Photo Credit: Cheekwood
New Event Features Half-Price Admission, Music, a Movie Night and More for All to Enjoy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Love is all around at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens as everyone invited to experience five days of special events and the beauty of summertime in the gardens during the inaugural Cheekwood Community Celebration.
Each day of the celebration has a theme and is filled with special day and night programming for guests of all ages. Iconic Nashville cultural institutions will provide entertaining activities, Grammy Award winner Rodney Crowell will perform, local kids’ bands will get their time in the spotlight, a movie night in the gardens will feature the classic love story “The Princess Bride,” and a musical performance by a Beatles tribute band will remind us that all we need is love.
Guests can also enjoy food trucks, daily tours of the gardens and Mansion, and classes from The Cheekwood Gardening School for just $5. Cheekwood’s blockbuster summer exhibition Enchanted Castles is happening concurrently and invites the young and young at heart to discover five stunning, locally crafted playhouses nestled among lush summer blooms.
The Cheekwood Community Celebration will run from June 3 – 7, 2025. “We are thrilled to bring together so many of Nashville’s cultural institutions to celebrate and salute our community,” said Cheekwood President and CEO Jane MacLeod. “This event will showcase both the visual and performing arts amid our glorious gardens with engaging activities for the entire family. It’s an inaugural celebration we are excited to present.”
Throughout the Inaugural Cheekwood Community Celebration, members receive free daytime admission and discounted evening special event tickets. Non-members receive half-price admission.
The Inaugural Cheekwood Community Celebration is supported by the Marlene and Spencer Hays Foundation.
Cheekwood LOVE Team
As Cheekwood’s Love Grows Here campaign continues, guests are invited to join the new Cheekwood LOVE Team and share why they love Cheekwood. Look for tables with information during the Cheekwood Community Celebration. Participants can pick up a complimentary Love Grows Here sticker, Cheekwood seed packet and yard sign while supplies last. You will also be entered into a contest for a chance to win one of 10 prize packages that include a Cheekwood Love Grows Here T-shirt, mug and two complimentary admission passes to any Thursday Night Out concert plus VIP parking. For more details about joining the LOVE Team visit: https://cheekwood.org/whyilovecheekwood
Schedule of Events
Tuesday, June 3: Classics in the Gardens
Daytime | 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Enjoy two performances by the Nashville Opera featuring love songs/arias at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. The Nashville Public Library Puppet Truck will give a free performance of “The Frog Prince” at 2 p.m.
Fun for the Kids: Elizabethan Silhouettes Activity | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Learn about fashion in the age of Queen Elizabeth and then dress a silhouette using coffee filters and watercolors.
Evening | Shakespeare in the Gardens | 6 – 9 p.m.
Experience special performances by The Nashville Shakespeare Festival among the Enchanted Castles and a Shakespearean Cocktail Crawl.
Wednesday, June 4: Tennessee Treasures
Daytime | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum brings its Musical Petting Zoo to Cheekwood from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and pays tribute to Taylor Swift with a Dance Party featuring some of her most beloved songs and a Friendship Bracelet Making Station from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Fun for the Kids: Tennessee Wildflowers Seed Bombs | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Learn about the native wildflowers that blanket the state and make your own seed bomb to take home and plant.
Evening | Under the Stars: Rodney Crowell | 7 p.m.
Legendary singer, songwriter, and Grammy Award winner Rodney Crowell brings his timeless talent to Cheekwood for an intimate concert on Swan Lawn. With a career spanning over five decades, Crowell has crafted unforgettable hits blending country, folk, and Americana, earning widespread acclaim for his storytelling and soulful performances. Premium ticket packages are available, offering exclusive perks for an elevated concert experience.
Thursday, June 5: Groovin’ in the Garden
Daytime | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Join us on Arboretum Lawn for an electrifying day of rock and roll performed by some of the coolest kid bands around! These talented music students will impress and inspire you with their performances and undeniable energy.
Fun for the Kids: Make a Maraca | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
We’re grooving in the garden today, so make a maraca and dance to your own rhythm.
Evening | Thursday Night Out featuring Sunny Dada and AfrokokoRoot | 5 – 9 p.m.
Cheekwood and Grimey’s New & Preloved Music, Nashville’s legendary independent record store, are teaming up for three special Grimey’s in the Garden events in 2025. The first takes place June 5 during Thursday Night Out with a performance by Sunny Dada and AfrikokoRoot. A 12-piece band will perform vibrant rhythms of Afrobeat music blended with jazz, funk, and soul. Two more Grimey’s in the Garden shows happen in October in the Cheekwood Beer Garden. Grimey’s curates the music and their DJs spin eclectic tunes before each show. Win tickets at the Grimey’s location at 1060 E. Trinity Lane.
Friday, June 6: Best Outdoor Classroom
Daytime | 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Take a day to learn in Nashville’s best outdoor classroom. Travel through Cheekwood’s grounds and step into the world of pollinators and understand the science behind a rain garden. Also, meet three visiting animal ambassadors from the Nashville Zoo during 45-minute programs at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Fun for the Kids: 3-D Bluebirds Activity | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Of the many things to see at Nashville’s best outdoor classroom, the bluebirds are among the prettiest! Make your own bluebird to take home with you.
Evening | Movie Night in the Gardens | Gates Open at 7:30 p.m. | Showtime at 8 p.m.
Watch one of the greatest love stories of all time, “The Princess Bride,” unfold on the big screen while relaxing outdoors. A high-spirited adventure that pits true love against inconceivable odds, the movie has charmed generations of fans with its ensemble cast and quotable script.
Saturday, June 7: Sharing the Love
Daytime | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Rejuvenate in nature at a free wellness class, including a Beginner Yoga class at 10 a.m. and a Sound Bath Meditation at 12 p.m., both provided by Small World Yoga. Just bring a mat and join in!
Fun for the Kids: Love Grows Here Activity | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Design your own flower-filled heart and take a little Cheekwood love home with you.
Evening | All You Need is Love Concert | 6 p.m.
Join us on Arboretum Lawn for a concert featuring Forever Abbey Road. This incredible collective of top Nashville musicians will perform an electrifying set of timeless Beatles hits with dynamic energy and exceptional musicianship. Get ready to experience the timeless music of The Beatles like never before.
The Cheekwood Gardening School Presents $5 Classes
The Cheekwood Gardening School is the ultimate resource for the Nashville home gardener, where you can learn from instructors hailing from local Master Gardener Associations, regional plant societies, and Cheekwood’s horticulturists. Take advantage of the opportunity to develop a new skill, meet like-minded horticulturists and expand your gardening abilities with classes for just $5 during the Cheekwood Community Celebration. All classes are held in the Courtyard Classroom at 1:30 p.m. To register visit:
https://cheekwood.org/learn/adult-education-programs/cheekwood-gardening-school/
June 3 | Historic Garden Design: Selections from England, France, and Italy
June 4 | Designing Native Plant Gardens
June 5 | Dig In: Kid-Friendly Gardening
June 6 | Bringing Birds to Your Garden
June 7 | Touch Grass: The Mental Health Benefits of Nature
The Cheekwood Gardening School is presented by Tractor Supply.
Ticket Information
A pre-sale for Cheekwood members begins on April 22. Tickets go on sale to not-yet members starting on April 29. 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. For more information visit https://cheekwood.org/calendar-events/cheekwood-community-celebration/
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.
