Nashville Christmas Lights 2026: How to Plan a Private Lights Tour

A private lights tour uses one chauffeured vehicle for the night, so the group stays together from the hotel through the evening and back. Each walk-through display takes most of an evening, so a relaxed night pairs one of them, Cheekwood, Glow Wild, or Gaylord Opryland, with dinner or the Dancing Lights drive-through.

This year's displays

• A Country Christmas at Gaylord Opryland: November 6, 2026 to January 2, 2027, including ice! featuring "Home Alone".
• Cheekwood Holiday LIGHTS: November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027, 4:30 to 10 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Open New Year's night, Jan. 1, 2027.
• Glow Wild at Nashville Zoo: new this year, replacing Zoolumination. Nightly November 13, 2026 to January 3, 2027, 5 to 9 p.m. Advance tickets.
• The Dancing Lights of Christmas in Lebanon, at the Wilson County Fairgrounds: November 7, 2026 to January 3, 2027. A drive-through light and music show.

Pairing stops in one night

Name the priority stop, and the coordinator builds the night around it.

Cheekwood Holiday LIGHTS runs 4:30 to 10 p.m., so the night can be an early dinner and then the lights, or the lights and a later meal. The chauffeur keeps the restaurant, Cheekwood, and the hotel on one loop.

Gaylord Opryland is one of the three walk-through choices, and the visit includes ice! featuring "Home Alone". Dinner or the Dancing Lights drive-through is the other half of that night.

The Dancing Lights of Christmas is a drive-through in Lebanon. Because it is a drive-through, it pairs well with dinner or one walk-through display on the same night.

Glow Wild runs 5 to 9 p.m. Buy advance tickets from the zoo before you set the pickup.

Timing tips

Per Gaylord's FAQ, after 3:00 p.m. CT on Fridays and Saturdays from November 20, daily November 23 to 26, and daily December 18 to 31, resort access is only for overnight guests and ticket holders. Buy those tickets from Gaylord, then send the arrival time you want quoted.

The Dancing Lights host notes that weekends after Thanksgiving and December 19 to 23 are its busiest nights. Choose the date that fits your group and confirm it with the host.

Cheekwood is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day and open New Year's night, Jan. 1, 2027. If your date falls on a closure, move Cheekwood to an open night and quote that date.

Buy tickets directly from each host. Dates and hours can change, so confirm them with the host before travel and send the coordinator the times you are using. STS Nashville does not sell admission to these displays.

Choosing the vehicle

The Jet-Style Sprinter is the in-house flagship for up to eight passengers. Captain's chairs, lap tables, an onboard restroom, and in-cabin connectivity and power at every seat suit a long lights night, including a drive-through where the group stays in the cabin.

A Sprinter Limo offers lounge-style seating for an evening outing. The passenger count is confirmed with each quote.

For one to a few travelers, a chauffeured Cadillac Escalade, or a comparable luxury SUV, is the smaller cabin for Cheekwood, the zoo, or Lebanon. The passenger count is confirmed with each quote.

How booking works

Service is by reservation, and each date is quoted individually. A coordinator reviews every request before confirmation. Share the hotel, the stops, the party size, and the vehicle you have in mind. Start with Christmas lights tours in Nashville.

STS Nashville is not affiliated with Gaylord Opryland, Cheekwood, Nashville Zoo, or The Dancing Lights of Christmas.