NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Colorful flowers, traditional Mexican music, dance performances and elaborate memorial altars will fill Cheekwood Estate & Gardens this weekend as Nashville celebrates Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, with two cultural festivals honoring family, heritage and loved ones who have passed away.
Cheekwood will host its 27th annual El Día de los Muertos festival Saturday, October 31, and Sunday, November 1, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The two-day celebration will feature live entertainment, traditional foods, community altars, student artwork, and hands-on activities highlighting the cultural traditions of Mexico and Latin America.
First introduced in 2000 to recognize Nashville’s growing Hispanic community, Cheekwood’s festival has become an annual cultural tradition. Organizers work with an advisory committee of Hispanic community members to ensure the celebration reflects the meaning and customs of the holiday.
“At its heart, this is a celebration of family, community, love, and remembrance,” said Arcelia Vázquez, a member of Cheekwood’s El Día de los Muertos Advisory Committee.
A centerpiece of the festival will be the traditional ofrendas, or memorial altars, displayed inside Massey Auditorium. Decorated with photographs, flowers, food and personal keepsakes, the altars honor deceased family members and friends while celebrating the memories they leave behind.
Visitors can also participate in a Memory Tree by writing the name or a remembrance of a loved one and adding it to the display.
Throughout the weekend, the Arboretum Lawn will feature a variety of musical and dance performances. Entertainers include Danza Azteca Guadalupana, Grupo Folklórico Raíces de mi Tierra, De Agave y Son, Rosa Rodriguez, and other regional performers. Both afternoons will feature a fashion show highlighting La Catrinas, the elegantly dressed skeletal figures associated with the holiday.
The festival will also showcase large-scale murals created by Nashville-area middle and high school students. Their artwork, inspired by Día de los Muertos imagery and traditions, will be displayed in the Frist Learning Center Great Hall.
Families can enjoy art activities in the Frist Learning Center Courtyard, including making paper marigold crowns, decorating monarch butterflies, and creating colorful papel picado designs.
Marigolds are especially significant to the holiday, traditionally believed to help guide the spirits of loved ones back to their families. Monarch butterflies are another familiar symbol, associated with their annual migration to Mexico during the celebration.
Local artisans, restaurants, and bakeries will offer handmade crafts, jewelry, gifts, and traditional foods throughout the festival.
Admission is free for Cheekwood members and children ages 17 and younger. Adult nonmember tickets range from $18 to $23 and include admission to the Historic Mansion & Museum. Tickets are available at cheekwood.org. Cheekwood is located at 1200 Forrest Park Drive.
Across town, Nashville City Cemetery will host its inaugural Día de Muertos celebration Sunday, November 1, from 1 to 4 p.m.
The free, family-friendly event at 1001 Fourth Avenue South will feature cultural storytelling, face painting, children’s activities, Mexican food trucks, and community memorial altars.
Among the attractions will be a Dolly Parton-inspired ofrenda and a community altar where visitors can place photographs honoring deceased loved ones, including pets.
Storyteller Jorge Zetina will lead presentations at 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 p.m. Additional activities include sugar skull crafts, book giveaways featuring Spanish-language and Mexican cultural titles, a marigold seed giveaway, and appearances by Catrinas Tennessee.
Metro Council Member Terry Vo, who helped organize the event, said the celebration offers residents an opportunity to experience Mexican traditions while remembering family members and friends.
“Día de Muertos reminds us that remembering those we love is something we can do together as a community,” Vo said.
Free parking will be available at 1000 Sixth Avenue South and the Adventure Science Center overflow lot on Vine Street.
Together, the two celebrations offer Nashville residents opportunities to experience a cultural tradition that views remembrance not simply as mourning, but as a joyful expression of love, family and the enduring connections between generations.
