We went to El Día de los Muertos at Cheekwood this past weekend and had an absolutely remarkable time. Whether it is part of your culture or not, it is well worth checking out the exhibition hosted by the wonderful people of Cheekwood each year. Below, we share a montage of the incredible pictures and videos we captured during our time there.
What is El Día de los Muertos?
The Day of the Dead is a holiday traditionally celebrated on November 1 and 2, though other days, such as October 31 or November 6, may be included depending on the locality. The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and remember friends and family members who have died.
What did Cheekwood have to offer at El Día de los Muertos?
The incredible day was filled with stunning costumes, delicious food, and, more importantly, an understanding of why the day and celebration exist.
As we walked the grounds of Cheekwood, you couldn’t help but be engulfed in the atmosphere and the importance of the day by so many. They had delicious Mexican food trucks and lots and lots of vendors set up so you could purchase stuff to celebrate the holiday at home, maybe next year, and activities for everyone to do. And it was amazing to see people of all ages creating Marigold Crowns or Calaveras. The most important part of the trip was visiting the Ofrendas.
What is an Ofrendas (Altar)?
An ofrenda is a spiritual altar or offering that is a central part of the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) celebration in Mexico.
The moment you walked into the room where they had the Ofrendas, you couldn’t help but feel their raw emotions. I was blown away by the Ofrendas created by these individuals seeking remembrance and love for those who passed. It was all capped by the Memory Tree, where you could write down a memory and hang it from the tree.
If you ever have the chance to attend El Día de los Muertos at Cheekwood, I highly recommend it. A big shoutout to Cheekwood for having us out to celebrate the big holiday.
About Cheekwood Estate & Gardens
With its intact and picturesque vistas, Cheekwood is distinguished as one of the leading Country Place Era estates in the nation. Formerly the family home of Mabel and Leslie Cheek, the 1930s estate, with its 30,000-square-foot Mansion and 55-acres of gardens, today serves the public as a botanical garden, arboretum, and art museum with furnished period rooms and galleries devoted to American art from the 18th to mid-20th centuries. The property includes 13 distinct gardens including the Blevins Japanese Garden and the Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden, as well as a 1.5-mile woodland trail featuring outdoor monumental sculpture. Each year, Cheekwood hosts seasonal festivals including Cheekwood in Bloom, Summertime at Cheekwood, Cheekwood Harvest and Holiday LIGHTS. Cheekwood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and nationally as a Level II Arboretum.
It is a three-time voted USA Today Top 10 Botanical Garden, in 2024 received a Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award, and in 2021 was named by Fodors as one of the 12 Most Beautiful Gardens in the American South. Cheekwood is located eight miles southwest of downtown Nashville at 1200 Forrest Park Drive. It is open Tuesday through Sunday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., with extended days and hours of operation depending on the season. Visit cheekwood.org for current hours and to purchase advance tickets required for admission.
Music City Drive-in 
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