CAROLYN THOMBS
Featuring 150 renowned antiques, art, and horticulture dealers, immersive garden showcases, live music, special events, and more, The Antiques & Garden Show of Nashville is one of the city’s most highly anticipated events, drawing more than 15,000 attendees annually.
The multi-day event returns to Music City Center January 31 – February 2, and in honor of its milestone 35th anniversary, the 2025 Show promises to be one for the books. As always, attendees can expect a phenomenal lecture series with internationally renowned leaders in their fields. The 2025 Show includes some can’t-miss celebrity appearances, including a Keynote Lecture with actress, model, author, entrepreneur, and design enthusiast Brooke Shields and her longtime collaborator and friend, designer David Flint Wood. Plus, the Designing Music City Lecture will feature country music icon Sheryl Crow and author and philanthropist Lauren Akins, alongside their shared interior designer April Tomlin.
With so much to see and experience, it’s an honor to help bring this event to life. We chatted with the 2025 General Chairs, Paige Hill and Dawn Looney, to learn more about the Show and what it means to them. (antiquesandgardenshow.com)
Nashville Lifestyles: What made you want to chair the Antiques & Garden Show of Nashville?
Paige Hill & Dawn Looney: We consider the Antiques & Garden Show the Super Bowl of all things home and garden, and an enchanting antidote each year to the winter blues. With five sons between us, this is truly the perfect creative outlet for us! We are sincerely honored and humbled to be playing a small part in bringing the 2025 Show to life.
NL: How are the funds raised from this event utilized and how much has been raised over the years?
PH & DL: The annual Show supports its two original beneficiaries, Cheekwood Estate & Gardens and ECON Charities, and we’re proud to say that in the last 34 years has given $11 million back to these incredible local organizations. Cheekwood utilizes these funds by continuing to expand its education, preservation, conservation, and community outreach programming so that we all can continue to enjoy, learn, grow, and celebrate this haven located in our own backyard. ECON Charities utilizes these funds through partnerships with local nonprofit organizations to eliminate barriers for fragile families to enjoy enriching cultural experiences and create lifelong memories that have a lasting positive impact on the individuals and strengthen our community.
NL: Why is it important to support the Antiques & Garden Show?
PH & DL: We absolutely love the charities that the Show supports, Cheekwood and the Economic Club of Nashville (ECON) Charities. Cheekwood, a preserved country estate, provides the opportunity for thousands of visitors a year to experience wonderful horticultural and educational programs and events. ECON Charities partners with and distributes funds to two organizations, The Family Center and Light a Spark, which are dedicated to enhancing and improving the lives of children and families in the greater Nashville area.
NL: What inspires you to utilize your time, talents, and treasure for nonprofits?
PH & DL: We truly view all of our time, talents, and treasures as gifts from God and strive to steward these things with wisdom and purpose.