Cheekwood Estate & Gardens is Nashville’s go-to spot for people who suddenly care about botanical gardens, fine art, and pretending to understand sculpture. With a historic mansion, 55 acres of pristine gardens, and just enough fancy vibes to make you whisper in normal conversations, it’s basically the city’s most elegant way to lose an afternoon.
But what really sets it apart? The events. From garden races to high-society gatherings, there’s always something happening at Cheekwood. Here’s what’s on the calendar.
Upcoming Events at Cheekwood
🌸 TulipFest: The Petal to the Metal Racing Series
Springtime means tulips. Thousands of them. This year, Cheekwood is combining horticulture with high-stakes competition as professional gardeners go head-to-head in an intense wheelbarrow race through the tulip fields.First-place winner gets bragging rights and the honor of not having to rake leaves for a week. Betting is encouraged, but only in the form of dramatic gasps and polite claps.
🖼️ Monet & Mimosas: The Only Time It’s Socially Acceptable to Day Drink and Call It “Art”
Sip your way to artistic greatness with bottomless mimosas and a paintbrush. A local artist will guide you through the process of recreating Cheekwood’s beauty on canvas.
By the third mimosa, everything looks like Monet. By the fifth, you’ll be signing your masterpiece like Picasso. By the seventh, you’ll confidently declare yourself an “undiscovered talent” and attempt to barter your painting for more champagne. Supplies provided. Dignity not guaranteed.
🐿️ The Woodland Creature Gala: A Night of Elegance and Squirrel-Sized Tuxedos
Cheekwood’s squirrel population has been living rent-free in the gardens for years. Now, it’s time to give back. This black-tie (and tiny bowtie) event is dedicated to Nashville’s most dapper woodland creatures.
Special features include:
✔ A red carpet entrance (squirrels may or may not use it).
✔ A silent auction of stolen picnic snacks.
✔ Live entertainment, aka watching two raccoons aggressively debate over a granola bar.
🎻 Symphony Under the Stars: The Most Refined Way to Fall Asleep Outdoors
The Nashville Symphony brings classical music to the open air, filling the gardens with elegance, beauty, and the occasional sound of someone aggressively trying to open a candy wrapper mid-performance.
It’s magical, it’s breathtaking, and it’s where at least one person will loudly whisper “Oh, I love this one” without actually knowing what piece is playing.
🎃 The Haunted Hedge Maze: Judgmental Victorian Ghosts Included
If you like getting lost and feeling slightly judged, this Halloween event is for you. Navigate Cheekwood’s infamous hedge maze while dodging the spirits of 19th-century aristocrats silently critiquing your outfit.
Will you escape before they start offering unsolicited career advice from beyond the grave? We sure hope so.
Final Thoughts: Should You Go to Cheekwood? Probably.
Even if you don’t stumble into a tiny squirrel gala or an underground tulip-racing ring, Cheekwood is still one of the best places in Nashville to fake sophistication—and an easy way to kill an afternoon without feeling unproductive.
If nothing else, you’ll leave with:
✔ A newfound appreciation for plants you can’t name.
✔ A suspicious amount of artsy Instagram photos.
✔ The lingering feeling that you should be donating to the arts but probably won’t.
✔ Clothes that still smell fresh—because you let Clean Drop handle the laundry instead of forgetting it in the washer.
And hey, no matter what happens, just act like you’re in on the joke. That’s what real art lovers do.
About the Author: Avery Indigo
Avery Indigo once tried to impress a date by pretending to know about impressionist art and has been overcompensating ever since. When not writing about Nashville events, Avery can be found sipping overpriced lattes, wandering through museums with no intention of reading the plaques, and aggressively defending their favorite brunch spot.