All tracks lead to Cheekwood Estate & Gardens on Saturday, September 3 for this fun, family-friendly Labor Day weekend event all about trains! The event, in partnership with Nashville Parent Magazine, will celebrate the new TRAINS! Enchanted Express expansion from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
As part of the festivities, Cheekwood’s long-time volunteer caretaker of the trains, Conductor Chuck, will present interactive train talks at 11 a.m. and noon. Toddlers accompanied by an adult will enjoy a train-themed craft and storytime from 10 a.m. to noon during Saturday’s TOTS! program. Popsicles will be available to purchase from King of Pops from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition, guests can stop by the Garden Gift Shop for 50% off TRAINS! merchandise all day on Saturday.
“Nashville Parent is excited to partner with Cheekwood this Labor Day weekend for the Cheekwood Celebration of TRAINS! Enchanted Express,” says Nashville Parent Publisher Stewart Day. “Come out, explore and let your imagination soar.”
About the expansion
“Garden railways grown from the earth” perfectly describes the Enchanted Express, a new expansion of the train exhibit at Cheekwood. Lending to its surroundings in nature, the architecture of a traditional train station combines with the features of a tree to create a “grown from the earth” look and feel. The new train station transports and introduces children to a secret garden and charming forest scenes with animal and insect residents that cohabitate together in the ecosystem.
Over 235 feet of track has been added to the original layout with three new track loops and the enchanted forest depot where kids can learn about the sights and sounds of the forest. Also inside the depot are two child-sized tunnels, leading to an observation dome for an up-close and immersive ‘worm’s-eye-view’ of a forest scene.
For more information about the exhibit, click here.
