All Things Holiday in Memphis: Lights, Events, & Parades

I remember driving around Memphis in the back seat of my parent’s car with all my siblings when I was little looking at Christmas lights. We’d drink hot chocolate, get into our pajamas, and drive all over trying to find the best display. We did this every year, until one of my sisters got car sick and threw up. Now I’ve started this same tradition with my own three kids.

There are also so many fun holiday events and chances to look at lights indoors and outdoors. This is truly a magical time in our city and I love creating holiday memories with my kids at all of these events.

This year, you can see all the fun lights that the Memphis area has to offer! In no particular order, here is our list of where to see all the best lights:

Experiences:

Holiday Wonders at the Garden

Memphis Botanic Garden, 750 Cherry, Memphis, TN 38117

November 29 – December 28, 5-8:30 p.m., select nights (last entry 7:30 p.m.) $12/members, $15/non-members, $17/same-day tickets, free for children under 2

Memphis Zoo Lights

2000 Prentiss Place, Memphis, TN 38112

November 29 – January 4, 5:00-9:30 p.m., select nights
$16/members, $20/non-members (free for kids under 2)

Starry Nights

Shelby Farms Park, 6903 Great View Drive North, Memphis, TN 38134

Enter through Main Gate off Farm Road for pre-purchased tickets AND to purchase tickets November 29 – December 29, 6-10 p.m., select nights (most nights you pay by the carload; on walk+bike lights, it’s per person)

Christmas at Graceland

Graceland Mansion park at 3717 Elvis Presley, Memphis, TN, 38116 (fee)

There will be a special Holiday Lighting Weekend on November 21-23. Guests can experience Christmas Graceland Tours from November 21-December 23. Graceland will be decorated for the holidays from November 21, 2024, through January 11, 2025. 

Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees

Pink Palace, 3050 Central, Memphis, TN 38111

November 16 – December 29, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wed., Thurs., Sat.; 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday; Noon – 5 p.m., Sun {closed Mon., Tues., Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day}

*New this year: special nights on 11/29, 12/6, 12/13, and 12/20 from 6-8 p.m.
$7/adults, $6/children ages 3-12 and senior citizens. Does not include regular admission to museum

Magic of Memphis

Canon Center for the Arts

The Memphis Symphony Orchestra,  joined by a continuous collage of Memphis performing groups, performs Christmas carols and other songs. Truly kid friendly, there are can-caning Santas, interactive sing-alongs, and some of the most amazing soloists.

Saturday, December 21, 2:30 p.m., prices range from $5-$110 (there are special youth and student prices for this show)

Seasons of Delight

Crosstown Concourse

On the first Friday in December, from 5 to 7 pm, Crosstown Concourse will host a holiday lights display in the Central Atrium. As part of the first night of Season of Delight, there will be a holiday double feature in Crosstown Theater. The short film Mickey’s Christmas Carol and the feature-length Christmas Vacation will be screened for free. Theater doors open at 6 pm, and the films begin at 6:30 pm. There will also be free hot cocoa, caricature portraits, ornament-making, card-making, and more!

Season of Delight will continue on Friday, December 8, and Friday, December 15.

Winter Wonderland at CMOM

2525 Central Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104

November 30-January 5
Glide across the sock skating rink at Sockefeller Center while listening to wintery tunes. Climb into a life-sized snow globe and strike a picture-perfect pose. Or take your picture making the perfect ski jump off the ramp.
Free with the price of admission.

Saturday with Santa at CMOM

Visit with Santa like never before at the Children’s Museum of Memphis. On December 7, Santa, along with his helper Peppermint Sparkle, will walk through Winter Wonderland visiting with young guests. In addition, there will be many fun activities to get you into the holiday spirit. Free with the price of admission.

Dixon Holiday Open House

4339 Park Avenue, Memphis, TN 38117

Dixon members (Not a member? Join here.) are invited to usher in the season with an evening of fun for all ages. Enjoy hot cocoa, wine, festive music, crafts, and holiday treats, surrounded by beautiful decorations provided by the Memphis Garden Club. Keep an eye out—you might even spot Santa roaming the galleries!

Wurlitzer Wonderland Concert at the Orpheum Theater

203 S. Main Street, Memphis, TN 38103 

The Orpheum Theatre Group is pleased to announce the return of a special one-night concert Wurlitzer Wonderland featuring the Orpheum’s historic Mighty Wurlitzer Organ on Saturday, December 21 at 7pm at the Orpheum Theatre. Tickets will be $10 at the door. Resident Orpheum House Organist Tony Thomas will get attendees in the holiday spirit with festive tunes played on the Orpheum’s 96-year-old Mighty Wurlitzer Organ. The evening will feature holiday classics like All I Want for Christmas is You, Christmas Time is Here, Sleigh Ride, and many more.

Lights on the Farm

Bobby Lanier Farm Park, 2660 Cross Country Drive, Germantown, TN

Enjoy enchanting sleigh rides through beautifully illuminated trails. Kids will love the face painting and dancing to live music. Capture the magic with photos with Santa. With so much to see and do, the Lights on the Farm Festival promises an unforgettable holiday celebration for all. 

December 7, 4:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., $10 per person

Christmas In Collierville Saturdays

Collierville Town Square, 96 N Center St, Collierville, TN 38017

Experience the magic and beauty of Collierville Town Square during the holiday season with a quarter-million holiday lights in the historic district from Thanksgiving to the New Year. November 30, and December 7, 14, and 21.

Southern Lights

Central Park, 7651 Tchulahoma, Southaven, MS 38671

This is a drive-thru holiday event that runs every night, Thanksgiving Day, November 28th, through December 31st, 5pm-10pm. It winds through a 116-acre park with 500,000 twinkling lights. Admission: cars $10, vans $15 and buses $30.

Light Garden Light Display

8267 Goodman Road, Olive Branch, MS 38654

This immersive holiday experience runs November 22-January 1 this year! It’s closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Prices vary.

Christmas Tree Lightings:

• November 22, Arlington Tree Lighting, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
• November 23, Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting, 4:00-6:00 p.m.
• November 26, Collierville Tree Lighting, 5:30-8:00 p.m.
• November 29, Peabody Tree Lighting following the 3:00-6:30 p.m. **Reservations required
• November 29, Holiday Tree Lighting, City of Germantown, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
• December 7, City Hall Tree Lighting, Olive Branch, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Christmas Parades:

• Germantown Christmas Parade, November 16, 1:30 p.m.
• Whitehaven Christmas Parade, November 23, 10:00 a.m.
• Lakeland Christmas Parade and More, November 30, 3:00 p.m.
• Hernando Christmas Parade, December 2, 6:30 p.m.
• 72nd Annual West Memphis Christmas Parade, December 3, 7:00 p.m.
• Millington Christmas Parade, December 5, 7:00 p.m.
• Marion Christmas Parade, December 6, 12:30 p.m.
• Collierville Christmas Parade, December 7, 1:00 p.m.
• Germantown Holiday Parade, December 14, 2:00 p.m.
• Memphis Christmas Parade, December 14, 2:00 p.m.
• Arlington Christmas Parade, December 14, 11:00 a.m.

Drive-by Lights:

Christmas Cove in Collierville

Starting with one house in 2004, West Tuscumbia Cove has gotten bigger and more extravagant every year since. It’s definitely worth the trip just so your kids can get a ride in Santa’s sleigh!

Christmas Cove in Yorkshire Neighborhood

Similar to Christmas Cove in Collierville, this started out as one house and over the years has taken over a whole cove as more and more houses got involved. The original house is at 5724 Glenwild Avenue. (The owner of that house decorates for EVERY holiday). This would be a fun adventure one night!

Neighhborhoods for Light Displays

• Bellair, across from Overton Park
• Walnut Grove Lake subdivision in Cordova
• Chickasaw Gardens (by the Pink Palace)
• Central Gardens in midtown
• Twinkle Town Road in Whitehaven
• Germantown (use this link: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1QImc8vtDE7KISKNLdS0huDTM2RHN0SE&ll=35.08266211895275%2C-89.78417209999999&z=12)
• There’s a fun house on Perkins, between Walnut Grove and Poplar that’s always a favorite with my kids (it’s Whoville themed this year!)
• This Facebook group has a ton of good, up-to-date info: https://www.facebook.com/901christmaslights/

 

Did we miss your favorite Christmas lights display? Let us know in the comments!