MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Music fans from around the world will travel to Elvis Presley’s Graceland® next week to celebrate the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s™ 84th birthday. Numerous events are scheduled for January 5-8, 2019, including The Auction at Graceland, events with Elvis’ good friend Jerry Schilling, a special ‘birthday bash’ in the Elvis Presley’s Memphis™ entertainment and exhibit complex, the annual Birthday Proclamation on the front lawn of the Graceland mansion and a performance by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. Fans will also have the opportunity to see the Medal of Freedom recently awarded to Elvis. Many of the birthday celebration events will be held at The Guest House at Graceland™, the new AAA Four Diamond-rated resort hotel located just steps from Graceland. For a complete day-by-day schedule visit Graceland.com. Highlights include:
“My Friend Elvis” package holders will join Elvis' close personal friend Jerry Schilling for an unforgettable, unique Graceland experience during the 2019 Elvis Birthday Celebration. Jerry first met Elvis in 1954 and they developed a friendship that lasted a lifetime. From personal moments with Elvis spent at Graceland, to concert tours throughout the US, to a secret visit to the White House, Jerry was there. As part of this first-ever birthday package featuring Jerry Schilling, fans will get an insider look at what life was like with Elvis as told through the eyes of one of his closest friends. The package can be purchased here.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 5
At 7:30 p.m., fan favorite Jerry Mike Jeffrey joins the Memphis Symphony Orchestra for a salute to Elvis’ Las Vegas performances. Tickets on sale through the Memphis Symphony Orchestra by calling 901-537-2500 or by visiting MemphisSymphony.org. Exciting changes for the 2020 Memphis Symphony Orchestra Show will be announced that evening.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 6
At 11:00 a.m., the Elvis Birthday Party on Wheels bus will depart Graceland for an excursion to where it all began to Elvis’ birthplace - Tupelo, Mississippi. Fans will enjoy lunch at Vernon’s Smokehouse before hopping aboard the Graceland Excursions bus along with special guest host Tom Brown for a trip filled with music, trivia and fun down highway 78 to Tupelo. In Tupelo, guests will see significant Elvis landmarks such as the Tupelo Fairgrounds, the Elvis Homecoming Statue, Tupelo Hardware, schools that he attended and the Elvis Presley Birthplace with a meet ‘n’ greet with Elvis' childhood friend Guy Harris. Tickets available here.
At 7:00 p.m. "Viva Las Vegas" Sing-A-Long at the Guest House Theater. Enjoy a screening of Elvis fan favorite film "Viva Las Vegas" while singing along to some of your favorite songs from the movie, including "Viva Las Vegas," "The Lady Loves Me," "C'Mon Everybody" and more! FREE. Limited seating available on a first-come, first served basis.
MONDAY, JANUARY 7
The Elvis Birthday Brunch will be held at 9:30 a.m. in The Guest House Ballroom. Host Tom Brown will welcome first-time guest Charlotte Stewart, who co-starred with Elvis in the 1968 movie “Speedway.” Charlotte also starred as Miss Beadle in "Little House on the Prairie" and as Betty Briggs in "Twin Peaks." Charlotte will share some of her favorite memories of being on set with Elvis. Tickets available here.
At 2:00 p.m. the Elvis Presley Fan Club Celebration will be held in The Guest House Theater. Elvis Presley fan club presidents and members will join to celebrate what it means to be an Elvis fan through this new special event that will feature fans’ stories, prizes, competitions and more, hosted by DJ Argo. This event is open to all.
An Elvis Birthday Bash will start at 6:00 p.m. with a private evening tour of Graceland Mansion. Following the tour at Elvis Presley’s Memphis, fans will dance to Elvis music by DJ Argo at Presley Motors. Other activities will include Elvis trivia in the Graceland Archives Exhibit, the newly-expanded Presley Cycles exhibit and Elvis on the big screen inside the Graceland Soundstage. Guests will be able to browse all of the exhibits at Elvis Presley’s Memphis at their leisure without crowds. This will also be the last opportunity to see Graceland decorated for Christmas. Graceland was recently chosen as the #1 “Best Holiday Historic Home Tour” in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Tickets available here.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 8
The annual Elvis Birthday Proclamation Ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Graceland's North Lawn. The special ceremony will feature Graceland/EPE officials, a birthday cake cutting and proclamation of Elvis Presley Day by Memphis and Shelby County officials. Following the event, complimentary birthday cake and coffee at Vernon’s Smokehouse, Elvis Presley’s Memphis.
At 12:30 p.m. The Auction at Graceland will take place in The Guest House Theater. Following the record-breaking Auction at Graceland this past August, fans and collectors from around the world will participate on-site and online for this auction, featuring artifacts authenticated by Graceland Authenticated. A portion of the auction will benefit the Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation (EPCF), a 501(c)3 organization. Fifteen lots including many unique experiences at Graceland are being offered solely to benefit the EPCF, which was formed by Graceland/Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. in 1984 to continue Elvis’ own tradition of generosity and community service, and to honor his memory. All of the items in the auction that are not part of the benefit are offered from third-party collectors and none of the items included in the auction will come from the treasured Graceland Archives. A selection of the artifacts can be viewed at Graceland’s Elvis Presley’s Memphis now through January 6, 2019, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and at The Guest House at Graceland in The Rock Conference Room Monday, January 7, from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Online bidding is now open at GracelandAuctions.com.
For additional information on all events and to purchase tickets visit https://www.graceland.com/elvis-birthday.
About Graceland and Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.
Elvis Presley’s Graceland, in Memphis, is music’s most important and beloved landmark, with hundreds of thousands of fans from around the world visiting the historic home each year. Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. (EPE) manages the operations of Graceland and its related properties, including Elvis Presley's Memphis, Graceland's new entertainment and exhibition complex over 200,000 square feet in size; the AAA Four Diamond Guest House at Graceland 450-room resort hotel; and the Graceland Archives, featuring thousands of artifacts from Elvis’ home and career. EPE also produces and licenses Elvis-themed live events, tours, and attractions worldwide. Graceland Holdings LLC, led by managing partner Joel Weinshanker, is the majority owner of EPE. Graceland is the only attraction worldwide to ever receive five USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards: in 2018, it was voted “Best Tennessee Attraction” and Best Holiday Historic Home Tour, in 2015 voted the world’s “Best Musical Attraction” and “Best Historic Southern Attraction,” and in 2013 voted the #1 “Iconic American Attraction.” In 2018 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards named Graceland one of the top 25 landmarks in the world and it was named one of 10 Great American Music Landmarks by Rolling Stone. For more information on EPE and Graceland, visit www.graceland.com.
Stay connected to Elvis Presley’s Graceland:
Website: http://www.graceland.com/
Facebook:
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@VisitGraceland
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OfficialGraceland
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Live: http://www.gracelandlive.com
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Facebook:
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Livestream
events: https://livestream.com/ElvisPresleyGraceland/events/3333050
SiriusXM’s
Elvis Radio, Channel 19: http://www.siriusxm.com/Elvisradio
