Bring the kids and light up this holiday season with these festive events.
NOVEMBER 16 • Friday
Flip-the-Switch Party. AutoZone Park. 5 p.m. Enter Rockeyfeller Plaza this holiday season, decorated with a 35-foot tree. Entertainment includes caroling by Downtown Elementary School and the River City Concert Band Brass Ensemble. Free hot chocolate and hot cider for attendees plus special guest appearances. downtownmemphis.com
Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Memphis Zoo. 5:30 p.m. Live entertainment and WMC-TV’s Ron Childers joins Marvel’s Avengers characters on live TV as countdown begins for tree lighting. Free with SunTrust Zoo Lights admission. 333-6500.
ZOOPER Hero Weekend featuring the Avengers. Memphis Zoo. Also on Saturday. Join Marvel’s Avengers for tree lighting, meet and greet, and live shows. Free with Zoo Lights admission after 5 p.m. on Nov. 16 & 17. Free with general admission from 1-3:30 p.m. on Nov. 17. 333-6500.
SunTrust Zoo Lights. Memphis Zoo. Through December 30. On select nights from 5:30-10 p.m. Features 90 foot L.E.D. wheel of lights, Santa’s reindeer, magic shows, the Polar Express Train. $7/person. Ice rink: $5 (includes skates). Rink open through January 27. 333-6500.
Graceland Lighting Ceremony. Elvis Presley Mansion in Graceland. 6 p.m. The Graceland lighting cereony features special guest Skylar Laine, one of the top 10 finalists from American Idol's 11th season and children from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Experience Christmas at Graceland. Elvis Presley Mansion in Graceland. Through January 8, 2013. Outdoor decorations feature blue lights along the driveway, a life-size Nativity scene, Santa and his sleigh. The interior décor includes Elvis’ traditional red velvet drapes and the family Christmas artifacts on display.
NOVEMBER 17 • Saturday
Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees. The Pink Palace Museum. Through December 31. Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, noon until 5 p.m. A Memphis holiday tradition features animated characters, model trains, and dozens of decorated trees. $6/adult. $5/child ages 3-12. Pictures w/Santa: $10 (through December 24). Benefits Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. • 636-2362.
Christmas Extravaganza. Children's Museum of Memphis. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Join the celebration as Collierville Ballet presents excerpts from the Nutcracker, take pictures with Mouse King and the Sugar Plum Fairy while Drosselmeyer performs magic tricks. Crafts, games, and face painting, too. $15/person. • 458-2678.
NOVEMBER 23 • Friday
Christmas Tree Lighting. The Peabody Memphis. 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. The Peabody kicks off the holiday season with the arrival of Santa Claus and the lighting of the Christmas tree. Local choirs perform holiday classics throughout the day, with special performances by Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Opera Memphis, Paul McKinney Quintet, New Memphis Ballet Ensemble, and Children's Ballet Theater. Santa's elves pass out holiday candy. Free. • 529-4000.
Holiday Tree Lighting. Municipal Park Lake in Germantown. Outdoor festivities begin at 5 p.m. Tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. Sing carols, visit Santa Claus, enjoy light refreshments and hot chocolate, festive lighting. Free. 757-7375.
First Tennessee Starry Nights. Shelby Farms Park. Through December 28. Mondays closed to cars for Run, Walk, Ride Nights. Sunday through Thursday: 6-9 p.m. Friday & Saturday: 6-10 p.m. Features new light displays, horse-drawn Starry Carriage Rides, Mistletoe Village, pictures with Santa, Starry Petting Zoo, camel rides, live music, and s’mores roasting. Tuesday through Sunday: $20/car. Mondays: $5/person or $20/family. Benefits the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy. • 767-7275.
Snowy Nights in My Big Backyard. Memphis Botanic Garden. Fridays & Saturdays through December 15. Also daily Dec. 17-29 (closed Christmas Eve & Day). 6-8:30 p.m. Play in the giant snowglobe, create winter crafts, enjoy games and a musical light show on the Leaping Lawn. $7. • 636-4131.
NOVEMBER 27 • Tuesday
Town of Collierville Tree Lighting. Historic Town Square in Collierville. Tree lighting and pictures with Santa. Free. • 853-1666.