Some of my fondest holiday memories as a kid were driving all around my rural hometown to find the best of the best Christmas lights. My sisters and I would pile into my parents station wagon (I always got the backward view!) and we’d hit the country roads. From the tacky to the truly tasteful, Christmas lights were sure to get our family in the holiday spirit!
Grab the kids and hop in the car, I’m taking you on a tour of the best Christmas Lights in and around Williamson County!
Hop a Trolley!
Now I know not all of us can ride in the luxury of a 1980s station wagon. Luckily, trolley companies like Hello Trolley and Holly Trolley are offering Holiday Lights Tours during the month of December.
Kick back, relax, sip some hot chocolate, and listen to your favorite holiday music while enjoying some of Franklin, Tennessee’s best (and most beloved) Christmas Lights. These tours are family friendly, so bring the kids.
Holiday Lights at Cheekwood
The Holiday Lights at Cheekwood are back and bigger than ever! With over 1,000,000 (Yes, you read that correctly…1 MILLION LIGHTS!) the Holiday Lights at Cheekwood are sure to be your family’s new favorite tradition. The lights illuminate the garden and offer a beautiful nighttime winter stroll. Holiday Lights at Cheekwood runs until December 30
Franktown Festival of Lights
Franktown Open Hearts’ Franktown Festival of Lights is Williamson County’s only drive-thru light display. The display features a full mile of holiday illumination and the money goes to a great cause! Admission is $25-35 per car – so load the family up in the Station Wagon and head to Ag Expo Park from now until December 29.
Lights on Old Charlotte
If you ever wanted to decorate your home with Christmas Lights and just couldn’t muster up the courage, John and Mary Alice of the Lights on Old Charlotte have done the work for you! With over 60,000 lights and 160 Channels of Light-O-Rama computer control, these lights run through December 27th. Not only do locals love these lights-they’ve also been featured on MSN’s homepage as one of the most Dazzling Holiday Light Displays in all of Tennessee.
John and Mary Alice do it all for a good cause. Visitors can text LIGHTS to 50155 to donate to local charity, Graceworks Ministries. Last year, they collected over $23,000.
Downtown Franklin
Nothing says Christmas like a giant Christmas tree! After spending a day of shopping and dining with friends and family in Downtown Franklin, grab a cup of coffee from local favorite Frothy Monkey, and take a stroll, stopping to admire all the beautifully lit shops along Main Street. End your evening walk at Public Square, where a 40-foot Christmas Tree illuminates the streets and provides the perfect backdrop for a family photo.