By Jeanni Ritchie
Memphis doesn’t ease into Christmas — it turns the volume up. Lights shimmer along Beale Street, music spills from doorways, and the city pulses with a rhythm that feels both electric and deeply rooted. This is a place where holiday cheer comes layered with blues, gospel, history, and heart. At Christmas, Memphis doesn’t slow down or soften its edges — it glows brighter, beats louder, and invites you straight into its unmistakable soul.
A city that knows how to make an entrance
One of Memphis’s most iconic sights isn’t a museum or a stage—it’s a pyramid. The Bass Pro Shops Pyramid rises dramatically over the Mississippi River, and inside it feels less like a store and more like an attraction that forgot to choose a category.
A glass elevator shoots 300 feet straight up to an open-air lookout with sweeping views of downtown Memphis and the river below. It’s equal parts breathtaking and totally terrifying — a visitor’s TikTok of his wife and me nearly hyperventilating as we walked across the transparent glass-paneled floor proves it!
But it’s absolutely worth it. The elevator is the largest free-standing glass elevator in the country, even taller than the Statue of Liberty.
Below the observation deck, the Pyramid opens into an unexpected world: water features, aquariums, an indoor cypress swamp, bowling lanes, and even a hotel tucked inside the structure itself. Big Cypress Lodge offers rustic-luxury accommodations, complete with treehouse-inspired rooms and balconies overlooking the Pyramid’s interior.
The Pyramid is also home to Wahlburgers and several additional dining options, as well as the Ducks Unlimited Waterfowling Heritage Center, a museum dedicated to conservation, wildlife, and outdoor heritage.
In December, the entire space transforms for the season. Christmas decorations fill every level, and Santa has his own workshop area with scheduled daily activities for families, making the Pyramid one of Memphis’s most unexpected — and festive — holiday experiences.
Where music doesn’t wait for permission
A walk down Beale Street is a walk straight into American music history. As daylight fades, neon signs flicker on and music spills freely into the street — blues, rock, soul, and during December, familiar holiday favorites woven into the mix.
Beale Street is the heartbeat of Memphis.
And Memphis is America’s heartbeat of soul.
The Majestic Peabody Hotel
No Memphis visit feels complete without stepping into The Peabody Hotel, especially during the holidays. Dressed for Christmas, the grand lobby feels timeless, elegant, and magical.
And then there are the ducks. The Peabody Duck March is one of those traditions that draws visitors from around the world. It’s charming, brief, and memorable, and seeing it at Christmastime brings it to a whole new level.
Along the river, where the city keeps moving
A walk along the riverfront offers a pause, with views of the Mississippi rolling steadily past—a reminder that this city has always been shaped by movement, trade, and time.
Steamboats sat moored to the dock, their shows and tours dark while I was there. But the options are plentiful Wednesdays—Sundays. Visit memphisriverboats.net to explore sightseeing and music dinner cruises.
The historic Orpheum Theatre, also dark during my visit, announced the best Broadway lineup across the South for 2025-2026. Check out The Outsiders playing January 20-25.
A stay both familiar and grandiose
After days filled with sightseeing and new experiences, there’s nothing better than settling into a comfortable bed in a grand hotel with a trusted name. The Hotel Napoleon is an IHG property, the hotel group responsible for Holiday Inns and Crowne Plazas. But the lobby is so cinematic—with a chandelier that always reminds me of the infamous dance scene in What a Girl Wants!
Memphis at Christmastime
During the holiday season, Memphis adds extra layers of celebration to its already rich cultural lineup. This year marked the Memphis Zoo’s inaugural Lantern Festival, while beloved traditions like the Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees at the Pink Palace continue to draw visitors year after year.
Christmas at Graceland remains a highlight, with both self-guided and special narrated holiday tours. Starry Nights at Shelby Farms Park and Holiday Wonders at Memphis Botanic Garden delight visitors of all ages, while the Children’s Museum of Memphis transforms into a full Winter Wonderland for the season.
Eating like a local (because isn’t that really what the holidays are about?!)
Memphis barbecue isn’t a suggestion — it’s a standard.
A stop at Central BBQ delivered exactly what the city promises: bold flavor, no fuss, and food that speaks for itself. A smoked turkey sandwich, house-made chips, and a slice of caramel cake made it easy to understand why awards line the restaurant’s entryway.
On my way out of town, I stopped at the popular breakfast spot Sunrise Memphis, where homemade biscuits and locally sourced sausage set the tone for a perfect final morning. Being far enough south for grits to reclaim their rightful place on my plate felt like a small victory, and a glass-bottle Coke completed the vibe.
My final Memphis morning, spent on Sunrise’s enclosed patio, was sun-drenched and cheerful — the perfect goodbye from The 901.
Jeanni Ritchie is a travel writer from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
