Elvis Birthday Week Events at Graceland in Memphis

If you are an Elvis fan, you know that even though Elvis's Birthday is officially on January 8th, the event is celebrated for an entire week by his fans down in Memphis (and all over the world). If you are lucky enough to live in the Memphis area, or will be visiting between the dates of January 6, and January 11, consider stopping down in Whitehaven to visit Graceland and celebrate the life and legacy of the most popular and beloved entertainer of all time.

On Tuesday, January 6, enjoy the 2009 Grizzlies Elvis Birthday Night - A Night of Elvis and Grizzlies Basketball, at 7:00pm at the FedExForum in downtown Memphis. The Memphis Grizzlies will be celebrating the life of Elvis Presley. The Memphis Grizzlies will be playing the Minnesota Timberwolves and you can enjoy Elvis-themed music, movie clips, and live entertainment. To order tickets, visit the Grizzlies web site.

On Thursday morning, from 12:01 a.m. - 12:15 a.m. at the front gates of Graceland, D&N's Elvis Presley Fan Club and the Elvis Meetup Fan Club invite you to join their annual tradition. Meet at the gates of Graceland at midnight on Elvis's birthday as they join fans from across the globe singing familiar gospel songs, and of course, sing Happy Birthday to Elvis.

On Thursday, January 8 at 9:30 a.m, join other fans for the Elvis Presley Day Ceremony on the front steps of Graceland Mansion. This program will be hosted by Priscilla Presley, several Graceland/EPE officials and will feature a proclamation of Elvis Presley Day by Memphis and Shelby County officials. Admission is free, and complimentary birthday cake and coffee will be served at the Chrome Grille restaurant in Graceland Plaza across the street from the mansion following the ceremony.

Also on Thursday, January 8 at 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., see Terry Mike Jeffrey perform a live, unplugged session of Elvis music at the Graceland Ticket Pavilion. Admission is free.

On Thursday, January 8, you can join other Elvis fans in a Scavenger Hunt at the Graceland Ticket Office from 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Guests will tour Graceland Mansion and the Elvis Presley Automobile Museum while simultaneously participating in a trivia scavenger hunt. All participants receive a collectible, limited-edition Elvis Presley birthday bear from Limited Treasures. There will be adult and junior versions of the scavenger hunt, with separate prizes for both adult and junior versions. Admission is $29.00 for adults, and $12.00 for children 7-12. Tickets on sale now through Graceland Reservations by calling (800) 238-2000, or you can purchase online at elvis.com.

Also on Thursday, January 8th, from 8:00 p.m. - 12:00 Midnight at the Elvis Presley Car Museum in Graceland Plaza, you can dance with other Elvis fans to Elvis tunes, and enjoy a cash bar featuring adult beverages (ID's checked) and soft drinks. Admission is $20.00, and you can purchase tickets by calling Graceland Reservations at (800) 238-2000 or (901) 332-3322, or you can purchase online at elvis.com.

On Friday, January 9th, from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m, all Elvis Insiders Members are invited to attend the Official Elvis Insiders Reception and Graceland Tour . This event is exclusively for members of the Elvis Insiders, and will feature a private evening tour of Graceland Mansion in all its holiday splendor and a reception across the street in Graceland Plaza. The reception will be a progressive event moving about the plaza area and will include Elvis's airplanes, The Elvis Presley Automobile Museum and the "Elvis Jumpsuits: All Access" exhibit in the Sincerely Elvis Museum. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and cash bars will be available, and everyone will win a door prize. Also, special Elvis exhibits from the Graceland Archives will be in place inside the residential area of the mansion. The special evening tour of the mansion includes the audio tour presentation, plus Elvis Christmas music playing in the background. Decorations for the 2008/2009 holiday season will be in place. Admission $44.00 adults, $22.00 children 7-12, children under 7 free. Parking in the main Graceland parking lot is free beginning at 4:30 PM. You can purchase tickets from Graceland Reservations by calling (800) 238-2000 or (901) 332-3322, or you can purchase online at elvis.com

On Saturday, January 10th, from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon, the Fan Club Presidents' Event will take place at the Fogelman Executive Conference Center, University of Memphis. Join Elvis Presley fan club presidents from independent Elvis fan clubs from around the world at this special event to learn about the amazing work that fan clubs do to continue on Elvis's name and memory. All fans are invited to attend this event where they can learn more about what official Elvis Presley fan clubs do, while also enjoying a program of EPE company updates and special announcements. Tickets for the general public are $8.00. You can obtain tickets through Graceland Reservations by calling (800) 238-2000 or (901) 332-3322, or you can purchase online at elvis.com

Also on Saturday, January 10th, 2009, at 1:00 PM, enjoy the Birthday Memphis Meetup at the Rock N Roll Cafe, at 3715 Elvis Presley Blvd., Graceland Crossing. The event will take place immediately following the Presidents' Event.

On Saturday, January 10th at 8:00 p.m, The Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, located at 255 North Main Street in downtown Memphis will celebrate the king of rock 'n' roll with The Imperials, Terry Mike Jeffery and Elvis himself on the big screen as the Memphis Symphony presents its annual Elvis Birthday Pops concert. Tickets are available through the MSO Box Office by calling 901.537.2525, or online at www.MemphisSymphony.org

On Sunday, January 11th from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., come enjoy the Elvis Birthday Breakfast at the Elvis Presley Car Museum, Graceland Plaza. Come enjoy breakfast in the Elvis Presley Car Museum while listening to Elvis music and watching Elvis videos on the drive-in theater movie screen with other Elvis fans. Tickets are $27.00 per person and can be obtained from Graceland Reservations by calling (800) 238-2000 or (901) 332-3322, or you can purchase them online at elvis.com.

There are also daily events that you can enjoy every day, and I have listed them as follows:

Tours of Graceland Mansion, the Elvis Presley Automobile Museum, Elvis's personal jets, the Sincerely Elvis Museum and Private Presley are always available daily. Visit elvis.com tickets and details. Graceland Mansion is decorated in all its traditional splendor indoors and out through January 11th. Special additional exhibits will be in place throughout the mansion January 8-11.

During the mornings, throughout the year there is a period of time for free-admission walk-up visits to the Meditation Garden at Graceland, where the grave sites of Elvis and members of his family are located. The winter hours for free walk-up visits are 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. daily. During the Elvis' Birthday Celebration, there will also be nightly walkups from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on January 7, 8 and 10.

Join us in the Heartbreak Hotel Dining Area, and play Elvis Bingo for great Elvis prizes. Bingo will be held on January 8, 9, 10,and 11. Times are listed online at www.elvis.com. Admission is free, but you need a ticket, which you can obtain at the entrances into the dining area at least 30 minutes before the games start. Available on a first come, first serve basis.

Some information for this article obtained from elvis.com