Choose one bookable holiday anchor—family attraction, country show, ballet, concert or free festival—then plan lodging and transportation around the exact date.
Built for: Visitors choosing and booking a Nashville holiday event
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Build one anchor, then the trip around it
Choose the format first: Gaylord for a family attraction, Opry for country, Nutcracker for ballet, Ryman or Schermerhorn for a concert, or Dickens for a free Franklin day trip. Then add lodging and transportation around the exact date.
Last verified October 16, 2026. Individual records carry their own verification and refresh dates. Dates, prices and availability can change quickly; recheck the official page before purchasing.
Choose by experience
Six holiday anchors for a Nashville trip
Family attractionA Country Christmas + ICE! featuring Home Alone
BalletNashville’s Nutcracker
Country showOpry Country Christmas
Country / holiday concertAmy Grant & Vince Gill Christmas at the Ryman
This page does not duplicate every light display. Use the comparison to choose walk-through versus drive-through, per-person versus per-vehicle pricing, weather exposure and parking.
Five million resort lights anchor a large attraction campus. Treat ICE!, the cirque show and other activities as separate purchases rather than assuming one ticket covers the resort.
Date
November 6, 2026–January 2, 2027
Price
Resort lights are viewable without an ICE! ticket; ICE! is dynamically priced (a November 6 sample showed $36.38 adult / $26.38 child)
Audience
Best mixed-weather family complex and easiest indoor light option
Age
All ages; ICE! guests under 18 must attend with a paid adult; ages 3 and under free
Ticket
ICE! requires an exact timed entry; other resort attractions are sold separately
Availability
Tickets or registration currently available · high sellout risk
Live status
2026 season and Home Alone theme confirmed; tickets on sale
Nashville Ballet’s locally themed Nutcracker at TPAC, performed with the Nashville Symphony. Choose the performance time before arranging downtown dinner and parking.
Date
Select performances November 27–December 27, 2026
Price
Paid reserved seating; use TPAC’s live seat map for the current total
Audience
Best ballet and a strong all-ages Nashville-specific holiday show
Age
All ages; confirm child ticket and theater policies at checkout
Ticket
Dated reserved ticket; performances are on sale
Availability
Tickets or registration currently available · high sellout risk
A seasonal Opry format with changing lineups across multiple nights. Use the dedicated Opry planner to compare the show, backstage options and transportation without treating every add-on as included.
Date
Select nights November 29–December 22, 2026 · generally 7 p.m.
Price
Paid reserved seating; prices and performers vary by show
Audience
Best country-music holiday show
Age
All ages; premium lounge packages may be 21+
Ticket
Dated reserved ticket; tickets and some packages are on sale
Availability
Tickets or registration currently available · high sellout risk
Live status
Confirmed and on sale; some artists still to be announced
A 12-show residency with evening and selected matinee performances. Buy only through the official Ryman path because the venue explicitly warns that third-party transfers will not be admitted.
Date
12 performances on select dates December 14–23, 2026
Price
Paid reserved seating; use the official Ryman/AXS ticket flow for live prices
Audience
Best downtown country-pop holiday concert residency
Age
All ages subject to venue ticket policy
Ticket
On sale; only tickets purchased directly from the Ryman on AXS are admitted and tickets are non-transferable
Availability
Tickets or registration currently available · high sellout risk
The current calendar includes Holiday Voices, Elf in Concert, Home Alone in Concert, Holiday Brass and Handel’s Messiah. Pick the exact program first rather than treating this as one interchangeable event.
Date
Holiday programming December 1–20, 2026
Price
Paid reserved seating; prices vary by concert and section
Audience
Best classical, choral and film-with-orchestra choices
Age
Varies by performance; family films are rated PG
Ticket
Dated reserved ticket; current holiday concerts are on sale
Availability
Tickets or registration currently available · medium sellout risk
A two-day Victorian street festival with characters, performers and family activities in downtown Franklin. Treat it as a day trip with crowd and transportation planning.
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