December arrives with a full calendar of music, storytelling, and holiday tradition across South Central Tennessee. From orchestras performing deep underground to nationally touring artists taking the stage in small towns, this month offers some of the most distinctive musical experiences in the region. Below is your complete guide to what is happening in December PLUS at 2-1 Ticket Offer from The Caverns on upcoming events! (Sale ends December 3rd.)

Each December in Lynchburg, there’s a night when The Holler feels just a little bit brighter, and not just because of the hundreds of twinkling lights strung across a towering whiskey-barrel tree. It’s because families, friends, locals, out-of-towners, and the occasional wide-eyed first-timer all gather at the Jack Daniel’s Visitor’s Center for one of Tennessee’s most beloved holiday traditions: the annual lighting of the Jack Daniel Distillery Barrel Tree at Christmas in Lynchburg.

Black Friday does not have to be loud or tiring. Tennessee State Parks hosts free ranger-led hikes the day after Thanksgiving. These walks give you a calm way to spend time with family and friends. You learn about the land. You meet people. You get a break from the holiday rush. Most hikes are gentle. Some take you a little farther into the woods. All of them help you slow down.