NASHVILLE, Tenn. – As crisp air moves in and leaves start to change, the fall season shines at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens. In addition to the stunning display of fall colors courtesy of thousands of colorful pumpkins and chrysanthemums in the gardens, the festivities continue with new evening activities for the whole family.
Cheekwood Harvest runs from September 13 until October 30, 2025.
New this year, the fun continues after dusk at Harvest NIGHTS on Thursdays throughout the festival. A towering Jack-o’-Lantern Topiary, adorned with an estimated 160 faux jack-o’-lanterns will be front and center in the Bradford Robertson Color Garden. Enjoy a spooky Scarecrow Trail complete with perfect photo opportunities next to jack-o’-lanterns, large cauldrons, and magic lanterns. Musical performances, food trucks and seasonal libations complete the perfect fall evening.
The popular Pumpkin Village returns to Arboretum Lawn. More than 75,000 pumpkins provided by local farms will be nestled throughout the gardens, while 5,000 yellow, red and orange chrysanthemums add an extra pop of fall color. Guests can snap a photo in front of three charming houses made of pumpkins featuring thatch and cedar roofs adorned with chartreuse and dark purple Ipomoea vines. A wide variety of pumpkins in various colors including orange, light pink, green and white will be available for purchase and ready for you to carve at home.
Take a stroll through the Scarecrow Trail and see how local artists, organizations and schools turn ordinary frames into works of art and incorporate this year’s theme, “A Hint of Haunts.”
The seasonal festival also offers a chance to dance to live music in the beer garden, expand your knowledge in a Cheekwood Gardening School class, and capture a scenic fall photo. Cheekwood Harvest is always a festive, fun way to take in the autumn beauty and make lasting memories.
Cheekwood Harvest is presented by Tractor Supply.
Harvest NIGHTS
September 18 – October 30 | Thursdays | 5 – 9 p.m.
Fall festivities continue after dusk at Harvest NIGHTS on Thursdays. Enjoy special programming, musical performances, food trucks, a Spooky Scarecrow Trail, seasonal libations, and a memorable outing for the whole family.
September 18 | Pumpkinpalooza!
Pumpkin carving contests and demonstrations by master carver Lundy Cupp.
September 25 | Salsa Night at Cheekwood
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with salsa dancing, delicious food, and more.
October 9 | Oktoberfest at Cheekwood
Relax and take in the scenery with beer, brats, and Bavarian music.
October 30 | Bootanical Bash
Costume contest and dance party hosted by a DJ playing spooky tunes.
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.
September 13 | Luke Bulla
September 14 | Jerry Tachoir Group
September 20 | Les Sabler (small band)
September 21 | Justyna Kelley
September 27 | The Fundamental Sound
September 28 | Summerlyn Powers
October 4 | Grimey’s New & Preloved Music
October 5 | Les Sabler (big band)
October 11 | The Beatledudes
October 12 | Chloe Kimes
October 18 | Hi-Jivers
October 19 | Hannah Juanita
October 25 | Grimey’s AJO3
October 26 | Shaun Murphy
Japanese Moon Viewing
October 5 | 4 – 9 p.m.
Cheekwood’s 11th annual Japanese Moon Viewing celebration, Otsukimi, is an afternoon and moonlit evening featuring a kimono fashion show, tea ceremony demonstrations, traditional Japanese music and dance, mochi pounding, and other hands-on activities as the Harvest moon shines from above. This celebration of Japanese art, gardens, and culture is produced in partnership with the Consulate General of Japan and Japan-America Society of Tennessee.
Japanese Moon Viewing is sponsored by HCA and supported by Nissan Foundation, Asurion, and Mitsui.
Halloween Pooch Party
October 25 & 26 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Bring your pup out for costume contests and snap a pic of your four-legged companion at the Pumpkin Village. Costume contests will be held at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day. This year’s special costume category is “A Hint of Haunts,” so bring your pooches dressed as Halloween characters and let them strut their stuff on the stage. Also, browse the dog-friendly vendors and delight your furry friends with special treats. Members can reserve tickets starting on August 26. Tickets go on sale to not-yet members on September 2.
El Día de los Muertos
November 1 & 2 | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For the 26th year, Cheekwood presents the largest Day of the Dead festival in Middle Tennessee where you can experience murals created by area middle and high school students, beautiful ofrendas or memorial altars honoring the deceased, Latin and Aztec dance performers, traditional musical performances, authentic cuisine and handmade goods, and hands-on activities for kids of all ages. The popular weekend sells out quickly, so visitors are encouraged to reserve tickets early. Tickets go on sale September 23.
El Día de los Muertos is sponsored by HCA and supported by Nissan Foundation and Asurion.
Harvest Afternoon Tea at Café 29
September 16 – October 23 | Tuesday & Thursday | 3 – 4:30 p.m.
Cheekwood’s popular Afternoon Tea continues with an updated menu of seasonal teas, savory bite-sized sandwiches, and freshly baked sweets to reflect the flavors of autumn. Tableside service is offered for parties of 2 or 4 guests. Reserve tickets at cheekwood.org.
Members: $50 per attendee Not-Yet Members: $50 per attendee + general admission
A Very Downton Tea at Cheekwood’s Café 29
September 11 | 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m.
As Downtown Abbey: The Grand Finale opens in theaters on September 12, Cheekwood cordially invites you to a splendid celebration fit for the Crawley family. Elegant tableside service will feature Downtown Abbey-inspired tea flavors, champagne to toast the occasion, scones, clotted cream, and confections that would make Mrs. Patmore proud. In partnership with Focus Features, we’ll have Downton Abbey-themed giveaways. Reservations are available for parties of 2 and 4. Reserve tickets at cheekwood.org.
Members: $75 per person
Not-Yet Members: $75 per person + general admission
Music City Rose Show
September 13 & 14 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The Nashville Rose Society invites you to see the most accomplished, award-winning rosarians from across Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky as they compete for “Best Rose” awards in multiple categories – from hybrid teas, floribundas, and miniatures to shrub roses and old garden roses – displaying hundreds of beautiful roses in a variety of colors and fragrances. Master Rosarian Ron Daniels will share rose gardening expertise in a lecture on Saturday, September 13, at 1 p.m.
Harvest Plant Sale
September 20 & 21 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or until plants are sold out
From mums to perennials, violas, pansies and more, view a curated selection of fall plants, many of which are planted at Cheekwood. The sale is on Arboretum Lawn adjacent to the pumpkin sale kiosk, so you can coordinate your plants with your pumpkin selections. Gardeners will be available to assist with design and installation ideas.
Spring Bulb Sale
October 18 & 19 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or until plants are sold out
Get a head start on finding flower bulbs that will bloom into pure joy next spring. Cheekwood’s annual bulb sale showcases spring flowering tulips and daffodils, most of which will be on display during Cheekwood in Bloom in 2026. Bulb varieties at this sale include many shades of red and white, a big part of next year’s spring festival theme. The curated selection of bulbs for sale will be set up outside the Garden Gift Shop next to Botanic Hall.
The Cheekwood Gardening School
September 13 – October 25
Autumn is a season of harvesting as well as planning and planting. Join us to navigate this important gardening time with confidence. Whether you are just beginning as a home gardener or looking to expand your planting repertoire, learn from experienced instructors from regional plant societies, local Master Gardeners, and Cheekwood’s own staff. Fall class topics include landscape design, growing backyard habitats, cool-season containers and more.
Cheekwood After Hours
Experience Cheekwood as never before while deepening your knowledge of the gardens and historic estate. These new classes focus on a particular element of Cheekwood that you may have passed by while visiting during the day. However, now you will be able to take a closer look and establish a new appreciation of the beauty of Cheekwood.
September 17 | Bryant Fleming’s Vision: Water at Cheekwood
September 24 | Blevins Japanese Garden
October 1 | Burr Terrace Garden
For a full list of Cheekwood Gardening School classes, visit cheekwood.org/learn.
The Cheekwood Gardening School is presented by Tractor Supply.
INTERVENTIONS: Shawn Huckins
August 30 – October 26
American painter, Shawn Huckins, is best known for his fusion of technical skill and satirical wit. Huckins’ paintings recreate traditional landscape, still life and portrait paintings with the addition of painted textiles and fabric to showcase his appreciation of history while examining and challenging contemporary culture. The installation will consist of seven paintings within the Mansion’s period rooms that are inspired by works from Cheekwood’s permanent collection and the surrounding landscape.
INTERVENTIONS launched in 2021 as an arts initiative to activate the historic period rooms and invite artists to seek inspiration from the Cheek family. The series is made possible by the Sandra Schatten Foundation.
With special thanks to Hyatt Place Nashville Green Hills.
Ticket Information
Tickets for Cheekwood Harvest, Harvest NIGHTS, Harvest Afternoon Teas and Japanese Moon Viewing go on sale August 12 at cheekwood.org. Reserving a timed-entry ticket in advance is required for all guests. During busy seasons and events, Cheekwood may reach parking capacity. If parking capacity is reached, walk-up tickets will only be available for those utilizing rideshare services.
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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