Ways to Enjoy Winter in Memphis

Photo: Alex Warble

It can be tempting to hibernate for the winter but Memphis has a ton of options for enjoying the 901, even when it’s too cold to go outside.

Try a new coffee shop

Memphis has plenty of coffee shops where you can get a cup of coffee, hot chocolate, or tea and warm up from the weather. Try one of these spots.

Grab a pint

Get out of the cold with a pint at one of our local breweries and enjoy food trucks while you’re there. Each brewery has a calendar of events, special tour days, and a rotating food truck schedule.

• Wiseacre
• High Cotton
• Memphis Made
• Ghost River
• Meddlesome Brewing Co
• Crosstown Brewing Co
• Need a growler filled for later? Here’s where you can go.

Learn the history of Memphis

• Stax Museum (free for Shelby County residents on Tuesdays, 1-5pm)
• National Civil Rights Museum (free for Shelby County residents on Mondays, 3-5pm)
• Memphis Rock n Soul Museum (Free for Shelby County residents on Tuesdays, 2-7pm)
• Sun Studio
• Blues Hall of Fame
• Slavehaven

Enjoy the arts

• Memphis Brooks Museum
• Dixon Gallery & Garden
• Withers Collection Museum & Gallery
• Metal Museum
• Victorian Village
• Crosstown Arts
• Broad Avenue Arts District
• Pink Palace Museum
• Find more art in Memphis
• Find all the murals and public art in Memphis

See live shows & music

• Orpheum
• Playhouse on the Square
• Hattiloo Theatre
• Theatre Memphis
• Germantown Performing Arts Center
• B.B. King’s Blues Club
• The New Daisy
• The Hi-Tone
• Minglewood Hall
• B-Side Memphis
• Otherlands
• Java Cabana
• Slice of Soul Pizza Lounge
• Old Dominick Distillery
• Ghost River Taproom
• The P & H Cafe
• RockHouse Live
• The Cove
• Memphis Comedy
• The Green Room

Learn something new

• Five in One Social Club workshops
• Metal Museum classes
• Shoot & Splice
• Painting classes 
• Madison Dance Studios
• New Ballet Ensemble
• Ballet Memphis
• Collage Dance Studio
• Memphis Black Arts Alliance
• Cooking classes
• Pottery making
• Sharpe Planetarium

Go thrift shopping

• Antique Warehouse Mall
• Chip ‘N’ Dales Antique Mall
• Second Time Around
• Found Memphis
• Flashback
• Repeat Boutique
• Second Hand Rose
• Sheffield Antiques Mall
• Habitat for Humanity ReStore
• South Front Antiques

Cheer on your favorite local sports team

• Memphis Grizzlies
• Memphis Tigers
• Memphis Hustle

See a movie

• The Summer Avenue Drive-In stays open during the winter months (Fri-Sun only) and offers double feature films for only $7.50/person. See their schedule of movies here. Tip: Make sure you have jumper cables handy just in case your battery goes dead since you will listen to the movie through your car’s radio system. They have a concession stand but you can bring your own coolers and food if you wish.
• Check out the brand new IMAX theatre at Malco Paradiso.
• Go here for even more ways to watch movies.

Read a good book

• Go here for a list of local bookstores
• Find a Little Free Library
• Join a book club

Discover your way out of an escape room

Escape rooms are a type of physical adventure game where people are willingly locked in a room with other participants and have to use elements of the room to solve a series of puzzles, find clues, and escape the room within a set time limit. Grab some friends and book a room at Memphis Escape Rooms and see if you can make it out!

More fun ideas

• Visit the Rec Room for video games, local beer, and more
• See the Grand Carousel at CMOM
• Enjoy s’mores at Loflin Yard
• Start a trivia team
• Try a new restaurant
• Go ghost hunting
• Sing your heart out at karaoke

Outdoor fun

• Memphis Zoo
• Shelby Farms Park
• Overton Park
• Bike Guide
• RiverFit Park
• Go on a group run
• Get your food truck fix

Volunteer

Memphians are known for being generous and hospitable. Here are several ways to volunteer your time or resources to those who need it most this winter:

• Volunteer Memphis
• Volunteer Odyssey
• Volunteer with refugees
• More ways to give back

Looking for even more suggestions? Check out our upcoming events and where you can meet other Memphians here.

Did we leave out your favorite way to enjoy our wintery weather? Let us know in the comments!