There's nothing like Elvis Presley's Graceland at Christmas.  Christmas was Elvis's favorite holiday.  To this day, the lawn decorations and indoor Christmas trees and decorations are the same as when Elvis was alive.  Every year the Christmas lighting ceremony at the the rock legend's home is quite the spectacle.

My name is 'CJ' and I do the morning show with Debbie Ray on 99.9 FM KTDY.  I have been a huge Elvis fan since about age 14.  When the announcement came on the radio that Elvis Presley had died at his Memphis home at the age of 42 in 1977, I was actually playing a game called Mouse Trap with a distant cousin of the King of Rock and Roll.  I remember feeling like someone had hit me in the gut.  And at that time, I really wasn't a fan.  But I was indeed moved by the announcement.

Elvis Presley Interviewed
Townsquare Media, Staff Photo
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For over a week, all you heard on radio and saw on television was Elvis Elvis Elvis.  That's how I became a fan.  I heard so many of his songs, songs I'd never heard before and was blown away by his voice and overall sound.

Fast-forward to the year 2017.  I now own almost all Elvis Presley video and audio material ever released to the public and then some.  I've been to Graceland more times than I can count, including a private midnight tour of the mansion giving to me on my 50th birthday by my son Blake which included dinner and a sit down chat with Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley.

CJ And Lisa Marie Presley
Townsquare Media, Staff Photo
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But there's one thing still on my Elvis bucket list and that is to watch the lighting of the Christmas decorations in November at Graceland.  There is always a celebrity on hand to throw the switch and usually Priscilla and/or Lisa Marie make an appearance as well.

So I asked Travel Machine, the exclusive travel agency of CJ and Debbie Ray in the Morning to put together a trip to Graceland for the annual Christmas lighting ceremony.  And I thought it would be wonderful to invite Acadiana to come along.

Annual Elvis Presley Lighting Celebration
Greg Campbell, Getty Images
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Travel Machine has put together the most amazing trip to Graceland ever!  You will see the new state-of-the-art entertainment complex featuring the new Elvis Presley career museum, automobile museum, performance soundstage, pop culture exhibits, restaurants and retail.  And you'll be staying in the new Elvis Presley Guest House Hotel.  Elvis always wanted a guest house, well now he has one!  Combined cost of these new Graceland editions, over 137 million dollars.  I've not seen them yet.  I'd like us to have this once in a lifetime experience together.  Will you join me?

Elvis Guest House
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One thing I asked of Travel Machine is that we keep the cost as low as possible and of course, they agreed.  This trip will be jam packed with excitement and exclusives that you can only get by booking through Travel Machine.  Here are just a few items on the list of things we'll do and see while in Memphis November 15 - 18.

  • Accommodations at Elvis Presley's new Guest House Hotel and Suites. (A four minute walk from Graceland mansion)
  • Ultimate VIP Tour of Graceland
  • Private tour guide.
  • Private dining, meal vouchers and private lounge.
  •  Graceland mansion tour with personal tour guide.
  • Self-guided tour of Elvis' custom jets.
  • Full access to Elvis Presley’s Memphis entertainment complex.
  • Presley Motors automobile museum.
  • Elvis: The entertainer career museum
  • Self-guided tours of the Elvis discovery exhibits.
  • Exclusive VIP exhibit.
  • Christmas lighting ceremony.
  • Visit Peabody Hotel to view the Peabody Ducks
  • STAX music museum
  • Sun Studio tour
  •  Beale Street Bar Crawl
  • BB King's Blues Club
  • Jerry Lee Lewis Honky Tonk

PLUS:

  • Access to Ultimate Lounge at Elvis Presley’s Memphis.
  • Options to purchase special merchandise only available to our Ultimate guests.
  • A meal at Vernon's Smokehouse.
  • Exclusive Photo Opportunities.
  • Personal Graceland archives show and tell session.
  • Keepsake backstage pass.

And much more!

People have asked me for years to walk through Graceland with them, offering to pay me to do it.  Well now you can, and the price couldn't be better!

Graceland Is Designated National Historic Landmark
Mike Brown, Getty Images
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Call Travel Machine to book this once in a lifetime trip.  You know I'm getting older, who knows if I'll be able to do another that's this BIG.  Call (337) 981-7870 and ask for information about the 'Ultimate VIP Christmas Lighting of Graceland with CJ' holiday exclusive.  The perfect holiday gift!

 


 

 

 

 

 

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