Know Before You Glow

Holiday LIGHTS is open 7 nights a week starting November 22, 2024, through January 5, 2025.

Please note that Cheekwood is closed Thanksgiving Day and Night, Christmas Day and Night, and New Year’s Day but will operate Holiday LIGHTS on New Year’s Night (1/1/25).

Entry times are available every 30 minutes from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Cheekwood closes at 10 PM.

The last time slot is 8:30 PM and the event closes at 10 PM.

All guests must exit the grounds by 10 PM.

Cheekwood has parking onsite, but it is limited, so we encourage using rideshare services when possible.

If driving, when you arrive, you will be directed by our parking team to the best available parking spot. Please be prepared to walk a distance to the start of the Holiday LIGHTS experience.

Yes, Parking Lot A is the designated drop-off and pick-up area for rideshares.

Prices vary by program and day.
Adult prices range from $26 – $32.
Youth prices range from $20 – $26.
Children aged 2 and under are free.
There is no Senior or Student discount for this event.
Please note a service fee of $2.00 will be added to each ticket. 

If walk-up tickets are available, there will be a service fee of $3.00 added to each walk-up ticket purchased. 

The service fee is in place to cover ticketing software expenses, administrative costs, and transaction fees for each ticket.

You must reserve a ticket in advance for the date and time of your choice. Tickets can be purchased here.

If you are having trouble purchasing online, please chat with us online or call 615-353-6965.

Tickets are required for ALL guests, including children aged 2 and under.

If tickets are sold out for a given date or time, please select another date or time to visit.

To reduce call volume, please do not try to call to secure tickets when they are sold out online. If a date or time is sold out online, there are no tickets available to purchase via phone or on-site. If tickets become available, they will show online.

Yes, Cheekwood Members do need to buy tickets in advance.

Cheekwood Members receive a discount per ticket based upon membership level.

No. Admission to Holiday LIGHTS and Cheekwood are separate. Holiday LIGHTS is a special event with admission starting at 4:30 PM. If you visit Cheekwood during the day, regular admission prices apply. If you have both regular admission and Holiday LIGHTS tickets, you must exit the garden by 3:30 PM and return to enter Holiday LIGHTS at your chosen entry time.

No. The reciprocal membership discount is not valid for special events, including Holiday LIGHTS.

Active duty and retired military personnel receive 50% off Gardens Only tickets on select Monday nights for up to 5 people with valid ID. Any tickets purchased with a discount are non-transferable and non-refundable. Please purchase your tickets at least 24 hours prior to the date and time you wish to visit. Tickets can be purchased here.

Late Night LIGHTS tickets are discounted tickets available on select Monday – Thursday nights for 8:30 PM Gardens Only entry. Price is $20 per person (adult or youth). Look for “Late Night LIGHTS” ticket options on the ticket calendar here.

The Merry and Bright package includes 2 Holiday LIGHTS Garden and Mansion entry tickets, 2 drink tickets, 2 s’mores kits, and a 10% discount coupon for the Holiday Marketplace.

Specific entry date and time are not required in advance. Just present your certificate upon arrival.

Valid for any night of Holiday LIGHTS (November 22, 2024 – January 5, 2025). Please note that Cheekwood is closed Thanksgiving Day and Night, Christmas Day and Night, and New Year’s Day but will operate Holiday LIGHTS New Year’s Night (1/1/25) from 4:30 PM – 10 PM.

Merry & Bright packages can be purchased here.

Tickets are nonrefundable outside of the event being closed due to weather but may be transferred one time to another date in advance of your scheduled date and time of visit for a fee of $5 per ticket.

Tickets can only be transferred within the same program (for example, Holiday LIGHTS tickets cannot be transferred to daytime tickets). Exchange is based on availability and is not guaranteed. A new receipt will be sent from [email protected]

once the transfer is complete, which can take up to 24 hours. If your request cannot be completed, a Guest Services Representative will reach out to you via e-mail.

Ticket transfers can be requested here.

We strongly advise that you plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to your entry time to allow time for parking. To provide you with the best experience, we ask that you enter as close to the time designated on your ticket as possible.

No, the ticket time is for your entry time only. You can stay on the property for as long as you want, within operating hours, of course.

To provide you with the best experience, we ask that you enter as close to the time designated on your ticket as possible. If you are running late for your time slot, we will accommodate you on the same date as your ticket.

The Holiday LIGHTS walking path is a little over a mile long. This is a self-guided experience; there are no shuttles or guided tours.

In some areas the lighting will be low level as part of the experience. You are encouraged to bring along a flashlight in case of an emergency; this should not be used unless it is necessary.

The path is not covered. All guests are reminded that this is an outdoor illuminated event, and the weather may be inclement. Please wear appropriate outdoor clothing and footwear for winter.

Yes! Please use #cheekwood to share your experience. While waiting for that perfect shot, please do not block pathways or the view of others. No tripods allowed. Photographs and videos are not to be used for commercial purposes. No night commercial photography is allowed during Holiday LIGHTS.

Please note drones are not permitted.

While pets are not allowed (outside of ADA-designated service animals) we invite you to bring your pup to Photos with Santa during daytime operations. See here for more information.

Holiday LIGHTS is a rain or shine event. Cheekwood reserves the right to shut down or cancel the event if weather conditions are determined to pose a risk to our guests’ safety. Should Cheekwood find it is safest to close, all ticket holders will be notified via e-mail and our social media channels will be updated.

Cheekwood is committed to making its exhibitions, programs, services, grounds, and facilities as accessible and user-friendly as possible. However, due to the historic nature of the gardens and Mansion, some areas may present challenges to those in wheelchairs, strollers, or who have difficulty walking or climbing. We do our best to note these areas on our event map. The one-mile outdoor pathway for Holiday LIGHTS is paved and barrier free.

Cheekwood provides complimentary manually operated wheelchairs as a courtesy to our guests. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis and can be checked out from the Admissions Office upon check-in.

Yes, a selection of food and drinks will be available to purchase from our bar kiosks and Café 29.

Please note that outside alcohol is not permitted.

Guests are welcome to bring their own food. We have several benches on the grounds, or you can bring a blanket. Glass containers and alcohol are not permitted.

Alcoholic beverages are available at Café 29 and at bar stations located throughout the gardens.

Our Holiday Marketplace in the Frist Learning Center will be open all season long! In addition, you can shop at the Garden Shop located in Botanic Hall and the Museum Shop located inside the Historic Mansion and Museum of Art.

Holiday LIGHTS is an outdoor illuminated event. If the weather presents a hazard and a risk to safety and Holiday LIGHTS is cancelled, ticket holders will be notified by e-mail. We will also update our social media channels. If you are worried about the weather, we advise you to check your e-mail and our social media channels for the latest updates.

Tickets can be transferred before your original scheduled date and time of visit for $5 per ticket. You can transfer your Holiday LIGTHS or Late Night Lights tickets here.

Cheekwood is unable to offer refunds once Holiday LIGHTS ticket(s) have been purchased. In the event you are unable to use your ticket, please consider your purchase a donation to Cheekwood as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

If your tickets are lost or if you require your e-tickets be re-sent to you, please contact us at [email protected]. We can also find your order by your last name upon arrival at the event.