The Big We + Historic Clayborn Temple are bringing The Big We’s Community Sing back with its very first holiday edition, opening the 10th-Annual Soulsville U.S.A. Holiday Tree Lighting and Toy Giveaway on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at 4:30 PM at 1048 S. Bellevue in Memphis. Joined by the Tennessee Mass Choir and led by its Executive Director, Dr. Jason Clark, The Big We’s Community Sing: Holiday Edition invites Memphians of every age to gather in the heart of Soulsville and start the season in song.
Community Sing is a gathering where an entire crowd learns and sings one song together, step by step. Everyone is welcome, whether they sing in the car, in the shower, or with a choir. Presented by The Big We + Historic Clayborn Temple, Community Sing grows from a simple belief: Memphis is stronger when we create together, and joy is worth building on purpose.
The Big We is a nonprofit social enterprise that stewards Historic Clayborn Temple, the home of the 1968 Sanitation Workers’ Strike, where workers stood together and called for dignity, safety, and fair treatment. The Big We is carrying that legacy forward by transforming Clayborn into a foundation for the restoration of its surrounding neighborhood and Memphis. This event brings that spirit to life in public spaces in practice of Beloved Community, a community where every person in every neighborhood experiences safety, joy, love, and abundance every single day.
Since its first gathering at Royal Studios in April 2025, Community Sing has grown into a citywide tradition, filling W.C. Handy Park and Beale Street on 901 Day 2025 and 2026, and welcoming 195 singers alongside the Tennessee Mass Choir at Crosstown Concourse in February 2026.
“This year, we’ve already brought Memphis together twice, and every time we see strangers become neighbors by the end of each song,” said Sameka Johnson, Community Engagement Manager at The Big We. “Opening Soulsville tree lighting for our first holiday edition is an honor! Soulsville gave Memphis and the world its sound, and we can’t think of a better place to bring Memphis together in song.”
Now in its tenth year, the Soulsville U.S.A. Holiday Tree Lighting and Toy Giveaway has become one of South Memphis’ most beloved holiday traditions. This year’s celebration is hosted by newly-elected Shelby County Mayor Mickell M. Lowery and South Memphis Alliance Founder Reginald Milton, alongside partners including the Soulsville U.S.A. Neighborhoods Development District, Memphis Black Arts Alliance, Memphis Music Magnet, LeMoyne-Owen College, Knowledge Quest, SCORE South City, and Shelby County Government. Organizers have described the event as a way to preserve a cherished tradition in a community celebrated for its music, history, and roots.
Guests can expect an evening full of holiday spirit. Community Sing opens the program at 4:30 PM, bringing the crowd together in song before the Mayor’s program begins. The celebration continues with a holiday story, community honors, and a countdown to the lighting of the Soulsville holiday tree, which stays lit throughout the season. Families can enjoy live entertainment, hot cocoa, holiday gifts, and a visit from Santa. Last year’s celebration drew hundreds of residents and delivered free toys to more than 400 children.
The Big We is a nonprofit social enterprise innovating and implementing culture-driven economic and community development solutions. We do this through storytelling, community design, and social entrepreneurship. The Big We currently powers two major initiatives: Memphis Culture Coalition and Historic Clayborn Temple, home of the Sanitation Workers’ Strike of 1968 and Memphis’ only certified National Treasure. We are planning the launch of two initiatives in 2027: Aretha Franklin House and Memphis Futures Fund. To find out more about The Big We’s Community Sing, visit thebigwe.com/communitysing.