Considering the season’s shorter days—and the fact that you’re still hung over from all that holiday excitement—it’s natural to feel some winter blues. Lucky for you, Memphis has just the cure with an international blues fest, star-studded concerts, cozy hangouts and Black History celebrations set to liven up your January and February. The inspiration starts now.
Considering the season’s shorter days—and the fact that you’re still hung over from all that holiday excitement—it’s natural to feel some winter blues. Lucky for you, Memphis has just the cure with an international blues fest, star-studded concerts, cozy hangouts and Black History celebrations set to liven up your January and February. The inspiration starts now.
Elvis’ 87th Birthday Celebration
Jan. 6-9, 2022; Graceland
Die-hard fans will head to Graceland Jan. 6-9, 2022, for Elvis’ 87th Birthday Celebration. There will be cake, private tours of Graceland Mansion, archive show and tells and plenty of live music. Plus, we have 9 other reasons to visit Graceland this winter.
2022 International Blues Challenge
Postponed to May 6-9, 2022; Beale Street, Memphis
For five days, 200 blues acts from around the world will gather in Memphis. They play and compete in Beale Street venues, culminating in a final round, hosted inside Memphis’ historic Orpheum Theatre. The best part? You can experience any or all of it—find more details and ticket info here. Can’t make it during the festival? No worries. As the home of the blues, Memphis hosts live blues every night of the week, from Beale Street to local-secret spots.
Winter Music & Theater Events in Memphis
Get ready because there are a lot of big names coming to Memphis this January and February. The opulent Orpheum Theatre will host the Broadway productions of Hamilton and Tootsie. Catch the Jazz in the Box series, featuring Three Tenors Jazz with Bill Hurd, Lannie McMillan and Charles Campbell in January and Ben Paterson in February, as well as performances from Iris Orchestra with pianist Jeffrey Kahane and Dee Dee Bridgewater and Memphis Soulphony at Germantown Performing Arts Center. Playhouse on the Square will host a production of May We All in the Overton Square Performing Arts District. Don’t miss Robert Cray or Drive-By Truckers with Ryley Walker at the Soundstage at Graceland. Check Memphis’ full line-up of events here.
Celebrate Black History in Memphis
Start with King Day, Jan. 17, 2022. Commemorating the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Memphis’ National Civil Rights Museum hosts this event, featuring free museum admission, mainstage performances, trivia and more. With King Day and Black History Month so close on the calendar, winter is an especially good time to experience African American history in Memphis. But with the stories this city has to tell, any time of year can be a powerful time to visit. Check out this guide for an overview.
Memphis Beer Events
There’s nothing cozier than warming up with a winter ale. Memphis has a solid selection of local craft breweries—and related events—that will take the chill right off. A few of our favorites:
- Sample regional brews and local-favorite eats at the Memphis Museum of Science and History's Science of Beer event.
- Spend Sunday Funday at High Cotton Brewing Co. for local brews, live music and artisanal vendors
- Enjoy live music and house-smoked meats around the firepits during brunch at Loflin Yard
- See what the new winter menu holds at Gray Canary
- Get to Memphis Made Brewing and toast to curing your winter blues with a glass of “Plaid Attack”—a Scottish ale with just the right amount of hops.
- Check out Ghost River Brewery's new tap room on world-famous Beale Street.
- If you're more into spirits, book a tour and tasting at Old Dominick Distillery.
