Ms. Cheap’s Guide to the Holidays: Free fun from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve 2019 – Tennessean

The holiday season is here, and it’s time to start filling your calendar.

The Ms. Cheap Guide to the Holidays highlights my picks for concerts, family events, nature outings, Santa visits, tree and menorah lightings and more happening between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. 

To add more cheer: Everything on this list is free!

Save this guide for a fun-filled and joyful season in Middle Tennessee, and stay cheap while doing it.

Friday, Nov. 29

Loveless Cafe’s annual Family Friday will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 29 with free photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, face painting, recipe demonstrations, music and local shopping in and around the Loveless Cafe Barn at 8400 Highway 100.

Details: www.lovelesscafe.com

All 56 Tennessee State Parks have an after Thanksgiving Day hike Nov. 29, ranging from easy to strenuous, all led by park rangers. There is also an all parks hike day on New Year’s Day, with offerings at all of the parks. 

Find a hike: www.tnstateparks.com/about/special-events/after-thanksgiving-hikes

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“String City: Nashville’s Tradition of Music and Puppetry,” the original puppet show chronicling the history of country music, is back for two days of performances in the Ford Theater of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. It uses marionettes, rod puppetry, shadow/animation puppetry and an ever-changing set to tell country music history as it relates to Nashville’s transformation into Music City. The all-ages program is co-presented by the Nashville Public Library’s Wishing Chair Productions and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Shows are 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Nov. 29 and 30.

Details: www.countrymusichalloffame.org/deck-the-hall

The annual Country Music Hall of Fame Deck the Hall event to light the 25-foot-tall Christmas tree with a free live performance of holiday classics featuring the McCrary Sisters is at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 29 in the museum’s Mike Curb Conservatory.

Details: www.countrymusichalloffame.org/deck-the-hall 

Saturday, Nov. 30

Star Party with Barnard Seyfert Astronomical Society offers a chance to join local astronomers to look at the night sky from 6-8:30 p.m. Nov. 30 at Long Hunter State Park. There will also be a Star Party from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at Shelby Bottoms Nature Center. The star parties are open to all ages.

Details: www.bsasnashville.com

Sunday, Dec. 1

Brentwood United Methodist Church presents Youth Advent Concerts at 3:30, 5:30 and 7 p.m. Dec. 1. Ensembles include the Sonshine Youth Choir and Jubilation Youth Choir, Sonshine Youth Ensemble and New Covenant Youth Ensemble, and the BUMC Youth Handbell Ringers. The young musicians open Advent with these concerts from the steps of the church’s grand staircase. 

Details: www.bumc.net or 615-373-3663

Monday, Dec. 2

The Lipscomb University School of Music has a Commercial Music Faculty Showcase at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 in the Shamblin Theatre on campus. The performance will feature award-winning singer/songwriters Ashley Cleveland and Cindy Morgan, both of whom are faculty members in the School of Music.

Details: www.lipscomb.edu or 615-966-5929

The Brentwood Tree Lighting will take place at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Road, with Mayor Ray Little on hand. There will be music, holiday treats and a reading of “The Polar Express” at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. The readings are free, but you must have a ticket.

Details: 615-371-0090, ext. 8380

The Music City Bronze handbell ensemble has several Christmas concerts: 7 p.m. Dec. 2 at First Baptist Church, 227 E. Main St., Lebanon; 4 p.m. Dec. 8 at Brentwood United Methodist Church, 309 Franklin Road; 7 p.m. Dec. 9 at First Christian Church, 516 Madison St., Clarksville; 4 p.m. Dec. 15 at Woodmont Christian Church, 3615 Hillsboro Road; and 7 p.m. Dec. 16 at Connection UMC (Andrew Price Memorial United Methodist Church), 2846 Lebanon Road, Donelson.

Details: www.musiccitybronze.org

Gallatin’s Tuba Christmas is set for 7 p.m. Dec. 2 at First Baptist Gallatin, 205 E. Main St., featuring the Tennessee Tech Tuba Ensemble, Phil Waters and players from all over Middle Tennessee.

Details: www.gallatintn.gov or 615-451-5961

Tuesday, Dec. 3

Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra, an all-volunteer community orchestra, has two “Orchestral Dances” concerts that will include music by Ginastera, Prokofiev and Beethoven. The concerts are at 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at Apollo Middle School, 631 Richards Road, and 7 p.m. Dec. 8. at Congregation Ohabai Sholom (The Temple), 5015 Harding Pike.

Details: www.nashvillephilharmonic.org

Lipscomb University’s 15th annual Lighting of the Green kicks off the holiday season Dec. 3, with Nashville entertainer Amy Grant and special guest artists including Marc Martel, Anthem Lights and choirs from Lipscomb Academy and Lipscomb University. Festivities begin at 4 p.m., with the concert at 6 p.m. in the Allen Arena Mall on the Lipscomb campus. There are also free photos with Santa and food for sale. In case of inclement weather, activities will move inside Allen Arena.

Details: www.lipscomb.edu or 615-966-6609

Middle Tennessee State University has two free concerts: The MTSU Salsa Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3, and the Commercial Music Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4. Both are in Hinton Hall in the Wright Music Building on campus in Murfreesboro.

Details: www.mtsu.edu/music

Thursday, Dec. 5

Brass Band of Nashville, a community brass band that plays music in the British brass band spirit, has a holiday concert that will include selections from Stan Kenton, Tchaikovsky, Handel and more at 7 p.m. Dec. 5, at Vine Street Christian Church, 4101 Harding Road.

Details: www.brassbandofnashville.org

BrightStone’s annual Christmas concert and reception features the BrightStone students at 6 p.m. Dec. 5, at Liberty Hall at the Factory in Franklin. 

Details: www.brightstone.org/event-info/holiday-happenings

Tennessee Agricultural Museum’s Taste of Tennessee open house is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 5 with live music, baked goods, spiced cider and decorated Christmas trees. The museum is at Ellington Agricultural Center, 404 Hogan Road.

Details: www.tn.gov/agmuseum or 615-837-5197

The Trevecca University Department of Music’s Christmas concert is at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at Trevecca Community Church, 335 Murfreesboro Road. Trevecca’s Christmas Choral concert, featuring the TNU Singers, Concert Choir and more is at 4 p.m. Dec. 8 at First Lutheran Church, 113 Eighth Ave. S.

Details: www.trevecca.edu

Friday, Dec. 6

Main Street Murfreesboro presents the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at 6 p.m. Dec. 6 on the east side of the historic Rutherford County courthouse. There will be pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, special Christmas music and entertainment, followed by a free showing of “The Polar Express” at 7:30 p.m. There will be free hot chocolate and crafts for children. Shops around the square will be open. Santa will be back at the courthouse from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 7, 14 and 21 for more visits and free pictures.

Details: www.downtownmurfreesboro.com or 615-895-1887

Welch College presents its annual Welch College Christmas at 7 p.m. Dec. 6 in Celorio Hall on its campus at 1045 Bison Trail, Gallatin.

Details: www.welch.edu or 615-844-5000

The lighting of the Metro Nashville Christmas Tree will be from 6-7 p.m. Dec. 6 at Public Square Park with Mayor John Cooper, plus live music, Santa and hot chocolate.

Details: www.nashvilledowntown.com

The city of Franklin’s tree lighting will take place Dec. 6 on the square in downtown Franklin with free photos with Santa Claus starting at 5:45 p.m. The lighting will be emceed by Kathie Lee Gifford, and there will be performances by Jars of Clay led by Dan Haseltine and the Freedom Intermediate School Honors Choir, as well as two songs performed by the actress playing Cinderella from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical at Studio Tenn in Franklin. Pets are welcome, and there is a pet-friendly photo opportunity. Downtown shops will be open. Festivities begin at 6 p.m., with the tree lighting at 7:30 p.m.

Details: www.franklintn.gov/our-city/christmas-tree-lighting-on-the-square

Franklin Art Scene’s monthly first Friday art crawl at the downtown galleries, studios and businesses is from 6-9 p.m. Dec. 6, coinciding with the downtown Franklin Christmas tree lighting.

Details: www.downtownfranklintn.com

Hundreds of crafted Nativity scenes and artwork, including a life-size indoor Nativity, will be presented in the 10th annual Clarksville Festival of the Nativity. The event will be Dec. 6, 7 and 8 from 4-8 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3242 Highway 41A South, Clarksville. The Nashville Community Choir will perform Handel’s “Messiah” on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 6 p.m.

Details: www.clarksvillefestivalofthenativity.org

Saturday, Dec. 7

First Baptist Church, 435 Madison St., Clarksville, will have its annual Tour of Trees all month with a special celebration from 5-8 p.m. Dec. 7, after the Christmas parade. More than 30 themed trees will be decorated and on display throughout December. Each will tell part of the Gospel story. You can take a self-guided tour or arrange for a guided tour.

Details: www.fbct.org/events or 931-245-0000

Historic Rock Castle is having its holiday open house 3-6 p.m. Dec. 7, with period decorations and volunteers outfitted in 19th century dress. There will be live music performed by the Hendersonville High School Select Choir, plus visits with Santa. The historic home, completed in 1796, is at 139 Rock Castle Lane in Hendersonville.

Details: www.historicrockcastle.com or 615-824-0502

The 92nd annual Nashville Christmas Parade will begin at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 7 on First Avenue North at Union Street and move south to Broadway, where it will turn right and end at Eighth Avenue. There will be more than a dozen high school bands, plus entertainment on the floats and a chance to celebrate some hometown heroes, like cancer survivor Lily Hensiek, whose Lily’s Garden Initiative at Vanderbilt has raised more than $2 million to fight childhood cancer. The parade beneficiary is the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Details: www.nashvillechristmasparade.com

First Saturday Downtown Art Crawl features gallery hopping from 6-9 p.m. Dec. 7 at more than a dozen Nashville galleries. Enjoy wine and light appetizers. There is a free shuttle between galleries. 

Details: www.nashvilledowntown.com

The Wedgewood-Houston arts and music walk, also known as the “renegade art crawl,” is at 6 p.m. Dec. 7, with a dozen or more venues participating.

Details: www.wehoartsnashville.com

Brentwood Library’s “Morning with Santa and Magic Show” is 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 7, with magician Scott Humston performing at 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. at the library, 8109 Concord Road. There will be face painting, refreshments, music, giveaways and, of course, Santa. Admission is free, but tickets are required.

Details: 615-371-0090, ext. 8380

The Thompson Lane branch library has a holiday celebration from noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 7, with holiday stories, karaoke, trivia and seasonal crafts. 

Details: www.library.nashville.org

Yulefest takes place in Historic Mansker’s Station in Moss-Wright Park in Goodlettsville from 5-8 p.m. Dec. 7. This annual event is a great chance to step back to simpler times with music, storytelling, demonstrations and a carriage ride through the park to see the Mansker’s Fort and Bowen House. Plus, Old World Santa will be in the Visitor’s Center at 705 Caldwell Dr., Goodlettsville.

Details: www.gvilleholidays.com or 615-859-3678

Discovery Center at Murfree Springs has its free Holiday Open House from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 7 at the museum, 502 Southeast Broad St., Murfreesboro. You’ll learn tricks for staying healthy through the holidays, take a picture with Santa, decorate the giant gingerbread house and more.

Details: www.explorethedc.org or 615-890-2300

The Williamson County Community Band’s holiday concert, featuring traditional carols and holiday favorites, is 3 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Williamson County Enrichment Center, 110 Everbright Ave., Franklin. This inter-generational band, with members ranging from preteen to upper 80s, will perform a holiday program of traditional carols, international carols, holiday popular music and a fanfare composed by one of the band members. 

Details: www.wcparksandrec.com

Visit with Santa at the library. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the Inglewood Library for stories, visits and photos at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 7 and 10:30 a.m. at the Bordeaux branch on Dec. 14.

Details: www.library.nashville.org

Nashville Farmers’ Market’s annual “Breakfast with Santa” will happen Dec. 7, 14 and 21 from 9-11 a.m. Share your wishes and take photos with Santa inside the Market House, 900 Rosa L. Parks Blvd. Purchase breakfast, enjoy music and do some holiday shopping.

Details: www.nashvillefarmersmarket.org

Celebrate “A Holiday in the Village” from 4-7 p.m. Dec. 7, in Hillsboro Village with free art activities, ornament making and photos with Santa.

Details: www.facebook.com/hillsborovillageevents

Donate new unwrapped toys and get free Nashville Zoo admission by joining the Metro Nashville Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Division’s toy collection in the zoo parking lot 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 7-8. The zoo is offering a complimentary admission ticket (good through 2020) for every new toy donated, up to two tickets per person. Kids are invited to drop off letters to Santa that officers will deliver to the North Pole in time for Christmas. The zoo will offer toys guests can purchase for the drive. This is part of the police department’s Christmas Basket program that is in its 58th year.

Details: www.nashvillezoo.org

Brentwood Baptist Church’s Christmas concerts will take place at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Dec. 7 and 8, featuring the Brentwood Baptist Choir and Orchestra with more than 400 singers and musicians, bringing the first Christmas to life through stories and song. The church is at 7777 Concord Rd., Brentwood.

Details: www.brentwoodbaptist.com/pages/christmas

Sunday, Dec. 8

The 36th annual Walk Thru Bethlehem at Woodmont Christian Church, 3601 Hillsboro Road, involves about 400 church members, as well as camels, sheep and goats, to recreate an interactive Bethlehem marketplace in the time of Jesus. The event is 1-7 p.m. Dec. 8.

Details: www.woodmontchristian.org or 615-297-8563

Williamson County Community Chorus has a winter concert at 3 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Enrichment Center, 110 Everbright Ave., Franklin. The Community Chorus will perform John Rutter’s “Requiem,” which they will perform at Carnegie Hall in February 2020. The second half of the concert will feature classic holiday songs. Light refreshments will be served.

Details: www.wcparksandrec.com

First Baptist’s “Keyboards at Christmas” is at 5 p.m. Dec. 8, featuring six grand pianos, 528 keys, 24 hands, The Sanctuary Choir, and some of First Baptist Nashville’s most talented instrumentalists, celebrating Christmas on a truly “grand” scale.

The church will also present its annual “Christmas at First” in the sanctuary at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 8, featuring children’s, youth and adult choirs, along with the sanctuary orchestra presenting music of the season. First Baptist Church is at the corner of Seventh Avenue South and Broadway in downtown Nashville.

Details: www.nashvillefirst.org or 615-664-6000

Vanderbilt’s Blair Children’s Choruses will perform at 2 p.m. Dec. 8 in Ingram Hall at the Blair School of Music on the Vanderbilt campus. 

Details: blair.vanderbilt.edu

St. George’s Episcopal Church will have its annual Lessons and Carols at 6 p.m. Dec. 8, at the church at 4715 Harding Road.

Details: www.stgeorgesnashville.org or 615-385-2150

West End United Methodist Church’s Christmas Concert, which includes “Christmas Oratorio” by Saint-Saen and “Canite Tuba” by Donald McCullough, will be at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 8, featuring the Chancel Choir and Orchestra at the church, 2200 West End Ave.

Details: www.westendumc.org

The Church at Woodbine is hosting Christmas Around the World at 3 p.m. Dec. 8 at the church, 29 Whitsett Road. The church is part of Brentwood Baptist. The event is a multilingual musical presentation, followed by a food tasting of desserts from around the world.

Details: www.churchatwoodbine.com

The Concert Chorale of Nashville will perform “Messiah” by Handel at 3 p.m. Dec. 8 at St. Henry’s Catholic Church, 6401 Harding Pike. The concert includes the chorus, soloist and orchestra. There is a love offering for Room in the Inn. 

Details: www.concertchoraleofnashville.org/concerts

Monday, Dec. 9

Scarritt-Bennett Center has a series of lunchtime concerts from 1-1:30 p.m. in Wightman Chapel. The lineup: Dec. 9: Jennie Smith, organist; Dec. 10: Margaret Becker, vocalist and guitarist; Dec. 11: Marilyn E. Thornton, vocalist and violinist; and Dec. 12: Terrell Hunt, vocalist. Scarritt-Bennett is at 1027 18th Ave. S.

Details: www.scarrittbennett.org or 615-340-7500

Belmont Camerata’s “A Camerata Christmas” is an annual holiday celebration with the beloved Corelli Christmas Concerto and favorite bluegrass-style carols. The concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 in the Belmont Mansion.

Details: www.belmont.edu/cmpa/music

Vanderbilt Steel Bands perform calypso, reggae, soca and maybe a few island-flavored holiday tunes, too. The event will be at 8 p.m. Dec. 9 in Ingram Hall at Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music.

Details: blair.vanderbilt.edu or 615-322-7656

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Nashville Unlimited Christmas Concert to benefit Room in the Inn. To celebrate, there will be two nights of music, at 7 p.m. Dec. 9-10 at Christ Church Cathedral, 900 Broadway. This concert bassist/producer Dave Pomeroy organizes each year is technically free, but there is a suggested minimum donation of $20 to benefit Room in the Inn’s homeless program. 

Details: www.christcathedral.org

Tuesday, Dec. 10

The 2019 Tuba Christmas concert is Dec. 10 at First Baptist Church, at Seventh Avenue South and Broadway, featuring traditional Christmas carols accompanied by 100 tubas. Two 45-minute performances, 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., are free, but volunteers will collect donations for Ms. Cheap’s Penny Drive for Second Harvest Food Bank after the performances.

Details: Call G.R. Davis at 615-714-0247.

Thursday, Dec. 12

The Nashville Public Library Madison branch has a family Feliz Navidad celebration from 6-7:30 p.m. Dec. 12, with a Spanish story time with Klem-Mari Cajigas, along with crafts, treats and games.

Details: www.library.nashville.org

Friday, Dec. 13

Metro Baptist Church is having a Living Nativity from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Dec. 13, 14 and 15, with free coffee, hot chocolate and cookies. There will be a petting zoo and a Nativity program at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. all three nights with actors and live animals in the stable. Between shows, there will be a photographer taking free pictures of visitors with the animals and actors in the stable. The church is at 322 E. Cedar St., Goodlettsville.

Details: www.metrobaptistchurch.org or 615-859-1184

Saturday, Dec. 14

The Granville Country Christmas 1960s celebration, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 14, includes a parade at 3 p.m., a Festival of Trees, story time and pictures with Santa and a special shopping event where children (with help from the elves) can shop for their parents in the Granville Office Building where everything is $10 or less. All of Granville, including the Homestead, Pioneer Village and Suttons General Store, will be decked out for the season through December.

Details: www.granvilletn.com

The 38th annual Bethlehem Marketplace, featuring 200 church members portraying a marketplace in Bethlehem in Jesus’ day, is noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 14-15 at Southeast Baptist Church, 708 Minerva Drive, Murfreesboro.

Details: www.sebaptist.org or 615-896-0940

The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County’s 35th annual Dickens of a Christmas festival is 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 14 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 15 in downtown Franklin. This outdoor festival recreates the time of Charles Dickens. It features musicians, dancers and characters, including several from Charles Dickens’ stories. Expect to see and interact with the nefarious Fagin from “Oliver Twist”; Jacob Marley, Ebenezer Scrooge and Tiny Tim Cratchit with his parents from “A Christmas Carol”; and a Victorian Father and Mother Christmas with treats for children. In addition to the traditional characters, the festival will also feature vintage craft demonstrators, costumed carolers, a ticketed one-man theatrical production of “A Christmas Carol” at The Franklin Theatre and “guaranteed” snow.

Details: www.williamsonheritage.org/events

The Church at Station Hill has Christmas concerts at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Dec. 14 and 15 at the church, 8083 Station Hill Drive, Spring Hill. The church is part of the Brentwood Baptist community.

Details: www.stationhillchurch.com or 615-850-3100

Meet Santa at the Bowen House in Moss-Wright Park in Goodlettsville from 1-3 p.m. Dec. 14. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be ready for pictures, and there will hot cocoa and cookies. There is also a train ride and other fun.

Details: www.gvilleholidays.com or 615-859-3678

Sunday, Dec. 15

Nashville Community Choir’s annual Handel’s “Messiah” Concert and Sing-In has been a seasonal tradition for more than a quarter century. The event is set for 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1646 Sunset Road, Brentwood. The choir also has a “Think of That Night” Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 22 at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4304 Hillsboro Road. 

Details: www.nashvillecommunitychoir.org or 615-545-6106

West End United Methodist Church is having its annual candlelight Lessons and Carols service at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 15 featuring the adult and children’s choirs. Handbell ringing starts at 5:10 p.m. The church is at 2200 West End Ave.

Details: www.westendumc.org or 615-321-8500

Brentwood United Methodist Church presents its “Festival of Carols” Christmas concert, featuring more than 200 musicians, including BUMC Festival Orchestra, BUMC Chancel Choir, BUMC Treble Choir, BUMC Handbell Ringers and IRIS, a new young adult vocal ensemble, at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 15 in the sanctuary, 309 Franklin Road, Brentwood. There will also be opportunities for the congregation to sing along. 

Details: www.bumc.net or 615-373-3663

Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral will hold its annual Festival of Lessons and Carols at 4 p.m. Dec. 15 at the church, 900 Broadway.

Details: www.christcathedral.org or 615-255-7729

First Baptist Church has a “Carol-Candlelight Celebration” at 5 p.m. Dec. 15 in the sanctuary, with the choir and orchestra presenting music of the season. The church is at 108 Seventh Ave. S.

Details: www.nashvillefirst.org or 615-664-6000

Monday, Dec. 16

The Curb Youth Symphony will perform at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 in Ingram Hall at Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music.

Details: blair.vanderbilt.edu

Music for Seniors Free Daytime Concert Series presents the Purple Martin Choir from The Episcopal School of Nashville and a holiday singalong led by Sarah Martin McConnell at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 16 at the Frist Art Museum. You can get free admission to the art galleries with a canned good for Second Harvest Food Bank.

Details: www.musicforseniors.org

Tuesday, Dec. 17

The Bellevue library branch has a “Polar Express” night starting at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 17. It includes a reading of the book, a craft, snacks and a showing of the film. The Bellevue branch is at 720 Baugh Road.

Details: 615-862-5854

Thursday, Dec. 19

The Nashville Public Library has a holiday concert featuring the musical duo Bicinium at 10:45 a.m. Dec. 19 at the main branch, 615 Church St.

Details: www.library.nashville.org

Friday, Dec. 20

Nashville Farmers’ Market’s Rockin’ ‘Round the Christmas Tree Night Market features live music, artisans and dining from 5-9 p.m. Dec 20 at the Market House, 900 Rosa L. Parks Blvd.

Details: www.nashvillefarmersmarket.org

Warner Park Nature Center has a Winter Solstice event from 3:30-6:30 p.m. Dec. 20. There will be opportunities to make wreaths, create crafts, listen to music, roast marshmallows, enjoy the campfire and hike the luminary trail.

Details: wpnc.nashville.gov

Saturday, Dec. 21

The Nashville Public Library has a Family Game Time from 1-3 p.m. Dec. 21 at the Donelson branch with a life-sized Candy Land game where all ages can make their way around the giant board game through the candy worlds. Along the way, families can collect goodies (edible and non-edible) as they work together to reach the Candy Castle finish line.

The library also has holiday craft opportunities at various branches during the season, including Christmas cookie decorating for kids for ages 4 and up at 2 p.m. Dec. 21 at Inglewood, and Christmas crafts at 10:45 a.m. Dec. 23 at the North branch for ages 5-12 to make ornaments, place mats and other decorations. 

Details: www.library.nashville.org

Tuesday, Dec. 24

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

Details: www.belmont.edu/cmpa/music or 615-460-6408

Friday, Dec. 27

African-American Cultural Alliance will mark its 37th annual Nashville Kwanzaa celebration with an interactive family event with music, stories and food from 6-9 p.m. Dec. 27 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 at an open mic program.

Details: www.aacanashville.org or 615-942-0706

Sunday, Dec. 29

Franklin American Mortgage’s Music City Bowl offers its free Fan Zone from noon to 9 p.m. Dec. 29 and from 10 a.m to 9 p.m. Dec. 30. The Fan Zone, located along Broadway between First and Fourth avenues, includes demos, music and games. Plus, there is a Battle of the Bands competition, with bands and cheerleaders from the bowl teams performing between 6-6:45 p.m. Dec. 29.

Details: www.musiccitybowl.com

Tuesday, Dec. 31

Nashville will host Jack Daniel’s Music City Midnight: New Year’s Eve, a free extravaganza with big-name artists, including headliner Keith Urban, and a full night of music on Dec. 31. The festivities take place at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park in downtown Nashville and include a stellar lineup: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, The Struts, Amanda Shires, Bren Joy, Kalie Shorr and the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Gates open at 4 p.m., and the 16-foot-tall red music note drop will take place at midnight, along with the fireworks display. 

Details: www.visitmusiccity.com/newyearseve

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Ongoing events

Tour the governor’s residence

You can take a self-guided tour of the holiday-decorated governor’s residence Dec. 6-8 and Dec. 12-15 and see the first floor of the residence, the underground meeting space called Conservation Hall, and some of the grounds. Visitors will see a lot of art during the tour, and docents will be available in each room to answer questions. Reservations are required. Allow 1.5 hours to complete the tour. 

Register for a holiday tour: www.eventbrite.com/e/christmas-in-tennessee-with-the-lees-tennessee-residence-holiday-tours-tickets-79566839559?

Visitors are encouraged to arrive to Woodmont Hills Church, 3710 Franklin Pike, 10-15 minutes before the start time of their tour in order to catch the shuttle to the Residence. 

Details: www.tn.gov/firstlady or 615-741-7846 or 615-399-4254

Frist Art Museum

Frist Art Museum offers free admission to anyone 18 or younger all the time and to all ages on Mondays through December with a canned or nonperishable food donation for Second Harvest Food Bank. Last year, Frist visitors donated more than a ton of food as part of the Monday admission program. 

The Frist has free music on scattered dates: Barry and Holly Tashian and the Eclectic Five in the Frist cafe from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 29; Jazz fiddler Billy Contreras and Friends Dec. 5; Sudeste Latin Guitar Duo from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 6; Nashville Flute Choir at 1 p.m. Dec. 7; Blair Suzuki Strings at 2 p.m. Dec. 7; Contrarian Ensemble (early music) from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 12; singer/songwriter Ronny Criss and friends 6-8 p.m. Dec. 13; holiday music from the Atwood Quartet 12:30 p.m. Dec. 14; a holiday concert featuring the Providence Pipes 2 p.m. Dec. 15; neo-soul vocalist Arte’Mis from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 19; and Nodes of Ranvier from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 20 and Dec. 27.

Details: www.fristartmuseum.org

Free Santa photos at Country Music Hall of Fame

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has free photos with Santa every Saturday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Nov. 30-Dec. 21 in the Mike Curb Conservatory. 

Plus, the Community Counts program offers free admission to the museum for youth from Davidson County and surrounding counties, and there is a “passport” Davidson County adults can check out from the library for free admission. 

Details: www.countrymusichalloffame.org/deck-the-hall

Gaylord Opryland

Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center’s 36th annual “A Country Christmas” includes a lot of free activities. The hotel’s 3 million holiday lights and holiday decorations are open daily through Jan. 1 in 9 acres of indoor gardens. The outdoor lights and Nativity display on the Magnolia Lawn feature larger-than-life figurines from 4 p.m. to midnight.

Inside, there are strolling Dickens carolers on the weekends, and the Delta Atrium shows at 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m. nightly have choreographed music, water and projections on a giant LED light curtain.

 At Pinetop, a new outdoor Appalachian-esque village on the ICE! Lawn at the complex’s event center, there will be some holiday performances and readings.

You can also see big jumps and stunts during the “Rockin’ Christmas on Ice” live skating champions show on an 8,000-square-foot outdoor ice rink. There is a standing-room only viewing area available during performances Sundays at 4:30 p.m.; Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m.; and Fridays and Saturdays at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. You can also pay to skate.

You can park free at Opry Mills shopping mall and walk over. Self-parking at the hotel is $32, and valet parking is $40. Discounted parking is available for day visitors at $15 per car off McGavock Pike, just past the hotel’s main entrance, plus free shuttle service to ICE! The hotel’s full-service restaurants validate self-parking with the purchase of an entrée per person.

Details: www.christmasatgaylordopryland.com or 888-677-9872 

Bass Pro’s Santa’s Wonderland

Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops is a chance to enjoy a variety of holiday crafts, games and free photos with Santa daily through Christmas. 

The Opry Mills Bass Pro store has a virtual line system, aka “Bass Pass,” that you should register for when you arrive at the store. You will be given a time to return to see Santa and have your photo taken. Store officials warn that Bass Passes are limited and go quickly, especially the closer you get to Christmas.

Check the website for times of the various crafts and activities, including letters to Santa, a laser arcade, foam shooting gallery and remote control trucks. 

Details: www.basspro.com/shop/en/santas-wonderland

Upper Room Nativities

The Upper Room Museum’s “Night of the Child” Nativity exhibit and “Madonna and Child” painting gallery will be open through Jan. 10. The exhibit, which will not be shown after this season, features 180 international Nativities from 40 cultures, as well as paintings from 1350 to the 21st century. Both exhibits are open Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The chapel/museum offers free parking and admission, but donations are encouraged. Upper Room is at 1908 Grand Ave. It will be closed Nov. 28, 29, Dec 24-27, and Jan. 1.

Details: www.upperroom.org

Frog Prince

The Nashville Public Library’s Wishing Chair Productions puppet theater will perform “The Frog Prince” at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays between Dec. 13 and 21 at the Main Library, 615 Church St. This fun musical production features the Tichenor marionettes.

Details: www.library.nashville.org

Clarksville Christmas on Cumberland

The city of Clarksville’s annual Christmas on the Cumberland, a walk-through outdoor display of over 1 million lights, continues through Jan. 1. It’s open from 5-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the McGregor Park/Cumberland River Walk, 640 N. Riverside Drive. Community organizations lead seasonal crafts, dances, performances and activities from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 14 and 21.

Details: cityofclarksville.com/384/Christmas-on-the-Cumberland

Centennial Art Center’s holiday exhibit

Centennial Art Center’s holiday exhibit and sale is a good place to see and buy local art. Art Center students and staff display and sell their artwork — everything from pottery to sculpture, jewelry, paintings and greeting cards. The exhibit will be on display through Dec. 13 at the Art Center, 301 25th Ave. N. in Centennial Park. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday.

Details: www.nashville.gov/Parks-and-Recreation/Cultural-Arts/Visual-Arts.aspx or 615-862-8442

Stories with Mrs. Claus

Mankser’s Station in Goodlettsville is hosting a story time and singalong with Mrs. Claus from 10-11 a.m. on Dec. 3, 4, 11, 12, 17 and 18 at the Visitor’s Center.

Details: goodlettsville.gov/1345/Story-Time-with-Mrs-Claus or 615-859-3678

Trees of Christmas

The Factory at Franklin presents the sixth annual Trees of Christmas exhibit, through Christmas. There will be more than 40 10-foot-tall Fraser fir Christmas trees decorated for the holiday season.

Details: www.factoryatfranklin.com or 615-791-1777

Letters to Santa

The Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department invites kids to drop a letter to Santa between Dec. 2-16. Every letter will go to Santa and receive a personal response. Be sure to include a home address. The special Santa mailboxes are at the Franklin Recreation Complex, Fairview Recreation Complex, Longview Recreation Center at Spring Hill, Hillsboro-Leiper’s Fork Community Center and the Williamson County Recreation Complex at Nolensville.

Details: www.wcparksandrec.com

Free movies at the library

Nashville Public Library’s Inglewood branch has a good December lineup of free movies, including: “Captain Marvel” at 2 p.m. Nov. 30; “The Polar Express” at 4 p.m. Dec. 4; “Elf” at 4 p.m. Dec. 11; and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” at 4 p.m. Dec. 18.

The library’s Madison branch also has showings of “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” at 2 p.m. Dec. 19 and “The Secret Life of Pets 2” at 2 p.m. Dec. 26.

Details: www.library.nashville.org

Menorah lightings 

Dates and times for menorah lightings will be announced at www.chabadnashville.com.

Reach Ms. Cheap at 615-259-8282 or mscheap@tennessean.com. Follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/mscheap, and at Tennessean.com/mscheap, and on Twitter @Ms_Cheap, and catch her every Thursday at 11 a.m. on WTVF-Channel 5’s “Talk of the Town.”

Ms. Cheap Penny Drive for Second Harvest

If you are looking for something charitable for your family, company or church to do during the holidays, I invite you to join the 11th annual Ms. Cheap Penny Drive for Second Harvest Food Bank. The drive collects pennies and other money for the food bank to use to feed the hungry in Middle Tennessee. With one in eight people at risk of hunger here, the need is clear; and every penny really does help.

The drive, which is for all ages, is easy, fun and rewarding. Over 10 years, we have raised more than $580,000. Please help us!

Details: www.secondharvestmidtn.org/pennydrive

More free fun

Do you want even more to do? Middle Tennessee has no shortage of free events and activities that happen all year long. Whether it’s the dog days of summer or the holiday season, I’ve rounded up a list of things you can do almost any time of year without spending a dime. Find it at www.tennessean.com/mscheap/allyear.

Published 12:18 PM EST Nov 29, 2019