Mose and I just did a podcast with our buddy Ben. He asked a bit about the birth of SoBros Network, the state of pro wrestling in Nashville, and Nashville in general. Specifically, he asked about the holidays in Nashville. It really isn’t that family-friendly of a town. If you’re not getting drunk and/or fuckin’ on Broadway, there really isn’t a whole hell of a lot to do.
‘cept at Christmastime.
I hadn’t really thought about it before, but hell – Nashville actually is a really cool place to bring the family for Christmas. There are a ton of little pop-up attractions. The city is already a very welcoming place, but at the holidays, it’s a different kind of welcoming. Sure, you’ll still find your rampage partying downtown, but it’s just a little less crowded and more people seem to be in a better mood. It really is just a tad bit warmer in personality.
If you’re willing to go out of the city a fair way, there are all kinds of little tree farms that serve coffee and hot chocolate. About an hour out of town, there’s one up in the hills that accentuates the beauty of the season perfectly. Would probably be more helpful if I could actually remember the name of the place, but oh well.
The Dancing Lights of Christmas immediately comes to mind. It’s out at the Wilson County Fairgrounds, which is about a 30-minute drive east of Nashville. I don’t know how else to explain it – it’s just a massive display of Christmas lights. You drive around the fairgrounds, turn your radio dial to a certain station, and enjoy a synced up light show. It’s not too terribly expensive, but it is one of the most popular Christmas attractions in town. I wrote a review of it on the site from the year my girlfriend and I took my mom and ended up sitting in traffic for six goddamn hours just to get to the thing. Back in 2015, my girlfriend’s niece came to visit and we took her to see it. We snuck in just as they were closing and there was no line. She loved it – a beautiful holiday tradition.
This year, we have the good fortune of being selected for GLOW Holiday – I haven’t been yet because it costs an ass ton and a half. But, the Halloween version was absolutely splendid.
There are all kinds of pop-up bars in town, too. I know HQ (the beercade on 2nd Avenue) completely overhauls the bar the last two weeks before Christmas. Decorations everywhere, holiday themed drinks – it’s a real hoot. The Bobby Hotel has some SICK igloo-lookin’ things on the roof. Each one equipped with some sort of fireplace, so that you can sit atop a Nashville rooftop without freezing to death.
If you feel like making the 1-1.5 hour drive to Lynchburg, you can check out the barrel tree lighting at the Jack Daniel’s distillery. You can mosey around the festive, decorated gardens at Cheekwood.
But, the G.O.A.T. of all Christmas attractions in Nashville is of course the Opryland Hotel. It is a Nashville institution regardless of the season, but especially at Christmas, it’s a veritable winter wonderland. In fact, if you grow up in Nashville, the Opryland Hotel is considered synonymus with Christmas. My girlfriend and I went a couple of Friday nights ago for date night. It’s this massive compound that is decked out in Christmas decor and sprawling with lights. So, we parked, walked in, visited one of the many bars, got a couple of drinks, and perused the facility, taking it all in. I can’t recommend checking this place out enough.
They have this even called ICE, too. It’s been going on for probably a decade or so at this point. They bring in some ice sculptors from all over the world to car ice sculptures. You don a heavy poncho and walk around in sub-zero temperatures. There’s an entire little Christmas village constructed out there this time of year – you can go tubing, ice skating, see some live music, sit around a bonfire, pick up some food from one of the food trucks, or buy yourself a nice little moonshine drink at the Ole Smoky Moonshine truck.
This city is home to me. So, I’m always going to be a little biased. But, I think it’s criminally underrated as a Christmas city. Things usually slow down around the 20th. You go out downtown between the 20th and New Year’s Eve and it’s a veritable ghost town. So, my ideal recommendation would be early December (maybe even Thanksgiving weekend so you can take in Black Friday at Opry Mills) so there’s still a buzz in the air. Stay at the Opryland Hotel, plan a trip out to the country, plan a night downtown, and enjoy the warmth of the season.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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