Tennessee is known for its friendly faces and beautiful places, but all of that seems to amplify during the Christmas season. There’s just nothing like spending the holidays in Tennessee, and what’s more Tennessean than a small, charming, Southern town? We’ve compiled a list of some of the best Christmas towns in Tennessee where you and your loved ones can visit and enjoy (and participate in) all of the holiday cheer you can handle.

  1. Jonesborough

Main Street Jonesborough - Facebook The City of Jonesborough puts on a whole month’s worth of celebrations around their town square, including a big tree, a Christmas parade, and weekly visits from Santa! Enjoy the holidays in Tennessee in the most magical of ways! Jonesborough, TN 37659, USA

  1. Leiper’s Fork

Tommy John - Flickr Known for being one of the most quaint towns in Tennessee, Leiper’s Fork turns into a magical wonderland every year at Christmas. If you can’t make the annual Christmas parade, taking a stroll through the town decked out in Christmas lights is always a memorable experience. When it comes down to the best Christmas towns in this little state of ours, Leiper’s Fork is pure perfection. Leipers Fork, TN 37064, USA

  1. Discovery Park of America

Discovery Park of America - Facebook Okay, so the park itself isn’t a small town, but the folks of Union City and people from all around flock to the Discovery Park every year for their Let it Glow Light Show. You can drive through the 650,000+ lights any night but Mondays between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Discovery Park of America, 830 Everett Blvd, Union City, TN 38261, USA

  1. Pickwick Landing State Park

Pickwick Landing State Park - Facebook Another non-town, but Pickwick Landing, just outside of Counce, puts up a Christmas lights display every year that you and your family can drive through and enjoy. Pickwick Landing State Park, 116 State Park Rd, Counce, TN 38326, USA

  1. Gatlinburg

Visit Gatlinburg - Facebook Gatlinburg is one of the cutest holiday towns in Tennessee no matter what or when, but during Christmas, the town is absolutely stunning. With lights, trees, and often snow, the town is the perfect spot to be at Christmas. Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USA

  1. Bristol

Pinnacle Speedway in Lights - Facebook One of the coolest experiences around Christmas in Tennessee is the Pinnacle Speedway in Lights in Bristol. There’s a small fee per car to enter, and you get to see over a million lights and drive around on the track! Bristol, TN, USA

  1. Clinton

Museum of Appalachia - Facebook At the Museum of Appalachia in Clinton, you can take part in an old-fashioned Christmas in Tennessee like you’ve never experienced before. Visit for the traditional decorations, carols, and treats! Clinton, TN 37716, USA

What are your favorite Christmas towns in Tennessee? Let us know! And as if you needed it, here are 10 more reasons to love Christmas in Tennessee.

Main Street Jonesborough - Facebook

The City of Jonesborough puts on a whole month’s worth of celebrations around their town square, including a big tree, a Christmas parade, and weekly visits from Santa! Enjoy the holidays in Tennessee in the most magical of ways!

Jonesborough, TN 37659, USA

Tommy John - Flickr

Known for being one of the most quaint towns in Tennessee, Leiper’s Fork turns into a magical wonderland every year at Christmas. If you can’t make the annual Christmas parade, taking a stroll through the town decked out in Christmas lights is always a memorable experience. When it comes down to the best Christmas towns in this little state of ours, Leiper’s Fork is pure perfection.

Leipers Fork, TN 37064, USA

Discovery Park of America - Facebook

Okay, so the park itself isn’t a small town, but the folks of Union City and people from all around flock to the Discovery Park every year for their Let it Glow Light Show. You can drive through the 650,000+ lights any night but Mondays between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Discovery Park of America, 830 Everett Blvd, Union City, TN 38261, USA

Pickwick Landing State Park - Facebook

Another non-town, but Pickwick Landing, just outside of Counce, puts up a Christmas lights display every year that you and your family can drive through and enjoy.

Pickwick Landing State Park, 116 State Park Rd, Counce, TN 38326, USA

Visit Gatlinburg - Facebook

Gatlinburg is one of the cutest holiday towns in Tennessee no matter what or when, but during Christmas, the town is absolutely stunning. With lights, trees, and often snow, the town is the perfect spot to be at Christmas.

Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USA

Pinnacle Speedway in Lights - Facebook

One of the coolest experiences around Christmas in Tennessee is the Pinnacle Speedway in Lights in Bristol. There’s a small fee per car to enter, and you get to see over a million lights and drive around on the track!

Bristol, TN, USA

Museum of Appalachia - Facebook

At the Museum of Appalachia in Clinton, you can take part in an old-fashioned Christmas in Tennessee like you’ve never experienced before. Visit for the traditional decorations, carols, and treats!

Clinton, TN 37716, USA

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The OIYS Visitor Center

Best Christmas Towns in Tennessee October 28, 2022 Tori Jane What are some of the best Christmas towns in Tennessee?   Christmas in Tennessee is a special time, and there are lots of little towns in TN that love going all out for the holidays. These Christmas villages are seriously the best places to spend Christmas in Tennessee, and we think you’ll love them as much as we do. Some of our favorite Christmas towns in Tennessee include the adorable town of Franklin, where you can check out all sorts of delightful holiday fun at the Franklin Theatre, and the neighborhoods of Brentwood are seriously one of the best places to be in Tennessee at Christmastime. Memphis and Knoxville may not be small towns, but they do make for amazing holiday getaways with millions of lights, festivals, and more.   What is Christmas in Tennessee like?   Christmas in Tennessee is such a magical time of year. There are lots of things to do at Christmas in Tennessee like ice skating, shopping galore, and so much more. You can do all sorts of fun, family-friendly things, like our Tennessee Christmas lights road trip, which is simply the best. Everywhere you turn, you’ll meet new friends. The folks are warm and friendly, and no doubt there are plenty of Christmas festivals in TN to attend. Of course, you can’t miss a trip to Pigeon Forge to visit the awesome Christmas Place store, which is open year-round but is especially magical during the holidays (for obvious reasons). The lights at Opryland are spectacular, and you’ll love sipping cocoa while doing a fun holiday lights drive-thru in TN as well.   What is winter in Tennessee like?   Winter in Tennessee tends to be pretty mild, with daytime temperatures averaging around 50 degrees. At night, temperatures can dip into the freezing range, though they’re rarely ever below zero. The eastern part of the state is more mountainous than the rest; as a result, this is where you’re more likely to encounter snow in Tennessee than anywhere else. Enjoy the beautiful outdoors on a delightful winter hike in TN or maybe check out some of the best Christmas villages in TN while you’re at it. It’s a totally sparkly, lit-up, magical time of year – come experience it!

The OIYS Visitor Center

Best Christmas Towns in Tennessee

October 28, 2022

Tori Jane

What are some of the best Christmas towns in Tennessee?   Christmas in Tennessee is a special time, and there are lots of little towns in TN that love going all out for the holidays. These Christmas villages are seriously the best places to spend Christmas in Tennessee, and we think you’ll love them as much as we do. Some of our favorite Christmas towns in Tennessee include the adorable town of Franklin, where you can check out all sorts of delightful holiday fun at the Franklin Theatre, and the neighborhoods of Brentwood are seriously one of the best places to be in Tennessee at Christmastime. Memphis and Knoxville may not be small towns, but they do make for amazing holiday getaways with millions of lights, festivals, and more.   What is Christmas in Tennessee like?   Christmas in Tennessee is such a magical time of year. There are lots of things to do at Christmas in Tennessee like ice skating, shopping galore, and so much more. You can do all sorts of fun, family-friendly things, like our Tennessee Christmas lights road trip, which is simply the best. Everywhere you turn, you’ll meet new friends. The folks are warm and friendly, and no doubt there are plenty of Christmas festivals in TN to attend. Of course, you can’t miss a trip to Pigeon Forge to visit the awesome Christmas Place store, which is open year-round but is especially magical during the holidays (for obvious reasons). The lights at Opryland are spectacular, and you’ll love sipping cocoa while doing a fun holiday lights drive-thru in TN as well.   What is winter in Tennessee like?   Winter in Tennessee tends to be pretty mild, with daytime temperatures averaging around 50 degrees. At night, temperatures can dip into the freezing range, though they’re rarely ever below zero. The eastern part of the state is more mountainous than the rest; as a result, this is where you’re more likely to encounter snow in Tennessee than anywhere else. Enjoy the beautiful outdoors on a delightful winter hike in TN or maybe check out some of the best Christmas villages in TN while you’re at it. It’s a totally sparkly, lit-up, magical time of year – come experience it!

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

Christmas in Tennessee is a special time, and there are lots of little towns in TN that love going all out for the holidays. These Christmas villages are seriously the best places to spend Christmas in Tennessee, and we think you’ll love them as much as we do. Some of our favorite Christmas towns in Tennessee include the adorable town of Franklin, where you can check out all sorts of delightful holiday fun at the Franklin Theatre, and the neighborhoods of Brentwood are seriously one of the best places to be in Tennessee at Christmastime. Memphis and Knoxville may not be small towns, but they do make for amazing holiday getaways with millions of lights, festivals, and more.  

What is Christmas in Tennessee like?  

Christmas in Tennessee is such a magical time of year. There are lots of things to do at Christmas in Tennessee like ice skating, shopping galore, and so much more. You can do all sorts of fun, family-friendly things, like our Tennessee Christmas lights road trip, which is simply the best. Everywhere you turn, you’ll meet new friends. The folks are warm and friendly, and no doubt there are plenty of Christmas festivals in TN to attend. Of course, you can’t miss a trip to Pigeon Forge to visit the awesome Christmas Place store, which is open year-round but is especially magical during the holidays (for obvious reasons). The lights at Opryland are spectacular, and you’ll love sipping cocoa while doing a fun holiday lights drive-thru in TN as well.  

What is winter in Tennessee like?  

Winter in Tennessee tends to be pretty mild, with daytime temperatures averaging around 50 degrees. At night, temperatures can dip into the freezing range, though they’re rarely ever below zero. The eastern part of the state is more mountainous than the rest; as a result, this is where you’re more likely to encounter snow in Tennessee than anywhere else. Enjoy the beautiful outdoors on a delightful winter hike in TN or maybe check out some of the best Christmas villages in TN while you’re at it. It’s a totally sparkly, lit-up, magical time of year – come experience it!