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Fall comes alive at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens as Cheekwood Harvest returns September 19 through November 1, transforming the historic 55-acre estate into one of Middle Tennessee's premier autumn destinations. Featuring the debut of the new Marigold River, more than 100,000 pumpkins, Harvest NIGHTS, Pumpkin Village, Scarecrow Trail and seasonal programming for all ages, the six-week festival offers countless ways to celebrate the beauty of fall.
New this year, guests can experience Marigold River, a display featuring more than 2,500 marigolds in vibrant shades of red, orange and yellow flowing along the walkway between the Bradford Robertson Color Garden and Arboretum Lawn.
The celebration continues after sunset with Harvest NIGHTS, held on Thursday evenings throughout the festival. Guests can stroll illuminated gardens while enjoying live music, food trucks, seasonal cocktails, garden games and themed activities. The towering Jack-o'-Lantern Topiary, constructed from approximately 200 hand-carved faux jack-o'-lanterns, returns as the centerpiece of the Bradford Robertson Color Garden.
A guest favorite, Pumpkin Village, returns to the Arboretum Lawn, featuring more than 100,000 pumpkins sourced from local farms displayed alongside 5,000 colorful chrysanthemums. Visitors can explore three charming pumpkin houses and purchase pumpkins in a variety of colors for decorating and carving.
Guests can also enjoy the annual Scarecrow Trail, where local artists, schools and community organizations transform scarecrow frames into imaginative creations inspired by this year's theme, "Once Upon a Harvest." Fifteen juried scarecrows will be featured throughout the gardens.
Additional festival highlights include:
Harvest NIGHTS
September 24-October 29 | Thursdays | 5 p.m.-9 p.m.
Enjoy illuminated scarecrows and the Jack-o'-Lantern Topiary after dark, plus live music, food trucks, seasonal cocktails, pumpkin-carving demonstrations and family-friendly activities. The season concludes October 29 with the Bootanical Bash costume contest and dance party.
Japanese Moon Viewing (Otsukimi)
September 27 | 4 p.m.-9 p.m.
The 12th annual celebration of Japanese culture features tea ceremony demonstrations, mochi pounding, taiko drumming, art activities, bilingual garden tours, bonsai displays, food vendors and handcrafted goods. New this year, a traditional shakuhachi flute performance will accompany tea ceremonies.
Halloween Pooch Party
October 24-25 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Dogs and their owners are invited to enjoy costume contests, photo opportunities in Pumpkin Village, dog-friendly vendors and special treats. This year's featured costume category is "Founding Paw-thers" in celebration of America's 250th anniversary.
El Día de los Muertos
October 31-November 1 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
The 27th annual Day of the Dead festival features student-created murals, ofrendas, Latin and Aztec dance performances, live music, authentic cuisine, artisan vendors and hands-on activities for all ages.
Gardening School and Workshops
Cheekwood's Gardening School will offer fall-focused classes from September 13 through October 25, covering topics such as cool-season vegetables, plant propagation, woody plant design and plant identification. New "Ask a Gardener" sessions will take place during Harvest NIGHTS. Adult art workshops throughout the season will include relief printing, miniature Zen gardens, leather visor making and floral weaving.
Artist-in-Residence
Kansas City ceramic artist Maura Wright serves as Cheekwood's 2026 Martin Shallenberger Artist-in-Residence through October 4. Her site-specific installation draws inspiration from Cheekwood's decorative arts collections, Historic Mansion and gardens.
Ticket Information
Tickets for Cheekwood Harvest, Harvest NIGHTS and Japanese Moon Viewing go on sale August 11 at Cheekwood.org.