Tennessee New Year's Eve Destinations

This East Tennessee city is famous for its bluegrass music history, and its small population swells to 50,000 for the amazing New Year’s celebrations at the Space Needle on the Historic Nature Trail. Gatlinburg's location near Great Smoky Mountains National Park is another major draw.

The state’s largest city, Middle Tennessee's Nashville is famous the world over for its country music traditions. The New Year’s celebrations feature amazing fireworks displays as well as big-name music performances. Check the lineup and come back each year to see new famous faces every time.

In West Tennessee, renowned for its bluegrass music traditions, you can also enjoy huge performances followed by magnificent fireworks. This city’s NYE celebrations are known for their food stalls, which are great for filling up at over the course of the night as you soak up the vibrant Memphis atmosphere and look forward to another New Year.

Back in East Tennessee, spend the daw amid calmer ambiance at the foot of the Smoky Mountains before checking out the fantastic local live music performances and firework shows. Kids into fossils, nature, and science will love the Rocky Mount Living History Museum and the Hands On! Regional Museum. Roll around at the Family Skate Center, another hotspot for family activities.

This Middle Tennessee beauty is also fantastic for family activities before the big day. Check out the Discovery Center, a brilliant children’s museum including play exhibits and animals to look at, too. Also, many of Murfreesboro’s restaurants stay open late, letting you savor local Tennessee cuisine and a glass of champagne as you celebrate the arrival of another year.

This West Tennessee city also has a range of superb spots for keeping kids entertained, including Rusty’s TV and Movie Car Museum, the N.C. & St. L. Depot and Railway Museum, and escape room experiences. Enjoy a champagne toast and contests at the New Year’s celebrations, or head to one of the grill houses for a more casual night of celebration.

One of the best Tennessee New Year’s Eve destinations, Knoxville offers everything from musicals at the Tennessee Theatre to bluegrass and country music concerts. Outdoor shows and fireworks displays in Market Square complete the package.

A somewhat more laid-back but thoroughly vibrant night of music awaits in Chattanooga, where discos, rock-and-roll clubs, and live bands are aplenty. Visiting the Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery and going on winter walks through the enchanting surroundings of Coolidge Park and Tennessee Riverpark will surely get you in the mood for the big night.

You can’t go wrong in Nashville, the world’s country music capital, if you're hoping to catch iconic musicians performing live. For something a little different, head to the Music City's suburb of Franklin and check out the live music at its bars and pubs. Some prefer the calmer atmosphere here, and you’ll beat the big-city crowds.