Ready for festive fun in Franklin? Let our guide show you all the holiday happenings! Whether you're a resident or a visitor, this guide is your pathway to the holiday enchantment of Franklin.
Popular events this season include the enchanting Christmas at Gaylord Opryland, where stunning light displays and festive decorations bring the spirit of the season to life. Also, the FrankTown Festival of Lights offers breathtaking illuminated displays across the beautiful grounds, creating a magical atmosphere for all ages. And the General Jackson Christmas Cruises is something you definitely don't want to miss, featuring festive entertainment along the scenic river. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Franklin
- Christmas at Gaylord Opryland (Nashville)
- FrankTown Festival of Lights
- General Jackson Christmas Cruises (Nashville)
- Nashville Winter Wonderland Craft and Vendor Market
- Million Dollar Quartet Christmas
- Christmas Together with The Katinas
- Holiday LIGHTS Cheekwood (Nashville)
- Mingle Jingle
- Holidays at the White House with the First Ladies (Nashville)
- Big Sky Farm Christmas (Nashville)
See these and even more events listed below!
Franklin Holiday Light Displays
FrankTown Festival of Lights
What to Expect:
Synchronized holiday lights and special "Walkin' Wednesdays" experience.
Description:
The FrankTown Festival of Lights is a drive-thru holiday light display featuring over 200 synchronized displays at the Williamson County Agricultural Center in Franklin, Tennessee. Guests can enjoy the mile-and-a-half-long route while listening to holiday music on their car radios. Special "Walkin' Wednesdays" allow visitors to walk the lighted route, take photos by the giant Christmas tree, and make s’mores over a fire pit.
Where: Franklin | More Info: FrankTown Festival of Lights
Holiday LIGHTS Cheekwood
What to Expect:
Custom decorations by a former White House florist.
Description:
Explore Cheekwood Estate & Gardens illuminated by over a million twinkling lights. Enjoy s’mores, seasonal libations, and a Holiday Marketplace. Tour the Historic Mansion, specially decorated by former White House florist Laura Dowling.
Where: Nashville | More Info: Holiday LIGHTS Cheekwood
Franklin Holiday Markets and Shopping
Nashville Winter Wonderland Craft and Vendor Market
What to Expect:
Local vendors selling handmade and specialty items.
Description:
The Nashville Winter Wonderland Craft and Vendor Market is an indoor event at CoolSprings Galleria featuring local vendors selling handmade crafts, jewelry, home decor, and more. It offers a diverse array of unique gift items and holiday treats.
Where: Franklin | More Info: Nashville Winter Wonderland Craft and Vendor Market
Mingle Jingle
What to Expect:
Holiday shopping event with local businesses offering discounts and refreshments.
Description:
Join several locally owned businesses in downtown Franklin, Tennessee, for a holiday celebration featuring yummy refreshments, Christmas music, great shopping, and discounts.
Where: Franklin | More Info: Mingle Jingle
Franklin Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Christmas at Gaylord Opryland
What to Expect:
Immersive ice sculptures and thrilling frozen slides.
Description:
Christmas at Gaylord Opryland features spectacular holiday lights, ICE exhibits, and various festive activities like ice tubing and gingerbread decorating.
Where: Nashville | More Info: Christmas at Gaylord Opryland
General Jackson Christmas Cruises
What to Expect:
Live eight-piece showband with dynamic horn section.
Description:
The General Jackson Showboat presents Music City Christmas, a holiday production featuring beloved Christmas classics by artists like Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole, as well as modern favorites by Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé. The show includes dynamic musical arrangements, Broadway-style dance numbers, and jaw-dropping costumes, all supported by a live eight-piece showband with a dynamic horn section.
Where: Nashville | More Info: General Jackson Christmas Cruises
Million Dollar Quartet Christmas
What to Expect:
Rock 'n' Roll legends perform nostalgic holiday hits.
Description:
The Million Dollar Quartet Christmas brings together Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley for a holiday celebration at Sun Records. The show features nostalgic holiday hits and classic characters in a story of Christmas past, present, and future.
Where: Franklin | More Info: Million Dollar Quartet Christmas
Christmas Together with The Katinas
What to Expect:
Family-friendly Christmas concert supporting local mentorship programs.
Description:
Join The Katinas for a heartwarming Christmas celebration featuring family-friendly music and support for Love Squared Missions.
Where: Franklin | More Info: Christmas Together with The Katinas
39th Annual Dickens of a Christmas
What to Expect:
Victorian-themed street festival with Dickens characters.
Description:
The 39th Annual Dickens of a Christmas in Franklin, TN, recreates the time of Charles Dickens with historic downtown Franklin as the backdrop. Expect to see and interact with characters like Fagin, Jacob Marley, Ebenezer Scrooge, and the Cratchit family. The festival features a variety of musicians, dancers, and Dickens characters, along with Victorian Father and Mother Christmas offering treats for children.
Where: Franklin | More Info: 39th Annual Dickens of a Christmas
A Winter Gathering With Kathy Mattea
What to Expect:
Grammy-winning artist performs acoustic Christmas music with Nashville's finest musicians.
Description:
Grammy Award winner Kathy Mattea presents a deep acoustic music program featuring original and traditional Christmas holiday songs, including selections from her Grammy-winning album "Good News" and her breakthrough recording "Joy to the World: A Christmas Day."
Where: Franklin | More Info: A Winter Gathering With Kathy Mattea
Franklin Christmas Tree Lighting on the Square
What to Expect:
Headliner performance by a renowned Christian singer-songwriter.
Description:
The Franklin Christmas Tree Lighting on the Square features a headliner performance by Matthew West, a five-time GRAMMY nominee, along with Franklin Favorite and the Freedom Intermediate School choir. The event includes free photos with Santa, a pet-friendly photo opportunity, and an Art Crawl in nearby stores.
Where: Franklin | More Info: Franklin Christmas Tree Lighting on the Square
Christmas Tours at Belmont Mansion
What to Expect:
Historical mansion tours with holiday decorations.
Description:
Explore the historic Belmont Mansion during Christmas Tours, featuring knowledgeable guides and beautifully decorated spaces.
Where: Nashville | More Info: Christmas Tours at Belmont Mansion
Franklin Other Holiday Activities
Big Sky Farm Christmas
What to Expect:
Real tree farm with various tree species and unique gift shopping.
Description:
Big Sky Farm offers a festive holiday experience with Christmas tree selection, unique gifts, hot cocoa, wagon rides, and picturesque settings for family photos.
Where: Nashville | More Info: Big Sky Farm Christmas
Holidays at the White House with the First Ladies
What to Expect:
Photographic journey through the holiday traditions of First Ladies.
Description:
This exhibition showcases the holiday traditions of First Ladies Jacqueline Kennedy and Michelle Obama, featuring images from the White House Historical Society and Presidential libraries. It highlights the evolution of White House Christmas decorations and the personal touches of each first family during the holiday season.
Where: Nashville | More Info: Holidays at the White House with the First Ladies
Living Nativity at Big Sky Farm
What to Expect:
Family-friendly Christmas tree farm with diverse tree species and festive activities.
Description:
At Big Sky Farm, immerse yourself in a festive atmosphere by strolling through the fields of Christmas trees, shopping unique gifts, sipping hot cocoa, and snapping pictures. The farm offers a variety of tree species and sizes, making it a perfect place to find the perfect tree for your home. The beautiful 40-acre farm also features a large barn and pavilion, ideal for corporate parties, productions, and reunions.
Where: Nashville | More Info: Living Nativity at Big Sky Farm
Christmas Open House at Historic Sam Davis Home and Plantation
What to Expect:
Historic home tour with refreshments.
Description:
Celebrate the holiday season at the Historic Sam Davis Home and Plantation with a special open house event. Explore the historic Greek Revival home, visit the family cemetery, and enjoy refreshments while immersing yourself in 19th-century life.
Where: Smyrna | More Info: Christmas Open House at Historic Sam Davis Home and Plantation
Yulefest in Goodlettsville
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with live music and storytelling in historic settings.
Description:
Yulefest in Goodlettsville is an annual holiday event featuring musicians, storytellers, and demonstrators in historic cabins and homes. Visitors can enjoy simple, natural decorations, refreshments, and unique shopping at the gift shop.
Where: Goodlettsville | More Info: Yulefest in Goodlettsville
Haunted Distillery, a Halloween Cocktail Experience
What to Expect:
Interactive cocktail experience with real-life haunted stories.
Description:
At Haunted Distillery, Nelson's Green Brier Distillery presents a seasonally unique cocktail and dining experience. Renowned bar staff creates hair-raising cocktails, and Chef Harrison Baldwin offers a special menu. Guests can hear real-life haunted stories inside the 100-year-old distillery building.
Where: Nashville | More Info: Haunted Distillery, a Halloween Cocktail Experience
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Nashville (17 miles)
- Smyrna (20 miles)
- Murfreesboro (27 miles)
- Hendersonville (30 miles)