landing State Park , and Wreaths Across America at Shiloh National Military Park .

Holiday Towns near Memphis

Collierville.

Each year, Collierville goes all out for Christmas, transforming the beautiful town into a charming Christmas town just like in the movies. It all starts with the Christmas Tree Lighting on the Collierville Town Square followed by the Christmas Parade. Each Saturday, you can find the town square bustling with holiday activity from Santa visits in the gazebo to horse-drawn carriage rides, a Holiday Photo Stroll where you can take the perfect photo-worthy photo, local boutique shopping, a quarter of a million lights strung around downtown and much more. All events are free and open to the public.

Experience a Victorian era Christmas during Dickens Christmas in Covington, Tennessee . The historic court square is transformed into a world filled with Victorian characters, horse drawn carriages, carolers and more. Enjoy refreshments, local boutique shopping and more. Join in on the fun and don a Victorian era costume yourself. Additional holiday events taking place in Covington include the Festival of Trees at the Tipton County Museum  and performances at the Historic Ruffin Theater .

Make even more holiday memories in Tennessee by checking out the full calendar of events this Christmas season .

Places in this article

Historic Rugby

An 1880s Victorian Village on the National Register of Historic Places.

Cookeville History Museum

Cookeville History Museum provides exhibits, programs and activities that promote the history of Cookeville and Putnam County.

Historic Jonesborough

Take a journey into the past.

Discovery Park of America

Experience wonder and possibility! Set on 50 acres, world-class Discovery Park of America will stimulate your imagination and, perhaps, inspire your own dreams and visions.

Downtown Savannah Tennessee

bring your family for ice skating on mainstreet

Pickwick Landing State Park

Pickwick Landing State Park was a riverboat stop dating from the 1840s. In the 1930s during the depression, the site was chosen as a location for one of the Tennessee Valley Authority's dams on the Tennessee River. What comprises the park today was once t

Shiloh National Military Park

One of the best preserved Civil War Battlefields in the Nation!

Blue Bank Resort

Fishing, Hunting, Relaxing, Fine Dining, & family fun Lakeside Resort

Gift These 13 Tennessee Experiences This Holiday Season

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Beyond Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, these Tennessee towns are worth a visit this Christmas

Tennessee certainly has a heart for the holidays, with Christmas parades and tree-lighting ceremonies galore.

Across the state, there are towns that embrace the spirit of the season so thoroughly, they should be a setting for a Hallmark movie.

Of course, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg rank as top holiday destinations for travelers both local and global.  Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas is a cherished tradition for many and this year features a new Joyful drone show. Gatlinburg, meanwhile, is celebrating 50 years of  “Festival of Trees, " an annual tradition that marks the beginning of the holiday season.

But beyond those twin juggernauts of tinsel and mistletoe, what hidden gems exist across the state that could make your Christmas staycation a little more jolly?

Here's a list of Tennessee towns that stand out as a destination for Christmas travelers, divided by region. Can't decide? Several charming Tennessee towns recently made a national list of the top underrated winter vacation destinations including Jonesborough and Bell Buckle.

East Tennessee takes full advantage of the season

• Jonesborough is one of those iconic Christmas towns that wins you over with its historic charm and fills you with joy the second you take a step on those brick sidewalks. This historic town, often referred to as the "Storytelling Capital of the World," offers a unique blend of culture and charm during the winter season. Families can immerse themselves in the spirit of the holidays with festive events like the Jonesborough Christmas Parade and the annual Celebration of Trees. The picturesque Main Street, adorned with holiday decorations, provides a perfect backdrop for exploring local shops and enjoying delicious treats.
• The Victorian-era village of  Rugby  comes alive each holiday season to spread joy and cheer to locals and visitors alike. Experience how Christmas was celebrated in the 1880s during Christmas at Rugby with holiday music, hot drinks and cookies, historic buildings decorated for the holidays, carolers throughout the village and a visit from Father Christmas.
• Make new family memories and traditions at "Light Up Pikeville " through the month of December in the quaint town . Each weekend in December has different events including horse-drawn carriage rides, visits with Santa, a concert by Carrie Hassler, a live nativity, decorated Christmas trees and caroling. Enjoy the festive decorations downtown and pop into the local shops that have unique gifts for all your loved ones.

West Tennessee features plenty of holiday fun

• Each year,  Collierville  goes all out for Christmas, transforming into a charming Christmas town just like in the movies. Each Saturday, you can find the  Collierville Town Square bustling with holiday activity, from Santa visits in the gazebo to horse-drawn carriage rides, a Holiday Photo Stroll where you can take the perfect photo-worthy photo, local boutique shopping, a quarter of a million lights strung around downtown and much more. All events are free and open to the public.
• Union City  is a little town in the northwestern corner of Tennessee that houses one of the best museums in the state,  The Discovery Park of America , which hosts a drive-through or walk-through event called  Let It Glow . Let It Glow features over a million lights illuminating a driving path filled with spectacular displays. The walk-through portion is a sparkling wonderland through the gardens on the property.
• Savannah in Hardin County lights up for the holiday season with festive events and decorations. Savannah hosts the annual Christmas on Main , a series of weekend events in December that brings thousands of light displays to the  historic district  along with carriage rides, movies, ice skating, local crafts and more.
• Experience a Victorian-era Christmas during  Dickens Christma s in  Covington . The historic court square is transformed into a world filled with Victorian characters, horse drawn carriages, carolers and more. Enjoy refreshments, local boutique shopping and more. Join in on the fun and don a Victorian era costume yourself.

Have an old-fashioned Christmas in Middle Tennessee

• There's something so magical about the holiday season in Franklin . The historical charm of the town just lends itself to romantic Hallmark movie-inspired Christmases. There's a good reason Country Living named Franklin as one of its most magical Christmas towns in the U.S, thanks to the  annual Dickens of a Christmas festival  that brings characters from "A Christmas Carol" and "Oliver Twist" to life throughout its weekend-long festivities.
• Bell Buckle comes alive during the winter season with its festive atmosphere. The town's Old Fashioned Christmas event has delighted Bell Buckle’s residents and guests for nearly 40 years and features free sleigh rides with Santa, a Quilt Walk Tour of Homes, a s’mores pit, a pet parade, carolers and a gingerbread decorating contest.
• It can be argued that no place quite embraces its history like  Granville . Granville has so much to offer during the Christmas season and everyone is invited to experience Historic Granville: "Tennessee's Mayberry Town," with events like the Festival of Trees.

Liz Kellar is a Tennessee Connect reporter. Email  [email protected] . Support strong local journalism by subscribing at  knoxnews.com/subscribe . 

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20+ Best Tennessee Christmas Attractions for 2022

It’s Christmastime in Nashville, and we’re feeling festive. With our move from California, there is a whole new set of the best Tennessee Christmas attractions for our family to explore for the holidays. We won’t be able to hit them all but look forward to “making our list and checking it twice” each year as we get into the holiday spirit.

Please share your favorite Tennessee Christmas attractions in the comments section below so I can add them to this list for the other readers. And your input will add more fun holiday activities for our family for next year.

In This Post

Best Tennessee Christmas Attractions

I’m still learning all about my new home state, but these are the best Tennessee Christmas attractions I’ve learned about while driving around, talking with friends, and reading the paper. (Yes, I still read the newspaper.)

Many of these attractions are in the Nashville area, while others are a few hours away in Chattanooga and Pigeon Forge. I’ve even added a few others in Bowling Green (Kentucky), Asheville (North Carolina), and Huntsville (Alabama) that hold a special place in my heart that are a short drive away.

Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville

The Gaylord Opryland is more than just a hotel. Every year, it hosts several holiday traditions that bring people from miles away. In total, there are more than 17 hours of exciting activities, shows, and events to enjoy. Because of that, we recommend booking a room at the hotel so you can enjoy the full experience and not be rushed for time.

Before heading off to the attractions, wander around the hotel’s public areas to see the lights, grab some food, and take a boat ride. Yes, the hotel is so big that there’s literally a river inside it. Oh yeah, you can also spend the day at SoundWaves , the indoor water park.

The Gaylord Opryland is located at 2800 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214.

ICE! Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Each year there is a new theme for Gaylord’s ICE! attraction. This year, the theme is based on the beloved television classic “ Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer .” (Amazon affiliate link) Each Gaylord location has a different ICE! theme, so inspired travelers may decide to visit all five locations to enjoy them all.

When you visit ICE!, you can zoom down epic slides, marvel at larger-than-life displays, and come face-to-face with incredible hand-carved ice sculptures from more than 2 million pounds of brightly colored ice. While there’s no time limit inside, it typically takes 20 to 40 minutes to walk through.

Tickets are available online or with a hotel package, so you must purchase ahead. Prices vary daily, but adult tickets range from $30 to $36, while children ages 4 to 11 are $23 to $26 each. Kids 3 and under are free.

Get your tickets from Groupon to save over 30% using our affiliate link . You can also save up to 30% by bundling ICE! with other attractions or your hotel stay. Also, look for coupons in local mailers (ex: Clipper Magazine, ValPak) or on local radio station websites to save on tickets.

Additional Attractions at Gaylord Opryland

The attraction opens in early November and runs through January 1st. Other Christmas attractions at Gaylord Opryland include:

• The Oak Ridge Boys Dinner Show
• Gingerbread Decorating Corner
• SoundWaves Water Experience
• Ice Skating
• Build-A-Bear Workshop
• Carriage Rides
• Ice Bumper Cars
• Rudolph’s Holly Jolly Breakfast
• And more…

Dancing Lights of Christmas in Lebanon

The family and I had a chance to visit the Dancing Lights of Christmas in Lebanon after buying a Groupon ( affiliate link ) to save about 17% off admission.

This is one of the best Tennessee Christmas attractions because there are over 2 million Christmas lights synchronized to music along the 2.5-mile driving path. Just tune your radio dial to the local station to hear the songs as the lights dance.

The Dancing Lights of Christmas starts at 5 pm every night and is open whether it rains or shines. It closes at 10 pm every night through Sunday, January 1st. My recommendation is to go on a Sunday night or during the week to avoid the big weekend crowds.

Instead of paying per person, you pay by carload. When you arrive, you can pay by cash or credit. Also, look out for coupons in local mailers or Groupon to save money. I found coupons that saved $5 off through Local Flavor and Costco.

Prices vary based on the type of vehicle you arrive in. You can buy your tickets online or pay when you arrive:

• $30 for a family vehicle
• $30 for a non-profit van or bus
• $50-$75 for limousines
• $150 for large commercial vehicles, motor homes, buses

Visit the Dancing Lights of Christmas at the James E Ward Agricultural Center. It is located at 945 E Baddour Pkwy, Lebanon, TN 37087. The Dancing Lights of Christmas are open from mid-November through January 1st.

Read: 29+ Awesome Travel Gift Ideas for Every Budget

Cheekwood Holiday LIGHTS

The Cheekwood Estate holds many seasonal events throughout the year. Two of my favorites are the Cheekwood Harvest and the Cheekwood Holiday LIGHTS . During the Holiday LIGHTS event, you’ll find over one mile of Christmas lights glowing throughout the 55-acre estate.

Plus, there are dazzling interactive displays, Dancing Lights of TRAINS!, S’mores and seasonal libations, a holiday marketplace, and more.

Holiday LIGHTS is one of Nashville’s favorite Christmas traditions because it combines holiday festivities with incredible gardens for a stunning experience. The Holiday LIGHTS trail ( click for map ) features over 1 million lights that flow through several of the estate’s gardens. Even the TRAINS! Exhibit is lit up for the holidays.

The estate is open for traditional visitors during the day, but it closes at 4:30 pm so the Holiday LIGHTS visitors can enter from 5 pm to 10 pm to enjoy the lights. Entry times are spaced out every 30 minutes to give guests enough time to enjoy without being rushed or stuck in a crowd. Holiday LIGHTS is open seven days a week until January 8th.

Garden tickets are $26 for adults and seniors, $20 for children ages 3 to 17, and kids ages two and under are free. If you’d like to go inside the mansion, your ticket is an extra $2. There is a service fee of $2 for all tickets, and members receive a discount based on their membership level.

Read: Chihuly at Cheekwood: Amazing Date Night Idea in Nashville

Chad’s Winter Wonderland in Lebanon

This attraction has been run by a local man since 1982. Chad Barnard started turning his love of Christmas lights into special displays when he was 12 years old on the advice of his aunt. He estimates that 8,000 to 10,000 cars drive through his seasonal display annually.

Visitors will see over 3 million Christmas lights and more than 350 decorations as you drive through Chad’s Winter Wonderland . Plus, there are live animals, a drive-thru nativity scene, and more. You can even deliver your letter to Santa through a special mailbox.

Chad’s Winter Wonderland is open every night until 10 pm from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve. Although they’re open rain or shine, please note that they may close if the weather gets too bad.

It costs $20 per car and $30 for limos & commercial vans. Stop by the ATM on the way because Chad it is cash only (aka no credit cards). You must stay in your vehicle throughout your visit. Chad’s Winter Wonderland is located at 791 E. Old Laguardo Raod, Lebanon, TN 37087.

Enchant at First Horizon Park in Nashville

Enchant Nashville is located at First Horizon Park, the home of the Nashville Sounds. It runs from late November through December 30th and features many interactive exhibits throughout the park. There’s a Christmas Light Maze with lighted tunnels, a 100-foot Christmas tree, and special surprises along the way. The Village offers numerous artisan vendors, specialty crafts, and boutiques selling holiday treats, beverages, and other items.

Ticket prices vary based on date selection, but they start at $32 per adult and $20 per child. Night Owl tickets are only $25 if you want to save some money. Guests can also ice skate on the baseball field for an additional charge of $18 for adults and $15 for children (including ice skates). VIP Passes are available for $25 ($15 for children) and include a special line for the maze, Santa, and ice skating.

Enchant Nashville opens at 5:30 pm during the week and 4:30 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. It closes at 10:30 pm most nights but stays open until 11:30 pm on select dates.

Zoolumination: Chinese Lantern Festival of Lights at Nashville Zoo

In 2019, the Nashville Zoo hosted Zoolumination , the largest lantern show in the country which spans more than 60 acres and features more than 1,000 custom-made lanterns. Visitors can enjoy a life-size holiday village, nightly performances by Chinese acrobats, and specialty food options.

Stop by and say hi to St. Nick and the elves at the North Pole Village starting at 5:30 pm each night through December 24th. And, of course, you can see how the zoo’s wide variety of live animals behave at night during your visit.

Zoolumination is open from mid-November through February 4th. It is open from 5 pm to 9 pm each night. Tickets are available every night through January 8th. After that, it is open from Thursday through Sunday from January 12th through February 4th.

Food and drinks are available nightly until 8 pm.

Single-night admission is $19 for adults & teens and $15 for youth (ages 2 to 12 years). Platinum Pass tickets provide unlimited visits throughout the event without requiring reservations. Platinum Pass tickets are $29 for adults & teens and $21 for kids ages 2 to 12. For the small extra cost, I think it’s worth it to buy the Platinum Pass to support the zoo and be able to come back to enjoy the lights multiple times.

Enchanted Garden of Lights at Rock City in Chattanooga

I learned about Rock City while interviewing my buddy Nick True for my podcast episode about the best things to do in Chattanooga . Rock City is a magical place normally, but during the holidays, it transforms into something out of your dreams. It’s no wonder that Chattanooga locals consider this annual experience to be one of the best Tennessee Christmas attractions around.

The Enchanted Garden is open every night through January 1st from 4:30 pm to 9 pm during the weekdays and 10 pm on Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets are ONLY AVAILABLE ONLINE , so you cannot buy tickets when you arrive.

Prices range from $20 on value nights, $26 on special weeknights, and $28 on regular nights. Peak nights are $32 for adults. Children ages 3 to 12 range from $10 to $22. Kids under three are free. Admission is timed, so you cannot enter before your scheduled entry time.

Annual pass holders to Rock City can attend any night they’d like. Simply show up and show their pass to the greeter… even on SOLD OUT nights! VIP Passholders receive free admission every night of the week. Regular pass holders get free admission from Monday through Thursday and 50% off on Friday and Saturday nights.

Pigeon Forge Winterfest

From mid-November 2020 to February 19, 2023, experience a true winter wonderland in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Sevierville. Among these three cities in Eastern Tennessee, you’ll find Winterfest Parades, winter lights, and trolley tours on top of all of the regular fun-filled attractions.

During Winterfest, many of the normal shows are transformed into holiday-themed performances to get you in the holiday spirit. The Dollywood Smoky Mountain Christmas has been voted America’s Best Christmas Event for over a decade and is open through January 1st. It features more than six million lights, a firework show, and a  massive 50-foot video-motion Christmas tree.

For fun inside your car, check out the Winterfest Driving Tour of Lights . It features more than 5 million lights and runs through February 19, 2023.

Experience the 75-minute round-trip Polar Express Train Ride through December 31st. Santa even boards the train to greet each child and presents them with a special gift, just like in the story. Christmas carols are also sung on the way back to the Bryson City Depot.

Read: Family Fun in Pigeon Forge: Mountain Coasters, Lumberjack Feuds & Indoor Snowtubing

Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland

We stumbled across Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland on the way to the Enchanted Garden of Lights at Rock City last year. The kids had to use the restroom at McD’s, and this bonanza of lights was up on the hill above the fast-food restaurant. It is located in Sevierville, Tennessee, at Smokies Stadium, the home of the Tennessee Smokies of the Southern League.

At Shadrack’s, you’ll find countless lights dancing to the orchestra of music. They use the most technologically advanced equipment in the industry to bring this holiday tradition to life. Your admission helps Shadrack support multiple non-profit charities to build up the local community. There are 7 Shadrack locations along the East Coast – Sevierville (TN), Jackson (TN), Johnson City (TN), Pittsburgh (PA), Madison (AL), Charlotte (NC), and Tryon (NC).

At Smokies Stadium, it is open from 6 pm to 10 pm every night through January 1st. However, Santa’s Village is only open through December 23rd. Admission for cars or vans with 8 passengers or less is $30 through December 15th and after Christmas. It’s $40 from December 16th through Christmas day. Bigger vans, limos, and mini-buses are $60. And tours and school buses are $150 each. You can buy tickets online or when you arrive. Cash and credit cards are accepted on-site.

After 13 years, this is the final year of Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland at Smokies Stadium. Shutting down at Smokies Stadium allows them to focus on their new Super Sized Christmas Adventure at Soaky Mountain Waterpark .

Tickets for the new Super Sized Adventure are $39 on value days and $49 leading up to Christmas. Use promo code “ JOY ” to save $10 on value days.

Speedway in Lights at Bristol Motor Speedway

The Pinnacle Speedway in Lights is the region’s most dazzling holiday light show. Guests drive through a 4-mile path featuring over three million Christmas lights and scenes. Your path even takes you on a lap around “The World’s Fastest Half-Mile.” There’s also a Christmas Village located on the infield.

This is one of the best Tennessee Christmas attractions in the state. It is located in Bristol, which is in the northeastern corner of Tennessee. Speedway in Lights is open from mid-November through January 7th. It is open every night from 6 pm to 10 pm.

Tickets are available online and are priced based on the vehicle and days of the week. For a vehicle with eight people, Sunday through Thursday is $20, and it is $25 on Friday and Saturday nights. Vans of 9 to 23 people are $50, and buses of 24 or more are $125. If you want to skip the line, “fast lane” tickets are available on limited dates for $50 for a car (1-8 people) and $75 for a van (9-23 people).

Lights Over Gatlinburg

At the Gatlinburg Skylift Park, visitors can walk across America’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge. During the holidays, the bridge gets festive with a 300-foot tunnel of Christmas lights that brighten the sky. Additionally, there are over 40,000 synchronized lights in the plaza and trees throughout the park.

Lights Over Gatlinburg is open daily from mid-November to January 31st. Admission is included with your ticket to the Gatlinburg Skylift Park. The park is open from 9 am to 9 pm every day. If you buy the “Unlimited Access Ticket” or online SkyPass, you can tour the park during the day, then return at night with your ticket to experience the Christmas lights.

Tickets are available online or in person. Adults (ages 12 to 64) start at $33, and juniors (ages 4 to 11) start at $19. Seniors 65+ start at $26 and kids three and under are free. Online SkyPass and Unlimited Visit tickets are $2 more, which is a great bargain! Military and local residents receive a discount on in-person tickets with proof of ID.

Christmas in the City – Knoxville

Knoxville is filled with holiday fun for the whole family through January 8th. See the twinkling lights in Market Square or walk the Peppermint Trail featuring peppermint-themed lighting displays at more than 90 local businesses. Or pick up a North Pole Pass from the  Knoxville Visitors Center and go on a magical scavenger hunt for Santa’s Scout Elves . More than a dozen Knoxville neighborhoods are in a friendly competition to see who has the best holiday light displays .

Christmas in the Park – Cookeville

Starting with the Cookville Christmas tree lighting of the city’s 40-foot Christmas tree on December 4, 2022, the city is filled with holiday activities each week. Visitors will find downtown carriage rides, Santa Claus, concerts, and Christmas Movies in the Park. There’s even a Christmas Forest exhibit at the Cookeville History Museum.

Putnam County has several Christmas parades in Livingston, Crossville, Baxter, and Monterey the first two weekends of December. And there’s a Grinch Festival ($2 for adults and kids are free) in Cookeville on December 3rd and 4th with costume contests, local vendors, food trucks, a visit from Santa, and more. If you missed these events, you can still drive through the Hidden Hollow Lights from mid-November through New Year’s Day.

The Nutcracker Ballet in Nashville

The Nashville Ballet presents one of Nashville’s favorite holiday traditions – The Nutcracker Ballet . Performances are held at TPAC’s Jackson Hall from December 9th through 24th with live music from the Nashville Symphony. The ballet performs Friday and Saturday nights at 7 pm, Saturday afternoons at 2 pm, and Sundays at 1 pm. Additional times are available in the week before Christmas.

Download the 82-page Nutcracker Ballet 2022 program . Ticket prices vary by day and seat location, and prices start at $35 for afternoon performances. The most expensive ticket I found was just under $100.

Let It Glow Holiday Light Show – Union City

In Union City, you’ll find more than one million lights synchronized to Christmas songs for the family to enjoy. The Let It Glow Holiday Light Show is hosted at Discovery Park of America and is available from mid-November through December 30th. Hours are 5 pm to 9 pm every day, but it is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Additionally, they are closed on major holidays – Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

In addition to the drive-thru experience, guests can also tour the walk-thru “North Pole” on the north side of the park, which features the Japanese Garden, European Garden, and Mill Ridge. Mill Ridge includes items for sale from local vendors, Rudolph in his barn, and a large display of more than 150 nutcrackers from a local collector.

Tickets for Let It Glow are available online or at the gate upon arrival. Admission for the walk-thru is $5 per person, and members receive free admission. The drive-thru experience is $10 per vehicle. You can buy tickets online or at the gate.

Christmas at Graceland

Graceland is the #1 best historic holiday home tour for four years in a row. Christmas at Graceland honors Elvis Presley’s love of the holidays with fancy decorations and fun events at his Graceland Mansion.

Visitors will experience traditional lights decorating the home with hundreds of blue Christmas lights lining the driveway. There’s also a life-size nativity scene, Elvis’ Santa and sleigh decorations, and more. Step inside the Graceland Mansion to see the beautiful decorations, Christmas trees throughout, and Presley family Christmas artifacts on display.

Graceland will be decorated from mid-November through January 8th. Guests visiting from November 17th through December 23rd will enjoy limited-time holiday hours featuring live tour guides sharing holiday stories from the Presley family.

Afternoon tours are available from 2 pm to 4 pm daily. Prices are $93 for adults, $60 for youth (ages 5 to 10), and children four and under are free. VIP tours are available daily through December 23rd at 6 pm, 6:30 pm, and 7 pm for $259 per person.

Graceland Christmas hotel packages include a two-night stay, an afternoon tour for two adults, a Graceland Christmas ornament, and a 3-disc set of limited-edition collectible Graceland Christmas CDs.

Christmas in Collierville

Collierville embraces the holiday spirit as it decks out the town with bows, garland, and Christmas lights. During Christmas in Collierville , you’ll enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides around the Town Square and more than 250,000 holiday lights in the historic district. Plus, visitors can get festive and snap pictures along the Holiday Photo Stroll.

Christmas in Collierville takes place every Saturday from late November through December 30th. Carriage rides are $30 per trip and can hold up to six people. They’re offered from 5 pm to 8 pm on select nights.

The Collierville Holiday Light Tour runs from December 8 to 23, 2022, and features 60 locations throughout the city. Follow along on the self-guided tour to see festive lights and decorations by the locals. Click here to see a Google map of all the locations.

Franktown Festival of Lights

The Franktown Festival of Lights is the longest drive-through holiday lights spectacular in Williamson County. It features over 200 displays that are synchronized to Christmas classics that guests can enjoy while walking or driving the route.

This Christmas attraction runs from mid-November through December 31st from 5 pm to 9 pm each night. Tickets are $30 per vehicle, $50 for 8+ larger vehicles, and $100 for commercial vehicles. You can also buy a Jingle Bell Pass that’s good for four small passenger vehicles, which can be shared with friends and used on any night. All proceeds benefit FrankTown Open Hearts , a non-profit organization committed to Franklin’s inner-city youth.

Visit the Williamson County Agricultural Center at 4215 Long Ln, Franklin, TN 37064 to participate in the holiday fun.

Honorable Mention: The Biltmore Estate

The Biltmore Estate is impressive to visit any time of the year. Its manor house is impeccable, and the grounds are so vast that you literally have to drive from one building to the next. Heck, the driveway alone is three miles long.

When the holidays come around, many of the buildings on the 8,000-acre estate are adorned with lights, while Christmas trees & decorations pop up everywhere. I expected the main manor to be decorated more, but I figure that the building is so old and intricate that adding lights would be an almost impossible task.

During our visit in December 2019, we even saw Santa. Because it wasn’t crowded, the kids shared how good they were and talked to him for several minutes without being rushed.

Honorable Mention: The Reinder Farm

About an hour north of Nashville, just over the Kentucky border, you’ll find The Reindeer Farm at a farm in Bowling Green. At The Reinder Farm, you can visit the reindeer barn to see and learn about Santa’s magical reindeer. Play at the indoor playground, buy a souvenir at the gift shop, and visit the petting zoo. And meet Santa and Mrs. Clause on select Santa Days through the Christmas season.

There is a food truck on-site daily, plus free hot chocolate for all guests! On Fridays and Saturdays, adults can sample and purchase wines from Carriage House Vineyards, a local winery.

Admission is $15 per person, and kids ages two and under are free. From mid-November through December 18th, they’re open from 9 am to 5 pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 11 am to 5 pm on Sundays. From December 19th through 23rd, they’re open 11 am to 5 pm daily.

While you’re in Bowling Green, there are many other Christmas attractions to explore, such as  Santa’s Lookout holiday train ride. There are also some amazing restaurants for foodies and other year-round attractions that are fun for the whole family.

Honorable Mention: Galaxy of Lights at Huntsville Botanical Gardens

For over 25 years, the Galaxy of Lights at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens has been a local favorite. It is one of the largest holiday events in the South with over 2.5 miles of magnificent light displays highlighting holiday themes, classic characters, and gorgeous natural scenes.

The Galaxy of Lights is located in Huntsville, AL, which is about 2 hours south of Nashville, TN. It offers walking nights in mid-November and from December 17th through January 1st. There are even dog-walking nights if Fido wants to get in on the holiday fun. Walking night hours are from 5:15 pm to 8:30 pm.

Driving nights are from December 1st through 16th from 5:30 pm to 9 pm. Tickets are available online and are substantially cheaper than buying them at the gate. And members receive a discount as well. For example, peak driving dates are $35 at the gate vs. $25 online. Walking tickets range from $16 to $19 online vs. $25 at the gate.

The Bald Thoughts

Our family loves the holidays, and we have so much fun seeing all of the decorations as we celebrate Christmas. There are so many best Tennessee Christmas attractions on this list, it can be hard to see them all each year. After many of these attractions being closed or limited during the last two years, we are excited to see them running at full capacity this year.

What are your favorite Christmas attractions in Tennessee? Let me know in the comments below so I can add them to the list for next year.

Originally published on Bald Thoughts on December 15, 2020. Updated December 14, 2022.

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10 unique nashville valentine’s day date night ideas, nashville travel meetup: sat oct 7th at wedge pizza & pub, nashville travel meetup: sat aug 12th at cedar city brewing.

Another option is the Candlelight Christmas Evening at Biltmore, at $144 pp.

I’m sure that would be a lot of fun. A bit pricey, but worth it for a one-time experience.

I haven’t done it (yet). May be worthwhile as a package with stay on property. I’m a passholder; seen some offers this year for discounted stays. Can’t remember if the discounted rates were valid for candlelight packages.

We were passholders. Signed up in June 2019, but didn’t renew this year due to COVID. I’m actually disappointed that we never received any communication about extending memberships since NC was locked down for awhile. We may do it again in the future. The estate is beautiful and there is so much to see. You really need more than a couple of days to experience it all. And it is really pretty to see in different seasons with the changing of flowers and foliage.

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14 Best Small Towns In Tennessee To Visit

When it comes to charming small towns , Tennessee has them in abundance. From their tree-lined main streets, historic downtowns, and mom-and-pop shops to their local restaurants, antique stores, and galleries, each small town has something different to offer travelers who are passing through.

Set your sights on Tennessee's most charming small towns, and you'll be in for fun. They're worth a visit to slow down and escape, and they make perfect day trips from cities like Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville . They are great places for building new memories. Plan a trip in the fall or spring for milder temperatures, or in winter for smaller crowds.

Get to know these small towns, from Bell Buckle to Franklin and Collierville to Bristol in the heart of The Volunteer State . Filled with hospitality, community, and small towns we love revisiting year after year, Tennessee has a knack for making you feel right at home. Here are the best small towns to visit on your next trip to Tennessee.

Bell Buckle

This tiny town is nestled in central Tennessee's horse country. It began as a railroad village and is now a cozy spot where you can find a home-cooked meal at the Bell Buckle Café , a scoop of ice cream at the neighborhood parlor, and an afternoon's worth of browsing at antiques shops and galleries. It's also where you can find the annual RC Cola-MoonPie Festival .

Located on the border of Tennessee and Virginia—and next door to the Virginia city of the same name—Bristol is a small town with outdoor adventure. You don't want to miss Bristol Caverns , The Pinnacle for open-air shopping, and Steele Creek Park . In-town enjoyment can be had at Paramount Bristol , Lost State Distilling , and Elderbrew, among other charming places.

Collierville

Collierville can be found near the Tennessee-Mississippi border. In addition to the historic town square, travelers love visiting Herb Parsons Lake, Lichterman Nature Center , and Shelby Farms Park . No trip is complete without a cup of joe from Square Beans Coffee , lunch at Dyer's Café or Mensi's Dairy Bar, and pizza from Lost Pizza Co .

Located south of Nashville, Columbia is a destination for shops, galleries, and the arts. From the Town Square to the town's lively Main Street, there's so much to enjoy, including Smith and York Co. , The Linen Duck , Goon , Fork of the South , and Loblolly Interiors. Muletown Coffee Roasters will help you start your day. Head to Amber Falls Winery & Cellars for award-winning wines. Outdoor enthusiasts will find recreational activities like biking, kayaking, and fishing. There's also a lively arts scene.

Cumberland Gap

Korrin Bishop

Sit back and enjoy breakfast on the front porch at Gap Creek Coffee and Café and take in the views of the Pinnacle Overlook. The free little library out front begs guests to stay awhile. Explore the Cumberland Gap Historic National Historic Park ’s 85 miles of trails and 14,000 acres where Native American tribes settled, Civil War soldiers battled, and Daniel Boone led European settlers to the west. Visit the town in fall for small crowds and spectacular leaf peeping .

You'll find Franklin, one of the state's most charming small towns, south of Nashville. It has a great downtown area surrounding a tree-lined Main Street, which is home to antiques shops, galleries, and restaurants. Shop downtown at places like Avec Moi for new and vintage gifts, Landmark Booksellers , and the unique shops and restaurants at The Factory at Franklin while you're in town.

This small Appalachian town may feel large thanks to millions of visitors each year, but the population is less than 4,000. The charming downtown village is home to candy stores, boutiques, galleries, and restaurants. There’s plenty of adventure too. At the Anakeesta mountaintop park , catch panoramic views from the SkyLift or follow the 14 bridge Treetop Skywalk 60 feet above town. For a slower pace, escape to a quieter locale to search for waterfalls or cast a line.

If you're seeking a slower pace that makes you feel like you've suddenly arrived in yesteryear, Granville fits the bill. Nicknamed "Tennessee's Mayberry," you will be lured in by the endearing quality of the buildings, the people, and the local businesses. Take a tour of the town by purchasing a ticket from T. B. Sutton General Store, and explore further sites such as the Granville Whiskey Decanter Museum, Whistle Stop Saloon, and Sutton Homestead.

Jonesborough

Known as the "Storytelling Capital of the World," Jonesborough is located in northeast Tennessee near Johnson City . Its red-brick downtown is home to the International Storytelling Center and hosts the National Storytelling Festival every autumn. Don't miss shops like Boone Street Market for local produce, Crystal Raven for crystals and jewelry, and Mill Spring Makers Market for goods from local artists and makers.

This town boasts a surrounding area that is rich in nature's glory. This is especially true at South Cumberland State Park , a locale that features over 30,000 acres of lush woodlands, gorges, and waterfalls. You'll be tempted to spend your entire visit on this property, but swinging through town has its perks as well. You will be drawn in by Mountain Goat Market 's tasty menu and intrigued by the handcrafted goods found at Hallelujah Pottery .

When in Paris, it's impossible to miss the town's replica of the Eiffel Tower. Enter Eiffel Tower Park, and you'll have photo ops aplenty as well as opportunities to splash around a water park, fish in the trout pond, and bike and hike area trails. Shop the historic downtown and visit nearby Paris Winery for a wine slushie or a wine tasting. Pick up a souvenir Eiffel Tower wine bottle to bring home.

Pigeon Forge

Millions of visitors flock to Pigeon Forge for its small-town Southern charm, family-friendly fun, and outdoor excursions. Thrill seekers will enjoy Dollywood , an amusement park with rides, shows, shopping, music, and Southern food. The Island ’s Ferris wheel is a great spot for panoramic views, and guests can also enjoy more amusement park rides, moonshine tasting, and a show fountain. Nature lovers will want to explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park for its scenic landscape and waterfalls.

This tiny college town and the nearby community of Monteagle make for a fun road trip stop in central Tennessee. Don't miss the views from Sewanee's forested overlooks . Browse through shops like Taylor's Mercantile for blooms and gifts, Mooney's Market and Emporium for vintage and yarn, The Lemon Fair for jewelry and clothing, and Mountain Outfitters for outdoor apparel. Stop for a meal at Blue Chair Café and Tavern or Shenanigans , a local gathering place, before you leave town.

Tennessee Tourism/Andrew Saucier

Spend time downtown browsing boutiques and sipping coffee, then head to the lunch counter at the old-fashioned F. Z. Webb and Sons Pharmacy, Gifts, and Soda Fountain . Outdoor lovers will enjoy Center Hill Lake , a prime spot for fishing, boating, swimming, and hiking. Visit small-town Smithville around Christmastime for big holiday fun.

Related Articles

The 10 Best Places to See Christmas Lights in Tennessee (2023)

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. All hosted affiliate links follow our editorial & privacy policies .

Best Christmas Lights in Tennessee Guide

(Arranged Geographically)

• Holiday Trail of Lights (Chattanooga TN)
• Reindeer on The Riverfront and Lighted Boat Parade (Chattanooga TN)
• Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas (Pigeon Forge TN)
• The Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade (Gatlinburg TN)
• Smoky Mountains Winterfest (Sevierville TN)
• Light The Park (Farragut TN)
• Christmas at Graceland (Union City TN)
• Holiday Wonders at the Garden (Memphis TN)
• A Country Christmas at Gaylord Opryland Hotel (Nashville TN)
• Holiday Lights at Cheekwood Estate and Gardens (Nashville TN)

READ MORE: The 10 Best Smoky Mountains Hotels to Visit in NC & TN

Christmas Lights in Chattanooga TN

1. Holiday Trail of Lights

Walnut St Pedestrian Bridge, Chattanooga TN • 423-756-8687

Official Website

Downtown Chattanooga will be all aglow with millions of lights from mid-November 2023 into early January 2024. In our experience, it’s one of the best places to see Christmas lights in Tennessee.

Boats , bridges , cliffs, streets, and storefronts will be fully decked with holiday spirit, celebrating the joy of the holiday season. For a real spectacle, the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge is a great place to start.

Stop by Winter Wonderland at the Chattanooga Choo Choo for a visit with Santa, then gaze at the artful displays in the EPB’s  Holiday Windows, a Christmas tradition that dates back to the 1940s.

Family-friendly fun can include a  Ruby Falls cave tour  to enjoy classic holiday decorations and activities, or climb aboard the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum ’s North Pole Limited Christmas Train for a jubilant two-hour train ride . 

Don’t leave town without wandering around Rock City’s Enchanted Garden of Lights ,  which is celebrating its 28 th annual holiday light extravaganza this year.

Get lost in wonderment in all of their magical fantasy realms, including Yule Town, Arctic Kingdom, Magic Forest, North Pole Village, Fairyland Caverns , and a brand new Heart of the Mountain display. 

READ MORE:  The 15 Best Things to Do in Lookout Mountain GA/TN

2. Reindeer On The Riverfront and Lighted Boat Parade

850 Market Street, Suite 200, Chattanooga TN • 423-265-3700

For the past 40+ years, the Tennessee River in Chattanooga has been lit up with thousands of twinkling lights for the holidays. You’ll see boats decked to the nines sailing along the river, drenching the water in colorful reflections. 

The 2023 Reindeer On The Riverfront event starts at 4 PM on November 24, and continues until 8 PM. Their ever-popular   Holiday Light Boat Parade takes place 6:30 and 7 PM, with extravagantly decorated boats to dazzle the eyes. 

Visit the Walnut Street Bridge for some of the best spots to take awesome pictures of the passing boats, but the event can be viewed from anywhere along the Chattanooga Riverfront. 

This free event includes live Reindeer, photos with Santa, and a fireworks display over the river at 8PM. There will also be plenty of food trucks to keep you fueled, as well as hot cocoa and adult beverages. 

Visitors can browse the holiday craft vendors for some Christmas gift ideas , and kids will enjoy the “Touch a Truck” experience with the Chattanooga Fire Department. 

READ MORE:  20 Ways to Celebrate Christmas in the Blue Ridge Mountains

Christmas Lights in Gatlinburg TN

3. Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas

2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd, Pigeon Forge TN • 865-365-1900

As if things weren’t already sparkly enough at Dollywood, they somehow become even more dazzling during Christmas in Pigeon Forge TN.

Dolly Parton’s 160-acre theme park will be strewn with over 6 million fairy lights from November 4, 2023, to January 6, 2024, with tickets ranging from $89-$129.

4. The Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade

Baskins Creek Bypass and East Parkway, Traffic Light #3, Gatlinburg TN • 865-436-4178

If you’re spending Christmas in the Smokies, plan on celebrating the 48th Annual Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade in Gatlinburg TN on December 1, 2023.

The parade starts at 7:30PM in the heart of Gatlinburg , so try to arrive early to secure a good spot and settle in for a beloved holiday light extravaganza. 

You’ll see illuminated floats roll by and local bands blasting out Christmas music as they make their way through the magically-lit main street. There are huge balloons and, of course, the star of the show, Mr. Claus himself! 

Christmas Lights in Knoxville TN

5. Smoky Mountain Winterfest

110 Gary Wade Blvd., Sevierville TN • 865-453-6411

Holiday joy will fill the mountain town of Sevierville (about 28 miles east of Knoxville TN) from November 10, 2023 to February 19, 2024.

This year, the Smoky Mountain Winterfest in Sevierville TN features hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights , as well as  a number of other festive attractions.

The 34th annual Christmas event offers visitors a chance to see a holiday show, eat great food, and get some Christmas shopping done. 

Take a drive through Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland to experience colorful lights synchronized with music. It’s arguably one of the most immersive Christmas light shows in the USA!

From November 3 to February 18, 2024, you can visit SkyLand’s Festival of Lights at The Ranch for extravagant Christmas light displays and a scenic ride on a chairlift for epic scenic views. 

Finally, guests can hang out around their 25-foot-tall Christmas tree and join in on some joyous caroling, eating, drinking, and general holiday merriment. 

READ MORE:  10 Best Caverns and Underground Caves in Tennessee

6. Light The Park

Campbell Station Rd, Farragut TN • 865-218-3376

Join fellow Christmas lovers from November 20, 2023 through Jan 1, 2024 for illuminated festivities at this Tennessee Christmas light show near Knoxville. 

The main events take place at the Campbell Station Inn and  along Campbell Station Rd to Mayor Ralph McGill Plaza.

Light The Park festivities begin at 5:30 PM on November 20, with holiday-themed entertainment and a visit from a very special guest from the North Pole at 6:30 PM. The Christmas lights will be switched on promptly at 6:45.

Kids can drop off their letters to Santa at the big mailbox in  Founders Park at Campbell Station, and there will be caroling as well as plenty of food trucks to choose from. 

Note that there is limited parking available, so guests are encouraged to park at the Farragut Community Center and the Westgate Christian Church.  

READ MORE:  The 15 Best Waterfalls in Tennessee to Visit

Christmas Lights in Memphis TN

7. Christmas at Graceland

830 Everett Blvd., Union City TN • 731-885-5455

If you find yourself in Memphis at Christmas time, don’t miss out on a very special seasonal spectacle at Graceland, the world-renowned home of Elvis Presley.

From November 16, 2023 to January 8, 2024, visitors can experience the most extravagant and illustrious illuminations you’ll find in the area. 

The whole place is lit up in Christmas lights dazzling enough to please the king of rock ‘n’ roll. And if you visit Graceland in December, you can book a Christmas tour of the house to experience the holidays just like Elvis did!

These guided tours are available from 2-4 PM, with ticket price ranging from $42 to $73. For ultimate fans with a little cash to spare, there’s even a  Christmas package that includes spending a night in Elvis’ Guest House. 

For those who just want to see some Memphis Christmas lights, check out the annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony at 6 PM on Nov 16, when thousands of blue Christmas lights will line the mansion’s driveway and illuminate a life-size Nativity.

READ MORE:  The 10 Best Fairs in TN to Visit

8. Holiday Wonders at the Garden

750 Cherry Rd, Memphis TN • 901-636-4100

On select evenings from November 24 to December 30, 2023, the Memphis Botanic Garden  in Audubon Park is in full glow for its Holiday Wonders at the Garden light exhibit.

This annual spectacle invites guests to bask in the glow of trees alight in the Under the Stars Outdoor Lounge, then journey into Snowy Nights in My Big Backyard to twirl beneath falling snow .

Here, kids can experience man-made snow in the famously snowless Memphis Winter !

Stop by Merry Memories to snap Insta-worthy holiday themed selfies at multiple photo-ops and Yuletide Yard to delight in sips & snacks and play light-up games. And don’t miss Santa’s sleigh in Northern Lights along the way.

The event runs from 5 PM to 8:30 PM on select evenings, and tickets range from $12-20 per person. Children under 2 are free.

READ MORE:  The 10 Best Campgrounds in Tennessee to Visit

Christmas Lights in Nashville TN

9. A Country Christmas at Gaylord Opryland Hotel

2800 Opryland Dr, Nashville   TN • 615-889-1000

There is so much fun to be had at the 2023 iteration of A Country Christmas at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville.

This complete holiday experience includes a 20-40-minute walk through an immersive “ Winter Wonderland” adventure.

Running from November 10, 2023 to January 1, 2024, the hotel will be filled with ice and so many twinkling lights (more 3 million!), making it the ultimate place to celebrate the holidays. 

You’ll find larger-than-life ice sculptures, as well as the chance to take a ride on The Polar Express . There are also frozen slides, ice tunnels to traverse, a 9,000-sq-foot ice skating rink. and visits from jolly ol’ St. Nick. 

All these events have different prices, depending on whether you’re a paying overnight hotel guest or not. Check rates and review their website for details. 

READ MORE: The Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol TN/VA

10. Holiday Lights at Cheekwood Estate and Gardens

1200 Forrest Park Dr, Nashville TN • 615-356-8000

The 2023 Holiday Lights at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens is billed as “Joyful, Jubilant, and Jolly.” From November 18 to January 7, 2024, guests are invited to stroll the one-mile path of illuminations through the garden . 

This classic Nashville Christmas tradition displays elegant lights to fill every heart with holiday cheer. Visitors can stop by vendor kiosks and get some hot cocoa, an adult beverage, or s’mores to roast on the fire. 

Their Holiday Marketplace can be found at the First Learning Center Great Hall, where there’s a 9-foot-tall garden-themed ornament wall and myriad holiday gifts and décor available for purchase.

Tickets for the event range from $12 to $31, depending on age and garden membership status. -by Emma Gallagher; featured image of Christmas at Rock City Enchanted Garden of Lights by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett

We encourage anyone who loves the Blue Ridge region to learn about the  Leave No Trace   principles of responsible environmental stewardship. 

Stay on marked trails, take only pictures, pack out your trash, and be considerate of others who share the trails and parks you explore. 

Remember that waterfalls and rocky summits can be dangerous. Never try to climb waterfalls or get close to a ledge to get a selfie.

When you're exploring the wilderness, it's better to be safe than to be a statistic!

Emma Gallagher

Born in Britain, writer/photographer Emma Gallagher lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC on a permaculture homestead with her husband, Jonathon. While traveling the world for 13 years, she fell in love with the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge region when she lived at an artist retreat in Burnsville NC before moving to Brevard. Today Emma lives near Stone Mountain State Park and Doughton Park volunteers at the Surry County Fiddlers Convention, and cares for the gardens at the Reeves Downtown School of Music in Elkin. She's also a volunteer for the Elkin Valley Trails Association, which maintains segment 6 of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

The 10 Best Christmas Markets and Fairs in Tennessee You Must Visit

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There is nothing like Christmas in Tennessee .  The small-town holiday charm, the lively Smoky Mountains, the state’s history, live music, and tons of local holiday markets all make Tennessee a must-see at Christmas. 

If you’re seeking local markets and fairs to visit in Tennessee at Christmastime, here is our list of the 10 best Christmas markets and fairs in the state. Let the holiday festivities begin!

Looking for more inspo? Check out our list of festive fairs and events in Tennessee , along with our full list of dates for Christmas markets in the USA.

1. Christmas Village – Nashville, TN

An annual tradition in Nashville for over 60 years, Christmas Village at the city’s fairgrounds has brought generations of holiday shoppers to this festive Christmas market in Tennessee.  Over 250 merchants from around the country provide guests with ample holiday gift ideas.  

Plus, the proceeds from ticket sales for the market go directly to various nonprofits in the state.  What’s better than holiday shopping for a good cause?

Get your Christmas shopping done early at this festive kickoff to Christmas in Tennessee.  

2. SpiritFest – Clarksville, TN

Located in historic downtown Clarksville, SpiritFest provides family-friendly festivities to guests anticipating Clarksville’s annual Christmas parade.  

This free festival provides ice skating, live music, visits with Santa, food truck vendors & free hot chocolate, kids’ activities, and a live nativity scene. 

 In addition, holiday shoppers will love the Art & Gift Market for Christmas gift ideas, as well as all the downtown shops nearby.

Afterwards, guests can enjoy a front row seat to Clarksville’s Christmas parade full of local holiday cheer.

3. Chattanooga Holiday Market – Chattanooga, TN

The Chattanooga Market , which provides local art, handcrafted goods, and food peddlers to the community throughout the year, gets into the yuletide spirit with its Holiday Market on weekends in December.

Visitors can find unique gifts for the holidays throughout this lively market with over 200 local vendors.  Plus, live holiday music and a special cast-iron cookoff make this holiday market a festive gathering place.

While you’re there, the city of Chattanooga provides lots of great things to do at Christmas, including its famous Chattanooga Choo-Choo , Rock City , and other local treasures.

4. Smoky Mountain Winterfest – Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, & Gatlinburg, TN

A holiday extravaganza lasting from November until February each year, Smoky Mountain Winterfest provides a plethora of fun holiday things to do for an epic Christmas in the Smoky Mountains.

A multitude of live Christmas shows, festive shops and restaurants, live music, and holiday lights await for all seeking an abundance of holiday spirit.  Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas and local Christmas parades also make this beloved region merry and bright.  

Be sure to check out Winterfest’s Great Smoky Holiday Arts & Crafts Festival while you’re there to find unique local handcrafted goods for the perfect Christmas present.

5. Dickens of a Christmas – Franklin, TN

Every holiday season, Main Street in historic downtown Franklin will make you feel like you’re in a Hallmark Christmas movie.  Boutique shops and local restaurants provide great opportunities to seek holiday gifts.

Downtown Franklin kicks up its holiday spirit with its beloved annual Dickens of a Christmas festival in December. 

Main Street becomes an open-air market of artisan vendors, festive food trucks and warm holiday drinks, street performers, and festival-goers dressed in Dickensian Christmas costumes.  

Afterwards, warm up to a classic Christmas movie showing in the historic Franklin Theatre to round out this festive small-town holiday experience.

6. Christmas in Lynchburg – Lynchburg, TN

Countless visitors make the pilgrimage to Lynchburg to see Jack Daniel’s Distillery and its famous Tennessee Whiskey each year. But for the holidays, visitors come for a more festive kind of spirit, Christmas in Lynchburg .

This annual holiday festival includes an open-air craft market and the popular cookie sale (the cookies run out quickly!).  Guests also come for a unique souvenir – the town’s special holiday postmark only available during the festival.  

Plus, visitors can enjoy a Christmas tree decorating contest, pet costume contest, breakfast with Santa, holiday buggy tours and more festivities.  Be sure to stay for the Christmas parade and lighting of the Barrel Tree!

7. A Victorian Christmas at Rugby – Rugby, TN

Historic Rugby, Tennessee’s famous Victorian-era village, gets into the 1880s Christmas spirit each December with Christmas at Rugby , an immersive Victorian Christmas festival and market. 

This old-fashioned holiday festival includes Christmas carolers & storytellers, period costumes, visits with Father Christmas, and candlelight tours of historic Victorian homes and buildings.  

Guests can enjoy a Christmas market with local art and homemade goods and peruse the unique shops in the village.  Shop for the perfect gift while you step back in time!

8. Speedway in Lights & Christmas Village – Bristol, TN

Millions of fans have flocked to the famous Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, TN over the years to see the glory and pandemonium of NASCAR races.  In December, fans flock to this track for a different reason – the festive Christmas celebration called Speedway in Lights .

Visitors can experience a one-of-a-kind Christmas market and light show for a memorable and unique holiday.

A tradition for over 25 years, fans get to take a lap around the “world’s fastest half-mile” and experience a wonderland of over 2 million festive Christmas lights.

After driving 4 miles of lights, visitors will want to go to the Christmas Village at the raceway’s infield for a Tennessee Christmas market with local vendors, holiday arts and crafts, and festive photo ops.  Do some Christmas shopping you truly won’t forget!

9. Bell Buckle Olde Fashioned Christmas & Night Market – Bell Buckle, TN

Seeking some small town charm in Tennessee at Christmas? Consider visiting historic Bell Buckle and experience its spirited Olde Fashioned Christmas & Night Market this December.

Known for southern treasures RC Cola and Moon Pies (be sure to have some when you visit), guests can experience Bell Buckle’s popular Night Market in the town pavilion, with local crafters, food vendors, and the town’s popular shops open late.  

In addition, the Quilt Walk, a Bell Buckle Christmas tradition, allows festival-goers to tour historic homes in town and see their famous quilts.  Sleigh rides with Santa, christmas caroling, and a pet parade round out this cozy Christmas festival.

10. Christmas in Olde Jonesborough – Jonesborough, TN

Tennessee’s oldest town, Historic Jonesborough fully embraces the Christmas spirit each weekend during the holiday season with Christmas in Olde Jonesborough , a town-wide Christmas celebration.

A festive holiday market with local crafts, as well as extended hours for downtown’s cute holiday shops will bring delight to any Christmas shopper seeking gift ideas. Don’t miss out on Santa Mart, a special holiday market just for kids!

The town’s famous holiday progressive dinner, visits with Santa, the annual Holiday Tour & Tea, and a Christmas tree lighting and parade make this town festival a must-see on your Tennessee Christmas market list! 

Looking for more US travel inspiration?

Check out these guides on the best places to visit in…

• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Pennsylvania
• Texas (North)
• Texas (South)
• Texas (East)
• Texas (West)
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Washington, D.C

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The 8 Most Charming Small Towns in Tennessee

From live music and whiskey distilleries to scenic outdoor adventures, there's a lot to discover in these quaint destinations.

Tennessee's cities are popular for a reason, but there's more to the Volunteer State than Nashville and Memphis. Wander away from the buzz of the Grand Ole Opry, Graceland, and Beale Street and into the small-town heart of this music-loving state. If you're traveling to the eastern portion, take some time to explore the splendor of the Great Smoky Mountains, too. Here are eight of the best small towns in Tennessee.

With a population of around 3,700, Gatlinburg remains small even though its location, Sevier County, attracts around 12 million visitors each year. People love coming to this quaint mountain town in eastern Tennessee — sometimes referred to as the "gateway to the Smoky Mountains" — for its gorgeous scenery, great shopping, and abundance of activities. Here, you can explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park , chase waterfalls, ride mountain coasters, and visit museums and a massive aquarium. Plus, Dollywood theme park is about 15 minutes away by car in Pigeon Forge, another small town that's popular with families. There's a reason this area is full of all things Dolly Parton — she's from the next town over.

Jonesborough

Jonesborough is small in size but big in appeal. There's live music, great shopping, and hundreds of years of history here in Tennessee's oldest town (founded in 1779). Home to the International Storytelling Center , which hosts the National Storytelling Festival each October, Jonesborough is also considered the "storytelling capital of the world."

Beyond storytelling, visitors can enjoy live music series like Music on the Square , every Friday night from July through September, and Brews & Tunes on Sunday afternoons. Shop wares from local and regional artisans at November's annual Made Around Here Market . Christmas in Olde Jonesborough is another highlight.

For a bit of time travel, visit the 1906 Chuckey Depot Museum , then take a carriage ride along the town's well-preserved Main Street, complete with historic buildings, antique stores, and charming ice cream and candy shops.

Granville is perhaps the definition of a hidden gem. Though it was the birthplace of former U.S. Sen. Albert Gore Sr. (father of former Vice President Al Gore), few are in the know about this historic town.

Nicknamed "Tennessee's Mayberry Town," Granville is about 90 minutes east of Nashville by car. Perched on the banks of the Cumberland River, it offers the slow and friendly pace of yesteryear. A $7 town tour ticket from Sutton General Store gives you access to highlights like the Granville Whiskey Decanter Museum, Whistle Stop Saloon, Mayberry – I Love Lucy Museum, Sutton Homestead, and Pioneer Village.

If you're a fan of hiking and the great outdoors, head to Erwin, an Appalachian Trail town nestled in the mountains within Cherokee National Forest . Here, expect breathtaking mountain views, great hiking, fishing and rafting along the Nolichucky River, and an adorable downtown area with a quality coffee shop, pottery studio, outdoor supply store, and more.

Founded in 1820 as Smith's Crossroads, Dayton was renamed after the Ohio city in 1877. It was thrust into the spotlight in the 1920s as the location of the famous Scopes Monkey Trial, which addressed whether evolution could be taught in state-funded schools. You can check out the Rhea County Courthouse where it was conducted, now home to the Scopes Trial Museum. Beyond this bit of historical significance, there are antique stores, restaurants, hiking opportunities, the Monkey Town Brewing Company , and Chickamauga Lake, which claims some of the best bass fishing in the nation.

Ever wondered if you could find Lewis and Clark history, a wine trail, and one of the nation's largest refuges for African and Asian elephants all in one tiny town? Look no further than Hohenwald, where all your wildest Tennessee dreams can come true.

Located about one hour, 45 minutes southwest of Nashville by car, Hohenwald offers a lot to do. Check out the Discovery Center at The Elephant Sanctuary (the sanctuary portion is closed to the public for the elephants' safety, but you can view the animals via a series of "EleCams"). Other notable stops include the nearby Natchez Trace Wine Trail , Natchez Trace Wilderness Preserve, and the scenic Natchez Trace Parkway . Also, don't miss the Meriwether Lewis Site ; the famed explorer died and was buried seven miles east of the town in 1809. For a unique stay to round out your visit, check out the Petite Retreats tiny house village at the Natchez Trace RV Campground.

Leiper's Fork

An unincorporated rural village in Williamson County, Leiper's Fork is certainly small (population around 650), but its charm is unmistakable. With a homegrown feel, this tiny spot is about the size of a large city block, but it packs in attractions like art galleries, a whiskey distillery, and tasty restaurants across its approximately 1,100 acres.

Expect front porches, fire pits, a community spirit, and, surprisingly, the vacation homes of stars like Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton. There's no hotel in Leiper's Fork, but the popular larger (but still relatively small) town of Franklin is just a 20-minute drive away.

From 1811 to 1813, Davy Crockett lived in a log cabin in this south-central Tennessee town. Today, the downtown area is on the National Register of Historic Places. Lynchburg is famously the headquarters of Jack Daniel Distillery — the oldest registered distillery in the country, founded in 1866 by Mr. Jack Daniel himself. Oddly, though, its home county (Moore) has been dry since Tennessee enacted prohibition laws in 1910. The Old Jail Museum and Lynchburg Cake and Candy Company are also popular attractions.

Related Articles

• 2024's 7 Most Beautiful Small Towns in Tennessee

Tennessee , a landlocked Southern state, is most famous for being the capital of country music, with millions flocking to Nashville each year to see their favorite artists. However, beyond Nashville, Tennessee boasts numerous small towns equally worthy of exploration. These towns offer stunning landscapes, including the Appalachian Mountains, rivers, and valleys, alongside unique attractions such as historic landmarks from the 18th century, excellent whiskey, and delightful candy shops. Here are seven of Tennessee's most beautiful small towns you can visit in 2024.

Jonesborough

Jonesborough is the oldest town in the state, founded in 1779 prior to Tennessee becoming the 16th state in the Union in 1796. As a result, this historic town has both a rich past and picturesque attractions to explore. Its historic downtown is located in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains and has walking tours for many of its historic buildings, such as the 1835 Chester Inn. However, the town is most known as being a center of classic American storytelling, which you can experience firsthand at the International Storytelling Center. Visit during October for the National Storytelling Festival to experience all manner of tales.

For outdoor lovers, there is plenty to explore in Jonesborough, ranging from the Wetlands Water Park to the Brights Zoo, which has several rare and endangered animals, including the addax and scimitar-horned oryx. Before you leave town, try out some spirits at the Tennessee Hills Distillery.

In south-central Tennessee, Lynchburg prides itself on its hospitality, good whisky, and great vibes. It was first settled in the early 1800s, and its history is palpable throughout. Today, the most famous landmark in the city is the Jack Daniels Distillery, the oldest distillery in the United States , making it a must-visit for whisky connoisseurs. For more history, one can spend time in the Lynchburg Historic District, featuring the 1885 Moore County Courthouse, 1893 Old Jail Museum, and more. Both showcase beauty in unique ways, from a rustic jail to intricate courtrooms that transport one to a bygone era.

Apart from the landmarks, visitors can see old town souvenirs and memorabilia at Jack Daniel's Lynchburg Hardware and General Store or take a buggy tour through town with C & R Buggy Tours. Lastly, you can indulge your sweet tooth with some locally owned candy shops in town, like Velma's Candy or Lynchburg Cake and Candy Co.

Greeneville

Named after the American Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene, this historic town was first settled in 1780 in what was then part of North Carolina . The town's most famous resident was Andrew Johnson , who served briefly as vice president under Abraham Lincoln and became president when Lincoln was assassinated in 1865. Those interested can visit his humble family home at the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, showcasing many items from his youth. Similarly, for a more broad learning experience about this small town, check out the Greeneville Greene County History Museum.

The town is no slacker when it comes to natural wonders, including the picturesque Margarette Falls, a 60-foot waterfall you can hike to. For a more vibrant take on Tennessee’s beauty, opt for the Buffalo Trail Orchard, which provides apples, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries for you to pick.

This town of just under 36,000 people was first founded in 1842 but wasn't officially confirmed as Putnam County until 1854. Today, Cookeville is a charming mountain town with equal parts history and beautiful landscapes to explore. Of note is the Cookeville Depot Museum, which has railway artifacts, memorabilia, and scale trains that enthusiasts adore. Other hotspots include the Muddy Pond Mennonite Community, the 1916 Post Office, and Putnam Courthouse Square.

In terms of outdoor scenery, Cookeville is within reach of not one but a dozen waterfalls, including Piney Creek Falls, Cane Creek Cascades, Sting Fork Falls, and more. Many state parks in the area have waterfalls and trails alike, such as Burgess Falls State Park, Rock Island State Park, and Fall Creek Falls State Park.

Leiper's Fork

This village of around 650 people is an idyllic place renowned for old-school American charm and unique attractions. Leiper's Fork runs along the Natchez Trace Parkway, a 444-mile road built along ancient Native American routes and connects to the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail, which you can hike or ride on a horse to on the Garrison Creek Loop Trail. With panoramic viewpoints showcasing Tennessee’s beauty, it is a lovely trail for all tourists.

This village hides many secrets in its shops, including a Turquoise squash blossom necklace and stamped cocktail stirrers at the Tennessee Turquoise Company, moonshine at Leiper's Fork Distillery, and Leiper's Creek Gallery, an art gallery in a former gas station. Speaking of gas stations, Leiper's Fork Market is located in a gas station offering small-town hospitality with local beers, lunch food, and friendly folks.

Cumberland Gap

This town was first used as a pathway through the Appalachian Mountains by Native Americans, and it later saw many settlers passing through, including the famous Daniel Boone. Cumberland Gap wasn't officially incorporated until 1907, but since then, it has become a center for outdoor enthusiasts. There are more than 80 miles of trails in the area within the massive 20,500-acre Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. The most popular trails include the Tri-State Peak Trail, Ridge Trail, and Pinnacle Overlook Trail. Each boasts a new set of views, from towering peaks to lush forests. Cyclists will enjoy these trails and the Bicycle Museum in town, showcasing the engineering behind these simple machines. Cumberland Gap has many charming specialty shops, including Cumberland Gap Artists Co-op, Frame Shop & Gallery, Gertie's Commissary, and more.

Last but certainly not least, Gatlinburg is one of the best destinations in Tennessee. This town of 3,600 people sits at the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park , one of the best national parks in the entire state. This national park boasts 522,000 acres of outdoor space featuring mountain trails, historic pioneer cabins, and large black bear populations that you can view from a safe distance within Cade's Cove. Of the many trails in the park, some of the best include Rainbow Falls, Clingman's Dome, Chimney Tops, and more.

There are many things to do in town, including Ripley's Mountain Coaster, Gatlinburg SkyPark, Gatlin's Mini Golf, and Ole Smoky Distillery, which offer excellent moonshine. If you want to get away from the downtown area, consider visiting one of the many artisans in town with the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, featuring over 80 artists and craftsmen. For more culture, plan your trip in August for the vibrant Gatlinburg Songwriter’s Festival.

These beautiful towns in Tennessee prove that if you want to see a state's true beauty, you have to get out of the big city and explore. Many of these towns are located within the Appalachian Mountains, which makes them ideal locations for a hike or just a drive through the countryside to appreciate beautiful views. You have a winning combination when you combine that with charming downtown areas with friendly locals. Consider adding these beautiful small towns to your travel plans this year or next.

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Little Big Town's Christmas at the Opry

• Date & Time Friday, October 4 7:00 PM
• Time 7:00 PM
• Venue Opry House
• Ticket Prices $45.00 - $155.00

Experience NBC’s live taping of Little Big Town's Christmas at the Opry on October 4! Hosted by Little Big Town at the Grand Ole Opry House, you won't want to miss our secret all-star lineup...with big stars and big surprises. Get tickets now to get this holiday season started.

Sign Up to Receive Updates and Special Offers From Grand Ole Opry And The Opry Entertainment Group

Venue information.

600 Opry Mills Drive Nashville, TN 37214

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5 Beautiful Tennessee Fall Weekend Getaways

If you're in the midst of planning a fall getaway, consider adding Tennessee to your list. Here are some of the best places to visit this season — all located in the Volunteer State!

Published on August 19, 2024

Tennessee is home to several sought-after travel destinations, especially during the fall. You can indulge in a number of pastimes here — from exploring state parks and attending seasonal events to dining at renowned eateries. Throw in small-town charm and beautiful scenery, and you’ve got these five places throughout the state to consider for your next fall getaway: Brownsville , South Central TN/TN Whiskey Trail , Johnson City , Hartsville , and Claiborne County .

Brownsville, TN

In addition to serving as the hometown of legendary singer Tina Turner, Brownsville offers a vibrant art scene, stunning natural scenery, and a charming downtown district. Here are some ways to make the most of your time here!

The West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center and Tina Turner Museum is a popular destination that offers three regional museums, each dedicated to the culture of rural West Tennessee. As you stroll through the grounds, you’ll also find Flagg Grove School, Tina Turner’s childhood school that houses some of her costumes, records, photos, and other memorabilia from her career.

SB Tip: Be sure to also visit the last home of blues musician and Brownsville native Sleepy John Estes, located right next door!

Another local museum, the Dunbar Carver Museum , sits inside the once-segregated Carver High School. Located along historic Jefferson Street, once known as Brownsville’s “Black Wall Street,” the museum highlights the lives of African Americans in Haywood County through a collection of documents, media, and artifacts.

For a unique photo op, visit Tennessee’s tallest metal sculpture, “The Mindfield” by Billy Tripp. Using salvaged materials, Billy has been working on the art piece since 1989, and it now stands over 130 feet in height. Located on South Monroe Avenue, the sculpture is said to represent Billy’s own emotions, personal growth, and life in general.

If you’re looking for outdoor adventure amidst beautiful scenery, spend the afternoon at the Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge . Located on over 11,000 acres, the federal preserve invites you to bring your own canoe and enjoy up-close views of a wide variety of bird species.

Brownsville’s Historic Downtown Court Square is another must-visit destination. The town’s courthouse sits in the middle of a roundabout, surrounded by local boutiques and stores. As you stroll through the streets, stop and explore the murals, the local amphitheater, and Tamm Park.

When you’re ready to refuel, stop into Livingston’s Soda Fountain & Grill , located in the Historic Court Square. The 1950s-style diner includes a working soda fountain, a jukebox, and a menu of sandwiches, burgers, and salads.

South Central TN/TN Whiskey Trail

An easy way to explore Tennessee distilleries, the TN Whiskey Trail highlights over 20 of the best local options. The attraction offers much more than just whiskey, though — everything from outdoor adventure and shopping to delicious dining options.

Kick off your adventure at the trail’s official starting point in South Central Tennessee , where there are a few great places to book an overnight room or two. Popular lodging options include The Silos at Promise Manor (Lynchburg), Miss Elizabeth’s Place (Lynchburg), Lakeside Cottages at Twin Creek Marina (Winchester), and The Enchanting Castle Hall (Fayetteville).

When you’re ready to start exploring the distilleries, there are a few ways to get your TN Whiskey Trail passport. You can pick up a physical passport from one of the participating distilleries or download a digital version HERE .

Popular South Central TN distilleries along the trail include Jack Daniel’s Distillery , Prichard’s Distillery , Big Machine Distillery , Nearest Green Distillery , and Cascade Hollow-Home of George Dickel .

SB Tip: Many distilleries on the trail are dog-friendly and offer a special Pawsport !

Before or after your whiskey tastings, carve out some time to go leaf-peeping! Perhaps the most well-known destination, “The Cross” at Sewanee offers sweeping views and a kaleidoscope of colors, from yellow and red to orange and brown.

South Cumberland State Park is another popular destination for taking in the fall foliage. Popular treks include those to Fiery Gizzard, Denny Cove, Lost Cove, and Grundy Lakes.

Savage Gulf State Park is also known for its autumn views, as it offers the first-ever viewfinders that use a special lens to help people with color blindness see the vibrant colors of fall!

If you’re looking for quintessential fall fun on the farm, Limoland Pumpkin Patch in Pulaski is the perfect place! In addition to pumpkins, the farm offers a giant slide, corn maze, barrel train rides, and animals.

When you’re ready for lunch or dinner, there are plenty of local eateries to choose from. Conveniently located inside Jack Daniel’s Distillery, Miss Mary Bobo’s Restaurant offers an ever-changing menu of authentic Southern dishes. Offerings include favorites like fried chicken, meatloaf, and catfish.

We also recommend visiting Ken’s Fast Foods to try the iconic Lincoln County Slawburger, featuring the restaurant’s signature vinegar-mustard slaw dressing. And don’t forget the fries!

Johnson City

Nestled in the heart of the mountains in East Tennessee, Johnson City offers fun for all types of travelers — whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, a music lover, or a foodie. These are the spots not to miss!

You’ll likely need a day or two to explore, so we recommend booking a room at the Carnegie Hotel . The boutique hotel offers 137 beautifully appointed guest rooms, and it’s conveniently located near some of the best local restaurants and shops.

For an unforgettable meal, reserve a table at Juniper . In addition to a variety of craft cocktails, the restaurant offers standout entrées like North Carolina trout, filet mignon, and ribeye.

If you’re traveling with children or prefer more casual dining, Cootie Brown’s is also nearby. While there are three locations throughout Tennessee, the flagship eatery is in Johnson City. It’s known for delicious tamales, pizza, and burgers. And don’t forget to order a slice of their famous key lime pie!

For outdoor fun and beautiful fall views, Buffalo Mountain Park is a 725-acre green space known for its hiking, picnicking, and nature programs. You can also take a leisurely stroll through Founder’s Park , which boasts beautiful works of art and a free fall concert series .

Cyclists can rent a bike through Local Motion and enjoy a thrilling ride through Tannery Knobs Mountain Bike Park , home to 40 acres of wooded terrain that’s open to all skill levels. Tweetsie Trail is a great option for a more leisurely ride, offering a 9.5-mile trail.

Children and families will enjoy spending the afternoon at Brights Zoo . In addition to housing the only spotless giraffe in the U.S., this zoo offers close-up views of penguins, monkeys, zebras, and more.

Another popular attraction, the Martin Center for the Arts  hosts a variety of exciting events. The Fall 2024 calendar includes performances of The Book of Mormon and  The Nutcracker , along with a concert by singer-songwriter Ben Folds.

For a nightcap, The Windsor Speakeasy is an upscale bar with a selection of craft cocktails, wine, and beer on offer. In addition to the classics, you can also find fun specialty cocktails like the Red Wine Supernova, the Mama Nina, and the Bye Bye — the perfect send-off on your last night in the area.

Hartsville, TN

“Get to the Hart” with a fall getaway offering riverfront views, leaf-peeping adventures, and seasonal fun. Here are some of the best things to do and see in the city of Hartsville !

Located along the banks of the Cumberland River, Hartsville offers beautiful fall foliage alongside tranquil waterfront views. We recommend taking in the views from the water, as there’s plenty of room to boat, paddleboard, canoe, or even jet ski.

Offering four access points, the river is also a popular fishing destination. In fact, the largest recorded fish caught in the area was said to be 25 pounds and 41 inches long!

Another place with beautiful viewpoints along the Cumberland River is a 17-stop driving tour that dives deep into the history of The Battle of Hartsville. As you drive, you’ll see historic buildings and homes that were once used as hospitals, as well as river crossings and a cemetery.

After your driving tour, visit Hartsville’s Historic Town Square, where you’ll find a variety of charming restaurants, including Hartsville Taco Company , Goose Creek Coffee , and Dillehay’s Cafe .

The Hartsville Town Square is also home to Creebank Stadium, where you can watch the legendary Yellow Jackets play football in the fall!

While Hartsville is a dreamy destination year-round, fall offers some of the best seasonal produce and food. In fact, foodies from surrounding areas flock to Hartsville to take advantage of Farmer’s Harvest . The local staple offers locally sourced meats and veggies, homemade ice cream, and an after-hours speakeasy all under one roof!

SB Tip: Farmer’s Harvest is also known to host live music and trivia nights, so check out their Facebook page to see what’s happening during your stay.

For an adventure that’s a bit more off the beaten path, The Cove Campground & Restaurant is nestled along a tree-lined country road near the Cumberland River. While here, you’re invited to set up your RV, camper, or tent to enjoy an evening under the stars.

When your group gets hungry, the on-site restaurant has you covered. This fall, they’ll be offering a brand-new breakfast buffet in addition to the already-beloved lunch and dinner menus. You’ll find everything from traditional barbecue and burger to seafood dishes — plenty of options to fuel your stay!

Claiborne County, TN

While Claiborne County is undoubtedly beautiful year-round, the fall months are full of seasonal fun and picturesque landscapes. Made up of four cities — New Tazewell, Tazewell, Harrogate, and Cumberland Gap — Claiborne County deserves a spot on your must-visit list. Here’s why!

As home to part of the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park , we recommend spending an afternoon exploring some of its trails. Perhaps the most popular trek is the journey to Tri-State Peak, where you can stand in three states at once: Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Another great viewpoint is located at Pinnacle Overlook in Cumberland Gap. Follow the four-mile road from the park’s visitor center to enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and fall foliage.

Another popular outdoor destination is Norris Lake, which is 129 miles long and the perfect place to enjoy a peaceful afternoon of boating or fishing. You can even stay at one of the lake’s campgrounds to really soak in the fall foliage when the colors are at their peak.

Golfers will enjoy playing a round or two at Woodlake Golf Course , which overlooks Norris Lake. Dubbed “the best-kept golf secret in the South,” the par-72 course includes a unique terrain of bent-grass greens and Bermuda fairways.

For more water-related fun, head to the Powell River Blueway Trail and rent a kayak or boat from Rustic River Resort . Or,  for a tubing adventure, turn to the experts at Riverside Rentals .

Then, after a day on the water, head back to the resort to refuel at the on-site restaurant, which offers hearty options like pizza, burgers, steak, and seafood.

History buffs will enjoy the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum . Having recently undergone a two-year, multi-million-dollar renovation, the center dives deep into the life and legacy of America’s 16th president.

To round out your time in Claiborne County, spend a few hours walking through the streets of Historic Downtown Cumberland Gap. Whistle Stop Antiques is a charming shop full of vintage treasures, while The Village Shops offers on-trend clothing and Cumberland Gap Artists Co-op sells local artwork.

When you’re ready for a pick-me-up, stop into any of the nearby restaurants for a bite to eat. Nineteen19 Grill & Bar is popular among both locals and tourists, serving favorites like chicken and waffles, Wagyu sliders, and a Philly cheesesteak.

This article is sponsored by TN Vacation, Visit Brownsville, TN, Tennessee Whiskey Trail, Visit Johnson City, Hartsville-Trousdale County, and Claiborne Economic Partnership.

Brianna is StyleBlueprint’s Associate Editor and Sponsored Content Manager. She is an avid fan of iced coffee and spends her free time reading all things true crime.

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