Event Category: Family Fun

Daytime

10 AM & 12 PM
Enjoy two performances by the Nashville Opera featuring love songs/arias.

2 PM
The Nashville Puppet Truck will give a free performance at 2 PM.

Fun for the Kids

Elizabethan Silhouettes Activity | 10 AM – 2 PM
Learn about fashion in the age of Queen Elizabeth and then dress a silhouette using coffee filters and watercolors.

The Cheekwood Gardening School $5 Class | 1:30 PM

Historic Garden Design: Selections from England, France, and Italy
Explore iconic garden styles from England’s varied landscapes to France’s formal parterre, and Italy’s Renaissance villas. Discover key design elements and historical context.

Instructor
Dr. Marc Lavine, Retired Historian
Register

Evening

Shakespeare in the Gardens | 6 – 9 PM
Experience special performances by The Nashville Shakespeare Festival among the Castles and a Shakespearean Cocktail Crawl.

Special event reservations required

Reserve Tickets

Daytime

9 AM – 4 PM
The Country Music Hall of Fame brings its Musical Petting Zoo (10 AM – 12 PM) to Cheekwood and pays tribute to Taylor Swift with a Dance Party featuring some of her most beloved songs and a Friendship Bracelet Making Station (12 – 2 PM).

Fun for the Kids

Tennessee Wildflowers Seed Bombs | 10 AM – 2 PM
Country music isn’t the only thing native to Tennessee! Learn about the native wildflowers that blanket the state and make your own seed bomb to take home and plant.

The Cheekwood Gardening School $5 Class | 1:30 PM

Designing Native Plant Gardens
Tennessee is one of the most biodiverse states in the country. Learn how to design a native plant garden that showcases Middle Tennessee’s splendor and supports local ecosystems.

Instructor
Paul Prill, Master Gardener
Register

Evening

Under the Stars: An Evening with Rodney Crowell | 7 PM
Legendary singer, songwriter, and Grammy Award winner Rodney Crowell brings his timeless talent to Cheekwood for an intimate concert amid the beautiful gardens.

Special event reservations required

Reserve Tickets

Daytime

10 AM – 2 PM
The Groovin’ in the Garden Festival will be an electrifying day of rock ’n’ roll performed by some of the coolest kid bands around. These talented music students will blow you away with their undeniable energy.

Know a kid who rocks? Sign up below for a chance to join in the fun as young musicians take over the stage.

Performers must be under the age of 16 and must have parental approval.

Groovin’ in the Garden Application

Fun for the Kids

Make a Maraca | 10 AM – 2 PM
We’re grooving in the garden today, so make a maraca and dance to your own rhythm.

The Cheekwood Gardening School $5 Class | 1:30 PM

Dig In: Kid-Friendly Gardening
Get your hands dirty together! This kid-friendly class blends fun, take-home gardening activities with composting and soil care basics. Open to adults and accompanying children.

Instructor
Kaitlyn McGrath, Cheekwood
Register

Evening

Thursday Night Out featuring Sunny Dada and Afrokokoroot | 5 – 9 PM
Join us for a special Thursday Night Out featuring Sunny Dada and his AfrikokoRoot Afrobeat Ensemble. Sunny Dada, with his 12-piece band, will bring the vibrant rhythms of Afrobeat, blending traditional African music with jazz, funk, and soul.

Special event reservations required

Reserve Tickets

Daytime

9:30 – 2:30 PM
The Nashville Zoo brings three animal ambassadors to see and learn about. Travel throughout Cheekwood’s grounds and visit our Education Stations where you can step into the world of pollinators and understand the science behind a rain garden.

Fun for the Kids

3-D Bluebirds Activity | 10 AM – 2 PM
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.

The Cheekwood Gardening School $5 Class | 1:30 PM

Bringing Birds to Your Garden
Explore practical options to attract birds and wildlife. Learn about plants, structures, and practices that support bird populations and create a lively ecosystem you can enjoy year-round.

Instructor
Pandy Upchurch, Tennessee Healthy Habitats
Register

Evening

Movie Night in the Gardens | Gates Open 7:30 PM, Showtime 8 PM
Watch one of the greatest stories of true love, The Princess Bride, unfold on the big screen while relaxing outdoors.

Special event reservations required

Reserve Tickets

Daytime

10 AM & 12 PM
Rejuvenate in nature at a free wellness class, including a morning Beginner Yoga class and a noon Sound Bath Meditation with Small World Yoga. Just bring a mat and join in!

Fun for the Kids

Love Grows Here Activity | 10 AM – 2 PM
Design your own flower-filled heart and take a little Cheekwood love home with you.

The Cheekwood Gardening School $5 Class | 1:30 PM

Touch Grass: Mental Health Benefits of Nature
Discover nature’s impact on your well-being. Learn the science of nature-based wellness, then participate in a mindful forest walk with a certified local guide.

Instructor
Sarah Champion, Certified Guide, Association of Nature & Forest Therapy
Register

Evening

All You Need is Love Concert | 6 PM
Join us on Arboretum Lawn for a special concert featuring Forever Abbey Road. This incredible collective of top Nashville musicians will perform an electrifying set of Beatles hits with dynamic energy and exceptional musicianship. Get ready to experience the timeless music of The Beatles like never before.

Special event reservations required

Reserve Tickets