NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nashville’s classic holiday tradition returns Saturday, November 19, 2022, and runs through January 8, 2023. In the setting of the timeless Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, elegant and creative light displays with over one million lights are featured along a one-mile walking path. Voted Best Event/Festival (Local) in the Nashville Scene’s 2021 Best of Nashville Reader’s poll, Holiday LIGHTS at Cheekwood is enjoyed by guests of all ages.
“Now in its eighth year, Holiday LIGHTS at Cheekwood is a must-see tradition for families and visitors throughout Middle Tennessee. Each year, we offer a brilliant display of lights throughout the grounds, offering a truly quintessential holiday experience,” says Jane MacLeod, Cheekwood President/CEO.
With twinkling lights and dazzling delights to see throughout nine of Cheekwood’s 13 distinct gardens, there is something fun for everyone to enjoy. New installations this year include a Bejeweled Bridge, brightly lit playhouses and whimsical seven-foot Luminary Lanterns, accompanying beloved favorites such as Dancing Lights of TRAINS!, Starfield, and Candy Cane Lane.
Holiday Décor in the Mansion
Inside the Cheekwood Mansion the historic period rooms will feature several trees bedecked with dried and silk florals, and festive holiday décor includes pampas grass, sun palms, pink poinsettias and exotic greenery. Highlights include the iconic 20-foot-tall pink Poinsettia tree on display in the Loggia and over 50 nutcrackers nestled throughout the rooms of the mansion. While indoors, visitors are welcome to view the art exhibitions Inside the World of Charles Addams and Glamour & Style: Portrait Photography from the Golden Age of Cinema.
Holiday Marketplace
Inside the Frist Learning Center, the Holiday Marketplace rivals Santa's workshop, featuring a nine-foot ornament wall filled with garden-themed ornaments, among many other holiday merchandise offerings. Highlights include holiday jewelry, winter accessories, nutcrackers inspired by those on display in the mansion, Christmas cardinal items, and much more. Shop in the daytime or evening for gifts for loved ones or for a memento of a holiday experience at Cheekwood.
S'mores Stations and Seasonal Libations
While out exploring the luminous landscape, guests can stop by one of the many bar kiosks throughout the grounds for refreshments, with seasonal libations including spiked hot cocoa and apple cider. Nikki Darling's Vanilla Bean S'mores kits will be available, in both milk and dark chocolate, for purchase at the s’mores stations behind the Holiday Marketplace in the Frist Learning Center.
Weekend Visits with Santa
Families can visit with St. Nicholas every Saturday and Sunday starting November 26th and 27th through December 24th. The visits will be held in the Frist Learning Center Tack Room.
Dog Visits with Santa
Special dog-themed Santa visits will take place on Saturday, December 4th and 18th outside of the stable at the Frist Learning Center.
Late Night Lights will offer a discounted ticket price for those who wish to experience Holiday LIGHTS later in the evening. The $20 per person Gardens Only passes allow entry at 8:30 PM or later Monday through Thursday. Cheekwood is pleased to offer Military Mondays throughout the season. Military personnel and first responders, along with up to five immediate family members, are offered 50% discount on Gardens Only admission on Monday evenings.
The ‘Merry & Bright’ package returns this year with two adult admission passes, two drink tickets and two s’mores kits all in one convenient purchase. The package costs $100 for members and $125 for non-members.
Cheekwood members are invited to view Holiday LIGHTS before it officially opens to the public. A special member preview evening takes place Friday, November 18. Members receive discounted tickets throughout the season.
Cheekwood recognizes Holiday LIGHTS Presenting Sponsors, Truist Bank and Marlene and Spencer Hays Foundation. The seasonal festival will be open seven nights a week except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Timed-entry tickets must be purchased online in advance. To learn more about Holiday LIGHTS and to purchase tickets visit, https://cheekwood.org/calendar/holiday-lights-2022/.
About Cheekwood
With its intact and picturesque vistas, Cheekwood is distinguished as one of the leading Country Place Era estates in the nation. Formerly the family home of Mabel and Leslie Cheek, the 1930s estate, with its 30,000-square-foot Mansion and 55-acres of gardens, today serves the public as a botanical garden, arboretum, and art museum with furnished period rooms and galleries devoted to American art from the 18th to mid-20th centuries. The property includes 13 distinct gardens including the Blevins Japanese Garden and the Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden, as well as a 1.5-mile woodland trail featuring outdoor monumental sculpture. Each year, Cheekwood hosts seasonal festivals including Cheekwood in Bloom, Summertime at Cheekwood, Cheekwood Harvest and Holiday LIGHTS. Cheekwood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and nationally as a Level II Arboretum. It is a three-time voted USA Today Top 10 Botanical Garden and in 2021 was recognized by Fodors as one of the 12 Most Beautiful Gardens in the American South. Cheekwood is located eight miles southwest of downtown Nashville at 1200 Forrest Park Drive. It is open Tuesday through Sunday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., with extended days and hours of operation depending on the season. Check cheekwood.org for current hours and to purchase advance tickets required for admission.
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