Memphis, Tennessee Holidays

Memphis Holidays 2025

Memphis is a city on the Mississippi River in southwest Tennessee, famous for the influential strains of blues, soul and rock 'n' roll that originated there. Elvis Presley, B.B. King and Johnny Cash recorded albums at the legendary Sun Studio, and Presley’s Graceland mansion Memphis is home to a revitalized downtown area, which includes a variety of tourist destinations; new residential and commercial development; and the restoration of many historic buildings. It continues its focus of improving downtown with plans to revitalize the historic riverfront area, Beale Street Landing.

Visitors can also watch guitars being crafted at the Gibson Beale Street Showcase. Blues, jazz and rock 'n' roll spill out from the clubs along Beale Street, and restaurants dish up Memphis-style barbecue and soul food. The National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, site of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, offers immersive exhibits covering key moments in the struggle for racial equality. Other attractions include the Memphis Zoo, paddlewheel cruises and the elegant Peabody Hotel’s famed ducks, which march along a red carpet to the lobby fountain. The South Main District has boutique shops and art galleries.