Starry Nights at Shelby Farms Park: A Memphis Holiday Tradition
Why wait for the stars to align when you can drive through them? Starry Nights is back at Shelby Farms Park, lighting up Memphis with twinkling displays, festive cheer, and all the holiday magic you can pack into one carload.
Why wait for the stars to align when you can drive through them? Starry Nights is back at Shelby Farms Park, lighting up Memphis with twinkling displays, festive cheer, and all the holiday magic you can pack into one carload.
Starry Nights at Shelby Farms Park is one of the best Memphis holiday traditions. Drive through the park’s two miles of 3.5 million twinkling Christmas lights and holiday displays, stop for pictures in the photo areas, and sip on hot chocolate.
This annual event is Shelby Farms Park’s largest fundraiser, with proceeds helping to keep the park and the Shelby Farms Greenline open and operating 365 days a year. Starry Nights is open from November 29 through December 29, 2024, with operating hours from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on select nights, including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve.
Entry is through the main park entrance (Gate 1) on Great View Drive North (GPS address: 6993 Great View Drive North, Memphis, TN 38134). You can tune in to FM 100.9 on your car radio for Starry Nights info when you get to the park, and then FM 97.5 for holiday music while you drive through the lights.
Bonus—If it’s chilly outside, you’ll be warm and comfortable in your car!
Exciting Ways to Experience the Lights
Visitors can enjoy the light displays in a variety of ways:
- Drive-through: Explore the lights from the comfort of your car on most nights.
- Walk/Bike Nights: On December 17, cars are prohibited, allowing visitors to stroll or bike through the displays. Leashed dogs are welcome on these special nights!
- Hayrides and Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides: For an extra-special experience, take a scenic ride through the holiday wonderland. Reservations can be made through Starry Carriage Rides.
Special Features and Add-Ons
- Selfie Station: Capture memories at a designated photo op area with some of the fun, dazzling displays.
- Mistletoe Village: Open December 12-15, this area features local vendors, holiday shopping, and Santa Claus photo opportunities.
- BuffaGLO Fun Run: Be among the first to see the lights during the BuffaGLO Fun Run on November 26. This 2.25-mile family-friendly event weaves through the displays.
A Magical Story: Park Pals and the Grand Opening of Starry Nights
New this year, Starry Nights introduces its first children’s book, Park Pals and the Grand Opening of Starry Nights. Written by Memphis author Nicole Hughes and illustrated by local artist Martheus Wade, the book follows Bella and Beale, Starry Nights’ new buffalo friends, as they prepare Shelby Farms Park for its biggest event. The book is available for purchase online, at the Lake’s Edge Shop, and with your Starry Nights ticket.
A fun and unique Memphis gift for a kiddo who loves Starry Nights and/or the buffalo!
How to get a free pass to Starry Nights at Shelby Farms Park
Starry Night is the park’s biggest fundraiser every year, but they need LOTS of volunteers to help the event run smoothly. If you’ve ever enjoyed the trails, fields, lakes, or playgrounds at Shelby Farms Park, consider giving back a few hours of your time through a volunteer shift.
You’ll be outside helping direct traffic, interact with guests, work check-in on special event nights. In exchange, you’ll receive a complimentary pass to the show.
You can find the list of shifts and more information on the Volunteer Odyssey website. To me this sounds like a fun family or group activity!
How to get a discounted ticket to Starry Nights
For a regular night, Starry Nights tickets are $34.95 if you buy online advance or $40 cash at the gate. Tickets vary in price depending on when you go and how you pay. You pay less if you sign up for a specific day/time—or more if you get a Flex Ticket that’s good for any day/time.
Starry Notes offers special nights with a $5 off discount. Another bonus, they're likely to be less busy nights. You can search through the days to find special nights but most will be early in the season or on Sundays and Mondays.
Motorcycle drive-through tickets are $15.95 online, $20 cash. Not available on walk-through nights. See the full range of ticket prices listed here.
3D Glasses, Concessions, Mistletoe Village + Santa Experience
The Starry Nights experience isn't limited to just your car. On select Sundays and Thursdays in December you can enjoy Mistletoe Village for holiday shopping and meet Santa. Photos with Santa are available for purchase.
When you purchase your tickets, a holiday pop-up shop has additional offerings to help support the park. One of them is 3D glasses for $3/pair. Watch the lights come to life as you travel through.
BUT! Before you drive through, be sure to stop at concessions and get some hot chocolate to sweeten the night from Belltower Coffee. They will be serving up hot chocolate, apple cider, decaf coffee, cinnamon streusel bread and cookies. After you leave the ticket booth, look for the signs on your right to the drive through station or on select nights at Mistletoe Village.
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Starry Nights at Shelby Farms Park
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