Where Every Family Matters

Holiday Lights Extraordinaire!

Tennesseans sure know how to illuminate the holidays! Find all kinds of displays — including area neighborhoods — in this festive collection.

DRIVE-THRU TOURS

Dancing Lights of Christmas in Lebanon, Tennessee - YouTube

Dancing Lights of Christmas

Open Nov. 13 through Jan. 3 | nightly at 5 p.m.

James E Ward Agricultural Center, home of the Wilson County Fair: 945 E Baddour Pkwy, Lebanon

Admission: $25 per vehicle (non commercial); $25 per church van/bus; $50 for commercial vehicles; Tour groups are per person

Highlights: 2.5 million lights set to music on a driving route

Tip: Use the entrance across from Dollar General, expect a longer wait time on Saturdays

FRANKTOWN FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS, PRESENTED BY FIRST BANK, RETURNS FOR THE 2020 HOLIDAY SEASON – Nashville Music Guide

FrankTown Festival of Lights

Open Nov. 26 through Dec. 26 | 6 to 10 p.m. nightly

Williamson County AG Expo Park: 4215 Long Ln #100, Franklin

Admission: $25 per vehicle (non commercial); Extra fee for 15+ passenger vehicles

Highlights: Thousands of sparking lights coordinated to a radio station to be enjoyed from the comfort of your car

Drive-thru light display in Lebanon spreads Christmas cheer

Chad’s Winter Wonderland

Open Nov. 26 through Dec. 31 | 6 to 10 p.m.

791 E. Old Laguardo Rd. Lebanon

Admission: $20 per car load (Takes Credit and Debit)

Highlights: New expansions this year: 12 acres, 2.8 million lights, live animals, drive through nativity scene

Tip: Don’t forget to bring your letter to Santa. There will be a special mailbox just for him, and he will be there every night!

Let It Glow Light Show

Open Nov. 13 through Dec. 30 | 5 to 9 p.m.

830 Everett Blvd., Union City

Highlights: Drive through over one million dazzling lights at Discovery Park of America’s “Let It Glow” light show in Union City, Tennessee. Explore the museum and heritage park, then hop in the car and enjoy the lights!

Admission: $10 per car

New Drive-Thru Lights Experience Hits Nashville Speedway Dec. 4-31

JINGLE BEAT

Open Dec. 4 through Dec. 31 | 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. everyday

Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway

2358 Bransford Ave, Nashville

Admission: $45

Highlights: Large scale, multi-sensory installations that dance rhythmically to a fresh remix of holiday classics.

Music City Lights - YouTube

Music City Light Show

Open Nov. 24 through Jan 1 | 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. everyday

5361 Skip Jack Drive, Antioch,

Admission: Free

Highlights: Holiday light show set to music on 90.1 FM

Tip: If you’re in the Lakeside Cove Subdivision off of Hobson Pike, you’re in the right place!

WALKING TOURS

2.3 million holiday lights flipped on at Gaylord Opryland

Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center

Open Nov. 13 through January 3 | Starts at dusk

2800 Opryland Dr, Nashville

Admission: Free

Highlights: 3 million lights, towering Christmas trees and thousands of shimmering ornaments adorn the grand hotel.

Tip: Gaylord debuts the I Love Christmas Movies™ interactive pop-up experience this year, as well as live dinner shows by The Oak Ridge Boys.

Cheekwood Holiday Lights 2017 - YouTube

Cheekwood

Open Nov. 23 to Jan 5 | 5 to 10 p.m. every night of the week

1200 Forrest Park Dr, Nashville

Admission: Adults: $26, Kids (3-7): $20, Children under 2 are free

Highlights: 2 million lights, children’s wonderland, live reindeer villge, s’mores pits

Tip: If you can wait until 8:30 p.m., tickets for adults drop to $20

Christmas on the Cumberland in Clarksville, TN - Tennessee Vacation

Christmas on the Cumberland

Open Nov. 24 through Jan. 1 | 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 5 to 11 p.m. Friday & Saturday (Opening night starts at 5:30 p.m.)

McGregor Park: 640 N. Riverside Dr., Clarksville,

Admission: Free

Highlights: 2 million lights put on by the City of Clarksville. Frequent visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus

Tip: This year’s free family-friendly activities include free holiday crafts and hot chocolate

Lights of Dollywood | Legacy Hunting

Dollywood

Open Nov. 7 through Jan. 5 | 2 to 9 p.m.

2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd., Pigeon Forge

Admission: One-Day passes start at $69

Highlights: Award-winning festival featuring lights, shows and much more

Tip: Every Friday and Saturday during Smoky Mountain Christmas, the “Merry & Bright” fireworks fill the sky to new holiday Christmas tunes

SPECIAL NEIGHBORHOOD DISPLAYS

Gills Bright Lights | Hendersonville TN Concierge

Gill’s Bright Lights

Open Dec. 1 through Christmas season | 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 5:30 to 11 p.m. Friday & Saturday

288 Lake Terrace Dr., Hendersonville

Admission: Cash donations accepted for charity

Highlights: This year’s theme will bring 60,000 dancing lights moving to music in your car radio. 20 ft snowflake wall, 17-foot mega trees

Tip: All decorations are homemade! Cash donations are accepted for a local charity.

London's Lights: Dad's tribute to daughter tragically killed finds new home in La Vergne | WZTV

London’s Lights

Open Thanksgiving Day through Christmas | 5 to 10 p.m. each weeknight and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends

1001 Ash Circle, La Vergne

Admission: Free, however guests are invited to bring toys that will be donated to kids at Monroe Carrell Jr’s Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Highlights: 140,000+ traditional Christmas lights display in honor of London, a toddler killed in a tragic accident

Tip: Santa has special visits to London’s Lights, including extra special visits for children with special needs.

Lights on Luna

Open Nov. 29 through Holiday season | 5:30 to 10 p.m. on Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri & Sat

176 Luna Lane, Hendersonville

Admission: Free

Highlights: Dancing lights set to music

Tip: Park across the street in the church parking lot & make sure to turn your headlights off when watching the show!

Winton’s Light Display

Open Dec. 1 through Holiday season | 5 to 10:30 p.m. Monday – Thursday; 5 to 11 p.m. Friday – Sunday

55 Haskell Winton Road, Manchester

Admission: Free, however guests are invited to bring a donation for a local charity

Highlights: Half a million lights that dance to music on 103.1 FM.

Tip: This display have been featured on national television and is a “must-see”

Hoover Lights

Open Nov. 27 through Dec. 31 | 4:30 to 10 p.m. each night

1390 Neil Rd, Chapel Hill

Admission: Free, but guests are encouraged to donate to Grace Ministiries

Highlights: Viewers can tune to the 107.1 FM and watch while the lights dance to music

Tip: Lights on Old Charlotte and Lights on Sparrow Street combined to make this new light display!

Image may contain: night, sky and outdoor

Sunnyside Lights

Open Nov. 26 through Dec. 31 | 5 to 10 p.m.

1956 Sunnyside Dr, Brentwood

Admission: Free

Highlights: Pass through the sparkling Brentwood cul-de-sac in your car or hop out and walk for a closer look at 135,000 lights

Tip: Every Friday and Saturday during Smoky Mountain Christmas, the “Merry & Bright” fireworks fill the sky to new holiday Christmas tunes

Lights on Lauren

Open Nov. 30 through holiday season | 5 to 10 p.m. Sun-Thurs; 5 to 11 p.m. Fri, Sat

111 Lauren’s Way North, Hendersonville

Admission: Free

Highlights: Thousands of lights synchronized to music on 97.3 FM.

Tip: Bring the kids to see the Snoopy gang and Minnie and Minnie Mouse yard art.

The Lights on Beachfront

Open Nov. 30 through holiday season | 5 to 10 p.m. nightly

2109 Beachfront Ave, Antioch

Admission: Free

Highlights: A light show synchronized to your favorite holiday tunes

Tip: Tune to 103.9 FM for music to the show!

Cocoa on Cloverdale

Open Nov. 30 through holiday season | 5 to 9:30 p.m. nightly

109 Cloverdale Court, Hendersonville

Admission: Free

Highlights: A light show synchronized to music on 97.7 FM

Xlights TN

535 Shute Lane, Hendersonville

Open Dec. 1 through Jan. 1 | 4:30 to 10 p.m. nightly

Highlights: 20 ft MegaTree with 4800 pixel lights. Entire display consists of over 10,000 programmed pixel lights.

Tips: Tune to 87.9 FM when you arrive! Please park in the grass if the driveway is full.

 

About the Author

Michael Aldrich

Michael Aldrich is Nashville Parent's Managing Editor and a Middle Tennessee arts writer. He and his wife, Alison, are the proud parents of 4-year-old Ezra and baby Norah.