It’s turkey time, Nashville, and you know what that means?
Time for some holiday lights!!
Not only can visitors – or those of us who live nearby and might want to get some decorating inspiration (or quietly steal some designs for ourselves) – see some truly impressive public exhibitions, there are also many breathtaking private homes in Middle Tennessee is worth a visit during the holidays, especially if you like lights, yard decorations, and inflatables.
But where do you start?
Middle Tennessee is a big area, and the average holiday enthusiast can literally drive around for hours looking for the best and brightest displays of the season.
Luckily, The Tennessean is here to help. From Nashville and Davidson County to Clarksville, Murfreesboro, Lebanon and all sorts of areas in between, you can use our lists and maps to find the best holiday light displays and create your own festive mini road trip.
Here are a few places to get you started:
Davidson
Sole lumination, Chinese Festival of Lights: The walk-through exhibit at the Nashville Zoo, 3777 Nolensville Pike, will be held from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, daily through January 5 and then Thursday-Sunday, January 9-February. 9. The scenes include more than 1,000 custom-made silk lanterns. Single night admission is $25 for children 13 and older and $21 for children 2 to 12. A Platinum Pass for unlimited visits costs $39 for children 13 and older and $29 for children 2 to 12. Free admission for children under 2 years old. Parking costs $10 and is free for zoo members.
Cheekwood Botanical Gardens1200 Forest Park Drive, features a mile-long walking path with more than a million lights. Opening hours are 4:30 PM to 10 PM daily through January 5. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Tickets for non-members range from $26-$32 for adults, $20-$26 for children 3-17 and children 2 and under are free. Members receive discounted tickets for adults between $16-$22 and $12-$18 for children ages 3-17.
Opryland Hotel2800 Opryland Dr., features more than 3 million holiday lights with brand new displays. The lights will be on until January 4 from 5:20 PM to midnight.
Wilson
Chad’s winter wonderland791 Old LaGuardo Road East, off State Route 109, Lebanon: A huge drive-thru lighting display advertising millions of lights with many different scenes that Chad Barnard has been creating for decades. Barnard, who is also a Wilson County commissioner, was one of four participants chosen for ABC’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight” in 2014. The cost is $25 per vehicle. Open from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Thanksgiving through December 31st.
The dancing lights of ChristmasJames E. Ward Agricultural Center, 945 E. Baddour Parkway, Lebanon: The annual show is held every day, including holidays, through January 4. The times are from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Sunday to Thursday and from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM, Friday and Saturday. The cost is $35 per vehicle. Admission to the light show includes Santa’s Village and petting the animals.
The Mitchell House106 N. Castle Heights Ave., Lebanon: The historic mansion dates to the early 20th century and is home to the city’s Christmas tree. The mansion is also illuminated and can be viewed as you drive through, but getting out and walking around is encouraged as photo opportunities are available.
Rutherford
Christmas lights in Cannonsburgh Village312 S. Front Street in Murfreesboro: Drive-through display from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Friday-Sunday, December 6-8, December 13-15 and December 20-22. Admission is free and donations are accepted for the historic Cannonsburgh Village, part of the Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department.
Smyrna’s Depot / Zama Park38 S. Lowry Street: Features a large Christmas tree and ornaments for photo opportunities that opens with a tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. on November 26. Zama Park will also have a large gift-like prop where photos can be taken. Much of the area features holiday lights, including snowflakes on the fence and in some trees. The Depot is also decorated. And Smyrna’s Event Center, 100 Sam Ridley Parkway, features holiday lights and a seasonal ice skating rink opening Nov. 30.
Smith
Lights from long branchLong Branch Campground, 478 Lancaster Road, Lancaster: A drive-thru show from November 30 to December. 23. The times are Monday to Thursday from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM and Friday to Sunday from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Admission is $15 per vehicle. Eddie Dale Sykes held a light show at his home until 2021 and is resuming and expanding it this year as a fundraiser for the Gordonsville High School football booster club. On December 14 there will be a walk-thru with a live nativity scene, animals and Santa Claus.
Williamson
Franktown Festival of Lights at Williamson County Ag Center, 4215 Long Ln in Franklin, features more than 200 synchronized lights. Open daily from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM now through December 31.
Franklin holiday trolley – The hour-and-a-half tour takes visitors through Franklin & Williamson County, starting outside The Factory at the entrance to Franklin’s Liberty Hall. Expect to see Franktown’s Festival of Lights next to historic downtown Franklin. Complimentary bottled water and holiday treats available. The trolley runs from December 5 to 22 between 5:30 PM and 8:00 PM. Tickets cost $33 per person or rent the entire trolley for $850.
Sumner
Winter wonderland in 4T: Dancing Christmas Lights at 1272 Potter Lane in Gallatin features more than 20,000 programmable pixel lights and is open nightly from 4:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Montgomery
Christmas in Cumberland: Millions of lights will now shine along the Cumberland Riverwalk and McGregor Park in January. 2. Admission is free, the exhibition is open from Sunday to Thursday from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM and on Friday and Saturday from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
Drive through Christmas lights at Clarksville Speedway1600 Needmore Road, runs from November 26 to December 30. Opening hours are Sunday to Thursday from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM and Friday and Saturday from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM. Admission is $30 per car (seven people or less). Vans or vehicles of eight or more cost $50 and bus trips cost $100. Coupons for $5 off the tour are distributed throughout Clarksville.
Robertson
J. Travis Price Park4220 Wilks Road in Springfield, will host the city’s annual drive-thru holiday lights Dec. 7 to 23 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Walk-thru activity nights are planned for December 7, 14 and 21.
Lights on Logan2760 Logan Road in Greenbrier, running now – December. 31. Shows repeat every 25 minutes from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM and are synchronized with 103.9 FM.
Cheatham
The lighting of the Mistletoe Path at Riverbluff Park, 175 Old Cumberland Street in Ashland City, is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday, December 6.
Our interactive map will be online at Tennessean.com for the rest of the holiday season.
Reporters Gabrielle Chenault, Kirsten Fiscus, Andy Humbles, Katie Nixon and Craig Shoup contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared in Nashville Tennessean: Middle Tennessee holiday lights: See the best displays of the 2024 season
