Cheekwood was absolutely magical ✨
From the moment we arrived, the experience felt so thoughtfully done. The adult drinks were fantastic—the mule in particular was so, so good and such a fun treat while walking through the grounds.

The lights singing in sync with the music were stunning and created such an immersive, festive atmosphere. It truly felt like stepping into a holiday storybook. The trains were a huge hit with my kids—they were completely mesmerized by all the tiny details and craftsmanship. You could tell so much care went into every scene, and it made the experience feel special for both kids and adults.

Bathrooms were easy to access and available, which made the evening stress-free for families. Just a heads-up: the castle does require separate admission, but it’s good to know ahead of time.

Overall, Cheekwood is a must-see during the season—beautiful, magical, family-friendly, and with great touches for adults too. We’ll absolutely be back!

One helpful tip: parking may be a bit challenging if you’re handicap or have mobility concerns. The parking areas are somewhat gravelly and hilly, so I’d definitely recommend getting dropped off at the top if possible for easier access.

– Brianne M

My wife absolutely enjoyed the Christmas lights. Im a native Nashvillian so i grew up going to cheekwood. She's from Fl and her never seen such beauty so I decided to open her eyes to how beautiful Nashville can be. Her favorite area was Cheekwood trains, mine was the mansion. Had there not been a problem with the heat in the mansion this review would be longer and have 5 stars BUUUUUUT there was a HUGE problem with the heat inside the mansion. It was in the 60's outside which was perfect weather for the gardens but inside the mansion the heater was broken so the heat was BLASTING! it felt like it was in the high 80's inside as we walked around. Everyone was fanning and wiping sweat from their brow as we all tried to walk around and enjoy what we were seeing. I honestly would've spent more time in the art gallery if it weren't for the extreme heat. The mansion is absolutely gorgeous inside and out but the heat was just to much for us to enjoy it. So after about 30 minutes inside we went back out for some relief. All in all I we drove up from FL so I could take my wife to experience a piece of my childhood and a bit of Nashvilles splendor. Loved every moment of it except for the heat. The food and gift shop stuff was a bit overpriced, but that was to be expected with all the tourists walking about. Love you cheekwood, wish I could've given you a 5 but the heat issue really ruined the whole experience for my wife.

– Raphael Covington

Went there for the holiday mansion and lights. It was pretty and not too crowded. A little on the expensive side and not as elaborate in terms of lights in the gardens as I expected. Very friendly staff knowledgeable about the history of the home and gardens. Will return during daylight hours to see the grounds and visit the japanese garden.

– J Farr