Want to support your favorite Memphis institutions, and rake in a few perks while you’re at it? From discounts at top attractions to perks at local businesses, Memphis is full of fun, rewarding membership programs that you won’t want to miss out on. Better yet, give them as gifts to loved ones, too! Read on for a list of some of our favorites.
16 Memphis Memberships You Should Know About
Memphis Botanic Garden
A membership at the Memphis Botanic Garden allows you to stroll through its tranquil 96-acre grounds as often as you like. It also offers discounts to workshops, summer camps, Live at the Garden concert series, and annual events such as Holiday Wonders at the Garden. Members also receive monthly event reminders, a seasonal newsletter with tips from the garden’s horticulturists, discounts at the Nursery at the Garden and 13 other nurseries and garden shops in the Memphis area, and 10% discounts for Fratelli’s Café at the Garden, seasonal plant sales and gift shop merchandise (excluding art).
You’ll also receive access to more than 345 gardens in the American Horticultural Society (AHS) network! Memberships start at $60 for individuals and $100 for families, with a 10% discount for students, military members, and seniors. Special memberships are also available for photographers and videographers who want to do portrait shoots at the garden.
Whether you’re a master gardener or simply seeking an escape from the hustle and bustle of a busy life, a visit to the Memphis Botanic Garden is always inspiring. Image: Memphis Botanic Garden
Dixon Gallery and Gardens
If you’re looking for a way to make your days more beautiful, Dixon Gallery and Gardens offers beauty in spades. Enjoy its stunning 17-acre gardens and fine art museum year-round with a membership that helps support free admission for all visitors as well as innovative art and horticulture exhibitions and programs that aim to build meaningful connections within the Memphis community.
As a member, you can take advantage of discounts on special programs and after-hours events, invitations to exhibition openings, exclusive travel opportunities, and a 10% discount on museum store merchandise. You’ll also receive Dixon’s quarterly magazine, The Leaf, plus reciprocal privileges at more than 200 gardens, arboretums, and conservations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Memberships start at $45 for individuals and $60 for couples and families and are tax-deductible.
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
Do you dream about exploring global cultures but lack the budget to travel? A membership to the Brooks Museum might be the next best thing! Located in Overton Square, Tennessee’s oldest and largest art museum boasts 29 galleries with more than 10,000 works of art that span 5,000 years of global culture. Members receive free museum visits, a calendar of programs and events, a $10 discount on gift memberships, and invitations to members-only opening receptions and member appreciation days.
The membership also includes discounts at more than 200 museums and access to high-end cultural travel programs through the Southeastern Museums Conference (SERM). Memberships start at $50 for individuals, $60 for couples, and $75 for families, with higher tiers for those interested in curator-led talks, guest passes, private exhibition viewings, and more. Teachers receive a $10 discount on any membership level! All dues are tax-deductible and go toward caring for the museum’s impressive art collection.
GREYS Fine Cheese and Entertaining
Are you a cheese connoisseur? Join GREYS’ Monthly Cheese Club to treat yourself to a decadent spread of artisanal cheeses that you can pick up or have delivered to your doorstep on the second Tuesday of each month. Each box comes with fine, seasonal cheeses, along with accoutrements such as jams, spreads, charcuterie, and novelty items.
Cheesemonger Kurt selects a variety of cheeses each month and provides tips on how to taste and pair them. You’ll also receive a cheese logbook for tracking the taste and attributes of your cheeses and an insulated GREYS tote that you can bring into the store for a 10% discount on even more cheese. Membership is $199 for three months or $395 for six months. Add a bottle of wine to your monthly shipment for an extra $20!
GREYS’ Monthly Cheese Club offers a delectable spread of artisan cheeses for members. Image: GREYS Fine Cheese and Entertaining
Museum of Science and History
From stepping back in time to glimpsing the future, the Museum of Science and History (MOSH), formerly The Pink Palace, is a microcosm for discovering more about history, culture, science, and nature. MOSH has multiple membership packages for lifelong learners, starting at $75 for individuals, $100 for couples, and $125 for families. Each package includes unlimited visits to the museum, its historic homes, and the Lichterman Nature Center.
Memberships also includes half-price tickets to planetarium shows under the AutoZone Dome, movies in the Giant Screen IMAX Theater, discounts on programs and special events at all MOSH properties, and a 10% discount on museum shop merchandise. Members are also eligible for discounts at more than 580 museums worldwide in the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) and the Southeastern Museums Conference (SERM) network.
Memphis Zoo
Home to more than 4,500 animals and over 50 different species, the century-old Memphis Zoo is routinely ranked among the top in the nation. It is loaded with themed exhibits of animals in their natural habitats. Memberships start at $70 and go toward supporting the care and feeding of the animals.
Along with free admission and parking for a year, perks include invitations to member-only events, three $10 one-day general admission passes, discounts on special events like Zoo Boo and Zoo Lights, and a 15% discount on food, drinks, and gift shop purchases. You’ll also get a half-price admission discount when visiting other zoos and aquariums in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) network.
Can’t get enough of watching penguins swim or monkeys monkeying around? You can observe them all the time with a membership to the Memphis Zoo. Image: Memphis Zoo
Memphis Runners Track Club
If you’re an avid runner, the Memphis Runners Track Club is a great place to find training buddies and friendly competition. One of the nation’s largest and most active running clubs, the nonprofit’s mission is to promote health and fitness throughout the community through its amateur road racing, cross country, and track programs. The club organizes a slew of races across town, with discounted entry fees for members. Annual memberships are $15 for students, $25 for individuals, and $30 for households, with options for longer and lifetime memberships.
Arrow Creative
Want to explore your inner creativity? There is no better place to find inspiration and support than Arrow Creative, Midtown’s one-stop shop for creative entrepreneurs and arts education. With shoppable studios, classes, artist chats, and multiple galleries with changing exhibitions, there is plenty to learn, observe and appreciate. Membership tiers start at $75 and include access to members-only classes and events, private gallery showings, and discounts for classes, workshops, and annual events like Memphis Fashion Week.
Children’s Museum of Memphis
If you’ve got little ones, a trip to the Children’s Museum of Memphis can provide hours of entertainment, exploration, and inspiration with its interactive exhibits and opportunities for creative play. Parents can take advantage of this hands-on learning on a regular basis with an annual family membership.
Benefits include unlimited museum visits, free parking, birthday party rental discounts, invitations to members-only events, and discounts to special events — not to mention an opportunity to instill a lifelong love of learning and cultural appreciation in your child. Memberships start at $125 and include a half-price general admission discount for families of up to six who are visiting other museums in the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) network. A grandparent membership is also available!
Germantown Performing Arts Center
Whether you’re a fan of jazz, folk, orchestra music, or interpretive dance, you can find a plethora of shows to keep you entertained all year long at the Germantown Performing Arts Center (GPAC). The center hosts various musical and theatrical performances featuring local artists and nationally and internationally acclaimed acts. Purchase a season subscription to any of GPAC’s series (Center Stage Series, Jazz Series, Acoustic Music Project Series) and save 20% on your ticket price — or 30% with a subscription to its entire season.
Subscribers receive ticket exchange privileges, discounts on additional ticket purchases, and advance notice of new shows and concerts before they go on sale to the public. You can also buy a Flex Pass and save 20% on four or more shows while enjoying subscriber benefits!
GPAC subscribers enjoy discounts on year-round performances, from concerts to interpretive dance. Image: GPAC
Theatre Memphis
Love the theater? You can go as many times as you’d like with a membership to Theatre Memphis. Founded in 1920, the community theater is one of the oldest in the area. It relies on its season membership sales to continue its tradition of putting on the best quality productions for local audiences.
Purchase a $150 season membership to receive six tickets to upcoming performances ranging from Macbeth to Mary Poppins, plus priority seating and discounts for featured shows, special events, and adult and children’s workshops and classes. Upgrade to higher tiers for even more perks! All membership levels receive a member card with discounts for participating local partner businesses, including Dinstuhl’s Fine Candies, Libro at Laurelwood, and Venice Kitchen.
Graceland Insiders
Are you an Elvis uber fan? Share your love of the King with like-minded fans worldwide with a membership to the Graceland Insiders program. For just $23.99 a year, you can meet Elvis fans worldwide via a private Facebook group and at in-person events at Graceland during Elvis Week and Elvis’ annual birthday celebration. You also get an inside look into Elvis’ life and his beloved Memphis home, with access to Graceland’s live cams (including one looking out from Elvis’ bedroom window).
You will also have access to Facebook Live events and exclusive videos, such as a monthly look at artifacts from the Graceland Archives. Additionally, there are members-only contests and giveaways, discounts on tours and merchandise, and access to ticket pre-sales for Elvis Week and other events. Hunka-hunka, cool!
Board to Beers
If your idea of game night involves sitting around the table with friends instead of duking it out with digital characters on a screen, a membership to Board to Beers could be a great investment. Stocked with more than 600 board games, the unconventional bar offers an excellent spot for grabbing a beer and some snacks while kicking back with friends for hours of old-fashioned fun. Kids are even welcome until 9 p.m.! Monthly memberships for individuals, couples, and families range from $20 to $40, with options for annual memberships.
Board to Beers members have monthly access to its library of more than 600 board games and hours of old-fashioned fun. Image: Board to Beers
Hops Collective
Beer lovers rejoice! Hops Collective, which distributes new and exciting brews from microbreweries nationwide, delivers to Memphis. Join its Beer of the Month Club for a monthly supply of rare, hard-to-find craft beers, including seasonal and limited-release beers, curated by professional tasters and sourced from the best local breweries.
Members choose when they receive their beer and how many they want. Each beer comes with a handy information card filled with fascinating tidbits about the brewery, the beer, pairing suggestions, and more. Best of all, shipping is free, and you will never be charged for an order until it’s on the way!
Renew Wellness Spa
We could all use a little more self-care. Germantown’s Renew Wellness Spa, which offers foot baths, body wraps, facials, colon hydrotherapy, waxing, steam treatments, and more, makes that goal attainable with its monthly Wellness Works program priced to fit every budget and lifestyle.
Memberships, which start at $59 a month, include exclusive member pricing on all services, priority scheduling, quarterly wellness consultations, members-only discounts, and specials, plus options for monthly infrared salt sauna sessions, colon hydrotherapy, or organic facials.
Wonder/Cowork/Create
Tired of working from home or trying to launch a business from your kitchen table? Created “for creatives by creatives,” Wonder/Cowork/Create, located in the Edge district, aims to bring creative professionals together to provide a sense of community and a space to connect, grow and build.
The co-working hub offers various workspaces, including “hot desking” at communal tables, dedicated desks, and private offices. Amenities include conference rooms with audiovisual capabilities, event space, Wifi, coffee, lockers, whiteboards, mail services, parking, and more. Monthly memberships start at $99 and increase for dedicated desks and private offices.
We hope you’ve found something new to try, Memphis!
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