Holiday Adventures in Memphis

As the holiday season heats up, it's time to begin planning a getaway to Memphis. Spring and summer may be the busiest tourist seasons (also active for the homegrown crowd) but Memphis doesn't shut down during the cooler months of the year. The upcoming Holiday Season has spectacular entertainment in the final preparation phases.

One notable event is the upcoming Distinguished Chefs Dinner with local celebrity chefs on Nov. 17. If it's culinary in Memphis, you know it will be good. Hosted by Kemmons Wilson School, it will be held at the Holiday Inn University of Memphis. This formal dinner invites celebrity guests to mentor students. The students take this opportunity to see what hosting a formal dinner is all about. This year's featured chefs include local Junior Chef Logan Guleff, Karen Carrier - owner of the Beauty Shop Restaurant, and Food Network Star - Aryen Moore-Alston.

Memphis Lights

Have you ever seen 1.5 million lights illuminating the night sky? That's exactly what happens at the Shelby Farms Park Starry Night Event running from November 18 through December 27. It's the largest annual drive-through holiday light show and festival in the Mid-South. This year, International Paper Starry Nights features a completely new light show that celebrates some of the most iconic places in Memphis, as well as versions of your family favorites.

The Zoo Lights event, starting November 18 (select nights), is about much more than the lights. There will be snow in the Courtyard (seldom seen in Memphis), an all-new ride, the return of the 90-foot LED Ferris wheel, see Santa in his shop, go ice-skating, see live reindeer, enjoy thousands of LED holiday lights and much more.

Looking for inexpensive holiday entertainment for the family? Check out the Free Magic of the Holidays Display at 6928 Briarhill Drive, in Bartlett. The 30,000 lights first appear Thanksgiving Day Night.

More Featured Memphis Holiday Events

All of this is only a sampling of what Memphis offers for the holidays. Snowy Nights at Memphis Botanic Garden can be seen nightly December 2 & 3, December 9 & 10, and December 16-23. Themed lighting along Playhouse Lane and a musical light show throughout My Big Backyard set the stage as you stroll in through “falling snow,” play in the giant Snow Globe, decorate icicle ornaments, search for hidden snowflakes in the Snowflake Forest, play Mitten Toss and Tic-Tac-Snow, and plug your own design into the Giant Light Bright! Don’t worry about a little chill in the air… you’ll keep toasty warm around campfire pits, perfect for roasting marshmallows, and making s’mores.

Enchanted Forest: Festival of Trees at Pink Palace features the Festival of Trees - Beautiful trees decorated by professional designers, individuals and local organizations, sparkle on the mezzanine. Santa lands Saturday, November 19 at 9 a.m. with Santa photo opportunities available through December 24.

Memphis is coming alive for the holidays with Thanksgiving Festivities planned at many landmarks along with tree lightings to be enjoyed by all. There will also be parades and of course, New Year Parties will be coming soon.

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Author bio: Brian Kline has been investing in real estate for more than 35 years and writing about real estate investing for 10 years. He also draws upon 30 plus years of business experience including 12 years as a manager at Boeing Aircraft Company. Brian currently lives at Lake Cushman, Washington. A vacation destination, a few short miles from a national forest. With the Pacific Ocean a couple of miles in the opposite direction.