If you’re looking to do something Christmassy in Nashville, it’s not hard to find solid standby options, from Cheekwood’s Holiday Lights to an array of fantastic musical events at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
But what if you want something a little less… dressed-up? A little weirder, maybe a little less crowded, but still plenty festive?
Let us help:
Some colorful yuletide options for things to do in Nashville
The Yulelog Lumberjacks Present: The Fifth Annual Yulelog Christmas Pageant
All you really need to know about local combo the Yulelog Lumberjacks, who come out of hiding every holiday season: “An overwhelming love for Christmas tunes and baking forged the greatest band to ever live.” During this year’s installment of the Yulelog Christmas Pageant — which benefits homeless outreach organization Room in the Inn — they’ll break out the traditional holiday chestnuts with non-traditional flair, joined by husband-and-wife team Elenowen, whom diehard viewers of The Voice will remember from the first season.
When: 8 p.m., Wednesday December 16
Where: The High Watt, 1 Cannery Row
Tickets: $5
The Ornaments: 10th Anniversary of Presenting A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi
Watching A Charlie Brown Christmas is a holiday tradition that many of us hold close to our hearts — the tree, Linus’ heart-tugging monologue, the incredible soundtrack… The latter is what brings out A-list Nashville crew The Ornaments every Christmas — Jen Gunderman, James Haggerty and Martin Lynds do a string of shows around this time each year, sharing astoundingly spot-on renditions of the songs that make A Charlie Brown Christmas so magical. You’ll hear beautiful, Christmassy jazz, toast to the season and probably see more than a few adults dancing like Peanuts characters. Always, always a great time — and thankfully, there are more than a dozen performances, so odds are good that you can catch one. Or two. Or four.
When: December 16 – December 21, 2015; visit The Ornaments’ Facebook page for a full list of performances
Where: The Family Wash, 3rd & Lindsley and The Belcourt
Tickets: all shows $10, advance tickets available online at the venues’ websites — The Family Wash, The Belcourt, 3rd & Lindsley
All I Want For Christmas — A Holiday Extravaganza
The holiday season is supposed to get us all in the mindset of generosity and giving. If we can embody that while spending a pre-Christmas evening with some of Nashville’s most engaging rock bands, all the better. At this Holiday Extravaganza at The Basement, garage/blues crew Blackfoot Gypsies and husband/wife duo The Smoking Flowers will perform to raise funds for Second Harvest Food Bank, who work hard to feed our needy neighbors during the holidays, and the rest of the year too.
When: 9 p.m. Thursday, December 17
Where: The Basement, 1604 8th Avenue South
Tickets: $10/$5 with non-perishable food
Christmas Wine, Shine, & Stein Tour
This summer, we wrote a little something about the Wine on the Rails tour that takes you out to DelMonaco Winery & Vineyards in Baxter, Tenn., about an hour away. If you didn’t get to take part but have been dying to check out the place, here’s a Christmassy but still boozy opportunity. During the Christmas Wine, Shine, & Stein Tour, you’ll start off at DelMonaco and be transported to check out some other Upper Cumberland beverage creators: craft brewery Calfkiller in Sparta and moonshine makers Short Mountain Distillery in Woodbury. It’s a full-day excursion, with a lunch stop in the middle, and a pretty decent gift to yourself.
When: Saturday, December 19
Where: DelMonaco Winery & Vineyards, 600 Lance Dr, Baxter, TN
Tickets: $35, advance reservations only – 931-858-1177
STAX Soul Christmas!
There’s the Spirit of Christmas, and there’s the Soul of Christmas. This one focuses on the latter, via Time Is Tight: A Tribute to Booker T. & the M.G.’s. There’ll be plenty of Christmas songs, too — bells both Silver and Jingle — from a crew of talented Nashville musicians.
When: 8:30 p.m., Saturday, December 19
Where: The Basement, 1604 8th Avenue South
Tickets: $7
Ugly Christmas Sweater Party featuring A Great Big World with JoJo and Coleman Hell
Seems like it doesn’t totally feel like Christmas anymore without an opportunity to celebrate the beauty of the ugly Christmas sweater. Here’s a perfect opportunity to take yours out in public: The first ever Ugly Christmas Sweater Party at the Wildhorse, presented by 107.5 The River. There’ll be live music, games and the opportunity to win something for having the most hideous hunk of wool — an Ugly Sweater King & Queen will be crowned.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday, December 19
Where: Wildhorse Saloon, 120 Second Ave. N.
Tickets: $15, first come first served seating
So, what’s on your holiday schedule? Anything else we oughtta make sure we’re at? Give us your picks in the comments!