Christmastime stands still at Graceland: Although Elvis died 31 years ago, the king of rock ‘n’ roll is still rocking around the Christmas tree with a new holiday record. And Graceland, his royal digs in Memphis, is sporting spectacular holiday sparkle.
Guests making the pilgrimage to tour Graceland, Elvis’ 14-acre estate, during the holidays get a little added gift with each visit. The staff has hauled out the holly and decorated both the house and the front lawn with many of the same decorations used by the king himself.
Elvis Presley fans may have a blue, blue, blue Christmas without him, but his sparkling Memphis estate, Graceland, should put a smile on your face.
Graceland’s living room is decked out in white during the Christmas season. Much of the Memphis mansion is decorated as it was during the life of Elvis Presley, the king of rock ‘n’ roll. Presley, who grew up poor near Memphis and bought the mansion after gaining fame and riches, died in 1977.

So while Elvis fans chalk up another blue Christmas without him, his enduring magic combines with his love for the holidays and permeates this rock mecca.
For Elvis, Christmas was a special time of year, and the tradition continues. On the evening of Nov. 21, hordes of fans braved the stinging 25-degree chill to watch country superstar Martina McBride flip the celebratory switch and turn on Graceland’s Christmas light display. (Go here for Xmas videos)
McBride, one of a roster of hot country stars who sings Christmas songs along with Presley on the new CD of musical mashups, "Elvis Presley Christmas Duets," was also joined by actress Marlo Thomas and her brother, Tony. The Thomas siblings were on hand to announce a fund-raising campaign for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, an organization Presley supported.
As the lights came on, the Briarcrest Christian School marching band began pumping out some musical cheer as Santa, eyes blanketed in trademark Elvis-style shades, waved from the back of a vintage Cadillac that rolled down Graceland’s driveway.
Blue bulbs line Graceland’s curvy driveway and outline the house, a nod to Presley’s holiday hit "Blue Christmas." A giant Nativity scene holds court in the middle of the yard, complete with life-size figures of shepherds, animals, the Wise Men, a manger and a bold shining star above. Santa and his reindeer appear to take flight beneath a massive sign that stretches across an upper portion of the lawn that proclaims: "Merry Christmas to All — Elvis." A green wreath shrouded in ribbon hangs on the front door. And eight vintage lighted Christmas trees — in colors of orange, green, blue and red — are next to the front steps. They are the same trees Presley would use each year. More holiday glow awaits inside.
When guests walk through the front door, they enter a foyer bursting with more holiday decor. To the right, the living room’s plush white carpet looks as stark as fallen snow.
A white artificial tree with white lights and red and gold ball decorations stands near the sprawling white couch, a bundle of wrapped presents nestle underneath the tree. Matching red curtains with white trim that Presley would break out just for the holidays hang in the living room behind the couch.
The red curtain theme continues across the foyer and into the dining room, where a tree with multi-colored lights serves as the focal point. A child’s toy — a musical merry-go-round globe — that was given to Presley’s daughter, Lisa Marie, when she was a child sits on the table next to a place setting. And a nearby flat-screen monitor shows film footage shot in that room during Christmas. Presley’s father, Vernon, is dressed as Santa Claus, and a toddler-age Lisa Marie is seen receiving said globe.
The famous jungle room, Presley’s Hawaiian and tiki-inspired den featuring lavish wooden furniture, lush green shag carpet and a trickling fountain, has its own tree with a rainbow palette of lights. Toys that were given to Lisa Marie, including a massive stuffed Winnie the Pooh, pile around the tree.
The holiday theme is sprinkled throughout the rest of the tour. In his father’s office, in an adjacent building behind the house, Christmas cards sent to Presley from the likes of singer Pat Boone and others are splayed across a small table.
The tour includes a jaunt through other buildings on the Graceland grounds. The trophy room houses many pieces from Presley’s signature wardrobe, including the radiant gold lamé suit from the ’50s, outfits from the acclaimed 1968 NBC-TV Christmas special and jumpsuits galore.
A hall of gold records displays not only Presley’s prolific output, but also his countless accomplishments as an artist.
Across from Graceland, visitors can check out Presley’s cars and his two airplanes, as well as the new Private Presley exhibit, which explores Presley’s service in the U.S. Army.
.. Tips
• Graceland’s lawn light display is visible from the street. For a closer look, schedule your mansion visit for later in the day. If your tour ends at or after dusk, you’ll be able to see the Nativity scene and Santa banner in full glow from the tour bus.
• You can pay your respects to the king at no charge. From 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays through Mondays in December, guests can walk up the Graceland driveway and visit the Meditation Garden for free. Although the mansion will be closed most Tuesdays in December, the Meditation Garden will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on those days.
• Check all the details via EPE at www.elvis.com
(News, Source/JWaterhouse/Journal-Constitution)