NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Cruise into Cheekwood Estate & Gardens Father’s Day weekend to experience Exposition of Elegance: Classic Cars at Cheekwood. View over 60 impeccably maintained classic cars spanning six decades, including a Winton Model 25 (1920) and a Ferrari 308 GT4 (1979). New this year, an array of vintage motorcycles will be on display in the Frist Learning Center Great Hall. With activities for kids, special music performances and tasty fare from local food trucks, the Exposition of Elegance will be a fun-filled weekend for all.
“The beautiful historic grounds of Cheekwood are the perfect backdrop to showcase such an exquisite selection of classic cars that pay tribute to the era in which the Cheek family resided on this magnificent estate,” says Cheekwood Board Chair Barry Stowe. “Visitors to the Exposition of Elegance will marvel at the craftsmanship of these truly extraordinary cars while celebrating Father’s Day with activities designed not only for car enthusiasts, but the entire family.”
Special music performances throughout the weekend include the barbershop quartet, High Gravity, showcasing their four-part harmonies with acapella arrangements and jazz group, The Lakes Brass Quintet, performing era-specific tunes. In addition, DJ’s “Church of Boogie” will spin songs from the 1920’s - 1970’s from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday.
Performance Schedule:
- High Gravity – Saturday & Sunday – 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Location TBD
- The Lakes Brass Quintet – Saturday & Sunday – 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Arboretum Lawn Main
- Stage
- DJ’s “Church of Boogie” – Saturday & Sunday – 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM – Arboretum Lawn Main
- Stage
Local food trucks will be on-hand to serve up tasty fare and bar stations will be sporting some classic, old-fashioned drinks. One of the show entries, a Chevrolet 3100 Good Humor Ice Cream Truck (1953) will be selling ice cream to satisfy sweet tooths and bring a touch of coolness to the summer day. There’s something for everyone to enjoy, including a car-themed activity for the kids in the Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden. The event caps off with an 11-mile Tour de Elegance through the city of Belle Meade Sunday afternoon starting at 4:00 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring the whole family for this engine-revving and smile-inducing Father’s Day weekend event.
The Lambert Cup will once again be presented to one of the 2023 Exposition of Elegance participants. This year’s recipients are Leonard and Missy McKeand. The McKeands are displaying their Rolls-Royce Phantom One (1927) in this year’s show. The award will be presented at an invitation only, 1929 Club Big Band party at Cheekwood Saturday evening.
About The Lambert Cup
The Lambert Cup is an award presented to one of the exhibitors recognizing a collector who embodies the passion that Mark Lambert had for the classic car hobby. An Indianapolis native, Lambert was a nationally known automobile historian, preservationist and enthusiast. His eponymous classic car business was located in a retired 1920s firehouse on Charlotte Avenue in Nashville. From this location, Lambert assisted countless automotive enthusiasts across the nation in building collections, restoring, maintaining, showing, and touring them, gaining further insight into the importance of their cars and the era in which they originated. His grandfather owned a successful Ford-based racing team in the 20s and 30s and taught him the value of driving and maintaining classic cars. In addition to operating his business, Lambert was a long-time and highly respected judge at the nation’s most prestigious classic car events, including the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, The Amelia and The Elegance at Hershey.
Ticket Prices
Gardens:
Member Adult- $12 Member Youth- $10 Adult- $22
Youth (3-17)- $15 Ages 2 & Under - Free
Gardens & Mansion:
Member Adult- $14 Member Youth- $12 Adult- $27
Youth (3-17)- $20 Ages 2 & Under - Free
Cheekwood Member Pre-Sale begins April 25th. Tickets go on sale to the public on May 2nd.
Exposition of Elegance: Classic Cars at Cheekwood is sponsored by Pinnacle Financial Partners and Andrews Transportation Group.
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. Visit cheekwood.org for current hours and to purchase advance tickets required for admission.
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