NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Cheekwood Estate & Gardens is going to the dogs, as four-legged friends and their families are invited to celebrate Cheekwood’s Nationally Accredited Cornus Collection™ and the spring season.
Dogs & Dogwoods will be held April 18 and 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Enjoy a weekend designed for dog and nature lovers, featuring food trucks, local dog-focused vendors, live music, and the stunning beauty of flowering dogwoods.
Guests can bring their pups for a stroll through Cheekwood’s scenic gardens and admire the one-of-a-kind dogwood collection. A total of 238 dogwoods, including 14 species and 7 hybrids, are incorporated into the landscape, weaving together a series of distinct gardens – including the Carell Dogwood Garden.
Water refill and doggie bag stations will be provided. Visitors are asked to BYOB - bring your own bowl - to ensure their dogs stay hydrated. All canine companions must be on a leash and are not allowed inside any buildings, including the Historic Mansion and Museum.
Vendors
Humans can feast on delicious fare from various local food trucks in Lot B from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days, and shop for all-natural treats, bandanas, and other accessories for their furry friends at dog-themed vendors set up in the same areas.
Musical Performances
Enjoy live jazz from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday as talented student musicians from Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music perform in the gardens.
April 18 | Ian Nussdorfer
A senior at Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music, Ian Nussdorfer is studying bass and saxophone. He is inspired by jazz, rock, gospel and Cuban music and is a frequent performer in the Nashville area.April 19 | Jason Johnson Jason Johnson is a Nashville-native saxophonist, woodwind doubler, and composer currently attending Vanderbilt University, studying under legendary saxophonist Jeff Coffin. He is an active performer and an emerging voice in the city’s jazz and creative music scene.
Activities for Kids
TOTS! offers fun for the little ones in the Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden. From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, kids can enjoy hands-on activities with a dogwood theme.
The Cheekwood Gardening School Classes
Develop a new skill, meet like-minded horticulturists, and expand your gardening abilities with help from The Cheekwood Gardening School. Learn from skilled instructors from area plant societies, local Master Gardeners and Cheekwood’s own in-house experts. These classes and workshops are for participants 18 years old and older only. See the full list of classes and register at cheekwood.org/learn/adult-education-programs.
Japanese Garden Design
April 18 | 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Explore the contemplative beauty of Japanese garden design through the lens of Cheekwood’s own Blevins Japanese Garden (Shōmu-en). Learn about key design principles that you can adapt to your own landscape.
The Cheekwood Gardening School is presented by Tractor Supply.
Adult Hands-On Workshops
Designed for the beginner, these workshops will give you a taste of a variety of art forms and crafting techniques and inspire you to keep creating long after the class has ended. These classes and workshops are for participants 18 years old and older only. See the full list of classes and register at cheekwood.org/learn.
Dogwood Watercolors
April 18 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Capture the delicate beauty and grace of the dogwood blossom through the art of watercolor on paper.
Dogwood Branch Wreaths
April 18 | 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Celebrate the timeless dogwood and arrange flowers, branches, and natural accents into a fresh, welcoming wreath. Leave with a unique piece that celebrates the beauty of the season.
Cheekwood in Bloom: Red, White & Blooms
Experience beauty, community, and history as Cheekwood in Bloom: Red, White & Blooms continues until April 12. This year’s festival honors America’s 250th birthday with a spectacular sea of 250,000 red and white tulips, purple-blue violas, hyacinths, and an ever-growing collection of daffodils, creating a vibrant display throughout the gardens.
Ticket information
Dogs & Dogwoods is free for members and children who are two years old and younger. Reserving a timed-entry ticket in advance is required for all guests. Reserve tickets at cheekwood.org.
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 a 501c3 nonprofit charitable organization. It 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, named the Most Beautiful Garden in Tennessee in 2025 by HGTV, in 2024 and 2025 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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