Families Gather for the Annual Fall for Cheekwood

Just as the leaves on the trees begin to hint at their autumn transmutation and temperatures dip ever-so-slightly into sweater weather, the whispers of fall fill the air. For families in Nashville, Fall for Cheekwood is a cherished tradition as children and their grown-ups return year after year — in varying states of growth — to take a moment, slow down time and forget the hustle and bustle of the busy fall season.

As guests arrived at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, they followed a path leading to a variety of family-friendly activities. The Fall for Cheekwood 2023 co-chairs Mary McCluggage Keith and Caroline Mazey planned a beautiful day for all. After posing for a staged photo op, the first stop for many on the trail was the new fall PSL: Pumpkin Sided Lodging, or pumpkin houses. There, children and their siblings ducked in and out of stunning, thatched-roof tiny homes made of colorful gourds and accents of greenery. Not far away sat the ever-popular cotton candy station, where children could choose their preferred flavor of the sweet treat. While they waited, children and adults were enthralled by the talents of pumpkin-carving expert Lundy Cupp.

Throughout the grounds, guests enjoyed special surprises and delights. Many stopped to say hello to the turtles in the Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden, while others enjoyed music provided by The Cowpokes. Children and grown-ups alike enjoyed rides on the hay wagons and participated in the potato-sack races. After enjoying the trail of activities, families made their way into the Frist Learning Center Great Hall for The Southern Supper, catered by Edley’s Bar-B-Que. The early evening benefit was the perfect family event to kick off fall.