90 Free Things to do in Nashville Between Now and New Years

My 2017 “Ms. Cheap’s Guide to the Holidays” calendar is chock full of free things to do between now and Jan. 1.

Everything listed in my guide is FREE! This is my way of wishing you the very best of everything in this season of joy.

First, the Top 13 events of the holiday season

1. Tour the governor’s Residence Dec. 6-17. The seventh annual Tennessee Home for the Holidays Open House is offered  on Wednesday through Sunday mornings. This year’s theme is “Tennessee Heroes.” Details: Reservations are required: tn.gov/firstlady or 615-741-7846.

2. Frist Center for the Visual Arts offers free admission on Mondays through December, with a canned good donation for Second Harvest Food Bank. Details: 615-244-3340 or fristcenter.org.

3. Gaylord Opryland Resort has lots of free activities for its 34th annual A Country Christmas. The hotel’s 3 million holiday lights and over-the-top holiday decorations in its nine acres of indoor gardens are open daily through Jan. 1. The outdoor Nativity display on the Magnolia Lawn, featuring larger-than-life figurines, is on display 4 p.m.-midnight daily. New this year are Delta Atrium Shows at 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m. with stunningly choreographed music, water and projections on a giant LED light curtain suspended above the Bellagio-like fountain inside the 4.5-acre atrium. Down on the hotel’s indoor ice rink inside Holiday Halls, six accomplished professional ice skaters will dazzle audiences with two exclusive shows: Winter Fantasy and Sounds of Christmas. Each performance is seven minutes of jaw-dropping leaps, spins and twists. All of these Gaylord Opryland events are free; park for free at Opry Mills shopping mall. Self-parking at the hotel is $29, and valet parking is $38. But, the hotel’s full-service restaurants validate self-parking with the purchase of an entrée per person. Details: ChristmasAtGaylordOpryland.com or 615-889-1000.

4. See free holiday movies at the Library: Catch the “Home Alone” series at noon at the North branch library on Dec. 2, 9, 16 and 23; see holiday classic films at 10:30 a.m. at Edmondson Pike branch library on Dec. 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20 and 27. See “Elf” at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 11 at the Bordeaux branch library and “Christmas in Connecticut” at 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 7 at the Hermitage branch library. Details: library.nashville.org.

5. Williamson County Parks also has a holiday movie lineup at the Williamson County Performing Arts Center, 112 Everbright Ave. in Franklin:  6:30 p.m. on Dec. 15; 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 27 and 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 29. Doors open 30 minutes before the show, and concessions are available. Call for film titles. Details: 615-786-0186, ext. 2514.

6. Upper Room Chapel’s annual “Night of the Child” Nativity exhibit and “Madonna and Child” painting gallery will be open through January. The exhibit features 130 international Nativities from 40 cultures, as well as paintings from 1350 to the 21st century. Both exhibits are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and closed weekends and holidays.  The chapel/museum offers free parking and admission but  donations are encouraged. Located in Midtown at 1908 Grand Ave. 615-340-7207,  chapel. Details: upperroom.org Closed Dec. 15 from 11 a.m.  – 4:30 p.m. and Dec 25-27 and Jan. 1 and 15.

7. The Factory at Franklin presents the fourth annual Trees of Christmas Exhibit, through Christmas. There will be more than 40 10-foot-tall Frasier fir Christmas trees decorated for the holiday season, 8:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily. Details: factoryatfranklin.com.

8. The Nashville Public Library also has puppet shows on Fridays and Saturdays at the Main Library in December. The “Sailors and Maidens” show is at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 1 and 2, and Wishing Chair Productions will perform
“A Child’s Calendar” at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30. Details: library.nashville.org.

9. Youth from Davidson and bordering counties now get in free to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, as part of the museum’s Community Counts initiative. Up to two accompanying adults receive 25 percent off. Proof of local residency is required for the free admission. The Community Counts program also allows Davidson County residents of any age to visit the museum for free by checking out a Community Counts Passport from any Nashville Public Library. Details: 615-416-2001 or countrymusichalloffame.org or at the museum box office.

10. Centennial Art Center’s holiday exhibit and sale is a good place to see local art and maybe buy some, too. Art Center students and staff display and sell their artwork — everything from pottery to sculpture, jewelry, paintings and greeting cards — through Dec. 14 at the art center at the back of Centennial Park, corner of 25th Avenue North and Park Plaza. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Thursday. Details: 615-862-8442, nashville.gov/cac.

11. BassPro’s “Santa Wonderland” is open daily with a variety of holiday crafts and games and free photos with Santa. Details: basspro.com/shop/en/santas-wonderland.

12. The Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department invites kids to drop a letter to Santa in one of the special Santa mailboxes Dec. 1-20. Every letter will go to Santa and bring a personal response. Include your home address and drop off all letters by Dec. 16. Mailboxes are at the Franklin Recreation Complex, 1120 Hillsboro Road; Fairview Recreation Complex, 2714 Fairview Blvd.; Longview Recreation Center at Spring Hill, 2909 Commonwealth Drive; Hillsboro-Leiper’s Fork Community Center, 5325 Old Highway 96 W., Leiper’s Fork; and the Williamson County Recreation Complex, 7250 Nolensville Road, Nolensville.

13. Don’t miss the red and green lights that will shine on The Parthenon in Centennial Park Dec. 1 through Christmas.

Here’s a calendar of things to do between Thanksgiving and New Year’s

Monday, Nov. 27

The Music City Bronze handbell ensemble performs its “Journey Through the Holidays” at 7 p.m., First Christian Church, 516 Madison St., Clarksville. The group has other holiday concerts across Middle Tennessee in the coming weeks. Details: musiccitybronze.org

Tuesday, Nov. 28

Lipscomb University’s Lighting of the Green will feature Amy Grant and friends, including Michael W. Smith, Jordan Smith, plus choirs from Lipscomb Academy and University. Festivities begin at 4 p.m.; the outdoor concert is at 5:30 p.m. in the Allen Arena Mall, and the evening ends with the lighting of a 30-foot Christmas tree. There are also free photos with Santa and a Merry Marketplace of holiday vendors. Please bring food to donate to Second Harvest Food Bank. Details: Visit lipscomb.edu or call 615-966-6609.

Thursday, Nov. 30 

Fisk University’s “Christmas at Fisk” holiday concert at 7 p.m. in the Fisk Memorial Chapel features the Fisk Jubilee Singers and the university choir, chamber choir, and jazz ensemble, along with several student ensembles and soloists. Details: 615-329-8702.

Vanderbilt’s Blair Big Band offers its Holiday Extravaganza at 8 p.m. in Ingram Hall, Blair School of Music. Details: 615-322-7656, blair.vanderbilt.edu.

Friday, Dec. 1

The City of Franklin’s tree lighting on the square in downtown Franklin features free photos with Santa Claus and performances by Freedom Intermediate School Honors Choir and Independence High School Choir. Characters from Gaylord Opryland’s ICE and A Charlie Brown Christmas will be on hand for photos. Pets are welcome, too, and downtown shops will be open. The free photos are at 5:30 p.m., performances at 6:30 p.m. and lighting of the tree at 7 p.m. Details: franklintn.gov.

Lighting of the Metro Christmas Tree is set for 6 p.m. at 1 Public Square with Mayor Megan Barry. There will be food, hot beverages, and live music, including church choirs and a performance by a Grammy winning artist. Plus Santa, Gnash, T-Rac and Booster will be visiting with attendees.

Rutherford County Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration in historic Downtown Murfreesboro, with Santa and Mrs. Claus, special Christmas music and entertainment, starts at 6 p.m. on the east side of the historic courthouse. Shops around the square will be open, and Santa will be in the courthouse from 6 to 8 p.m. Santa will be back from noon-4 p.m. on Dec. 2, 9 and 16. Details: downtownmurfreesboro.com. 615-895-1887.

Welch College, formerly known as Free Will Baptist Bible College, presents its annual musical event at 7:30 p.m. on its new campus at 1045 Bison Trail in Gallatin. The “Welch College Christmas” will be in Celorio Hall. Details: 615-844-5000.

Franklin Art Scene’s monthly first Friday art crawl at the downtown galleries, studios and businesses is from 6-9 p.m. Details: downtownfranklintn.com/the-franklin-art-scene.

Goodlettsville’s Christmas on Main Street features a tree lighting at 6 p.m. at City Hall. The Goodlettsville Christmas Parade takes place from Memorial Drive to Rivergate Parkway, 4 p.m. on Dec. 2. Details: goodlettsvilleparks.com or 615-851-2234.

Saturday, Dec. 2

Yulefest takes place in Historic Mansker’s Station in Moss-Wright Park in Goodlettsville from 5-8 p.m. This annual event is a great chance to step back to simpler times with music and storytelling and a carriage ride through the park to see the Mansker’s Fort and the Bowen House. Details: goodlettsvilleparks.com or 615-851-2234.

First Saturday Downtown Art Crawl features gallery hopping from 6-9 p.m. at more than a dozen downtown Nashville galleries, wine and light appetizers. There is a free shuttle between galleries. Details: nashvilledowntown.com.

The Wedgewood-Houston arts and music walk, also known as the “renegade art crawl,” is at 6 p.m. with a dozen or more venues, including David Lusk and Zeitgiest galleries, participating. Details: am-wh.com.

The Vanderbilt Commodore Orchestra brings together undergraduate and graduate students from all of the schools of Vanderbilt, as well as members of the Nashville community who are united in their love of making great music. Led by conductors Caleb Harris and Emily Krasinski, this concert will include Otto Nicolai’s Merry Wives of Windsor Overture, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1, Op. .21, and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s piano concerto No. 2, Op. 18, featuring Heather Conner on piano, at 7 p.m. in Ingram Hall at the Blair School of Music. Details: blair.vanderbilt.edu.

The 64th annual Piedmont Natural Gas Nashville Christmas Parade will begin at 8:30 a.m. on First Avenue North at Union Street and move south to Broadway where it will turn right and end at Eighth Avenue. Mike Fisher is the grand marshal. Details: https://nashvillechristmasparade.com.

Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Road, has a “Morning with Santa and Magic Show,” 9 a.m.-noon. Magician Scott Humston performs at 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. The shows are free, but tickets available at the children’s desk are required. Details:615-371-0090, ext. 8380.

The Williamson County Community Band’s holiday concert is at 6:30 p.m. at the Williamson County Enrichment Center, 110 Everbright Ave. in Franklin. Details: 615-790-5719 or wcparksandrec.com. 

Frist Center for the Visual Arts has a holiday concert featuring the Nashville Flute Choir at 1 p.m. Details: 615-244-3340 or fristcenter.org.

The Nashville Public Library has three free holiday concerts: 11 a.m. Dec. 2 is the Ukedelics; and on Dec. 10, the Nashville Belles play at noon and the Grand Ole Dulcimer Club at 2:30 p.m. Details: library.nashville.gov.  

Frist Center for the Visual Arts holiday concert at 2 p.m. features Blair School of Music’s Suzuki Strings, which includes 50 violin and cello students (5-13 years old) playing songs of the season and classical works. Details: 615-244-3340 or fristcenter.org.

Discovery Center at Murfree Spring in Murfreesboro holds a holiday open house (10 a.m.-5 p.m., 502 Southeast Broad St.) where you can celebrate holidays around the worlds, take a picture with Santa, and decorate a giant gingerbread house. Details: explorethedc.org or 615-890-2300.

Shelby Bottoms Nature Center is having its 10th birthday party from noon – 4 p.m. with a birthday cake, a slide show highlighting the decade, a campfire and winter stories. Details: 615-862-8539.

Sunday, Dec. 3

St. George’s Episcopal Church, 4715 Harding Road, will have its annual Lessons and Carols at 6 p.m. Details: stgeorgesnashville.org or 615-385-2150.

West End United Methodist Church’s Chancel Choir and Orchestra will perform the first half of Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio” at 5 p.m. features the West End, at the church, 2200 West End Ave. Details: westendumc.org or 615-321-8500.

First Baptist Church’s “Christmas at First” celebration will be at 6 p.m. in the sanctuary at Seventh and Broadway, featuring the children’s, youth and sanctuary choirs along with the Sanctuary Orchestra, and the traditional hanging of the greens. Details: nashvillefirst.org or 615-664-6000.

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has a free family event almost every first Sunday of the month. During Make Letterpress Art at Hatch Show Print, you can make your own piece of art and learn about the process. It is free, but you must have a program pass, available 30 minutes before each session, which begins at noon, 1 and 2 p.m. Details: 615-416-2001 or countrymusichalloffame.org.

The Concert Chorale of Nashville will perform “The Messiah” by Handel at 3 p.m. at  St. Henry’s Catholic Church, 6401 Harding Pike. The concert includes the chorus, soloist and orchestra. There is a love offering, plus the chorale has “angels” who pledge to give a dollar for each person who attends the concert, so the more the merrier. If they have 300 in attendance, each angel will give $300 to Room in the Inn. Details: concertchoraleofnashville.org.

Nashville Chapter of the American Recorder Society presents its holiday concert at 4 p.m., Calvary United Methodist Church, 3701 Hillsboro Pike. The event will feature traditional songs and music of the season. Donations will be accepted for a charity. Details: facebook.com/nashvillerecorder.

The Bellevue Community Chorus’ “Let’s Celebrate” concert is at 3 p.m. at Bellevue Church of Christ Fellowship Hall, 7401 Highway 70S. Details: Email pattymoon814 @hotmail.com.

Monday, Dec. 4

Brentwood’s Tree Lighting takes place on the lawn of the Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Road, at 5:30 p.m. There will be a reading of “The Polar Express” at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., with the tree lighting taking place in between. The reading is free, but tickets are required  and are available at the children’s desk. Details: 615-371-0090.

Curb Youth Symphony plays at 7:30 p.m. at the Blair School of Music, Vanderbilt. Details: 615-322-7656 or blair.vanderbilt.edu.

Christmas at the Cathedral of the Incarnation is 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4-5 at the Cathedral, 2015 West End Ave. The St. Cecilia Academy choirs will perform with the Cathedral Choir, the Father Ryan High School choirs and Pope John Paul II Chamber Singers. The concert is sponsored by the Diocese of Nashville. Details: 615-327-2330

Tuesday, Dec. 5

One of Gallatin’s favorite annual holiday events is A Tuba Christmas, (7 p.m., First Baptist Gallatin, 205 E. Main St.) featuring the Tennessee Tech Tuba Ensemble and players from all over Middle Tennessee. Details: 615-451-5961.

Hendersonville Community Singers are performing seasonal selections at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Hendersonville, 172 W. Main St.

Lipscomb University Chamber Singers and Chamber Orchestra will perform Handel’s “Dixit Dominus” at 7:30 p.m. in Ward Hall. The evening includes a pre-concert discussion of the text of Psalms 110 and the musical aspects of this Baroque masterpiece, which was completed in 1707 and is Handel’s earliest surviving autograph. Details: 615-966-5932.

Wednesday, Dec. 6

Lipscomb University School of Music presents “Pianos in Pairs” at 7:30 p.m. in Ward Hall. Piano majors will perform Schubert’s arrangement of the Beethoven Symphony No. 6 for eight hands. Details: 615-966-5932.

Middle Tennessee State University Commercial Music Ensemble plays at 7:30 p.m., Hinton Hall, Wright Music Building, MTSU, Murfreesboro. Details: 615-898-2493 or mtsumusic.com.

Vanderbilt Steel Drum Bands perform calypso, reggae, soca and maybe a few holiday tunes, too. The event will be at 7:30 p.m., Ingram Hall,Vanderbilt Blair School of Music. Details: 615-322-7656, blair.vanderbilt.edu.

Thursday, Dec. 7

Tennessee Agricultural Museum’s Taste of Christmas Open House is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. with country ham biscuits and spiced cider, decorated Christmas trees from the Perennial Plant Society of Middle Tennessee, holiday music, handmade pottery and baked goods for sale. Details: tnagmuseum.org or 615-837-5197.

Brass Band of Nashville, a community brass band that plays music in the British Brass Band spirit, has a concert that includes the “Hallelujah Chorus” as well as other pieces,  at 7 p.m., Vine Street Christian Church, 4101 Harding Road. Details: brassbandofnashville.org.

Friday, Dec. 8

Star Party with Barnard Seyfert Astronomical Society offers the chance to join the nature center staff and the astronomers to look at the night sky. The program — open to all ages — will be canceled for cloudy conditions or inclement weather. It will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Bells Bend Nature Park, 4187 Old Hickory Blvd. Details: bsasnashville.com.

Saturday, Dec. 9

Musician Emily Arrow will lead a special pajama party storytime at 9 a.m. at Parnassus Books, 3900 Hillsboro Pike, to celebrate the magic of the season. The whole family is invited to put on their finest pajamas  and share winter and holiday stories and treats and sing some favorite holiday songs, including tunes from Emily’s new album, Winter Singalong. Details: parnassusbooks.net or 615-953-2243.

The 3rd annual Music City Winterfest in Centennial Park is 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., with children’s activities, 120 artisan and craft vendors, live music, and a beer garden. Details: musiccitywinterfest.com.

The Granville Country Christmas celebration includes a parade at 2 p.m., a story time with Mrs. Santa, and a special shopping time where children can shop (with help from the elves) for their parents in the loft where everything is $10 or less. Details: granvilletn.com.

The Vanderbilt Community Chorus celebrates the holidays with music of living composers, including works by Jake Runestad, Ivo Antognini, and Hyo-Won Woo at 8 p.m. in Ingram Hall at the Blair School. Details: blair.vanderbilt.edu.

The 33rd annual Donelson-Hermitage Christmas Parade starts at 2 p.m. at Lakeland and travels north along Donelson Pike toward Lebanon Road. Details: 615-883-7896.

Nashville Children’s Choir, a citywide children’s choir for boys and girls 8-18 years old, will perform at 2 p.m. in McAfee Concert Hall, on the Belmont campus. Details: belmont.edu/music or 615-460-6408.

See Santa at the Library: Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be at the Inglewood branch at 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 9, and on Dec. 14, they will be at the Bordeaux branch library at 2 p.m. and at the Goodlettsville branch lat 6:30 p.m. Details: library.nashville.gov.

The Heritage Foundations’s 33rd annual Dickens of a Christmas in downtown Franklin from Dec. 9-10 is a Victorian festival to beat all festivals. Expect to see costumed characters, strolling carolers and several characters from Dickens —  the nefarious Fagin from Oliver Twist; Jacob Marley, Ebenezer Scrooge and Tiny Tim Cratchit from A Christmas Carol; and of course, a Victorian Father and Mother Christmas. Hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday. Details: williamsonheritage.org.

Metro Nashville Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Division will collect donated toys for its annual Christmas Basket Program in the Nashville Zoo parking lot 9 a.m.-4 p.m. from Dec. 9-10. The Nashville Zoo is offering a complimentary admission ticket (good through 2018) for every new toy donated up to two tickets per person. Kids are invited to drop off letters to Santa that the officers will deliver to the North Pole in time for Christmas. Located next to the toy drive, the zoo will offer a selection of toys that guests can purchase for donating to the drive.  Details: Nashvillezoo.org.

The 36th annual Bethlehem Marketplace — featuring 250 church members — is noon-5 p.m. from Dec. 9-10 at Southeast Baptist Church, 708 Minerva Drive, Murfreesboro. Details: 615-896-0940 or sebaptist.org.

Sunday, Dec. 10

Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra, an all-volunteer community orchestra, is celebrating its 15th anniversary with two concerts: 7 p.m. Dec. 10 at First Apostolic Church, 265 Broadmoor, and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 at Casa de Dios, 3030 Dickerson Pike. The program is “Serenade to Music: Brahms, Vaughan Williams, Marquez.”  Details: Nashvillephilharmonic.org.

Nashville Community Choir’s annual Handel’s “Messiah” Concert and Sing-Inhas been a seasonal tradition for more than a quarter century. The event is set for 7 p.m., Dec. 10 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1646 Sunset Road, Brentwood. The choir also has a Christmas concert at 7 p.m., Dec. 17, at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4304 Hillsboro Road. Details: 615-545-6106, nashvillecommunitychoir.org or email drewpope@comcast.net.

The 34th annual Walk Through Bethlehem at Woodmont Christian Church, 3601 Hillsboro Road, involves about 400 church members, as well as camels, sheep and goats to re-create a Bethlehem marketplace. The event is 1-7 p.m. Details: 615-297-8563, woodmontchristian.org.

First Baptist Church’s “Keyboards at Christmas” is at 6 p.m. with six grand pianos, 528 keys and 24 hands. Plus the Sanctuary Choir and some of the church’s most talented instrumentalists will join in for some “grand” Christmas music. 108 7th Ave. S. Details: nashvillefirst.org or 615-664-6000.

Chabad of Nashville is partnering with Home Depot to offer a Menorah Workshop for kids at 4 p.m. at the Bellevue Home Depot, at 7665 Highway 70 S Home Depot. Participants will make their own menorah. Details: 615-646-5750.

The new Williamson County Community Chorus present its inaugural concert at 3 p.m. at the Williamson County Enrichment Center at 110 Everbright Ave. in Franklin. Details: 615-790-5719 or wcparksandrec.com.

Monday, Dec. 11 

The Brentwood Library has a family friendly event: “Mountain Christmas: Stories and Songs from the Southern Appalachian Mountains” from 7-8:30 p.m.  Free, but registration required. Details: brentwoodtn.gov/departments/library or 615-371-0090.

Philharmonia youth orchestra, directed by Carol Nies, will play at 7:30 p.m. at Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music. Details: 615-322-7656, blair.vanderbilt.edu.

Belmont Camerata will offer its annual presentation, “A Camerata Christmas,” at 7:30 p.m. in the Belmont Mansion. The program includes Corelli’s “Christmas Concerto” and bluegrass-style carols. It is also a great chance to see the mansion free. Details: www.belmont.edu/music, 615-460-6408.

Tuesday, Dec. 12

Mayor Megan Barry will participate in a menorah lighting event at 4:30 p.m. in Public Square Park, Third and Deaderick Street, with music, Chanukah treats, and hot beverages. On another date, there will also be a Chanukah event with an 18-foot-tall Menorah at the Tennesssee State Capitol. Details: chabadnashville.com.

The 2017 Tuba Christmas Concert is at First Baptist Church, Seventh and Broadway. Sing traditional Christmas carols accompanied by an ensemble of more than 100 tubas. Two 45-minute performances — at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. — are free, but they usually collect donations for a homeless lunch program. Details: Call G.R. Davis at 615-714-0247.

Every holiday season, bassist/producer Dave Pomeroy organizes his annual “Nashville Unlimited” Christmas Concert to benefit Room in the Inn. The event is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral and is technically free, but there is a suggested minimum donation of $20 to benefit Room in the Inn homeless program — to celebrate the wonderful work of the Campus for Human Development.

Scarritt Bennett Center has a series of lunchtime concerts from 1 to 1:30 p.m. in Wightman Chapel. Lunch is offered for a $35 fee but the concerts are free. The lineup: Dec. 12, John Arnn, jazz piano; Dec. 14, Karen Renee Robb, sacred drums and vocalist; Dec. 15, Dewayne Pigg, oboe, and Steve Lindsey piano;  Dec. 18, Emmanuel LeGrair, vocalist; and Dec. 19, Kevin Madill, piano, and Connye Florance, vocalist. Details: 615-340-7500 or scarrittbennett.org.

Friday, Dec. 15

Beaman Park is having a Holiday Open House from 5-7:30 p.m. with old time string music, a fire pit with s’more makings, and the boardwalk be lit. Details: 615-862-8580.

Saturday, Dec. 16

Nashville Farmers’ Market’s breakfast with Santa (10 a.m.-2 p.m.) inside the Market House), offers a visit and shoot-your-own photos with Santa. Hot coco bar and breakfast is available for purchase. Details: nashvillefarmersmarket.org.

Bowie Nature Park in Fairview is having its 15th annual Memory Tree  from noon to 3 p.m.). The public is invited to bring an ornament to remember someone special and put on a Christmas tree near the outdoor classroom. Details: bowiepark.org or 615-799-5544.

Sunday, Dec. 17

Brentwood United Methodist Church presents “Festival of Carols” Christmas concert, featuring 5th and 6th grade Allelulia Choir, Adult Chancel Choir, handbells, and orchestra at 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary, 309 Franklin Road, Brentwood. Details:615-373-3663 or bumc.net.

First Baptist Church’s Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra will present a Carol-Candlelight Celebration at 6 p.m., with arrangements of familiar carols, along with holiday classics such as “Here We Come A-Caroling,” “The Snow Lay on the Ground,” “A Stable Prayer,” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain.” 108 7th Ave. S. Details: nashvillefirst.org or 615-664-6000.

Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal), 900 Broadway, will hold its annual Lessons and Carols at 4 p.m. Details: christcathedral.org or 615-255-7729.

First Baptist Church’s Carol-Candlelight Celebration will be at 6 p.m. in the sanctuary with the Sanctuary Choir orchestra. Details: nashvillefirst.org or 615-664-6000.

Monday, Dec. 18

Music for Seniors presents “Nashville In Harmony Chorus and Holiday Singalong with Sarah” at 10:30 a.m., Frist Center for the Visual Arts. Free but RSVP at 615-330-1937 or sarah@musicforseniors.com Seniors get $5 parking and 15 percent off in the cafe and gift shop. And everybody gets free Frist admission on Mondays in December with a canned good for Second Harvest.

Tuesday, Dec. 21

Shelby Bottoms Nature Center, 1900 Davidson St., has a “S’more the Merrier” event at 1 p.m. to celebrate the Winter Solstice, with fun crafts, winter stories and s’more making. Details: 615-862-8539.

Sunday, Dec. 24

Join Belmont School of Music’s Richard Shadinger for the annual Christmas Eve Carillon Concert at 2 p.m. in the Bell Tower, just off the corner of Belmont Boulevard and Portland Avenue. Continuing a tradition begun during the Ward-Belmont days, the concert features traditional Christmas music played on the tower’s 42-bell carillon. Details: 615-460-6408, belmont.edu/music.

Wednesday, Dec. 27

African-American Cultural Alliance will celebrate its 35th annual Nashville Kwanzaa celebration with an interactive family event with music, stories and food from 6-9 p.m. at St. Luke C.M.E. Church, 2008 28th Ave. N. Admission is free, but bring a covered dish for a community supper and come prepared to share your talents with an open mic program. Details: aacanashville.org or 615-942-0706.

Thursday, Dec. 28

Learn more about Kwanzaa in an activity for children 9-11 years old at 1:30 p.m. at  the Watkins Park branch library. Details: library.nashville.org.

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl Battle of the Bands starts at 5 p.m. in downtown Nashville. Bands and cheerleaders will compete. There also will be a Hattie B’s Hot Chicken Eating World Championship and a free outdoor concert at First and Broadway. Details: nashvillesports.com.

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl Fan Zone on Broadway runs from noon – 9 p.m. on Dec. 28, and from 10 a.m. through 9 p.m. on Dec. 29. The “ultimate tailgate experience”  will include be “live fire” cooking by Creation Gardens, live music and games. Details: nashvillesports.com.

Friday, Dec. 29

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl’s Postgame concert featuring Resurrection – A Journey Tribute will take place following the bowl game, at First and Broadway. Details: nashvillesports.com.

Saturday, Dec. 30

The United States Olympic Committee and HERSHEY’s are bringing the spirit of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to Nashville with Team USA WinterFest at Walk of Fame Park from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Several Team USA athletes will be in attendance and there will be a live musical performance from Lewis Brice, plus HERSHEY’S S’moresmobile, Bobsled Boomerang, and OREO’s Team USA Curling Challenge and Social Truck. Other elements include interactive sport participation, virtual-reality experiences, athlete meet and greets, and giveaways. Details: teamusa.org/Team-USA-Winterfest-presented-by-Hersheys.

Sunday, Dec. 31

For the ninth year, Nashville will host a free New Year’s Eve musical extravaganza with big name artists and a full night of free music. Now named Music City Midnight: New Year’s Eve in Nashville, the festivities take place at the  Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. Site opens at 4 p.m., with a DJ. The raising of the Music Note by Mayor Megan Barry will be at 6:15 p.m., followed by performances by Grammy-winner Keith Urban, CMA New Artist of the Year Maren Morris, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Cheap Trick, 2017 country music breakout artist Carly Pearce, R&B artist Jonny P and the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Details:www.visitmusiccity.com/newyearseve.