NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The annual Holiday Lights at Cheekwood Mansion and Gardens opens to the public on Friday, transforming the one-mile stretch of gardens into a dazzling display featuring one million lights that required months of preparation beginning in July.
The popular Nashville attraction offers visitors a comprehensive holiday experience with both outdoor light displays throughout the gardens and indoor holiday decorations within the historic mansion.
The extensive preparation process begins during the summer months, with crews working for months to create the elaborate light installation.
"A lot of work goes into this event," said Emily Luxen, director of external relations at Cheekwood.
"We actually start putting up the lights at the end of July," Luxen said.
"It's almost a year-round operation, because one million lights don't go up overnight, right?" Luxen said.
Beyond the light displays, visitors can enjoy additional holiday amenities, including hot cocoa and s'mores, along with a holiday marketplace for seasonal shopping.
The attraction will remain open through January 4, giving visitors several weeks to experience the holiday display.
Want to see the stunning transformation of Cheekwood's gardens into a winter wonderland? Watch our behind-the-scenes coverage of how one million lights create Nashville's most magical holiday destination. Have you visited Cheekwood's Holiday Lights or planning a trip? Share your holiday traditions and experiences with us at Eric.Pointer@NewsChannel5.com
This story was reported by Eric Pointer and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Eric Pointer and our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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