🎁 Who’s Holiday
The Memphian Room at The Circuit Playhouse
Performances through December 22
Childhood trauma can really do a number on people. Imagine if a man broke into your home, stole all of your family’s Christmas presents and decorations, and then went to all your neighbors’ homes and did the same thing, and then the town acted like nothing happened. That would do a number on you wouldn’t it? So forgive Cindy Lou Who if she’s not the innocent little Whoville you remember from How the Grinch Stole Christmas. And she’ll tell you how she got here in Playhouse’s adult comedy that is guaranteed to leave you laughing all night long. This show’s for the adults, so leave the kiddos at home or bring them to see Playhouse’s other show The Wizard of Oz, and Dorothy will be the innocent little Kansanian you remember, don’t you worry. Tickets for Who’s Holiday ($25) can be purchased here, and tickets for the family-friendly Wizard of Oz ($25) can be purchased here. (P.S. If you can’t get enough of the Christmas spirit, Theatre Memphis is putting on A Christmas Carol. Learn more here.)
🩰 The Nutcracker
Orpheum Theatre
Performances this weekend and next
Building on Ballet Memphis’ nearly 40-year legacy of sharing the joy of Nutcracker with the Mid-South community, this season features an enchanting evolution of set and costume design that brings renewed vibrancy to the classic story. Transport yourself to a sweetly nostalgic riverside and a confectionary dreamland through the eyes of a young girl destined for adventure. Ballet Memphis’ new production of this beloved American holiday tradition promises to delight in both familiar and unexpected ways. Tickets for the show with performances this weekend and next can be purchased here. (Tennessee Ballet Theater is also performing their rendition of the classic ballet, Clara & the Nutcracker, on Sunday, 2 p.m., at the Cannon Center. More info can be found here.)
✨ Laser Holiday Light Show
Museum of Science & History
Friday, December 8, 1:30 p.m. & 7 p.m. | Saturday, December 9, 1:40 p.m. | Sunday, December 10, 1:30 p.m.
This Friday is my cousin Blake’s 22nd birthday. You don’t know Blake. Blake doesn’t live here. But Blake likes (or maybe he’s grown out of liking) Star Wars, and when I think of Star Wars, I think of lightsabers, which are made of lasers, right? I’m not sure. My knowledge of Blake and Star Wars is very rudimentary. But I think a laser show would be a great way for Blake to celebrate his birthday — because of the lights and the lasers. But, like I said, Blake isn’t in Memphis, but you, reader, are. So celebrate his birthday in a way he would enjoy with a Laser Holiday Light Show at MoSH, which mixes everyone’s favorite holiday music, even Blake’s favorite holiday music, from the classical to the modern, all set to fantastic laser lights. Tickets ($15) can be purchased here.
✂️ Holidays Crafts
Get crafty — not like Grinch crafty, please, we can’t handle more Grinches in the world — but get arts and crafty this weekend (or any weekend if that’s the journey for you), with any (or all) of these classes hosted by your favorite arts and crafty venues. Be sure to register at the links below.
- Cozy Candle Making with Keith McBride: Make three beautiful 8 oz. custom scented soy wax candles with the guidance of Keith McBride of Candles by Deuce. Arrow Creative, Friday, December 8, 6:30 p.m., $71.21.
- Photo Transfer Holiday Ornaments with Valley Evangelista: Create unique holiday ornaments in this hands-on workshop where participants will learn the techniques of emulsion transfer onto wood, transforming their favorite family snapshots into beautiful ornaments for decorating trees, wreaths, and more. No prior photography or crafting experience is required. Arrow Creative, Saturday, December 9, 1 p.m., $49.87.
- Holiday Door Swag Workshop: Learn to make your own door swag using locally grown greenery and an assortment of complimentary bells, bows, ribbons, and natural elements like pinecones and seed pods that you can add to your arrangement. I went to Bramble and Bloom’s wreath-making class last weekend, and it was a blast and a half and I got to bring home a very cute wreath that I can tell everyone who sees it that I made it. And the pride, the ego that comes from that will soothe any soul. Midtown Bramble and Bloom, Sunday, December 10, 1 p.m., $65.
- Gold Hoop Wreath Workshop: Learn the basics of wreath design and create your own custom evergreen demi wreath on a gold hoop. Your ticket price includes all the materials you’ll need to make your wreath as well as lots of embellishments and bow options. Midtown Bramble and Bloom, Sunday, December 10, 3 p.m., $55.
- Woodburning Ornaments: Learn how to use woodburning tools to make holiday ornaments! Bring a couple images to use or choose from Five in One’s stock. Everyone will get a bunch of wooden blanks to decorate. Five in One Studios, Sunday, December 10, 3 p.m., $45.
🎄 ¡Christmas Fiesta!
Dixon Gallery & Gardens
Saturday, December 9, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
¡Feliz Navidad! Cazateatro Bilingual Theatre Group, Opera Memphis, and Dixon Gallery & Gardens present their third annual Christmas Fiesta! Visitors will enjoy the Christmas traditions of Latin America and the Caribbean, and learn about parrandas, posadas, piñatas, and more. Enjoy traditional Christmas music in Spanish, Latin food, crafts, and activities. The event is ~free~.
☃️ Free! Free! Free!
Extra, extra, read all about it. The free Flyer is here to tell you about two free monthly events at two of Memphis’ favorite museums. That’s right on Saturday, 1-5 p.m., you can enjoy the Stax Museum of American Soul Music’s Free Family Day, where visitors can enjoy free admission to the entire museum, live music, food trucks, games and activities, and arts and crafts for children. Also on Saturday, 10 a.m.-noon, the Brooks Museum of Art presents its Super Saturday, which offers free admission and art-making facilitated by an art educator. This month’s Super Saturday will celebrate and explore families and communities through art. (P.S. Admission is free at the Brooks every Saturday 10 a.m.-noon.)
🧑🎄 2023 Memphis Holiday Parade
Beale Street
Saturday, December 9, 2-3 p.m.
The grandest holiday parade in the region rings in the holiday season on Beale Street with marching bands, steppers, twirlers, floats, and all sorts of sights. Stick around, or, I guess, return to Beale between 5 and 7 p.m., and get your picture taken with Santa Claus for free against the backdrop of Beale.
🎶 Iris Collective’s Small Business Series: Cremaine Booker & Olatunde Osinaike
Cafe Noir, 635 Madison Ave.
Thursday, December 14, 5:30 p.m.
This Thursday, Iris Collective kicks off its Small Business Series with a performance by Cremaine Booker, aka That Cello Guy, and poet Olatunde Osinaike at the soon-to-be-opened Cafe Noir, a bookstore that will specialize in filling its shelves with BIPOC and LGBTQ authors. The performance is sure to be unique and intimate, so get your tickets ($20) here. Read more about Iris’ Small Business Series in our Fall Arts Guide, and more about Cafe Noir in this piece by Kailynn Johnson.
😂 Gianmarco Soresi with Sean Reilly
Growlers
Thursday, December 14, 7 p.m. & 10 p.m.
Not sure if you’re up on the TikTok drama but a certain male comedian has been under fire for a certain Netflix special. Now, we’re not here to talk about that male comedian who I don’t care about, but I like to point that out to say that I’m putting a lot at stake here by saying, look here, another male comedian, whose comedy is enjoyable! Hopefully this one won’t make a, uh, how to put this delicately, Grinch out of himself. Anyways, not to make this about myself, but I interviewed him last year, and he’s back in Memphis for two whole shows on Thursday, sooooo obviously you can thank the Flyer for his return. Just kidding, we know we don’t have that much power! Gianmarco isn’t the only one who can make jokes. Hopefully, his land better. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here.
There’s always something happening in Memphis. See a full calendar of events here.
Submit events here or by emailing calendar@memphisflyer.com.