Holiday LIGHTS at Cheekwood turns the gardens of this Nashville estate into a one-mile walk through more than a million twinkling lights, running from November 20, 2026 through January 3, 2027 with nightly hours from 4:30pm to 10pm. New for 2026 is a heated igloo experience that seats up to eight guests with blankets and a charcuterie or dessert board, plus a handcrafted hot air balloon display suspended in the Loggia and An Enchanted Noel, a French-inspired installation in the Historic Mansion designed by former White House floral designer Laura Dowling.
The event suits families, couples and anyone who likes a slow, photogenic stroll rather than a thrill ride, and most visits run one to two hours depending on how long you linger at the s’mores fire pits or the Holiday Marketplace. Tickets are timed entry and must be reserved in advance online, with walk-up tickets available only if inventory remains, so buying ahead is the safer bet, especially on weekends.
Stats at a Glance
- Venue: Cheekwood Estate & Gardens
- City: Nashville
- State: Tennessee
- Dates: November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027
- Hours: 4:30pm to 10pm nightly (entry slots every 30 minutes from 4:30pm to 8:30pm)
- Tickets: $26 to $32 adult, $20 to $26 youth (3 to 17), non-member; members pay less, roughly $17 to $23 adult
- Timed entry: yes
- New for 2026: Heated igloo experience with champagne and charcuterie, plus An Enchanted Noel mansion display and a suspended hot air balloon installation
What’s new for 2026
The headline addition for 2026 is a heated igloo experience, a private seating area for up to eight guests stocked with blankets and a charcuterie or dessert board, available as an extra-cost add-on. The Historic Mansion houses An Enchanted Noel, a French-inspired installation created by former White House floral designer Laura Dowling, and the Loggia features a handcrafted hot air balloon with a blue-and-white striped canopy by Studio Cera Marie. Returning favorites include the Dancing Lights of TRAINS!, which gives Cheekwood’s permanent model train exhibit a glittering holiday makeover.
The lights and displays
The core experience is a one-mile walking path through the gardens lit with more than a million lights, including the Peppermint Path and the Star Field. A standout feature is the 28-foot Pixel Pine in the Bradford Robertson Color Garden, a tall synchronized light display that anchors photos for most visitors. The Dancing Lights of TRAINS! exhibit adds lights and festive touches to the model train displays, and the Historic Mansion’s daytime hours (9am to 3:30pm) let visitors see An Enchanted Noel before the evening lights switch on.
Tickets, prices and member nights
Cheekwood uses date-based pricing rather than fixed rates: non-peak night adult tickets run $26 for gardens only or $29 for gardens plus mansion, rising to $29 and $32 on peak nights, with youth tickets a few dollars less at every tier. Members get a discount at every tier, paying roughly $17 to $23 for adults depending on the night and ticket type, and children 2 and under are free. All tickets carry a service fee of $2 for advance purchases or $3 for walk-ups, and entry is timed in 30-minute slots that must be booked online in advance through cheekwood.org, since walk-up tickets are only sold if a time slot still has availability. Parking is $5 per vehicle for non-members, while members park free for one vehicle per visit; onsite parking is limited, so Cheekwood encourages rideshare on busy nights. The event closes on Thanksgiving Day and night, Christmas Day and night, and New Year’s Day, but it is open on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s night.
Food, drinks and extras
Guests can warm up at fireside s’mores stations scattered along the path, and Cheekwood’s Perenn café serves hot chocolate and seasonal treats for anyone who wants something warm without leaving the gardens. The new heated igloo experience is the main extra-cost add-on for 2026, offering a private seating area with blankets and a charcuterie or dessert board for up to eight people, and the Holiday Marketplace sells seasonal décor and gifts if you want to shop while you walk.
Tips for your visit
Book your timed entry slot online before you go, since walk-up tickets depend on leftover inventory and weekends sell out fastest. Arrive close to your entry time rather than early, and plan on one to two hours to cover the full one-mile path at a relaxed pace, longer if you stop for s’mores or shopping. Tennessee winter evenings can be cold and the path is outdoors the whole way, so dress warmly and wear comfortable walking shoes; strollers are fine on the paved paths. Check the Cheekwood website for weather-related closures before heading out, and remember the event is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day and night, plus New Year’s Day.
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Holiday LIGHTS at Cheekwood 2026 FAQs
When is Holiday LIGHTS at Cheekwood 2026?
Holiday LIGHTS runs from November 20, 2026 through January 3, 2027, nightly from 4:30pm to 10pm, with entry time slots every 30 minutes from 4:30pm to 8:30pm. The event is closed on Thanksgiving Day and night, Christmas Day and night, and New Year’s Day.
How much are Holiday LIGHTS at Cheekwood tickets in 2026?
Non-member adult tickets range from $26 (gardens only) to $32 (gardens plus mansion) depending on the night, with youth tickets a few dollars less. Pricing is date-based, so peak nights like weekends cost more than weekday visits. Members pay a discounted rate, roughly $17 to $23 for adults, and a $2 to $3 service fee applies per ticket.
Do you need to buy Holiday LIGHTS tickets in advance?
Yes, entry is timed and tickets should be booked online in advance for a specific date and 30-minute arrival window. Walk-up tickets are sold only if a time slot still has availability, so advance purchase is the more reliable option, especially on weekends and holidays.
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Photo: Unknown / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.