# Christmas break with kids in Memphis, 2026

> What to do with kids in Memphis over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by three museums, zoos and play places: none of them opens on Christmas Day. Plus five dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.

- Last checked: 2026-10-21
- 3 places’ holiday hours; 8 dated outings
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/memphis/christmas-break/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/memphis/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/memphis/llms.txt

## Open or closed: Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1

- **Children’s Museum of Memphis**: Christmas Eve closed; Christmas Day closed; New Year’s Day not posted. Their page says: “Holiday closures include Easter, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day.” Source: https://cmom.com/visit/ (checked 2026-10-21)
- **Memphis Zoo**: Christmas Eve closed; Christmas Day closed; New Year’s Day not posted. Their page says: “(Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve & Christmas Day)” Source: https://www.memphiszoo.org/help-rules (checked 2026-10-21)
- **Dixon Gallery & Gardens**: Christmas Eve Closes at 2 p.m.; Christmas Day closed; New Year’s Day closed. Their page says: “The Dixon is closed on the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve at 2PM, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.” Source: https://www.dixon.org/hours-admission (checked 2026-10-21)

## Christmas Eve

- **Santa at the Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees** at Museum of Science & History – Pink Palace, 3050 Central Ave., Memphis, TN. When: Nov 21 – Dec 27, 2026. Time: Tue–Sun 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m. (box office closes 4:30); open until 8:30 p.m. Dec 10 and 18; Christmas Eve closes 3 p.m. Price: $7 adults; $6 seniors and ages 3–12. A walk-through holiday forest benefiting Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, with Santa there to hear wish lists. Santa photo packages start at $10. Buy tickets online ahead. Official page: https://www.lebonheur.org/lb/events/the-enchanted-forest-festival-of-trees (checked 2026-11-03)
- **Santa Photos at Wolfchase Galleria** at Wolfchase Galleria, 2760 N Germantown Pkwy, Memphis, TN 38133. When: Nov 20–Dec 24, 2026 (not every day in the first weeks; closed Thanksgiving). Time: Most days 2–7 p.m.; Dec 24 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; hours change by day, full schedule on the booking page. Price: See photo packages on the booking page. Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot). Pet photo nights on 1 evening (Dec 13). Official page: https://whereissanta.com/mall/1437 (checked 2026-11-03)

## Between Christmas and New Year’s (Dec 26–30)

- **Starry Nights: Arctic Adventure** at Shelby Farms Park, 6903 Great View Dr. N., Memphis, TN 38134. When: Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Evenings. Price: See the ticket page. A brand-new drive-through light show for 2026, so little ones can stay buckled in. Official page: https://www.shelbyfarmspark.org/starry-nights (checked 2026-11-03)
- **Lantern Festival at Memphis Zoo** at Memphis Zoo, 2000 Prentiss Pl., Memphis, TN 38112. When: Select nights Nov 13, 2026 – Feb 14, 2027. Time: 5–9:30 p.m. (last entry 8:30 p.m.). Price: $25 ($23 members); under 2 free. More than 60 lantern displays and walk-through tunnels replace Zoo Lights this year, and Dec 9 is a sensory night. Official page: https://www.memphiszoo.org/lantern-festival (checked 2026-10-31)
- **Holiday Wonders at the Garden** at Memphis Botanic Garden, 750 Cherry Rd., Memphis, TN. When: Select evenings Nov 27 – Dec 30, 2026. Time: 5–8:30pm (to 9:30pm Dec 18–23). Price: Advance $17 ($15 members); same day $20; under 2 free. Tickets on sale from Nov 6 at 10 a.m. Theme nights include Santa Sundays and Jingle Jammies. Official page: https://membg.org/wonders/ (checked 2026-11-07)

## New Year’s Eve and Day

- **Noon Year's Eve at Central Library** at Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library (Lobby), 3030 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38111. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Price: Free. The library's main lobby hosts a craft, a dance party and a noon countdown that finishes with confetti cannons. It's paid for by the Memphis Library Foundation. Official page: https://memphis.librarycalendar.com/event/noon-years-eve-54238 (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Starry Nights: Arctic Adventure** at Shelby Farms Park, 6903 Great View Dr. N., Memphis, TN 38134. When: Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Evenings. Price: See the ticket page. A brand-new drive-through light show for 2026, so little ones can stay buckled in. Official page: https://www.shelbyfarmspark.org/starry-nights (checked 2026-11-03)
- **Lantern Festival at Memphis Zoo** at Memphis Zoo, 2000 Prentiss Pl., Memphis, TN 38112. When: Select nights Nov 13, 2026 – Feb 14, 2027. Time: 5–9:30 p.m. (last entry 8:30 p.m.). Price: $25 ($23 members); under 2 free. More than 60 lantern displays and walk-through tunnels replace Zoo Lights this year, and Dec 9 is a sensory night. Official page: https://www.memphiszoo.org/lantern-festival (checked 2026-10-31)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6. Lists refresh Monday and Thursday. The email goes out Thursday evening.
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## FAQ

### What’s open on Christmas Day in Memphis with kids?
Of the three places we checked, none posts Christmas Day hours as open; Children’s Museum of Memphis, Memphis Zoo and Dixon Gallery & Gardens are closed. A park or a drive past the lights is the easy plan.

### What can we do with kids on Christmas Eve in Memphis?
Open with posted hours: Dixon Gallery & Gardens (Closes at 2 p.m.). On the calendar: Santa at the Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees and Santa Photos at Wolfchase Galleria.

### What’s open on New Year’s Day in Memphis?
None of the places that post New Year’s Day hours says it’s open.

### What can we do with kids on New Year’s Day in Memphis?
On the calendar for Jan 1: Starry Nights: Arctic Adventure and Lantern Festival at Memphis Zoo. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.

### What is there to do with kids between Christmas and New Year’s in Memphis?
Starry Nights: Arctic Adventure, Lantern Festival at Memphis Zoo and Holiday Wonders at the Garden. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.

### Where are the rest of the December plans in Memphis?
The month’s dated listings are on the [December page](https://littlesweekly.com/memphis/december/).

### How do you check these holiday hours?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 21, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).