It’s hard to believe it’s already time for holiday lights, festive parades and your chance to see Santa rockin’ his way down Beale Street. From Zoo Lights at Memphis Zoo to Christmas at Graceland, there’s a little bit of everything for everyone when it comes to holiday events in Memphis.
This year marks the 71st anniversary of the downtown Spirit of Christmas parade. The annual parade is an annual tradition that started in 1936 and features marching bands, floats, celebrity guests, and Santa in his sleigh. The parade is free and takes place every November on Main Street between Downtown and Overton Square. The parade organizers have a long history of updating the event and adding new elements each year.
The first Christmas parade floats to take to the streets of Memphis were made of steel and wood. Overton Square was the home of the parade for many years, until it moved to downtown in 1969. The floats required more than 4,000 workers to build and were designed to reflect the American living room. The mechanized Santa in Court Square was replaced in 1940 with a house that was meant to be the “American Family’s living room.”
While a white Christmas in Memphis is a rare occurrence, it has happened on several occasions. The most recent snowy Christmas was in 1962, when 10 inches of snow fell on the city. Despite the chilly weather, Memphis residents still enjoyed the festivities.
Big Brother viewers may remember that Memphis and Christmas first met on the show during Season 22 of BB All-Stars. The pair became an item shortly after the show wrapped and quickly began dating in real life. The two are now living together in Florida, and have been open about their relationship. Recently, the couple shared a picture on social media with the caption, “Memphis and Christmas are smitten with each other.”
TMZ reports that the Big Brother couple recently got into a physical altercation at a local bar in Florida. The fight is said to have erupted after the two were asked to leave the establishment. TMZ quotes their attorney, Brian Karpf, saying that Christmas tried to pull Memphis away from the woman but was hit by her. A bartender reportedly attempted to break up the fight. The attorney says that the couple will not return to the establishment.
While the alleged incident is not exactly typical for Memphis, this couple has been known to have short tempers. Fans will have to wait and see if the two can work out their differences. Until then, fans can always count on them to provide some entertaining reality TV moments.