Christmas Free Events December 1-7, 2014

We will be posting a list of FREE Events in and around Nashville for each week of December. Below you will find events for December 1-7, 2014.

This a great way to get out and celebrate the Holidays and be a part of your community. Most events are free but a few ask that you bring a can good or toy, to help those in need. Hope you will find this helpful in planning your Christmas outings! Merry Christmas!

Dec. 1: Brentwood’s Tree Lighting event will take place on the lawn of the Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Road, with music from the Ravenwood High School Chorus and holiday treats. It starts at 5:30 p.m. with a special dedication by Mayor Betsy Crossley. Plus, there will be two readings of “The Polar Express” at 5 and 6 p.m. near the library’s fireplace. Free tickets are issued on a first-come, first-served basis for the readings. 615-371-0090.

Dec 1: Lipscomb University’s The Avalon Trio will hold a concert in Ward Hall at 8 p.m. The student ensemble will perform the Beethoven’s “Ghost” trio, “Pale Yellow” by contemporary composer Jennifer Higdon and “Oblivion” by Astor Piazzolla. 615-966-5932.

Dec. 1: Vanderbilt’s Steel Bands play at 8 p.m. in Ingram Hall at the Blair School of Music. Celebrate the 10th anniversary of this Steel Bands program with some calypso, reggae, soca and maybe a few holiday tunes, too. 615-322-7656, blair.vanderbilt.edu.

Dec. 2: The Blair School of Music Harp Ensemble plays at 8 p.m. in Steve & Judy Turner Recital Hall at Blair. Nine harps will be on stage. 615-322-7656, blair.vanderbilt.edu.

Dec. 2: Lipscomb University kicks off the holiday season at the 10th annual Lighting of the Green concert with Amy Grant and a lineup of artists including Danny Gokey, Tamela Mann, Jon Guerra, The Willis Clan and Brother Parker, as well as the Lipscomb student choruses. Festivities begin at 4 p.m., and the outdoor concert is at 5:30 p.m. in the Allen Arena Mall. Free photos with Santa are available. The traditional Merry Marketplace of holiday vendors will be open, the evening will conclude with the lighting of a Christmas tree. Attendees are invited to bring food to donate to Second Harvest Food Bank. lightingofthegreen.lipscomb.edu.

•Dec 2: Fisk University will have its holiday concert at 7 p.m. in the Fisk Memorial Chapel, featuring the Fisk Jubilee Singers, university choir, university chamber choir and university jazz ensemble. The audience is invited to sing along on some carols. 615-329-8702.

Dec. 2: One of Gallatin’s favorite annual holiday events is a Tuba Christmas, featuring the Tennessee Tech Tubas as well as tuba players from all over Middle Tennessee. It is at 7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Gallatin. If you’d like to play in the concert, or need more information, call 615-451-5961.

Dec. 2: Scarritt Bennett Center has a series of lunch-time concerts from 1 to 1:30 in Wightman Chapel. The lineup: Dec. 2, singer-songwriter Sherry Cothran; Dec. 3, Belmont University Chamber Singers; Dec. 4, organist Andrew Risinger; Dec. 9, Kelli Cox and Friends jazz trio; Dec. 10, Marilyn Thornton vocalist and violinist; Dec. 11, Spirituality of Christmas with poetry and music; Dec. 16, DeWayne Pigg (oboe) and Steve Lindsey (piano); and Dec. 17, pianist Amy Williams. Details: 615-340-7500.

Dec. 2: Middle Tennessee State University’s Department of Music presents the MTSU Symphonic Band at 7:30 p.m. in Hinton Hall of the Wright Music Building. 615-898-2493, http://www.mtsumusic.com.

Dec. 2: The Providence Players, a group of local musical seniors, will play holiday favorites at 10:45 a.m.in the second-floor gallery of the Main Library, 615 Church St. http://www.library.nashville.gov.

Dec. 3: Sankofa, Vanderbilt’s African Drums and Dance ensemble, will perform at 8 p.m at Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music, offering “adventures in rhythm, movement and music.” blair.vanderbilt.edu.

Dec. 3: Middle Tennessee State University’s Department of Music presents the MTSU Commercial Music Ensemble at 7:30 p.m. in Hinton Hall of the Wright Music Building. 615-898-2493, http://www.mtsumusic.com.

Dec. 3: Lipscomb University is having a “Rush Hour Concert” at 5 p.m., with Lipscomb’s piano majors presenting a collaborative performance of Beethoven’s Symphonies Nos. 5 and 7 for four hands. The concert is in Ward Hall. 615-966-5932, lipscomb.edu/music.

Dec. 3: Tennessee State University invites the public to the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Holiday Recital at 7 p.m. in E. T. Goins Recital Hall in the TSU Performing Arts Center. Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia is the national fraternity for men in music. http://www.tnstate.edu.

Dec. 4: Tennessee Agricultural Museum’s Taste of Christmas Open House is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. with country ham biscuits, spinning lamb’s wool by the fire, holiday music, crafts and several decorated Christmas trees. http://tnagmuseum.org or 615-837-5197.

Dec. 4: It’s Christmas in the Village from 5 to 8 p.m. in Hillsboro Village with most of the merchants offering specials, free treats and holiday music. There are also free Santa photos, starting at 6 p.m., if you bring a new, unwrapped toy donation for the Andrea Morrison-Baker toy and coat drive for Eakin Elementary School.

Dec. 4: The Brass Band of Nashville presents “Brassy All The Way” a mixture of seasonal and non-seasonal selections at 7 p.m. at Vine Street Christian Church, 4101 Harding Road. This is a community brass band that plays music in the British Brass Band spirit. http://brassbandofnashville.org.

Dec. 5: The Downtown Murfreesboro Christmas tree lighting celebration, with Santa, free carriage rides and music, starts at 6 p.m. on the east side of the historic courthouse. Santa will be in the courthouse from 6 to 8 p.m. for visits, and you can take your own pictures at the event. He will be in the courthouse every Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. and every Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. until Christmas. Shops around the square will be open for holiday shopping. http://www.downtownmurfreesboro.com.

Dec. 5: There is a “Souper Supper” hike and dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. at Warner Park Nature Center. Bring a vegetable to add to a big pot of broth and let the soup simmer while you hike. Then the hungry hikers will gather round the campfire to enjoy the soup afterward.
615-352-6299.

Dec 5: The Franklin Art Scene’s monthly first Friday art crawl takes you through beautiful downtown Franklin (decorated for the holidays) to as many as 30 galleries and working studios. The 6-9 p.m. event is free, and there are free trolleys to take you from gallery to gallery, most of which have complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres. http://franklinartscene.com.

Dec. 5: The 61st annual Nashville Christmas Parade’s grand marshal will be actor Eric Close, who plays Mayor Teddy Conrad on ABC’s hit television show “Nashville.” The festivities begin at 6:30 p.m.with our Nashville’s real mayor, Karl Dean (along with “Mayor” Conrad), lighting the city’s Christmas tree in Public Square Plaza. The lighting will be followed by fireworks, and then the parade. The parade will begin at the top of Woodland Street Bridge at Union and march down Second Avenue and turn on Broadway to Ninth Avenue. The disbandment area will be between Ninth and 12th avenues. http://www.nashvillechristmasparade.com.

Dec. 5: Welch College, formerly known as Free Will Baptist Bible College, presents its annual “Christmas on Richland” musical event at 7:30 p.m. in Memorial Auditorium at 3607 Richland Ave. 615-844-5000.

Dec. 6: The Nashville Children’s Choir’s annual Christmas performances will be held at 2 and 4:30 p.m.in Belmont University’s McAfee Concert Hall. The Children’s Choir is a premiere youth choir for singers ages 8-18. http://www.belmont.edu/music, 615-460-6408.

Dec. 6: Christmas at Cannonsburgh Village offers a chance to celebrate an old-fashioned Christmas, with hot apple cider and hayrides, plus music and crafts. It is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cannonsburgh, 312 S. Front St. in Murfreesboro. 615-890-0355.

Dec. 6: Goodlettsville offers its Yulefest, an 18th-century Christmas celebration, 6-9 p.m. at Mansker’s Station and the Bowen Plantation House in Moss-Wright Park. There will be music, dancing, storytelling and refreshments. http://www.manskersstation.org, 615-851-2241.

Dec. 6: The Frist Center has a holiday concert featuring the Blair School of Music’s Suzuki Strings at 2 p.m. in the museum auditorium. This group includes 50 Blair cello and violin students ages 5-13, who will be playing holiday music and classics. http://www.fristcenter.org.

•Dec. 6: Christmas in Bell Buckle is an old-fashioned day of costumed carolers, Santa and his sleigh, horse and buggy rides and refreshments all around this quaint, small-town square. The free festivities are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 931-389-9663, http://www.bellbucklechamber.com.
Dec. 6: The monthly First Saturday Downtown Art Crawl is extra festive in December. There will be the usual gallery hopping between 6-9 p.m. to more than a dozen downtown Nashville galleries to see new art and enjoy a free glass of wine and some light appetizers. Plus there is a free shuttle to take you from gallery to gallery. http://www.nashvilledowntown.com.

Dec. 6: The Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Road, has a “Morning with Santa and Magic Show” featuring magician Scott Humston. Doors open at 9 a.m., and the magic show will be offered at 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. The show is free, but tickets are required. They are available at the Children’s Desk. Details: 615-371-0090, ext. 8380.

Dec. 6: The Buchanan Log House Christmas Warmth and Hospitality Open House, which is designed to provide the experience of a classic pioneer Christmas, is 4-6 p.m. with period Christmas music, decorations and refreshments. It follows the 2 p.m. Donelson Hermitage Christmas Parade and will include a bonfire and marshmallow roast, plus a chance to see and get photos made with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Everyone is invited. The historic log house, which was built in the early 1800s, is at 2910 Elm Hill Pike, Donelson. http://www.buchananloghouse.com.

Dec. 6: The Bells Bend Outdoor Center, 4187 Old Hickory Blvd., is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of Nashville with a short program at 1 p.m., followed by a moderate hike to the site of the battle. 615-862-4187.

Dec. 7: Historic Cragfont in Castalian Springs is having its annual open house from 1-3 p.m. This was the home of James Winchester, and construction was started in 1798 and completed in 1802. http://www.historiccragfont.org

Dec. 7: Historic Wynnewood, 210 Old Highway 25 in Castalian Springs, is having its annual open house with music and refreshments from 1 to 4 p.m. You can relive a mid-1800s Christmas with period holiday decorations, live music and refreshments at Wynnewood, which was built starting in 1828. Wynnewood includes the largest existing log structure in Tennessee. It is owned by the state of Tennessee and is operated by the Bledsoe’s Lick Association under an agreement with the Tennessee Historical Commission. It is a National Historic Landmark. 615-452-5463.

Dec. 7: The First Baptist Nashville (downtown) “Christmas at First” is at 6 p.m. featuring the children’s, youth and sanctuary choirs, along with The Sanctuary Orchestra. The evening will be tailored in the tradition of the “Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.” The church is at 108 Seventh Ave. S.www.firstbaptistnashville.org.

Dec. 7: St. George’s Episcopal Church, 4715 Harding Road, will have its annual Lessons and Carols at 6 p.m. 615-385-2150.

Dec 7: The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has a free family event almost every month on the first Sunday. This month, you can make letterpress holiday prints in the Hatch Show Print shop at 224 Fifth Ave. S. at noon, 1 and 2 p.m. on Dec. 7 and again on Dec. 21. No reservations are required. 615-416-2001 or http://www.countrymusichalloffame.org.

Dec. 7: The public is invited to a pre-Hanukkah wine-and-cheese reception at 3 p.m. for the opening of the pop art exhibition of Rabbi Yitzchok Moully’s work titled “Post Pop.” It takes place at Chabad of Nashville’s Genesis Campus for Jewish Life, 95 Bellevue Road. Rabbi Moully will be on hand to lead a dialogue about his work and how it relates to his spirituality and religion. http://www.chabadnashville.com

Dec. 7: The Greater Nashville Chapter of the American Recorder Society will present its annual holiday concert at the 61st Avenue United Methodist Church at 4 p.m. There will be seasonal music from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and contemporary eras, and it will be free and open to the public. Any donations will benefit the After School Program of the 61st Avenue church.

Kelli B 💻