It's about to be the season of sparkly light displays, candy-colored ballets and your chance to see Santa rockin' his way down Beale Street. From the Memphis Zoo Lantern Festival, Christmas at Graceland and Beale Street's holiday parade to productions of "The Nutcracker" both classic and remixed, it's not too early to plan your holiday getaway to Memphis.
It's about to be the season of sparkly light displays, candy-colored ballets and your chance to see Santa rockin' his way down Beale Street. From the Memphis Zoo Lantern Festival, Christmas at Graceland and Beale Street's holiday parade to productions of "The Nutcracker" both classic and remixed, it's not too early to plan your holiday getaway to Memphis.
Holiday Light Displays at Memphis' Best Attractions
Lantern Festival
Favorite holiday tradition Zoo Lights is getting a revamp this year! Discover a wild winter wonderland during the Lantern Festival at Memphis Zoo. Explore a fantasy land of color and bright lights in this inaugural event. Featuring over 60 fixtures, the zoo grounds will be illuminated with animal-shaped lanterns and dazzling light displays. Lantern Festival opens Nov. 14, 2025, running select nights through Feb. 1, 2026.
Holiday Wonders at Memphis Botanic Garden
Holiday Wonders at Memphis Botanic Garden is your chance to bring the whole family to play in the falling "snow,” snack on some food-truck fare and visit Santa’s sleigh in Northern Lights. This year's event debuts the immersive Polar Passage, and themed nights like Santa Sundays, Jingle Jammies and Paw-Liday Wonders are back, too. Holiday Wonders runs select evenings from Nov. 28 through Dec. 30, 2025.
Enchanted Forest at the Pink Palace
Take a trip through the Enchanted Forest, a time-honored Memphis tradition at the Pink Palace. You'll meander through magical forests of twinkling trees with various themes, spotting busy elves, playful penguins and cuddly teddy bear friends. Then, wander through the snow-covered Gingerbread Village, complete with cozy cottages and toy trains, before visiting Jolly Old Saint Nick himself. Enchanted Forest opens November 15, 2025 and runs through December 28, 2025.
Starry Nights at Shelby Farms Park
Take a drive with friends and loved ones through Shelby Farms Park for Starry Nights, the largest holiday light show in the Mid-South, featuring thousands of twinkling lights and holiday displays. Starry Nights will be open for drive-through, walk-through or bike-through tours on select nights beginning November 28, 2025, through January 3, 2026.
Holiday Events at Iconic Memphis Landmarks
Holidays at The Peabody
Visiting the lobby of The Peabody is one of the city’s great holiday traditions. The hotel’s festive holiday decorations include a 30-foot-tall Christmas tree, twinkling lights, garlands strewn along the mezzanine railings and a gingerbread house display that takes an entire month to create. (The hotel's pastry team brings the village to life. Get in the spirit while you're onsite and order a taste of their creations from the hotel's nightly dessert cart.) The fountain belonging to the world-famous Peabody Ducks is decorated with a display of seasonal flowers, making the hotel's twice-daily duck march even more festive. The famous hotel kicks off the holidays with the Peabody Tree Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 28, 2025.
Christmas at Graceland
Celebrate the season like the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll at Christmas at Graceland. The season begins with the Graceland Holiday Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 20, 2025. Hundreds of blue lights will decorate the driveway, and the mansion will be adorned with Elvis’ red velvet Christmas drapes and the same decorations originally found in the Presley home, including a life-size Nativity scene, Santa sleigh and reindeer. Then, the weekend celebration continues with By Request: Dueling Piano Show (Nov. 21, 2025), A Rockin' Memphis Christmas concert (Nov. 21, 2025), Elvis 101 (Nov. 22, 2025) and Dean Z's Ultimate Elvis Christmas (Nov. 22, 2025).
Can't make it for the ceremony? Graceland Christmas Tours begin Nov. 20, 2025 and run through Dec. 23, 2025. Plus, the Enesco Gift Shop & Gallery is open and features the world’s largest display of Department 56 Lit Villages.
Santa's Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops
Make your way to Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid, where you can stock up on outdoor goods for all your winter adventures while the kiddos get a free photo with Santa, munch on holiday treats, get a free arts-and-crafts giveaway and more. Santa arrives Nov. 1, 2025, and free photo ops with Santa begin Nov. 2, 2025 through Dec. 24, 2025.
Holiday Parade on Beale Street
Colorful floats, festive marching bands, steppers and eye-catching twirlers take over iconic Beale Street at the annual Memphis Holiday Parade on Dec. 13, 2025. Be sure to show up early to get a good viewing spot.
Pro tip: If you're downtown after dark, head to the riverfront to see the bridges aglow with the holiday spirit of Mighty Lights or visit the South Main Arts District, where all of Main Street buildings are draped with lights.
