Cheekwood’s latest expansion is all about kids. The new, two-acre Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden — opening Saturday, March 7 — blends art and nature, offering kids of all ages an interactive and educational outdoor experience.
The new addition includes secret nooks, hidden spaces, water features (including a wishing well and turtle pond), an art studio, labyrinth and an Adventure Walk designed for toddlers — complete with a Tea House, Story Tree, Fairy Garden and more.
The garden’s turtle pond serves as a rehab environment for turtles with previous injuries or issues, and the collection features a diverse group of species that vary in size and behavior for kids to observe.
The Children’s Garden addition comes with new programming for little ones. Cheekwood’s weekly Tuesday for Tots program is now called Tots!, and it will run five days a week, Tue – Sat 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., beginning Tuesday, March 10. Each week includes a theme with drop-in art and garden activities and storytimes at 10:30, 11 and 11:30 a.m.
March's weekly Tots! theme are:
Parts of a Plant (March 10 – 14)
What Plants Need to Grow (March 17 – 21)
Japan Week (March 24 – 28)
Root Plants (March 31 – April 4)
GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION
The Children’s Garden opens in tandem with the Cheekwood in Bloom spring festival (March 7 – April 5). Your family can explore the new garden, participate in Tots! activities (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.), enjoy performances by the W.O. Smith Select Singers Choir (10:30 & 11:30 a.m.) and hear local author Jessica Young read from her new book, A Wish is a Seed (11 a.m., 12 & 1 p.m.).
Cheekwood is located at 1200 Forrest Park Drive, Nashville. Hours are Tue – Sat 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission is $20 adults, $13 ages 3 – 17, free ages 2 and younger. Call 615-356-8000 or visit cheekwood.org.
