NASHVILLE, TN – The fall season shines at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens with an explosion of pumpkins and chrysanthemums and special events for the whole family. The return of Cheekwood Harvest brings a chance to stroll through the stunning display of fall colors, capture the perfect harvest photo, tap your toes to music in the beer garden and pick out a pumpkin to take home and carve.
Cheekwood Harvest runs from September 14 until October 27, 2024.
The centerpiece of the seasonal festival is the Pumpkin Village on Arboretum Lawn. More than 75,000 pumpkins in various colors including orange, light pink, green and white will decorate the landscape, while more than 4,000 chrysanthemums will add an extra pop of fall color. Guests can snap a photo in front of three houses made of pumpkins featuring thatch and cedar roofs adorned with chartreuse Ipomoea vines. A wide variety of pumpkins will be available for purchase.
For the second year in a row, a P’mumkin Topiary will provide another striking photo backdrop. The eight-foot-wide and nine-foot-tall pumpkin-shaped structure is made of more than 500 vibrant orange zest mums.
Another familiar favorite, the Community Scarecrow Trail, returns and guests can visit the Turner Seasons Garden to see how local artists, organizations and schools turn ordinary frames into incredible works of art. This year’s theme is all about the colors of the rainbow. See imaginative scarecrow creations that “Personify a Color.”
Tickets for Cheekwood Harvest are on sale now at https://cheekwood.org/calendar-events/cheekwood-harvest/
Cheekwood Harvest is presented by Tractor Supply.
Fall Music Lineup
Thursday Night Out
Continues Through October 24 | 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
An adventure through food, drink and song awaits at this weekly concert on the Arboretum Lawn every Thursday evening. Sample seasonal beers, signature cocktails and irresistible bites from the city’s favorite food trucks and Café 29 amid Cheekwood’s beautiful gardens. A diverse music lineup provides the soundtrack and delivers an extra dose of magic to a memorable night.
September 5 | Wild Bill and the Bruisers
September 12 | Hannah Juanita & The Hardliners
September 19 | Shaun Murphy
September 26 | Cristina Vane
October 3 | Take the Highway
October 10 | The Cowpokes
October 17 | End of the Line: A Tribute to the Allman Brothers Band
October 24 | Les Sabler with the Smoking Section Horns
Weekend Musical Performances in the Beer Garden
Gather with friends to celebrate the arrival of fall at the Cheekwood Beer Garden – the only beer garden in an actual garden in Nashville! Every weekend during Cheekwood Harvest from noon to 2 p.m., enjoy local beers, specialty cocktails, wine and champagne, and live music. Guests can grab a picnic table or bring a blanket and kick back and enjoy a perfect fall day amongst the pumpkins and mums.
Saturday Sounds in the Beer Garden
September 14 | Tim Gartland
September 21 | Lindsey Miller
September 28 | Austin John Organ Trio
October 5 | Pontoon Serenaders
October 12 | Charles Treadway Organ Trio
October 19 | Denny Jiosa
October 26 | Time Is Tight
Sunday Jazz in the Beer Garden
September 15 | Giovanni Rodriguez
September 22 | Les Sabler
September 29 | Pat Bergeson Trio
October 6 | Tudo Bem
October 13 | Andy Reiss Quartet
October 20 | Chester Thompson
October 27 | The Sofia Goodman Group
Lipman is the spirits sponsor for Thursday Night Out and Weekend Musical Performances in the Beer Garden.
Harvest Plant Sale
September 21 & 22 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. or until plants are sold out
Start the fall season with fresh bursts of color at the debut Harvest Plant Sale on the Arboretum Lawn. From mums to perennials, ornamental grasses and cabbage, violas, pansies, trailing ivy, mini pumpkins, charming gourds and more, browse a curated selection of fall plants. Planting demonstrations will be provided at 10 a.m. on both days. Wagons will be available to transport plants and pumpkins for guests. Tickets can be reserved at https://cheekwood.org/calendar-events/harvest-plant-sale/
Harvest Afternoon Tea
September 17 – October 24 | Tuesdays & Thursdays | 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Cheekwood’s popular Afternoon Tea returns to Café 29 with an updated menu of seasonal teas including cranberry blood orange, savory bite-sized sandwiches like cranberry-pecan chicken salad, and freshly baked sweets such as pumpkin pound cake to reflect the flavors of autumn. Tableside service is offered for parties of 2 or 4 guests.
Members: $50 per attendee, Not-Yet Members: $50 per attendee + general admission
Email [email protected] or call 615-627-5141 for reservations.
Fall Break at Cheekwood: Friday Hoedown
October 11 | 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
A new evening event at Cheekwood Harvest this year will come alive as the sun sets. The Friday Hoedown will be a lively soirée of fall fun with square dancing, seasonal food and libations, and a chance to explore the gardens, Pumpkin Village, Scarecrow Trail and P’mumkin Topiary.
10th Annual Japanese Moon Viewing
September 15 | 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Otsukimi, the 10th Annual Japanese Moon Viewing festival at Cheekwood, is an afternoon and moonlit evening featuring tea ceremony demonstrations, traditional Japanese music and dance, and other hands-on activities as the Harvest moon shines from above. The celebration of Japanese art, gardens and culture is in partnership with the Consulate General of Japan and Japan American Society of Tennessee. To reserve tickets, visit https://cheekwood.org/calendar-events/japanese-moon-viewing/
Japanese Moon Viewing is sponsored by Nissan and supported by Mitsui.
Halloween Pooch Party
October 26 & 27 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Bring your pup out for costume contests and a tail-wagging good time. With two costume contests each day, including a special category honoring this year’s theme, “Personify a Color” there are plenty of chances to win. Whether your costumed canine is paws-itively frightening or ear-scratchingly adorable, we love to see them all. Snap a photo of your four-legged friend at the Pumpkin Village, browse the dog-friendly vendors and delight your furry friends with special treats.
The Halloween Pooch Party is presented by ReadiVet.
25th Annual El Día de los Muertos
November 2 & 3 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
El Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, returns with the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of this important Latin American holiday when families celebrate the souls of deceased relatives. During this special 25th annual event, guests can visit community altars, view large-scale murals created by area middle and high school students, sample fare from local restaurants and bakers, shop for traditional goods, enjoy bilingual song and storytime and hands-on activities for kids, and experience a variety of dance and music performances. The popular weekend sells out quickly, so visitors are encouraged to reserve tickets early. Tickets go on sale September 24.
El Día de los Muertos is sponsored by Nissan and supported by Asurion.
Cheekwood Harvest Workshops and Gardening Classes
There are more adult education offerings at Cheekwood this fall than ever before. Beginning in September, an array of classes and workshops will provide information and spark your creativity. Find exciting ways to dig deeper into your hobby, discover new techniques and meet fellow gardeners as you learn ways to make your garden thrive. Fall class topics range from gardening with fall annuals, to attracting native pollinators, to your garden and harvesting and preserving your herbs. Cheekwood is excited to welcome three of Nashville’s acclaimed landscape architects for a lecture series all about how to design your dream garden. For the full schedule and more information on the workshops and classes visit https://cheekwood.org/learn/adult-education-programs/. Pre-registration is required and will open for Cheekwood members on August 13 and not-yet members on August 20.
Anne Daigh: Storytelling with Landscape Architecture | October 3 | 6 p.m.
Join Anne Daigh as she discusses how landscape design can help us tell stories about ourselves, our history, and our connection to nature. Daigh is the founder and “Storyteller-in-Chief” of Daigh Rich Landscape Architects. Originally from Georgia, Anne has established herself as one of the premier landscape architects in Nashville. Her work has been showcased at Cheekwood, the Nashville Antiques & Garden Show, and many commercial and private properties throughout Nashville.
Todd Breyer: Incorporating Edible Plants in Your Landscape Design | October 10 | 6 p.m.
Great gardens appeal to all our senses. In this class, Todd Breyer will explore how edible plants bring a sense of beauty to your garden and your dinner table. Known throughout Nashville for his public and private initiatives in landscape architecture and design, Breyer has done a bit of everything. He previously chaired the Nashville Antiques & Garden Show, worked as the District Commissioner for the Metro Beautification and Environment Commission, and spearheaded the Nashville Public Library Seed Exchange program. Breyer also won the Nextdoor “Good Neighbor” award for his work on Richland Park.
Gavin Duke: Modern vs. Traditional Landscape Design Strategies | October 17 | 6 p.m.
Sometimes a great garden design means combining anticipated features in unexpected ways. In this class, Gavin Duke will show you how to use a place’s context, history, and natural structure to enhance your landscape’s design. For over 30 years, Duke has been designing some of the most iconic outdoor spaces in Nashville. Gavin understands how to design show-stopping environments that are as practical as they are exciting to visit.
Tres Fromme Masterclass Ecstatic Beauty: The Enchantment of Country Place Era Estates | September 19 | 6 p.m.
Country Place Era estates were unique domains dedicated to immersing owners and guests in numerous aspects of beauty. The combination of gardens, architecture, and art engaged people’s senses and imaginations, transforming daily routines into rich celebrations of life. Today, a number of estates continue to do so through creatively evolving their legacy decades after their founding.
Tres Fromme will share his personal thoughts on various estates with which he has worked or visited over his career. The presentation will suggest how you might find inspiration for your own garden.
The Cheekwood Gardening School is sponsored by Tractor Supply.
Selections from Cheekwood’s Permanent Collection
Ongoing through January 5, 2025
Highlights from Cheekwood’s permanent collection of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts are on view in the Historic Mansion & Museum. Each gallery highlights a different sub-category of the collection including American painting, 20th century sculpture by William Edmondson and Worcester Porcelain. With the re-contextualization of the collection, Cheekwood takes the opportunity to display works that have been in storage for a prolonged period. The exhibition Wonder Women: Women Printmakers of the 1970s is also featured in the second-floor galleries. This exhibition includes prints created by women who advocated for themselves and their work in a male dominated field.
Ticket Information
Member and not-yet member pricing varies by program and day. Visit cheekwood.org to find the pricing for a specific date and time.
About Cheekwood Estate & Gardens
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, in 2024 received a Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award, and in 2021 was named 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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