Ho, ho, ho! The holiday season is officially here. While kids’ faces are breaming with excitement, the holidays can mean a lot of added responsibility for adults. Fortunately, there are plenty of family-friendly yet still fun-for-adult ways to pass the weekends in December. Watch your kids’ faces light up (while you enjoy a bit of eggnog?) at these Nashville holiday events. 

1. Get your tree from an actual tree farm 

Sorry Boy Scouts. Our family skipped the parking lot tree stand last year and had a very enjoyable outing to Rhonda and Chris’ Treeland. While local Christmas tree farms tend to be a bit off the beaten path, once you arrive, the process of selecting, cutting down your own tree and enjoying some hot cocoa provides far more holiday magic than the paved lot down the street - worth the drive and a way to spend the day outdoors as a family.

2. North Pole Express Train Ride 

Alright, this one is definitely more kid-focused, but it’s something new and different to drag the whole family out of the usual routine. The Tennessee Central Railway Museum offers a ‘North Pole Express’ train ride where kids can eat treats and meet Santa. It’s a fun way to kick off the holidays with little ones and provides plenty of entertainment.

3. East Nash Holiday Bash 

East Nashville’s holiday festival truly offers fun for the whole family. From photos with Santa to holiday craft cocktails, and food trucks, children and adults alike will find something to entertain them at this event. You may even be able to stock up on gifts from local vendors while you’re there. 

4. Cheekwood Holiday Lights

Cheekwood goes all out for the holidays adorning itself with lights. Not to mention, the venue also features a Reindeer Village complete with two live reindeer, Tinsel and Twinkle. S’Mores pits and cash bars with seasonal beverages and hot toddies round out the experience. The one-mile walk through twinkling lights is well worth the effort to bundle the family up on a December evening. 

5. Attend a Neighborhood Tree Lighting 

Chances are, a neighborhood near you will feature a tree lighting this season. So, gather with friends and family to sing a few carols and enjoy some cocoa for a cheap, casual and convenient way to kick off the holidays. 

6. Walk through Opryland 

Opryland famously offers a plethora of holiday activities. From ice tubing and ice skating to gingerbread decorating, kids will be overwhelmed with the number of options for entertainment. If you’re looking for a lower cost or lower effort outing, consider simply walking through the hotel to enjoy the lights and sights. 

7. See a Classic Christmas Movie in the Theater 

Spending time outdoors in December isn’t always an attractive option. So, put on some sweatpants and head to your local theater for some popcorn and a showing of Elf or the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation to kill some time on the weekend. 

What do you like to do out and about Nashville during the holiday season with family?