Nashville events & things to do in December 2026
Start with National Museum of African American Music, Ryman Auditorium, plus Grand Ole Opry. December in Nashville averages 11°C / 52°F highs, 0°C / 32°F nights, and about 12 rainy days.
Expect 11°C/52°F days and about 12 rainy ones in December. Start with these:
- National Museum of African American Music★ 4.9 · 2.1k reviewsThe museum opened in 2021 at Fifth and Broadway and covers gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and soul through interactive exhibits.
- Ryman Auditorium★ 4.8 · 21.5k reviewsThe former Union Gospel Tabernacle opened in 1892 and hosted the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974.
- An Evening with Lord HuronDec 1Ryman Auditorium · Source: Ticketmaster
By TripSapien · Updated November 4, 2026
Nashville in December 2026
Weather
TempTemperature
52°F / 32°F
11.2°C / -0.1°C
RainPrecipitation
12d
4.5in · 115mm
LightDaylight
9.5h
December is cool and wet, with Opry holiday shows, Gaylord Opryland lights, and downtown music working well indoors.
Events & festivals
Event calendar- Dec 1
- Dec 2
- Dec 2
![2026 82MAJOR [82CLUB : out of control] TOUR in Nashville event image](https://i.ticketweb.com/i/00/13/07/01/44_Edp.jpg?v=6)
Show all 39 events for December
- Dec 3
- Dec 3
I Matter You Matter presents Joseph Wooten's Christmas/Birthday and 10th Wedding Anniversary Jam
Music · Other.
$30 - $43
Source: Ticketmaster
- Dec 4
- Dec 4 – Dec 20
- Dec 5
- Dec 5
- Dec 6 – Dec 7
- Dec 6
- Dec 7 – Dec 14
- Dec 8
- Dec 8 – Dec 10
- Dec 9
- Dec 9
- Dec 10
An Evening With Sasha Alex Sloan: And The Crowd Goes Mild Tour
Music · Pop.
From $45
Source: Ticketmaster
- Dec 10
- Dec 11
- Dec 11
- Dec 12
- Dec 12
- Dec 13
- Dec 13
- Dec 14 – Dec 23
- Dec 15 – Dec 18
- Dec 15
Music · R&B.
From $20
Source: Ticketmaster
- Dec 16
- Dec 17
- Dec 17
- Dec 18
A Tribute to the Sounds of Sinatra - A Rat Packin' Holiday Celebration
Music · Jazz.
$20 - $32
Source: Ticketmaster
- Dec 18
- Dec 19
- Dec 20
- Dec 21
- Dec 23
Music · R&B.
$22 - $40
Source: Ticketmaster
- Dec 27
- Dec 30
- Dec 31
Holidays, observances & long weekends
Holiday and observance schedules can affect services and venue hours; confirm each place directly.
- Dec 25Christmas DayPublic holiday
- Dec 25-Dec 27Long weekend
About Nashville
City overview
Nashville sits on the Cumberland River, where Lower Broadway honky-tonks, Music Row studios, East Nashville restaurants, the Gulch, 12 South, and Germantown turn country-music history into a working entertainment city. The city is also a Tennessee capital, university town, hot-chicken stop, and Opry pilgrimage.
Food & drink
Nashville food starts with hot chicken, especially Prince's, Hattie B's, Bolton's, and slow-burn neighborhood debates, then adds meat-and-three plates, biscuits, barbecue, Goo Goo Clusters, and banana pudding. Nashville Farmers Market, Assembly Food Hall, Germantown restaurants, and East Nashville kitchens give visitors a route beyond Broadway.
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Grand Ole Opry
- 2Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
- 3The Parthenon in Centennial Park
- 4Johnny Cash Museum
- 5Frist Art Museum
- 6Belle Meade Historic Site and Winery
- 7Honky Tonk Highway on Lower Broadway
- 8Tennessee State Capitol and Bicentennial Capitol Mall
1Grand Ole Opry
4.8★ · 33,539indoorThe live radio show moved to the Grand Ole Opry House in 1974, east of downtown near the Gaylord Opryland complex. Multi-artist bills keep the format closer to a broadcast than a standard concert.
WikipediaCheck the lineup before buying because Opry shows rotate performers nightly.
2Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
4.6★ · 20,743indoorOpen dailyThe downtown museum opened in its current 2001 building and traces country music through instruments, stage costumes, recordings, cars, posters, and the Rotunda. It sits beside Bridgestone Arena and Walk of Fame Park.
Wikipedia
3The Parthenon in Centennial Park
4.6★ · 15,177indoorThe full-scale replica of the Athenian Parthenon was rebuilt in concrete in 1931 after the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition version. Inside are a 42-foot Athena statue and an art gallery near Vanderbilt University.
Show 5 more sights
4Johnny Cash Museum
The compact downtown museum displays Cash family artifacts, stage clothes, instruments, handwritten lyrics, records, and film clips. It sits on Third Avenue South, one block off Broadway.
5Frist Art Museum
The museum occupies Nashville's 1934 Art Deco former main post office on Broadway. It hosts rotating exhibitions rather than a permanent collection and sits near Union Station.
Wikipedia6Belle Meade Historic Site and Winery
The Greek Revival mansion dates to 1853 and interprets the thoroughbred farm, Harding and Jackson families, enslaved workers, and postwar racing history. The site is west of downtown near Harding Pike.
7Honky Tonk Highway on Lower Broadway
The neon strip between Fifth Avenue and the river packs multi-floor bars, rooftop stages, boot stores, and live bands from late morning into night. Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, Robert's Western World, and the Stage are the classic names.
8Tennessee State Capitol and Bicentennial Capitol Mall
William Strickland designed the Greek Revival capitol, completed in 1859 on a hill above downtown. The mall below adds a 200-foot granite map, World War II memorial, carillon, and farmers market access.
Neighborhoods
1Downtown and Lower Broadway
Downtown is loud and performance-driven, with Honky Tonk Highway, Ryman Auditorium, Bridgestone Arena, Fifth and Broadway, Printer's Alley, and riverfront walks.
2Music Row and Midtown
Music Row and Midtown mix recording offices, RCA Studio B, Vanderbilt edges, Demonbreun bars, Division Street restaurants, and hotels west of downtown.
3East Nashville
East Nashville feels local and restaurant-heavy, with Five Points, Gallatin Avenue, Shelby Bottoms, vintage shops, cocktail bars, and small music rooms.
Show 27 more neighborhoods
- 4The Gulch
The Gulch is newer and polished, with hotels, rooftop bars, restaurants, murals, boutiques, and quick access to the Frist and Music City Center.
- 512 South
12 South is walkable and retail-focused, with bungalow streets, coffee shops, boutiques, Sevier Park, hot-chicken stops, and photo-heavy murals.
- 6Germantown
Germantown is brick and food-led, with historic houses, Nashville Farmers Market, Bicentennial Capitol Mall, restaurants, and First Horizon Park.
- 7Belle Meade Links
- 8Bellevue
Bellevue in Nashville features George Boedecker's Sculpture Garden and 70 South Antiques, alongside natural history museums and antique markets.
- 9Bellmont Hillsboro
Bellmont Hillsboro has local stops such as The Butter Milk Ranch for breakfast, Mesero for Mexican food, and several jewelry boutiques like Minor Jewelry and Judith Bright Jewelry. It's a spot for quick bites and custom jewelry designs.
- 10Belmont–Hillsboro Historic District
- 11Berry Hill
- 12Bluefields Historic District
- 13Bordeaux
A developing area with a mix of older homes and new construction, offering easy access to downtown Nashville. Local favorites include Slim & Husky's Pizza and Willie B's, with nearby parks and a playground for relaxation.
- 14Buena Vista Historic District
- 15Central Franklin
Landmark Booksellers and The Factory at Franklin.
- 16Charlotte Park
Quiet and family-friendly, Charlotte Park features a variety of restaurants like Hattie B's Hot Chicken and Daddy's Dogs, along with shopping options at Nashville West. The nearby Charlotte Park is perfect for outdoor activities.
- 17Citizens Protecting Revitalization
This area features a mix of restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues, with attractions like the Country Music Hall of Fame, Bridgestone Arena, and Ryman Auditorium nearby.
- 18Deerwood
- 19District 10
Quiet and friendly, District 10 feels like a country escape while being just a short drive from Nashville. It's home to Moss Wright Park and Mansker Station, with antique shops and local dining options like Big Shake's hot chicken nearby.
- 20District 11
Quiet and safe, District 11 has access to Old Hickory Lake and Blue Turtle Bay Marina. Nearby attractions include The Hermitage, the Grand Ole Opry, and the seasonal Old Hickory Village Farmers Market.
- 21District 13
A mix of family-friendly neighborhoods with easy access to downtown and local attractions like the Grand Ole Opry and Opry Mills Mall.
- 22District 17
- 23District 18
A mix of historic homes and modern amenities, with plenty of shops, restaurants, and cafes like Pancake Pantry and Fido nearby. It's also close to Vanderbilt University and Belmont University, with Centennial Park and the Belcourt Theatre just a short distance away.
- 24District 19
- 25District 21
A mix of local eateries like Edley's BBQ and Frothy Monkey, along with easy access to downtown attractions and parks such as Centennial Park. The area is walkable and has a friendly vibe.
- 26District 23
Known for its safety and family-friendly atmosphere, with parks like Percy Warner Park nearby for outdoor activities. There is a mix of shopping and dining options, including Sperry's and The Picnic Cafe, along with historic sites like Belle Meade Mansion.
- 27District 24
A mix of local restaurants, coffee shops, and bars, with options like Edley's BBQ and Frothy Monkey nearby. It's also close to Centennial Park and the Richland Creek Greenway.
- 28District 26
A mix of families and young professionals, District 26 features a safe, walkable environment with access to local cafes, shops, and parks. Nearby attractions include the Nashville Zoo and Radnor Lake State Park, with Nolensville Pike offering a variety of international food options.
- 29District 27
A mix of residential neighborhoods with easy access to highways and Nashville International Airport. Nolensville Pike has a variety of international cuisines, and Plaza Mariachi offers food vendors and live music in a Mexican-style marketplace.
- 30District 30
A quiet, family-friendly area with easy access to downtown Nashville and a variety of local dining options, including Mexican restaurants and taco trucks. There are grocery stores like Kroger and Walmart nearby, as well as William A. Pitts Park just a mile away.
Day trips
35km / 35-45min by car from downtown Nashville
Franklin
Franklin has a preserved Main Street, Civil War sites at Carnton and Carter House, shops, restaurants, and music venues south of Nashville.
145km / 1.5-2h by car from downtown Nashville
Mammoth Cave National Park
The Kentucky park protects the world's longest known cave system, with ranger-led tours that need advance reservations in busy seasons.
120km / 1.5h by car from downtown Nashville
Lynchburg and Jack Daniel Distillery
The small-town trip centers on the Jack Daniel Distillery tour, Moore County courthouse square, and Tennessee whiskey history.
Getting around
WeGo Public Transit buses cover downtown, East Nashville, the airport, and major corridors, but most visitor trips rely on walking downtown plus rideshare or car trips to the Opry, Belle Meade, and 12 South. The free WeGo Star commuter rail is limited, so schedule Opry and Franklin trips separately from Broadway walking nights.
Planning a Nashville trip?
Add your dates and we'll check every place for closures, limited hours, and booking needs in December.
Common questions about Nashville in December
- Best rainy-day things to do in Nashville in December
December averages 12 rainy days in Nashville, so keep these indoor stops as realistic backups.
- National Museum of African American Music — The museum opened in 2021 at Fifth and Broadway and covers gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and soul through interactive exhibits. It is across Broadway from the Ryman and Bridgestone Arena.
- Ryman Auditorium — The former Union Gospel Tabernacle opened in 1892 and hosted the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974. The brick auditorium stands just off Broadway, a few blocks from the Cumberland River.
- Grand Ole Opry — The live radio show moved to the Grand Ole Opry House in 1974, east of downtown near the Gaylord Opryland complex. Multi-artist bills keep the format closer to a broadcast than a standard concert.
- Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum — The downtown museum opened in its current 2001 building and traces country music through instruments, stage costumes, recordings, cars, posters, and the Rotunda. It sits beside Bridgestone Arena and Walk of Fame Park.
- The Parthenon in Centennial Park — The full-scale replica of the Athenian Parthenon was rebuilt in concrete in 1931 after the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition version. Inside are a 42-foot Athena statue and an art gallery near Vanderbilt University.
- What to pack for Nashville in December
Pack for December's weather, not a generic Nashville checklist.
- Layerable daytime clothes for average highs around 11°C / 52°F.
- A heavier evening layer because nights average 0°C / 32°F.
- Compact rain gear and shoes that handle wet pavement across about 12 rainy days.
- How many days do you need in Nashville
- 4 days covers the main Nashville highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
Show 1 more question
- Is Nashville worth visiting in December
- Yes. December in Nashville averages 11°C / 52°F highs, 0°C / 32°F nights, and about 12 rainy days.
Ready to plan Nashville?
You've seen what's on — now get a day-by-day Nashville plan for December 2026, every place checked for your exact dates.