Thanksgiving weekend activities for families around Nashville (2026)
Checked · Covers Nov 25 – Nov 29 · All times are local Central Time
We list 4 family events around Nashville for Nov 25 – Nov 29. Each listing links to the organizer's own page.
Thanksgiving week events
Holiday LIGHTS at Cheekwood
- When
- Wed, Nov 25 – Sun, Nov 29 (Nov 20–Jan 3 (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas)) · 4:30–10pm
- Cost
- Separate timed ticket; prices vary by night (see site)
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Cheekwood’s gardens and historic mansion lit and decorated for the season, with this year’s French-inspired “Enchanted Noel” mansion décor and a holiday marketplace.
✓ Checked Oct 26, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Glow Wild at Nashville Zoo
- When
- Wed, Nov 25 – Sun, Nov 29 (Nightly Nov 13–Jan 3) · 5–9pm
- Cost
- Single-night admission $27 per person (members save $5); children under 2 free; parking $10
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Nashville Zoo’s new holiday light show with glowing wildlife displays and an 85-foot synchronized Christmas tree in the Holiday Square. Santa visits nightly Nov 27–Dec 24; ice skating, the carousel and the zip line cost extra.
✓ Checked Oct 26, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Music City Turkey Trot 5K & 1-Mile Waddle
- When
- Thu, Nov 26
- Cost
- 1-mile Waddle $45; 5K $65
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Thanksgiving-morning 5K run/walk and 1-mile Waddle at Nissan Stadium. Every participant gets a shirt and finisher medal; leashed dogs welcome.
✓ Checked Oct 27, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Borodash (Thanksgiving Day 4-miler & 2K walk)
- When
- Thu, Nov 26 · 4-mile 8am; 2K walk 8:15am
- Cost
- $43.40 incl. fee (price rises after Oct 31)
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
A Thanksgiving Day family event downtown: a 4-mile run at 8am and a 2K walk at 8:15am starting from City Plaza.
✓ Checked Oct 26, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Frequently asked questions
What can families do around Nashville over Thanksgiving weekend?
We list 4 family events for Nov 25 – Nov 29, including Holiday LIGHTS at Cheekwood (Nashville, Nov 25 – Nov 29), Glow Wild at Nashville Zoo (Nashville, Nov 25 – Nov 29) and Music City Turkey Trot 5K & 1-Mile Waddle (Nashville, Thu, Nov 26). See all 4 above.
Which Thanksgiving weekend events near Nashville need tickets or registration?
1 event on our list says on the official page that it needs advance tickets, timed entry or registration: Holiday LIGHTS at Cheekwood (Nashville). Book through each official page.
Which Nashville-area cities have Thanksgiving weekend events?
We list Thanksgiving weekend events in 2 cities, including Nashville (3) and Murfreesboro (1).
Our weekend search covers Phoenix Metro & Arizona for now, and more areas are coming soon. This guide is hand-checked the same way.
How we build this page: each event comes from the organizer's official website and shows the date we checked it. An event is called free only when its official page says so. Read how we verify listings.
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