Families Gather for the Annual Fall for Cheekwood
Though there were summer-like temperatures in the air, families got into the autumn spirit at the 11th annual Fall for Cheekwood. The always-anticipated fall festival serves as a starting point to forthcoming holiday happenings, with activities for visitors of all ages to enjoy.
Kelsey Finger and Lauren Trent served as chairs for the 2024 event, which was soundtracked by a live bluegrass band. For kids, sack races, a hay-covered slide and a cotton candy station proved popular. They also enjoyed face painting, an arts-and-crafts station and the ability to run throughout the picture-perfect grounds. Adults, meanwhile, imbibed seasonal cocktails as they took in the stunning fall florals and decor. This year, Cheekwood planted more than 4,000 chrysanthemums across the property — and crafted a 9-foot-tall, pumpkin-shaped topiary from orange mums.
The whole family came together to participate in hayrides, watch Lundy Cupp masterfully carve pumpkins, marvel at life-size pumpkin houses, and pose for photos with a professional photographer. They also strolled through Turner Seasons Garden to see a selection of showstopping scarecrows created by community members. This year’s Scarecrow Trail theme was “personify a color,” which challenged artists to craft scarecrows in every shade of the rainbow. When it was time to eat, attendees young and old sat down to a delicious meal courtesy of Edley’s Bar-B-Que.
Fall for Cheekwood isn’t held just for a good time. This year’s event raised money for Destination Cheekwood, which offers free field trips to school groups from Tennessee, Southern Kentucky and Northern Alabama. Created for students of all ages, the field trip’s curriculum — which is up to state standards and led by trained educators — covers topics such as art, history and botany. Thanks to generous funding, Cheekwood welcomed more than 150 schools and nearly 12,000 students to its estate and gardens in 2023.
