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Every Wednesday May–Oct: Farmers Market at the Botanic Garden offers a variety of locally grown and produced goods. 636-4100, memphisbotanicgarden.com
Every 1st Thursday: Midtown’s historically hip Cooper Young entertainment district stays up late in a festive atmosphere with live music, discounts, assorted cuisine, and more. Cooper Young intersection in Midtown, 276-7222, cooperyoungnightout.com
Every Last Friday: Hop a trolley or stroll through historic South Main Arts District as shops, restaurants, and art galleries remain open into the evening, displaying unique art, merchandise, and cuisine. 578-7262, southmainmemphis.net
Every Saturday mid April–Oct: Get fresh, get local at the Memphis Farmers Market Downtown, offering goods from local farmers, producers, and artisans. Central Station Pavilion, 575-0580, memphisfarmersmarket.org
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebrations: The city of Memphis commemorates the leadership, vision, beliefs, and sacrifice of Dr. King through a myriad of original programs and activities designed to inspire new generations of leaders. Special concerts, art exhibits, performances, and more. Citywide, 521-9699, civilrightsmuseum.org
Elvis Birthday Celebrations: The city rocks ‘n’ rolls with special Elvis-themed events, including a Graceland scavenger hunt, exhibits, parties, concerts, birthday cake, and a Graceland ceremony. Citywide, 800-238-2000, 332-3322, elvis.com
IMAX Film Festival: Take it to the max with a smorgasbord of IMAX films housed inside the recently expanded and remodeled Pink Palace Museum, one of the largest facilities of its kind in the Southeast. 320-6362, memphismuseums.org
International Blues Challenge: The world’s largest gathering of blues musicians wails out over the city when hundreds of blues acts from around the world compete for the honor of being a “blues best” in a variety of categories. Beale Street, 527-2583, blues.org
International Folk Alliance Conference: From films and lyrics to songs and stories, special events and guests fill the days and nights with a showcase of folk artists, performances, film screenings, workshops, and more. 522-1170, folk.org
Mardi Gras Parade and Pub Crawl: Celebrate the Memphis way with crawfish boil, drink specials, bobbing for crawfish contests, and the legendary Krewe Shopping Kart Parade. Beale Street, 529-0999, bealestreetmerchants.com
Polar Bear Plunge: P-p-plungers are freezin’ for a reason at this Special Olympics benefit that includes live music, chili cook-off, kids’ activities, contests, and more alongside the Mississippi River. Mud Island, 683-1271, polarbearplungemem.org
Valentine’s Day Dinner Cruise: A romantic dinner aboard a historic Memphis riverboat that travels along the Mississippi River amid entertainment and an ever-changing view. 527-2628, memphisriverboats.net
Zydeco Festival: Get your “Creole” on and dance to the crazy beat of Zydeco music in bars and clubs up and down one of the most famous streets in America. Beale Street, 529-0999, bealestreetmerchants.com
Bluesalicious: A blues dance weekend sings out from a variety of venues around the city, including music tours, brunch, and pub crawl. bluesalicious.com
St. Patrick’s Day on Beale: No luck of the Irish is needed to jig in and around the bars and clubs, drinking green beer, collecting beads, and cheering on the parade! Beale Street, 529-0999, bealestreetmerchants.com
Africa in April: A four-day celebration of African history and culture with a variety of festival activities, including music, cuisine, vendors, exhibition booths, arts and crafts, and more. Beale and Robert R. Church Park, 947-2133, africainapril.org
Playhouse on the Square Art Auction: The best pARTy in town hosts free admission, free drinks, and more than 100 original works of art in live and silent auctions. 725-0776, playhouseonthesquare.org
Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival: Calling all mudbug lovers to an afternoon with mounds of crawfish, live entertainment, gumbo cook-off, the crawfish bob, contests, cooking demos, Cajun Market, and more. Wagner Place, 577-2500, porterleath.org
Redbirds Baseball Season Begins: The AAA affiliate of the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals begins its April to September season in Memphis’s state-of-the-art AutoZone Park stadium. 721-6000, memphisredbirds.com
The Blues Music Awards: Top blues performers join industry representatives and fans from all over
the world to celebrate the best in blues recordings and performances. Cook Convention Center, 527-2583, blues.org
Memphis Greek Festival: Opa! A huge spread of specialty Greek foods, Greek dancing, live music, dining in the taverna, and a marketplace filled with imported Greek items. Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 327 8177, memphisgreekfestival.com
Memphis in May: Month-long celebration saluting a chosen country, with educational programs and
cultural events throughout the city, including the Beale Street Music Festival, World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, and the Sunset Symphony. 525-4611, memphisinmay.org
Memphis Italian Festival: Mama Mia! A family-oriented celebration of Italian-American traditions includes live music, games, Italian cuisine and cook-off, arts and crafts, and more. Marquette Park, 767-6949, memphisitalianfestival.com
Outdoors Inc. Canoe and Kayak Race: The largest canoe and kayak race in the Southeast includes paddlers of all skill levels from around the world. Mud Island, 527-6028, outdoorsinc.com
Pickin Picnic Bluegrass Festival: Bring picnic baskets and lawn chairs for outdoor performances by the region’s best bluegrass bands. Bartlett Performing Arts Center grounds, 385-6440, bpacc.org
Juneteenth Freedom & Heritage Festival: Salute the African-American spirit and those who made significant contributions to the nation and the world, with music, food, vendors, picnics, reunions, and more. Douglass Park, 385-4943, juneteenthmemphis.org
St. Jude Golf Classic: The tradition continues as golf heroes meet golf masters at this legendary, four-day, world-class tournament on the PGA Tour. TPC Southwind, 748-0534, stjudeclassic.com
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Blues on the Bluff: A guaranteed good time in front of the mighty Mississippi River backdrop as blues musicians give it their all. Bring a lawn chair for blues and brews. National Ornamental Metal Museum grounds, 528-0560, wevl.org
Red, White & Blues 4th of July Celebration: Independence Day ends with a bang on the river with music, food, games, and the city’s most spectacular fireworks show. Tom Lee Park, 529-0999, bealestreetmerchants.com
Elvis Week: Rock with events fit for a king, as the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll stages an array of “all things Elvis,” including concerts, parties, and the world-famous Candlelight Vigil. Citywide, 800-238-2000, 332-3322, elvisweek.com
India Fest: A showcase of India’s rich art, culture, and heritage with a bazaar that includes Indian cuisine, clothing, jewelry, arts & crafts, art exhibit, live entertainment, dress competition, and more. Agricenter, 309-8286, iamemphis.org
AIA Architecture Month: A month-long celebration of architecture throughout the city that includes lectures, art exhibits, home tour, films, and other activities. 525-3818, aiamemphis.org
Clanjamfry—A Scottish Festival: A celebration of all things Scottish, including music, dance, bagpipes, food, arts and crafts, Scottish talent show, and an outdoor faire. Evergreen Presbyterian Church, 274-3740, clanjamfrymemphis.org
Cooper-Young Festival: Live music, more than 300 vendor booths, arts and crafts, children’s area, entertainment, and plenty to eat at this Midtown festival. Intersection of Cooper and Young, 276-7222, cooperyoungfestival.com
Delta Fair and Music Festival: The fair rolls into town with live music, rides, fair food, carnival midway, rodeo, circus acts, daredevil stunts, and more. Agricenter, 435-7150, deltafest.com
Memphis Music & Heritage Festival: A Labor Day weekend tradition includes two days and five live music stages, arts, crafts, dance, demos, speakers, and all the local music flavor you can handle. Center for Southern Folklore, 525-3655, southernfolklore.com
Mid-South Fair: The fair is in the air, a Memphis institution for more than 150 years. Midway rides and games, food stands, arts and crafts exhibits, talent competitions, livestock events, and more at this Midsouth tradition. 274-8800, midsouthfair.com
Southern Heritage Classic: Citywide celebration of Memphis’s cultural diversity and rich heritage includes a golf classic, concert, tailgate party, and football matchup between Jackson State and Tennessee State. Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, 398-6655, southernheritageclassic.com
Freedom Awards: Dinner and ceremony honors individuals who made significant contributions in civil rights while laying the foundation for present and future leaders. National Civil Rights Museum, 521-9699, civilrightsmuseum.org
Pink Palace Crafts Fair: A melting pot of diverse arts and crafts, demonstrating artisans, concessions, family-friendly activities, entertainment, and cultural delights. Audubon Park, 320-6362, memphismuseums.org
RiverArtsFest: A weekend immersed in arts and culture in the streets of the South Main Historic District includes hundreds of nationally renowned artisans, the Artist Market, entertainment, street performers, and more. 529-9092, riverartsfestmemphis.org
Southeastern Indian Heritage Festival: Native American culture comes alive through food, dance, vendors, music, crafts, games, and more. Chucalissa Museum, 785-3160, chucalissa.memphis.edu
NBA Memphis Grizzlies Season Opener: This Western Conference team shoots the hoops October through April at Memphis’s newest sports arena, the FedExForum. 888-HOOP, grizzlies.com
Repair Days: Don’t worry about a ding! Metalsmiths give a weekend of free estimates and fix metal items in need of repair, accompanied by an auction, opening reception events, and more. National Ornamental Metal Museum, 774-6380, metalmuseum.org
Christmas at Graceland (Nov–Jan): Graceland authentically continues Elvis’s Christmas decorating traditions — inside and out — with a special lighting ceremony at dusk the day after Thanksgiving. 332-3322, 800-238-2000, elvis.com
Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees (Nov– Dec): A magical winter wonderland with thousands of twinkling lights, animated characters, hard-working elves, decorated trees, and Santa Claus. Pink Palace Museum, 320-6362, memphismuseums.org
Peabody Hotel Holiday Decorations (Nov– Dec): Experience “The South’s Grand Hotel” in all its holiday finery and activities, beginning with the tree-lighting ceremony the day after Thanksgiving. 529-4000, peabodymemphis.com
W.C. Handy Heritage Awards: Honoring authentic Beale Street musicians, the awards pay tribute to various musicians who have contributed to Memphis’s rich music heritage. 527-3427
Zoo Lights (Nov–Dec): Brighter than ever, this holiday favorite glows with more than one million lights that include animated displays of holiday fun. Pictures with Santa, reindeer rides, horse-drawn carriages, and more. Memphis Zoo, 276-WILD, memphiszoo.org
AutoZone Liberty Bowl: This matchup between two of the nation’s top college football teams is surrounded by tailgate parties, awards luncheon, and other Bowl Week events. Liberty Bowl Stadium, 795-7700, libertybowl.org
Beale Street New Year’s Eve: Ring in the New Year with live music, entertainment, and a dropping who-knows-what at midnight amid the clubs and restaurants on historically famous Beale. 529-0999, bealestreetmerchants.com
St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend: A weekend of fun surrounds this Boston Qualifier course, steeped in Southern hospitality in the Home of the Blues and the Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll. 578-2038, 800-565-5112, stjudemarathon.org
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