📽️ Indie Memphis Film Festival
Various locations
Through Sunday, October 29
The festival showcases a range of independent features, documentaries, and short films from all corners of the world — including right here in the 901. See the full schedule of screenings here, where you can also find a range of ticket/pass options available for your screening desires. Be in the know before with the Flyer’s Indie Memphis coverage, including Chris McCoy’s cover story from last week and our film blog.
📚 Friends of the Memphis Library Fall Book Sale
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Friday-Sunday, October 27-29
Booooooooks … and CDs, vinyl records, DVDs, and more will be for sale at bargain prices. The sale opens to the public on Friday, October 27th, at 10 a.m. and runs until 6 p.m. Saturday, October 28th, hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, hours are 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
🎶 A Celebration of the Mad Lads and the Invaders
Stax Museum of American Soul Music
Friday, October 27, 6 p.m.
Prepare for an unforgettable evening at the Stax Museum, celebrating the musical prowess of both The Mad Lads and The Invaders. The night unfolds with a dynamic live performance, an engaging panel discussion, and a captivating new Invaders exhibit. Doors open at 6 p.m., allowing you to explore the new exhibition before the main event at 7 p.m. Learn more before you go with Alex Greene’s piece from this week.
🎃 Family-Friendly Halloweekend
If you’re looking for a more family-friendly Halloweekend because you’re a parent, a grandparent, an actual child (which, like, hi! but also hi?), I’ve scrambled up a few events you might be interested in:
- Zoo Boo has taken over the Memphis Zoo for yet another year. It’s a Halloween bash you truly don’t want to miss, so just boo it. Tickets are $18/nonmembers.
Memphis Zoo, select nights through October 31, 6-9:30 p.m. - Halloween Spooktacular brings all the not-so-spooky fun. It’s all treats and no tricks. The entire family can enjoy a mini clay pumpkin sculpting station, Halloween crafts, temporary tattoos, face-painting, carousel rides, candy, music, and a scavenger hunt. Cost is included in museum admission ($20/nonmembers).
Children’s Museum of Memphis, Saturday, October 28, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. - The Fire Museum of Memphis is putting on Halloween Scavenger Haunt, where kids can try their luck at finding scary objects hidden around the museum, with a sweet treat at the end.
Fire Museum of Memphis, Saturday, October 28, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. - Novel hosts a Trick-or-Treat Story Time with books about Halloween. Wear a costume, enjoy a not-so-spooky story, and take home a special Halloween treat. Recommended for children up to 5 years.
Novel, Saturday, October 28, 10:30 a.m. - Memphis Botanic Garden’s Halloween Hike features friendly Halloween characters, music to boogie-man down to, and some hair-raising fun. The day is a safe alternative to traditional door-to-door trick or treating with stops for treats, hands-on activities, learning opportunities, and more. Tickets are $15/nonmembers.
Memphis Botanic Garden, Saturday, October 28, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. - Honor your ancestors and celebrate the cycle of life and death at Cazateatro Bilingual Theatre Group and the Brooks’ Día de los Muertos Festival & Parade. The parade kicks off at Overton Square at 11 a.m. and concludes at the Brooks’ plaza, where the festival will commence. Attendees can expect art-making, dance performances, and more. Admission is free.
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Saturday, October 28, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
🎻 Woe Is Me: A Tour of Tragic Tales
Elmwood Cemetery
Saturday, October 28, 10:30 a.m.-noon
Life is hard. Woe are we who have to live it. Woe, especially, are those whose deaths are, er, untimely. There are quite a few of them who are at rest at Elmwood Cemetery, and you can learn more about them at Elmwood’s tour this weekend. You’ll hear of a man killed in a laboratory explosion due to the carelessness of others, an Elmwood resident who fell off a mountain, and many more. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here. You can also attend Elmwood’s lecture on Ghosts, Spiritualism, and Cemeteries on Sunday; learn more about it here.
🧙 Women and Witches in Beer Halloween Candy and Beer Pairing
Wiseacre Brewery
Saturday, October 28, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Did you know that the original beer brewers were women? Did you know that for the vast majority of history, women ran the beer world? Did you know that Halloween candy and beer are actually a delicious combo? Well, Wiseacre has the class for you! Get ready to learn about beer history, women in beer, and where witches come in to play. Classes, which are offered at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., will include a special Halloween candy and beer pairing. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased here. You must be 21+.
🕸️ Halloween Bar Crawl
Atomic Rose
Saturday, October 28, 4 p.m.-10 p.m.
Creepy crawlers on Halloween? No thanks. A creepy Exorcist-style crawl down the stairs? Hell no. A bar crawl? Now that’s more like it. The Halloween Bar Crawl returns, kicking off at Atomic Rose, making its way to Blues Hall, Coyote Ugly, Havana Mix, Kings Palace Cafe’s Tap Room, the Absinthe Room, Tin Roof, and Jade’s Sports Bar. Tickets ($20) include exclusive drink specials, food specials, waived covers, professional photographers, after-party at the Absinthe Room, and more.
🩸 Masters of Mayhem Evening Cabaret
High Expectations Aerial Arts
Saturday, October 28, 8:30-9 p.m.
Villains — you either love them or you hate them. Morally speaking, you probably shouldn’t be their biggest fans, but if they can put on a good show, who can blame you? And, let me tell you, they’re going to put on a good show this weekend at High Expectations Aerial Arts this weekend. Yes, that’s word for word what I wrote earlier this week in my article about the upcoming cabaret show, but the truth doesn’t change. Tickets for the show are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.
😱 Time Warp Drive-In: Shocktober 10 – Legends of Horror
Malco Summer 4 Drive-In
Saturday, October 28, 7 p.m.
Prepare yourself for Shocktober as Time Warp bows down and pays tribute to the landmarks of fright films: Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Gates open at 6:30 p.m., first film at 7 p.m. It’s $25 a car, for as many people as your car, truck, or van can hold.
🎭 23rd Annual Black Lodge Halloween Masquerade Ball
Black Lodge
Saturday, October 28, 7 p.m.-3 a.m.
Black Lodge invites you to a night of music and mischief, of costumes and chaos, unleashing a devilish mix of dancing, drinks, and debauchery. Performing live are Jack Oblivion, The Sheiks, Turnstyles, Optic Sink, Joybomb, and Little Baby Tendencies. After midnight, dance all night to music by DJs Selector Jack and Graveyard Gloria. There will be hoop and flow dancers, fire performers, and sideshow performances. Tix are $20 in advance, $25 night of. The party is 18+. Find out more in this week’s cover story.
🧛 Black October
Orange Mound Tower
Saturday, October 28, 9 p.m.-2 a.m.
TONE invites all to kick it at the Orange Mound Tower, so come dressed to impress the creatures of the night. This year’s theme is Vampires in Memphis. Tickets are $15 with costume and $20 without costume. So don’t be a party-pooper.
🪲 Beetlejuice
Orpheum Theatre
Tuesday-Sunday, October 31-November 5
Beetlejuice … Beetlejuice … Beetlejuice … Welp, sorry, folks, I’ve done it now. I’ve summoned the ghost with the most all the way to Memphis, and he’s coming to the Orpheum’s stage. For a full schedule of Beetlejuice performances, check here. Tickets are $45 to $150.
There’s always something happening in Memphis. See a full calendar of events here.
Submit events here or by emailing calendar@memphisflyer.com.
