Tennessee Events in December 2026: Dates and Prices

Tennessee events › By month › December 2026

Tennessee events in December 2026, week by week: festivals, holiday lights, concerts, sports and arts, with the town, region and price as each organizer lists them. The list updates itself from our checked events dataset.

83 events on our Tennessee calendar run during December 2026.

This list is rebuilt from our Tennessee events dataset (calendar last re-checked Nov 2, 2026). Every date and price was read on the organizer’s own page; “See event page” means the organizer does not publish one. Plans change, so check the organizer’s page before you drive.

83Events

5Free To Enter

21Towns

12Run All December

Don’t Miss in December

Event	When	Where	Price
The Great Gatsby (Broadway musical)	Dec 1-6 (Orpheum Theatre)	Memphis · Memphis & West Tennessee	See event page
Nashville Symphony: Elf in Concert	Wed, Dec 2 (7:30 PM, Schermerhorn Symphony Center)	Nashville · Nashville Area	See event page
St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend Our guide	Dec 3-5	Memphis · Memphis & West Tennessee	See event page
Tennessee Titans vs Washington Commanders Our guide	Sun, Dec 6: 12:00 PM CT; Nissan Stadium; on CBS; time may change (flex scheduling)	Nashville · Nashville Area	See event page
Breakfast with Santa at BAD Bakery & Cafe	Dec 12-13 (10:15-11:30 AM)	Columbia · Southern Middle Tennessee	$90 for up to 3 guests, $115 for 4, $140 for 5; more prices on the event page
Tennessee Titans vs Indianapolis Colts Our guide	Sun, Dec 20: 12:00 PM CT; Nissan Stadium; on CBS; time may change (flex scheduling)	Nashville · Nashville Area	See event page

Running All December

Not checked for each date: these run for weeks, and some open only on certain days or nights.

Event	When	Where	Price
Gatlinburg Winter Magic (holiday lights) Our guide	Nov 5-Feb 15, 2027 (Recurring daily; hours not published)	Gatlinburg · Smoky Mountains	See event page
A Country Christmas at Gaylord Opryland (ice! featuring Home Alone, ice tubing, ice skating, Santa photos, POMP SNOW & CIRQUEumstance) Our guide	Nov 6-Jan 2, 2027	Nashville · Nashville Area	See event page
Dollywood Smoky Mountain Christmas Our guide	Nov 6-Jan 3, 2027	Pigeon Forge · Smoky Mountains	See event page
Pigeon Forge Winterfest Our guide	Nov 6-Jan 31, 2027 (Nightly lights; see the organizer page for venue rules)	Pigeon Forge · Smoky Mountains	See event page
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum: Chattanooga Christmas Dinner Train	Nov 6-Jan 3, 2027 (About 2.5 hours; select dates, departure times vary)	Chattanooga · Chattanooga & Southeast	Per table: $280 for 1-2 people, $375 for 3, $450 for 4; Pullman Section $360; more prices on the event page
Memphis Tigers men's basketball home games (FedExForum)	Nov 7-Mar 7, 2027	Memphis · Memphis & West Tennessee	See event page
Memphis Zoo Lantern Festival Our guide	Nov 13-Feb 14, 2027	Memphis · Memphis & West Tennessee	$25 non-members, $23 members (new $75 season pass); ziplines $10 per ride; food extra; more prices on the event page
Tri-Cities Airport Ice Rink at Bristol Motor Speedway	Nov 19-Jan 10, 2027	Bristol · Tri-Cities & Northeast	See event page
Cheekwood Holiday LIGHTS (over one million lights, Enchanted Noel in the Mansion) Our guide	Nov 20-Jan 3, 2027	Nashville · Nashville Area	Gardens Only: weekday adults $24, youth $20; more prices on the event page
Food City Speedway in Lights powered by TVA	Nov 20-Jan 2, 2027 (6:00-10:00 PM nightly)	Bristol · Tri-Cities & Northeast	Priced per vehicle (Fast Lane per vehicle, limited nights); more prices on the event page
Cookeville History Museum Christmas Forest Exhibit (30+ decorated trees)	Nov 26-Jan 2, 2027: 10:00 AM-4:00 PM, Tuesday-Saturday (page: any time the museum is open)	Cookeville · Upper Cumberland & Plateau	See event page
Knoxville's Holidays on Ice (Market Square ice rink)	Nov 27-Jan 3, 2027	Knoxville · Knoxville Area	Adult $12; children 12 and under $9; more prices on the event page

Week of Dec 1-6, 2026

Event	When	Where	Price
Pryor Art Gallery: Veteran Artists of Middle Tennessee	Nov 4-Dec 2 (Hours not published)	Columbia · Southern Middle Tennessee	See event page
Sh-Boom! A Christmas Miracle (Cumberland County Playhouse)	Nov 6-Dec 19	Crossville · Upper Cumberland & Plateau	See event page
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum: North Pole Limited	Nov 13-Dec 23	Chattanooga · Chattanooga & Southeast	$38 per guest age 1+ (Traditional); $45 evening departure; more prices on the event page
Christmas at Graceland (holiday tours) Our guide	Nov 19-Dec 23	Memphis · Memphis & West Tennessee	Afternoon tour $100 adults / $69.50 youth; Ultimate VIP $300 per person (age 2+)
It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Cumberland County Playhouse)	Nov 20-Dec 20	Crossville · Upper Cumberland & Plateau	See event page
Opry Country Christmas Our guide	Nov 30-Dec 22	Nashville · Nashville Area	See event page
Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball vs Florida State (SEC/ACC Challenge)	Tue, Dec 1: 7 p.m. ET (TV: ESPN2); Food City Center, Knoxville	Knoxville · Knoxville Area	See event page
The Great Gatsby (Broadway musical)	Dec 1-6 (Orpheum Theatre)	Memphis · Memphis & West Tennessee	See event page
Nashville Symphony: Elf in Concert	Wed, Dec 2 (7:30 PM, Schermerhorn Symphony Center)	Nashville · Nashville Area	See event page
Christmas at the Courthouse (Sevierville)	Thu, Dec 3 (5:30-8:30 PM)	Sevierville · Smoky Mountains	See event page
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder Christmas	Thu, Dec 3 (7:30 PM)	Knoxville · Knoxville Area	See event page
St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend Our guide	Dec 3-5	Memphis · Memphis & West Tennessee	See event page
Celebrate Christmas Downtown (Rutherford County Christmas tree lighting)	Fri, Dec 4	Murfreesboro · Nashville Area	See event page
Christmas in the Village (Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center)	Dec 4-5 (Tickets on sale 5:30-7 PM; viewing ends 8 PM)	Townsend · Smoky Mountains	Tickets required; see the organizer page for venue rules
Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade (Gatlinburg)	Fri, Dec 4 (7:30-9:00 PM)	Gatlinburg · Smoky Mountains	Free; Grandstand VIP seating $50 per person (seating from 5:30 PM)
Free Pictures with Santa on Beale (Holly Jolly Holiday Celebration)	Dec 4-11 (Dec 4 and Dec 11, 5:00-7:00 PM, Beale Street)	Memphis · Memphis & West Tennessee	Free
Knoxville Ice Bears home game: Battle of the Bands night vs Quad City	Fri, Dec 4 (7:30 PM)	Knoxville · Knoxville Area	See event page
Larry, Steve & Rudy: The Gatlin Brothers	Fri, Dec 4 (7:00-9:00 PM)	Jonesborough · Tri-Cities & Northeast	See event page
Nashville Symphony: Home Alone in Concert	Dec 4-6	Nashville · Nashville Area	See event page
Three Dog Night at the Tennessee Theatre	Fri, Dec 4 (8:00 PM)	Knoxville · Knoxville Area	See event page
WIVK Christmas Parade (downtown Knoxville)	Fri, Dec 4 (7 PM)	Knoxville · Knoxville Area	See event page
64th Sevierville Christmas Parade	Sat, Dec 5 (11 AM; about 30 minutes past any viewing point)	Sevierville · Smoky Mountains	See event page
Cookeville Depot Christmas Open House	Sat, Dec 5 (10:00 AM-3:00 PM)	Cookeville · Upper Cumberland & Plateau	See event page
Darren Criss at GPAC	Sat, Dec 5 (Time not published; Highland Capital Performance Hall)	Germantown · Memphis & West Tennessee	See event page
Doggone Christmas	Sat, Dec 5 (11:00 AM-3:00 PM)	Jonesborough · Tri-Cities & Northeast	See event page
Gatlinburg Christmas Concert: Tiffany and Matthew & Gunnar Nelson	Sat, Dec 5 (8:00-10:00 PM)	Gatlinburg · Smoky Mountains	Reserved seating $30; premium reserved $40 (page header also shows $31.65-$41.95)
Holiday Movie Magic: It's a Wonderful Life	Sat, Dec 5 (8:00 PM)	Knoxville · Knoxville Area	See event page
Memphis Symphony: Magic of Memphis	Dec 5-6 (Sat Dec 5 7:30 PM; Sun Dec 6 2:30 PM; Cannon Center)	Memphis · Memphis & West Tennessee	See event page
Mill Spring Makers Faire	Sat, Dec 5 (10:00 AM-4:00 PM)	Jonesborough · Tri-Cities & Northeast	See event page
Tennessee Tech Men's Basketball vs Samford	Sat, Dec 5 (4:00 PM CST)	Cookeville · Upper Cumberland & Plateau	See event page
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum: Santa's Hiwassee Holiday	Dec 5-22 (Under 1 hour; arrive 20-30 minutes early)	Delano · Chattanooga & Southeast	$30 per seat coach, $45 per seat premium (ages 1+)
Tommy Emmanuel, CGP: Living In the Light Tour	Sat, Dec 5 (See ticket link; see the organizer page for venue rules)	Chattanooga · Chattanooga & Southeast	See event page
Chanukah in the City	Sun, Dec 6 (3:30-5:30 PM)	Knoxville · Knoxville Area	See event page
Dogwood Park Christmas Tree Lighting and Light Show	Sun, Dec 6 (6:00 PM-7:30 PM)	Cookeville · Upper Cumberland & Plateau	See event page
John Mulaney: Mister Whatever at the Tennessee Theatre	Sun, Dec 6 (7:00 PM)	Knoxville · Knoxville Area	See event page
Tennessee Titans vs Washington Commanders Our guide	Sun, Dec 6: 12:00 PM CT; Nissan Stadium; on CBS; time may change (flex scheduling)	Nashville · Nashville Area	See event page
Townsend Christmas Parade	Sun, Dec 6 (Time TBA)	Townsend · Smoky Mountains	See event page

Week of Dec 7-13, 2026

Event	When	Where	Price
Pryor Art Gallery: Brushstrokes Across Nolensville, We the People	Dec 10-Jan 29, 2027 (Hours not published)	Columbia · Southern Middle Tennessee	See event page
Chattanooga Ballet's The Nutcracker	Dec 11-13 (See ticket link; see the organizer page for venue rules)	Chattanooga · Chattanooga & Southeast	See event page
The Nutcracker!	Dec 11-12	Bristol · Tri-Cities & Northeast	See event page
Ballet Memphis: The Nutcracker	Dec 12-20	Memphis · Memphis & West Tennessee	See event page
Bell Ringer Trail Run (15K, 25K, 50K)	Sat, Dec 12: 7:00 AM start (listing shows 7:00 AM-11:59 PM)	Burns · Nashville Area	Proceeds benefit Friends of Montgomery Bell State Park; more prices on the event page
Breakfast with Santa at BAD Bakery & Cafe	Dec 12-13 (10:15-11:30 AM)	Columbia · Southern Middle Tennessee	$90 for up to 3 guests, $115 for 4, $140 for 5; more prices on the event page
Dickens of a Christmas	Dec 12-13	Franklin · Nashville Area	Franklin Transit shuttle $1 per person each way; see the organizer page for venue rules
Jaycee's Christmas Parade (Maryville and Alcoa)	Sat, Dec 12 (Time TBA)	Maryville · Smoky Mountains	See event page
Jonesborough Christmas Parade	Sat, Dec 12 (6:00-8:00 PM)	Jonesborough · Tri-Cities & Northeast	See event page
Memphis Holiday Parade & Market on Beale Street	Sat, Dec 12 (Parade 11:00 AM; Holiday Market in Handy Park times not published)	Memphis · Memphis & West Tennessee	See event page
Santa's Christmas Village	Sat, Dec 12 (11:00 AM-3:00 PM)	Jonesborough · Tri-Cities & Northeast	See event page
Tour de Lights bike ride	Sat, Dec 12 (3:30-7:30 PM; bike ride starts 5:30 PM)	Knoxville · Knoxville Area	See event page
Vanderbilt Men's Basketball vs West Georgia	Sat, Dec 12 (1:00 PM CST; Memorial Gymnasium)	Nashville · Nashville Area	See event page
A Christmas Carol: a one-man play with John Hardy	Sun, Dec 13 (4:00-5:30 PM)	Jonesborough · Tri-Cities & Northeast	See event page

Week of Dec 14-20, 2026

Event	When	Where	Price
Amy Grant & Vince Gill Christmas at the Ryman	Dec 14-23	Nashville · Nashville Area	Tickets non-transferable and valid only if bought from the Ryman on AXS.com; more prices on the event page
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas	Thu, Dec 17 (See ticket link; see the organizer page for venue rules)	Chattanooga · Chattanooga & Southeast	See event page
Sewanee Tigers basketball vs Millsaps College (women then men)	Fri, Dec 18 (Women 6 PM CT; men 8 PM CT)	Sewanee · Southern Middle Tennessee	See event page
Chattanooga Symphony & Opera: Home for the Holidays	Dec 19-20 (See ticket link; see the organizer page for venue rules)	Chattanooga · Chattanooga & Southeast	See event page
Christmas Church Stroll	Sat, Dec 19 (11:00 AM-3:00 PM)	Jonesborough · Tri-Cities & Northeast	See event page
Knoxville Ice Bears home game: Wands & Wizards night vs Birmingham	Sat, Dec 19 (7:30 PM)	Knoxville · Knoxville Area	See event page
Knoxville Ice Bears home game: Peanuts - A Christmas Celebration vs Roanoke	Sun, Dec 20 (3:00 PM)	Knoxville · Knoxville Area	See event page
Sewanee Tigers basketball vs Rhodes College (women then men)	Sun, Dec 20 (Women noon CT; men 2 PM CT)	Sewanee · Southern Middle Tennessee	See event page
Tennessee Titans vs Indianapolis Colts Our guide	Sun, Dec 20: 12:00 PM CT; Nissan Stadium; on CBS; time may change (flex scheduling)	Nashville · Nashville Area	See event page

Week of Dec 21-27, 2026

Event	When	Where	Price
Memphis Symphony: Handel's Messiah	Dec 21-23	Memphis · Memphis & West Tennessee	See event page
Drew & Ellie Holcomb's Neighborly Christmas	Tue, Dec 22 (Orpheum Theatre)	Memphis · Memphis & West Tennessee	See event page
Christmas Day Hike (Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park)	Fri, Dec 25 (1:00 PM-2:30 PM)	Manchester · Southern Middle Tennessee	$0.00 (donation tiers $5-$20 listed)
Knoxville Ice Bears home game: Chilly 500 night vs Evansville	Sat, Dec 26 (6:00 PM)	Knoxville · Knoxville Area	See event page
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas	Sat, Dec 26 (Orpheum Theatre)	Memphis · Memphis & West Tennessee	See event page

Week of Dec 28-31, 2026

Event	When	Where	Price
Sewanee Tigers women's basketball: Sewanee Holiday Classic	Dec 29-30	Sewanee · Southern Middle Tennessee	See event page
AutoZone Liberty Bowl Professional Rodeo	Wed, Dec 30 (7 PM, Agricenter Show Place Arena)	Memphis · Memphis & West Tennessee	See event page
Gatlinburg New Year's Eve Celebration and Ball Drop	Thu, Dec 31 (9:30 PM; drone show about 11:50 PM; ball drop at midnight)	Gatlinburg · Smoky Mountains	Free
New Year's Eve at the Sunsphere	Thu, Dec 31	Knoxville · Knoxville Area	See event page
New Year's Eve on Beale	Thu, Dec 31 (Arrive by 9:00 PM; midnight fireworks and confetti cannons)	Memphis · Memphis & West Tennessee	Free; optional $150 Beale Street NYE Fast Pass; more prices on the event page
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum: New Year's Eve Dinner Train	Thu, Dec 31 (6:00-8:00 PM)	Chattanooga · Chattanooga & Southeast	See event page

December by Region

Memphis & West Tennessee events 15 in December
Nashville Area events 12 in December
Southern Middle Tennessee events 7 in December
Upper Cumberland & Plateau events 6 in December
Chattanooga & Southeast events 8 in December
Knoxville Area events 14 in December
Smoky Mountains events 11 in December
Tri-Cities & Northeast events 10 in December

What to Expect in December

52 / 33°FNashville normal high / low (airport)

50 / 43 / 37°FNormal highs: Gatlinburg area / Newfound Gap / Mt. LeConte

53 / 53 / 51°FNormal highs: Memphis / Chattanooga / Knoxville

4.43 in rainNashville normal; Mt. LeConte 14.4 in snow vs Nashville 0.4

NOAA 1991-2020 normals, read November 3, 2026; normals are averages, not a forecast. Full tables and sources: Tennessee weather by month.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the biggest Tennessee events in December 2026?

The “Don’t Miss” list at the top picks one-off events from the regions, starting with those that have our own full guide. The week-by-week lists below show every checked event.

Are the dates and prices confirmed?

Every row was read on the organizer’s own page on the checked date shown in our events dataset. Where an organizer publishes no price we say “See event page”. Plans change, so confirm before you go.

Why do some events run all December?

Light shows, exhibits and markets run for weeks or months. They are listed once under “Running All December” with a note to check the night you want, because some open only on certain days.

Is my town missing?

Small-town calendars are often posted only on social media, which we do not use as a source. Send us the organizer’s page and we will check it.

Keep Planning

Sources

Each event links to the organizer’s own page, where its date, hours and price were read.
Tennessee events open dataset (CSV and JSON, with a checked date on every row).

How we check

Cite this page: It's Tennessee, “Tennessee Events in December 2026”, itstennessee.com/tennessee-events-in-december/ (updated 2026-10-29). By the It's Tennessee editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.