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 · 2.0k 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 · 21.0k reviewsThe former Union Gospel Tabernacle opened in 1892 and hosted the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974.
- Nashville Symphony - Elf In ConcertDec 2Schermerhorn Symphony Center · Source: SeatGeek
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By TripSapien Research · Updated June 3, 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 31
Gaylord Opryland's A Country Christmas
A month-long holiday event at the Gaylord Opryland Resort featuring millions of lights, ice sculptures, live entertainment, and holiday-themed activities.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
Holiday at the Hermitage
The Hermitage, home of President Andrew Jackson, decorated for the holidays with special tours and events throughout December.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
Nashville Zoo Wild Lights
The Nashville Zoo is transformed with millions of holiday lights, themed displays, and seasonal activities for families.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
Show all 39 events for December
- Dec 2
- Dec 3
- Dec 3
- Dec 3
- Dec 4
- Dec 4
- Dec 4
- Dec 5
Nashville Christmas Parade
Annual festive parade featuring floats, marching bands, and holiday characters celebrating the Christmas season in downtown Nashville.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 5
- Dec 5
- Dec 6
- Dec 6 – Dec 7
- Dec 6
- Dec 7 – Dec 14
- Dec 8
- Dec 8
- Dec 9
- Dec 9
- Dec 9
- Dec 10 – Dec 13
Music City Winterfest
A winter festival featuring live music performances, food vendors, and holiday markets in downtown Nashville.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 10
- Dec 11
- Dec 11
- Dec 11 – Dec 12
- Dec 12 – Dec 13
- Dec 12
- Dec 12
- Dec 13
- Dec 13
- Dec 14 – Dec 23
- Dec 14
- Dec 15
- Dec 15
- Dec 19
Scott Bradlees Postmodern Jukebox - The Future Is Vintage World Tour
Music · Jazz.
Source: Ticketmaster
- Dec 21
- Dec 27
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★ · 32,662indoorThe 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★ · 19,802indoorOpen 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★ · 15,094indoorThe 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 3 more sights
- 4Johnny Cash Museum
- 5Frist Art Museum
- 6Belle Meade Historic Site and Winery
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.
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.
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.