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You looking for something to do? Boy, do we have good news for you! (Photo: Water Lantern Festival)

Your Guide to Spring & Summer Festivals in Memphis

Festival season is in full swing! From food to fashion, there are a number of spring and summer festivals in Memphis, and we want to make sure you know about ’em all.

MARCH festivals in memphis

Your favorite local artists and makers invite you to mingle and forge for vintage finds at Ghost River Brewing

Step back in time with “A Tribute to the Greats,” where the legends live and the music never dies. Honors Memphis’ musical heroes with performances that’ll have you dancing through the decades!

The name of the game is GREEN. Green get-ups, green beads, and a whole lotta green beer. Make your way to Beale Street where the local leprechauns will lead to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. 

Celebrate water, trees, and sustainability at this FREE festival. Free tree seedlings, planting kits, and reusable water bottles will be available.

Paint the town green and gold at Memphis’s Official St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl! It’s your golden ticket to a day of shamrocks, shenanigans, and cheersing. Don’t miss out on the luckiest crawl of the year!

Don your green and dance a jig at Overton Square this St. Paddy’s Day. The Memphis Pipe Band will perform classic Celtic songs with traditional instruments, too!

Experience Nigerian culture in Memphis. Did you know Memphis has a thriving, large Nigerian community? Tickets include live performances, food, and more!

Don’t get pinched this St. Patrick’s Day. Wear your green to the Brass Door Irish Pub and celebrate St. Paddy’s Day!

From Downtown to Orange Mound — to Bartlett and everything in between — Memphis Black Restaurant Week  has returned to encourage you to tap into the tasty eats that our Black-owned businesses are bringing to the table.

Support a great cause. There will be cornhole, kids’ games, a silent auction, and other activities. The goal each year is to raise $21,000 with 100% of proceeds going to the Down Syndrome Association of Memphis & the Mid-South (DSAM).

Memphis Black Restaurant Week is capping off a full week of eats with a food truck festival at Tiger Lane that features hella food and even more fun. 

Tequila lovers unite! This event will have drinks on drinks on drinks — plus delish food trucks, music, and more.

Tequila? Tacos? Need we say more?! This festival will have $5 shots ALL DAY.

Come enjoy pickle-themed food and drinks at the First Annual Intimate Pickle Fest at Growlers! General Admission is $10 in advance and $15 on the day of. VIP tickets also available.

APRIL festivals in memphis

This electrifying festival brings the heat to Memphis with an unbeatable lineup of artists, showcasing the best in local and national talent. Prepare for an unforgettable experience where music, culture, and community vibe on the same wavelength.

Your tastebuds will thank you for going to this festival. Drinks are included with tickets. Plus, hookah and food will be available!

Get tatted by local and internationally acclaimed artists. Don’t want a tattoo? No worries! There will be art making, merch selling, and more.

Your favorite local artists and makers invite you to mingle and forge for vintage finds at Meddlesome Brewing Company.

Get ready to laugh your a** off at the Memphis Comedy Festival. Hear jokes from Sommore, Lavell Crawford, Bill Bellamy, Tony Roberts, and Arnez J.

Make your way to the Ridgeway Loop where photographers, painters, jewelers, metalsmiths, and more will be showcasing their original creations that could be yours. 

In need of a nature day? Make your way to Meeman Shelby Forest State Park where you’ll be surrounded by wildlife all the while enjoying live music, arts & crafts vendors, cultural exhibits, food, and more.

Dress up as your favorite princess and head downtown! This ball will have plenty of fun things for your little ones to do like photos, autographs, stories, and more!

Day party meets brunch from local eateries. Ticket proceeds benefit The Starfish Infertility Foundation.

Strum your way to the Memphis Uke-N-Roll Jamboree! Whether you’re a seasoned strummer or a curious newcomer, there’s a chord for everyone to strike. Enjoy ukulele music, workshops, concerts, and more!

Africa in April salutes The Gambia this year, a small West African country surrounded by Senegal. Enjoy a weekend of food, fashion, arts, and culture!

Dance the night away at the 3rd annual Shell Daze Music Festival. This funk-filled lineup will have you vibing for days.

A poster for the Shell Daze Music Festival featuring j grey & oteil & friends.

Get ready to laugh until you cry at the Good Vibes Comedy Festival! Whether you’re a fan of stand-up, improv, or sketch comedy, this festival has something to tickle your funny bone.

100 Bands. 40 porches. Porchfest is gonna be on and poppin’ in the historic Cooper Young Neighborhood!

The Grand Tasting on Saturday will feature wine and food pairings, chef demos, and music. Sunday’s Sparkling Brunch is a more laid back experience hosted by Sommelier Laurie Forster. This annual festival not only promises fun and learning but also supports future culinary, oenology, and viticulture professionals (don’t worry — we had to look up those words too).

A day full of fun benefiting autism awareness! Each purchased ticket includes a sensory toy for all children. Ages 0-2 are free.

Wings on wings on wings. Remember when there was a hot wing shortage? Not anymore! Taste hot wing creations from all over the globe at the World Championship Hot Wing Contest & Festival.

You’re invited to munch on as many mudbugs as you want as Porter Leath celebrates 31 years of its Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival.

Chalkfest is back at the Brooks Museum, and they need you, your friends, and your family to join local artists in transforming the Brooks Plaza into the most colorful canvas.

Can’t get enough of the crawfish season? Bayou Bar and Grill’s famous crawdads are coming to Overton Square with a vendor market, craft beers, and live music. 

Head on down to the iconic Cooper Young neighborhood for a weekend of live music, art sales, food trucks, and more. Midtown Memphis is where it’s at.

Don your best blue attire and come out to the All Blue Affair. There will be live music, food, and more.

You may have to loosen your belt after you indulge in all the beignets, shrimp & grits, cafe au lait, and more as The Rotary Club of Memphis and Dorothy Day house invites you to Café Du Memphis at the Malco Summer Drive-In. 

MAY festivals in memphis

Memphis’ newest music festival will be held at the all-new Tom Lee Park. This 3-day event will have you vibing for days.

A poster for the Riverbeat Music Festival.

BBQ, cigar samples, and TN Whiskey tastings…What more could you want? The Cigar and Whiskey BBQ Fest is doing it big for their fourth year. 

This long-standing Mid-South tradition started as a small pastry sale and has grown into a full-fledged two-day festival boasting over 10,000 attendees every year. Go for the kabobs, baklava, and bevy of other tasty delights. Stay for the dancing, and fun finds featured in the Greek Boutique. 

P.S. bring 3 cans to donate to the Mid-South Food Bank to receive free entry. 

The World Championship BBQ Cooking Contest is next in line! From May 15th-18th,  MIM is gathering some of the best grill masters so our city can see what they’ve got. From ribs to pork shoulders to wings, and everything in between, you’ll want to break out the stretchy pants for this one.

Ready for the ultimate BBQ face-off? Smokeslam is bringing the heat, pitting the best pitmasters in a sizzling showdown to claim the title of BBQ champ! 

DreamFest Weekend is where Memphis’s underground music scene comes alive! This festival is a must-attend for anyone looking to dive deep into authentic sounds, featuring a lineup of artists who bring raw energy and innovation to the Overton Park Shell. 

Looking to explore a vegan lifestyle? This is the perfect event for you! Get ready for the first-ever Memphis VegFest at the Agricenter! There will be vegan food, music, family fun zones, food trucks, and shopping with an entry of $5 and free admission for kids

Celebrate the start of Summer at the Memorial Day Weekend Blues and Soul Fest. There will be lots of performances by world-renowed artists and delicious food.

If you’ve been craving pronto pups and candy apples with a side of circus acts, make your way to the Bluff City Fair at Liberty Park. There’ll be circus performers, rides for all ages, a petting zoo, and more! Tickets can be purchased upon arrival.

Make note of the discount days -> Unlimited Rides on Tuesdays and Thursdays for $15. 

Y’all ready for the most colorful weekend of the year?! Memphis Pride Fest is coming our way, and they’re putting together a line-up of virtual and in-person events in celebration of being EXACTLY who you are!

June festivals in memphis

Music, games, arts & crafts, and all of the Italian food you can eat, of course! Join hundreds of Memphians to enjoy the taste of Italy in the Bluff City for the first time in two years. 

Our summer’s are hot, so you’ll need to cool down with a refreshing marg at Memphis Margarita Fest! Your ticket gets you entry and 12 samples from local faves who know how to take tequila to the next level. Food will also be available for purchase and cash-bar will be on site slinging full size sips. 

Grind City Brewing is releasing 4 brand-new IPAs and 4 brand-new Sours at this event with live music, food trucks, and games.
  • With a movie screening, a music festival, a B.A.P.S themed gala, and more planned, prepare to two-step and let your chain hang low. Tone invites you to tap into a weekend full of festivities that pay homage to the past and fame the future for Black culture.

  • Recognized as the official Black Pride of Memphis by the Center for Black Equity, TriState Black Pride doesn’t play when it comes to Pride Month programming!

    The lengthy lineup of events features educational sessions, a job fair, a rooftop party, a free brunch… and that’s just one day! You’ve got a whole weekend to witness the people, purpose, and power of this organization. 

  • Since 2017, Memphis Concréte has curated a forum for experimental artists to enter the limelight–and this year’s lineup is lending itself to lovers of unique noise.

For the 5th year in a row, this festival will shine a light on local Black culture—bringing the block party vibes with food trucks, live music, and vendors from all over the city.

Witness the magic of light as it dances across the lake at Shelby Farms Park. If you’ve seen Tangled, you know what we’re talkin’ bout. 

  • What kicked off in China nearly 2000 years ago is now a highly anticipated cultural event honoring friendly competition, and community spirit. The 2023 Dragon Boat Festival invites you to Hyde Lake in Shelby Farms Park for a fun-filled day of family-friendly activities, food, and fierce sportsmanship. 
  • No experience is required to participate, and youth age 12 to 18 can register for free. 

Once again, we ask, where the plant-based peeps at? Cynthia Daniels knew our local veg-heads needed another opportunity to gather. The Memphis Vegan Festival is like the Vegan Block Party, but bigger and better!

You won’t want to miss this culinary experience featuring a solid selection of craft food shops and restaurants! Benefitting Church Health, local and regional artisans are coming together to showcase eats and treats that you’ll definitely want to add to your charcuterie board. Plus they’ll be paired with wine, beer, and cider—so what more can you ask for?!

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July festivals in memphis

It’s hot as hell, but you’re invited to cool down with some refreshing sips at the Memphis Summer Cocktail Festival

august festivals in memphis

  • Crown Me Royal Labs founder Chassidy Jade—also the leading lady of Vibes and Visuals—has put together a Black film festival that features raw and innovative screenings, panels, and workshops from black and brown behind-the-scenes filmmakers.
  • Tasty eats and the chance to support educational programming that stresses the importance of agriculture and access to food? Sounds like a win-win!
  • Come on, come all veg heads! Speed Vegan has planned a plant-powered event that’ll empower you to eat your greens. 

Get ready to bust out those blue suede shoes for one of the most notable celebrations of the year. Gather with Elvis fans from across the world for a week of concerts, panel discussions, dances, the annual candlelight vigil and more. 

It’s almost tee time! Gather with your local golf gang as the PGA tour’s best players take to the greens for a good cause during the Fedex St. Jude Championship

You’re invited to fill your belly with chicken and beer at the Liberty Bowl in support of Merge Memphis. 

  • This is your ticket to head out on a nostalgic trip back in time to shopping at school book fairs—but with BEER and raffle prices.
  • Beat the heat and say goodbye to summer as the Crosstown Splashdown returns to bring poolside fun to the plaza.
  • Get down and dirty with your girl gang as the Muddy Princess obstacle Mud Run makes its way to Shelby Farms Park.

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If we missed any incredible spring or summer festivals in Memphis, let us know!

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