Christmas Lights in and near Memphis, TN 2024-2025

Every holiday season, Memphis is decked out in Christmas splendor. Festive programs range from musical mansions lit up with Christmas lights to a variety of family-friendly events. Each year is unique, yet some of the most iconic traditions remain unchanged and reoccur annually. Once you know the highlights of the season, mark your calendars and head out to make the most beautiful Christmas memories in the city aptly nicknamed the Birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll. Memphis Zoo, Botanic Garden, Shelby Farms Park, and the famous Graceland all offer perfect place for a holiday getaway.

Memphis Zoo Lights (November 29, 2024–January 4, 2025 (selected dates)

The city zoo, located in midtown, hosts a spectacular Christmas lights event, featuring a million lights. Stroll through the Light Tunnel and dive into the Christmas journey of merriment and hope, surrounded by vibrant illumination. The grounds feature an ice-skating rink, where visitors can show off their skills or enjoy an active outing on ice.

Besides enjoying holiday lights, you can also take a ride on a horse-drawn carriage, do holiday shopping, and indulge in festive foods like traditional s'mores and hot chocolate. Santa will be there for your kids as well. Festivities span from 5 to 9:30 pm. Tickets cost $16 for members and $20 for non-members. Children two and under can enter for free.

Holiday Wonders at the Garden (November 29–December 28, 2024)

In East Memphis, you'll find another popular celebration full of holiday spirit. The Memphis Botanic Garden (MBG) in Audubon Park annually draws spectators to witness the Holiday Wonders at the Garden. The festival embraces various events, such as Snow Queens, Jingle Jammies, Santa Sundays, Paw-liday Wonders, Ugly Sweater Night, and Holiday After Glow. Here, they can play with "snow" even in a snowless Memphis winter.

On Santa Sundays, children can meet their favorite friends from Lapland, who will spread joy and merriment throughout the grounds. The patio's fire pits have long become the favorite gathering point where friends and families meet to chat and have some refreshments. The event normally welcomes its visitors on select nights from 5 pm through 8:30 pm.

Tickets

Ticket pricing for Holiday Wonders varies by day and whether tickets are purchased in advance or on the same day. For weeknights (Monday-Thursday), advance tickets are priced at $12 for MBG Members and $15 for Non-Members, while same-day tickets are $17. On weekends (Friday-Sunday), advance tickets cost $15 for MBG Members and $17 for Non-Members, with same-day tickets priced at $20. Children under two can attend for free.

Starry Nights at Shelby Farms Park (November 29–December 29, 2024 (selected dates)

Christmas lights drive-thru fans will surely appreciate Starry Nights at Shelby Farms Park, nestled in Cordova, about 15 miles (24 km) east of downtown Memphis. Drive, walk, or bike among the dazzling 3.5 million lights on display. Illuminated tunnels, light sculptures, festive decorations, and more fill the grounds of Shelby Farms Park, transforming it into a Christmas fairytale.

The show normally runs on select nights from 6 pm through 10 pm. Ticket prices vary by the day you're visiting. All funds raised support Shelby Farms Park and Shelby Farms Greenline, an urban trail in Midtown Memphis. So with your visit, you're having holiday fun and doing good at the same time. There are several ticket options, with prices depending on the date and time of your visit, but general admission starts at $34.95 online and $40 on-site. There are discounted nights and specials.

Christmas Lights at Graceland (November 21, 2024–January 8, 2025)

If it's your first time in Memphis, visiting the mansion which Elvis called his home is a must. What makes the experience even better is the holiday decorations during Christmastime. The famed Graceland is located in the southern outskirts of the city, west of Memphis International Airport. The city's top attraction is undoubtedly the most charming at Christmas. From late November through early January, the mansion is enveloped in thousands of holidays lights, elaborate sculptures of Santa's sleigh and nativity, and cozy decorations indoors.

Graceland Christmas Tours (November 21–December 23, 2024)

Only in December can you book a Christmas tour and imagine yourself celebrating the holidays with the King of Rock 'n' Roll. Regular Christmas tours are available from 2 pm to 4 pm daily. Tickets cost $97 for adults, $62.50 for children of five to ten, and free for anyone younger. This tour features a live tour guide and access to Elvis Presley’s Memphis Entertainment Complex.

Exclusive Christmas UVIP tours take place daily from 6 pm to 8 pm, except for November 16-18th, November 28-29th, and December 6th. Tickets cost $294, with the tour featuring additional photo ops, an outdoor tour, and a keepsake. For the ultimate Christmas experience at Graceland, book the Christmas package, complete with a night at The Guest House.