NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Cheekwood is ready to light up its grounds for the 10th annual Holiday LIGHTS.
The grounds have been transformed into a winter wonderland with more than one million lights throughout the property and a one-mile walking path to see it all. There are smores, seasonal drinks, a Holiday Marketplace to do some Christmas shopping and the intricately designed interior of the mansion.
This year, guests will be able to see a new feature called the “Pixel Pine.” It’s a 28-foot tall tree covered in lights that can be programmed to show different colors and designs.
This year the former Chief Floral Designer at the White House, Laura Dowling, transformed each room inside the historic mansion into a Christmas wonderland. She also helped with an exhibit that follows the First Ladies’ holiday themes from Jacqueline Kennedy who began the tradition in 1961 through the Obama administration when Dowling served as White House Chief Floral Designer. In that exhibit can see images from the White House Historical Society and Presidential libraries. Dowling is also doing some hands-on workshops next month.
Evening hours are 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. for guests to see the lights and mansion. Cheekwood is also open from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for folks to walk the grounds during the day and also tour the mansion.
You can buy tickets at cheekwood.org.
Another example of how one person can truly make a difference. And the best part - we all can help! As a nurse, Laura handles emergencies every day. But nothing could prepare her for the emergency that brought her hometown to its knees. From her current home in Tennessee, she's mobilizing aid and supplies for Helene survivors and is helping make their recovery easier and their holidays brighter. I hope you take a moment to watch her story - you might even feel inspired to lend a helping hand.
-Rebecca Schleicher
