Japanese Moon Viewing Festival Returns to Cheekwood

Japanese art, gardens, and culture will take center stage during an enchanting afternoon and moonlit evening at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens. The annual Japanese Moon Viewing Festival (Otsukimi) will be held on Sunday, October 5, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., in partnership with the Consulate-General of Japan and the Japan-America Society of Tennessee.

Timed to align with the Harvest Moon, this cherished celebration offers guests the chance to immerse themselves in Japanese traditions while exploring the beauty of Cheekwood’s gardens. Attendees can enjoy tea ceremonies, musical performances, a kimono fashion show, cultural demonstrations, art activities, and more.

“The celebration of the Harvest Moon is a time of reflection and appreciation,” said Jonathan Contrades, Cultural Programs Coordinator for the Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville. “The Japanese Moon Viewing Festival at Cheekwood is an extraordinarily unique event in our region with cultural performances and demonstrations that are hard to find anywhere else.”

Highlights of the Festival

• Tea Ceremonies at 5 p.m., 7 p.m., and 8 p.m., including a special kendama demonstration at 7 p.m.
• Performances by Nashville Taiko (5:30 p.m.) and Shamisen Knoxville (7:30 p.m.)
• Kimono Fashion Show & Welcome Ceremony (6 p.m.)
• Closing Ceremony & Folktale Reading “Rabbit in the Moon” (8:30 p.m.)
• Hands-on art activities including Japanese calligraphy, kanji writing, pop-up Luna moths, and banner-making.
• Traditional demonstrations: Mochi pounding, ikebana (flower arranging), bonsai displays, kamishibai (paper theater), and bilingual tours of the Blevins Japanese Garden (Shōmu-en).
• Haiku Contest winners will be announced during the 6 p.m. welcome ceremony.

Guests will also be able to enjoy Japanese food and drinks from local vendors throughout the evening.

Ticket Information

The festival is free for Cheekwood members. For not-yet members, tickets are $23 for adults, $16 for youth (ages 3–17), and free for children under 2. Timed-entry tickets must be reserved in advance at cheekwood.org.