Inside Nashville’s 35th Annual Antiques & Garden Show
A celebration of beauty and excellence, the Antiques & Garden Show of Nashville celebrated its 35th year with another incredible showcase at Music City Center. The event took place from January 31st to February 2nd and featured over 150 exhibitors and their impressive antiques, fine art, and botanical displays. Both whimsical and welcoming, the event attracted fashionably dressed patrons from all over, who roamed about the city center surrounded by timeless treasure and the whispered promise of spring.
The theme of this year’s exhibition was Cultivating Home: Life Well Tended. The longest running and most renowned show of its kind in the country, the 2025 Antiques and Garden Show bridged the gap between nature and our homes, inviting guests to consider the serene connection between indoor and outdoor living spaces. The curation of the show lent itself to the theme of cultivation, showcasing the time and effort it takes to create and maintain spaces of exceptional beauty and significance. This year’s event was led by President Chris Hilton and Co-Chairs Paige Hill and Dawn Looney, who marked the 35-year milestone by dedicating the show to Connie Cigarran and the late Sigourney Cheek, the women who were the show’s pioneers in 1991. Honoring the past and looking to the future, the heart behind the Antiques & Garden Show is a hopeful one, confident that the event will remain a beloved tradition for years to come.
Exhibitors set up for the weekend in carefully curated booths, perfectly arranged to display their unique pieces. Stepping into each booth was like stepping into a different time or corner of the world. Among other cities, dealers flocked from Charleston, Nantucket, London, Philadelphia, and San Antonio, bringing pieces that have stood the test of time and distance. Rich in color and craftmanship, there was a sense of whimsy and wonder wandering through displays of Swedish Grandfather clocks, Romanesque statues, jewel-toned paintings, seashell art, and exotic taxidermy. Certainly, there was no lack of things to marvel at, as each booth evoked a new sense of space and time. There were antique pieces that seemed fit for royal courts or cozy cottages, as well as artwork and artifacts that would not be out of place in the collection of some ancient explorer.
The antique and fine art booths were punctuated by gorgeous garden displays and an impressive bar, all dressed in rich florals and color. The botanical displays, curated by some of Nashville’s most talented garden and landscape designers, were truly a sight to behold. These displays, alongside booths selling a variety of plants and seeds, brought visions of warmer days into the winter weekend.
Upon entering the event, eyes were immediately drawn to the enchanting Entry Garden. The garden, titled “Vernal Greensward,” curated by Primary Designer Tres Fromme, Cheekwood’s Designer in Residence, was made distinct by a fabric pavilion, flanking fountains, and a field of blooming daffodils—the scene dotted with floral sheep designed by Artist in Residence Lewis Miller. The display was both innovative and refreshing, welcoming patrons with a moment of pause upon entering the bustling space.
The East Garden “Somewhere South of Cotswolds” was designed by Josiah Lockard & Associates + Designed Ecologies Studio. Complete with a handmade Victorian glasshouse, warm string lights, and Wildfire Black Tupelo trees, this display was a celebration of both English classicalism and Southern charm. Led by Primary Designer Josiah Lockard, the mission of Josiah Lockard & Associates is to create regenerative landscapes that, over time, lead to environmental healing through a convergence of culture and ecology.
Located in the back center of the hall, the West Garden, “IngleWylde,” looked like a scene straight from the pages of a story book. Designed by Daigh Rick Landscape Architects LLC, this landscape display was defined by a snaking, wattled archway made of wood foraged from Charlotte, Tennessee. Upon entering through the arch, guests were led past a reflecting pool and into a cozy model of an English cottage. Through this careful and creative landscaping, Primary Designers Anne Daigh and Wade Rick created a space that was both playful and harmonious.
Since its dawn 35 years ago, the Antiques and Garden Show of Nashville has boasted an incredible host of leadership, committee members, sponsorship, and benefactors who remain crucial to the execution and success of the event. The show’s exceptionality is also made possible through its volunteers, who work hard to execute such an intricate and adored event. All-in-all, the extraordinary result is a testament to the impact of collective effort and care, both from inside and outside the Nashville community.
Alongside collaboration, the Antiques & Garden Show is a place of inspiration. Several lectures were held over the weekend, with an impressive lineup of hosts. The Keynote Speaker was well-known actress, author, and model Brooke Shields, who engaged in conversation with British designer David Flint Wood and moderator India Hicks. The keynote lecture, “Cultivating the Character of Home,” gave listeners insight into the curation of Shields’s breathtaking homes.
The designing Music City lecture, “Cultivating the Way We Live,” was hosted by Grammy-winner Sheryl Crow and local philanthropist and wife of country singer Thomas Rhett, Lauren Akins. Crow and Atkins discussed the beauty of livable spaces alongside Nashville interior designer April Tomlin.
The floral lecture, “Cultivating a Beautiful Life,” featured British floral designers Willow Crossley (often referred to as the U.K.’s “Queen of Flowers”) and Shane Connolly, and was moderated by Margot Shaw, founder and editor-in-chief of FLOWER Magazine. the two part lecture covered sustainable floristry and gave a creative insight into the passion and expertise of these renowned industry experts.
Last, but certainly not least, the design lecture “Cultivating Timeless Design” explored the intersection between classical and personal design. Interior Designers Rita Konig and Veere Grenney were led in conversation by FREDERIC magazine Editor-in-Chief Dara Caponigro. The lectures hosted at the Antiques & Garden show were accompanied by book signings and purchase options.
Since its beginning in 1991, the Antiques and Garden Show of Nashville has raised over $11 million for its beneficiaries: Cheekwood Estate & Gardens and ECON Charities. Cheekwood is a 1930s estate recognized nationally for its history and grandeur. The mansion has 55 acres of garden, an arboretum, and an art museum that welcomes 400,000 visitors per year, thanks to proceeds. The support allows for the estate’s mission of education, preservation, and conservation to continue.
In conjunction with Cheekwood, ECON Charities is a part of the Economic Club of Nashville, which is dedicated to nonprofit partnership and city improvement, in order to better enrich the lives of vulnerable families. The two main ECON programs directly supported by the Antiques & Garden Show are The Family Center, an organization that aims to break the cycle of childhood trauma, and Light A Spark, an initiative whose goal is to build resilient families through cultural experience. The Antique & Garden Show is the primary fundraiser for these causes.
The beneficiaries are the heart and soul behind the event, ensuring that alongside a celebration of beautiful goods, charitable love remains the central mechanism.
Gathering to observe and share in beauty is a way to keep wonder alive. The Antiques and Garden Show of Nashville is an annual celebration of excellent artistry, innovation, and curation that is certainly worth your time. The 35th anniversary was no exception, sparking conversation and inspiration around what it truly means to cultivate home and live a life that is well-tended to. If you didn’t make it out to this year’s event, we hope you enjoyed this peek into the festivities. Keep up-to-date on the show’s website; next year is sure to be just as spectacular!
In the meantime, some more photos from this year’s show:
