10 Things to Do in Nashville in December

The last month of the year is one of the busiest times of the year for international tourism and major cities like Nashville tend to be a highly sought after destination when it comes to choosing a place to enjoy the Christmas holidays. At the same time you should keep in mind that the activities and things to do in this city change during this month, or at least the most interesting places have to do with the particularities of the season.

For that reason I have prepared this compilation of plans and activities with the intention that you can enjoy Nashville in the best style of the locals from the beginning to the end of December. All this with the festivities that occur during the month in mind as well as the practicality and comfort of your whole group of companions.

New Year's Eve is one of the things to look forward to when visiting anywhere in the world during the month of December. Especially if your trip will be at the end of the month. So if this is your case you can't miss the opportunity to join the locals in the New Year's Eve celebrations on the famous Broadway Street.

Every year this place hosts a live concert as well as the typical countdown to the new year. The whole spectacle is usually accompanied by fireworks over the Cumberland River that can be seen from different parts of the city.

Keep in mind that celebrating this holiday is a basic and elementary part of a visit to Nashville in December. In fact, it is the main plan for those people who have a three-day trip to Nashville between late December and early January. I also have to advise you to take the opportunity to enjoy a delicious dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe Nashville because it is less than 200 meters from where the stage of this entertaining event is usually located.

On the other hand, Christmas is the big star of the month of December and if you want to celebrate you can join one of the Cumberland River showboat cruises. These tours usually take place on the General Jackson Showboat and include dancers, live music and some comedy entertainment as well.

Note that from mid to late December this will be one of the best things to do in Nashville. In fact it is one of the 63 most entertaining things to do in Nashville all year round. The big difference with doing it in December is that all the shows are Christmas inspired as well as New Year's Eve themed.

These types of boat tours usually include lunch and dinner. I recommend you choose the dinner because it is a more exclusive experience and a bit more elegant. They usually last about three hours, but may last less depending on the speed of the river.

The Children's Theater of Nashville is one of the city's most important cultural institutions. Throughout the year, they are dedicated to bringing the performing arts within the reach of children with the intention of getting them more and more interested in this type of entertainment.

In turn, the last days of the year are no exception to this, as from mid-December until the 31st there are usually performances every day with some of the most important plays of the Christmas season. This is to entertain all the children who have missed these events throughout the year as well as the families of tourists who come to the city.

Keep in mind that visiting this site is one of the best things to do in Nashville with children during the month of December. Plus, it's a plan that you can do in the afternoon or evening depending on the time of the show. That means you can spend the rest of the day touring Nashville's downtown as well as its arts district.

Graceland is the name of the property Elvis Presley bought in one of the privileged neighbourhoods outside Memphis. Although this place is not located in Nashville, it is one of the most interesting things to see or do when travelling in this city during the month of December. This is due to the fact that both the house and its surroundings are decorated with Christmas elements to create an atmosphere worthy of a fairy tale.

That means that an overnight visit to Elvis Presley's house is a recommended plan if you intend to visit Memphis from Nashville during one of the days of your holiday. At the same time, if you feel that this is not a favourable thing to do because you would miss out on some of the sites in Nashville, you can also balance your time by participating in one of the best Nashville sightseeing bus tours. This type of alternative helps you to reduce the time spent in the most important areas of the city in a short period of time.

Monell's is a historic restaurant located north of downtown Nashville that is one of the best year-round options for authentic Tennessee food. In addition, during the month of December they host Victorian-inspired dinners that create one of the best menus in the city. Bread and onion soup and beef steaks with Béarnaise sauce are just a few of the items that are never missing from these themed dinners.

So if you visit Nashville during the two weeks from the middle of the month until 31 December, you'll want to take part in these events. It's not uncommon for themed dinners to take place every night.

At the same time, I recommend that you opt for some of Nashville' s food tours, as you shouldn't go home without trying local culinary staples such as Tennessee BBQ or Nashville Fried Hot Chicken. If your chosen tour offers a side of beer and bourbon then you'll be making the right choice. That's because both beverages are the most representative of this city.

This plantation is located just outside Nashville and is one of the few remaining spaces of its kind in Tennessee where you can experience life before the American Civil War in the 21st century. It's definitely one of the best attractions in Nashville, but during the month of December it becomes even more interesting because the impressive Christmas decorations from a couple of centuries ago take over the whole place.

If you decide to visit these plantations in December you won't only find a perfectly preserved mansion as well as a beautiful countryside. You will also have the opportunity to experience and learn how the families who lived here for many decades celebrated the Christmas holidays. You can even prepare a Christmas decoration with plants and flowers that you can take back to your accommodation for free.

Throughout the month of December in the neighbouring community of Lebanon, located about 15 to 25 minutes from downtown Nashville, there is a light display. It stretches along a long road that has to be driven to be enjoyed in its entirety and the whole concept is a very American event that takes place in most cities across the country.

It really is quite a Christmas spectacle and is a good alternative to participate in a local tradition during the month of December. At least for those people who travel early or late in the month and don't have the opportunity to spend Christmas Eve in Tennessee's capital city.

If you wish, you can ride a bicycle into the attraction. In fact you should also know that guided bike tours of downtown Nashville are one of the best things to do in the city. It is especially one of the best things to do in Nashville in winter because it is an activity that allows you to exercise and keep warm while enjoying the scenery of the city.

The Grand Ole Opery is one of the most important venues in all of Nashville. It is a radio show that has become one of the most significant institutions in the country music world. Specifically during the month of December from beginning to end it hosts special Christmas themed and year-end inspired events.

Participating in these live music performances is one of the best things to do in Nashville at night throughout the year. But keep in mind that December is even more important, as these are highly entertaining galas that can help you get an up-close look at the beauty that is country music. Family activities or special holiday-themed events are also common during the day at this venue.

If you're left wanting to experience more of this genre of music, you can also book a dance class at Nashville Line. This will allow you to learn to dance like a real cowboy who was born and raised in Tennessee.

Nashville, despite being a city with such a large musical culture and interesting history, also has a very strong religious identity that continues to this day. This can be very beneficial for anyone visiting the city during the month of December because it means that there will be dozens of churches in which to enjoy caroling in the best style of such a musical city.

Keep in mind that in this city you can find everything from Catholic churches to Episcopalian or Baptist churches. My advice is to choose the first one where you notice carols being sung during an evening stroll through the city.

At the same time when thinking about this plan you have to keep in mind that you will have the whole day to do other activities. That's why I can advise you to propose this idea on the same date that you are interested in visiting some of the best museums in Nashville or also on the same day that you intend to participate in a double-decker bus tour around downtown Nashville.

Nashville is a party town par excellence and you can feel it from the moment you set foot on its streets. Downtown is full of themed bars and Broadway and the surrounding area has plenty of nightlife for all types of audiences.

My recommendation is that when you're in Nashville in December, take the opportunity to celebrate in the best style of the locals and make sure you visit some of the Honky Tonks in the city centre. These are those typical bars that play country music or a bit of blues and rock'n'roll while offering line dancing as well as live entertainment.

There are also some great country music bars in the city that are owned by established country music artists. Blake Shelton's Ole Red or Miranda Lambert's Casa Rosa Tex Mex are just a few of these.

Keep in mind that partying in this city is so important and meaningful that it's even on the itinerary of those who have a day trip to Nashville, as they know it's something they can't miss. At least if they want to make the most of their visit to the city.

December is a very cold month in Nashville even though it is only the beginning of winter. Highs rarely rise above 10°C while lows can easily drop below 0°C during a windy afternoon or evening.

December is one of the most profitable months of the year for tourism in Nashville and could only be surpassed by some of the busiest weekends of the summer. In fact, the week of December 24-31 represents one of the largest peaks of visitors to Tennessee's capital city all year. That's why I advise you to book in advance for most of the attractions and sites of interest.

December is a relatively expensive month everywhere in the world and Nashville is no exception to this rule. Mainly due to the fact that the festive season causes many businesses to temporarily increase their prices in order to save money during a very touristy time of year.

If you're visiting Nashville in December, don't forget a good coat that is also waterproof. Especially since there is a chance of several snowfalls at the end of the month. As well as the fact that rain abounds in the first days of December.

I advise you to opt for comfortable and favourable footwear in order to be able to walk around the city at your leisure. Also, I advise you not to forget formal and elegant clothes in case you want to participate in a Christmas or New Year's Eve celebration that has certain dress standards.