Memphis Tattoo Festival
Renasant Convention Center
Friday-Sunday, April 5-7
Some tattoos aren’t meant to be seen, but at the Memphis Tattoo Festival you’re gonna see them all, whether you like it or not. The three-day tattoo extravaganza will have live tattooing from over 200 of the world’s best artists, plus merchandise, tattoo contests, and art-making. Many artists will book the festival in advance, but there will be opportunities each day to find artists that are taking walk up tattoos on a first come first serve basis. You must be 18+ to get tatted. Tickets are $55 for the weekend, and $25 for the day.
If you like tattoos, check out U of M’s Tattoos Today: A Body Art Expo on Monday, April 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. It’s going to be a showcase and competition celebrating tattoos as artistic expression. Free to attend!
Grind City Music Festival
Grind City Brewing Co.
Friday-Saturday, April 5-6
Are you a little bit country? A little bit rock-and-roll? Well, this two-day festival of Americana, alternative country, and rock-and-roll music is just for you. The lineup on Friday is: Young Mister (3 p.m.), Drayton Farley (4 p.m.), Daniel Danto’s Cosmic Country (5 p.m.), Muscadine Bloodline (7:30 p.m.), and Charley Crockett (9 p.m.). Saturday: Raneem Imam (2 p.m.), Lucky 7 Brass Band & Friends (2:30 p.m.), Blackillac (3:50 p.m.), Ole 60 (5 p.m.), Nikki Lane (6:15 p.m.), The Red Clay Strays (7:30 p.m.), and Whiskey Myers (9 p.m.) Doors open at 2 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. and Saturday. Single-day tickets are $69 (yeah, they are), and weekend passes are sold out, sucka. VIP passes are $249, though. Get your tix here.
Central to the Arts Festival
University of Memphis
Saturday, April 6, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
For this artsy fest, University of Memphis campus along Central Avenue will be filled with live performances, film showings, installations, fashion shows, and interactive arts booths. Here’s a full schedule of all that’s going on. Oh, and it’s free to attend.
Delta Groove Yoga Festival
Overton Square
Saturday, April 6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
It’s not that big of a stretch to say that this festival is for posers — yoga posers, of course. The day will feature lots of — you guessed it — yoga, with live music. On the schedule are slow flow yoga with multi-instrumentalist Sean Murphy, kundalini yoga with guitar, yin yoga with cello, and yoga nidra with a sound bath. You can get a full-day pass for $33 or drop-in for a class for $11. Tickets and full schedule can be found here.
Bookstock
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Saturday, April 6, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
This fest is one for the books. Literally. Bookstock is the largest annual local authors festival in Memphis. Expect 60+ local author exhibits, cultural performances, book giveaways, keynote speakers (this year’s are Avery Cunningham and Sidney Thompson), lots for the kids to do, and so much more. Find a full schedule of events here.
Love Food Hate Waste
Memphis Made Brewing Company
Saturday, April 6, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Project Green Fork presents this free, family-friendly event featuring live chef demos, food-saving tips, games, prizes, and complimentary specialty beer.
Total Eclipse of the Heart
Monday brings a friggin’ eclipse. An eclipse! Well, kinda. Here in Memphis We’re only getting a partial view, but still it’s a big deal. Big enough that everyone and their grandma has an event scheduled. Memphis will experience the eclipse at 98 percent totality at approximately 1:56 p.m. But don’t let it eclipse your workday. I’m sure that’s what the ol’ boss’ll be saying when everyone’s gone for a few hours to go look at the sky. (Oh, and have you checked out our cover story from last week on this very eclipse????)
- Eclipse Preview Weekend: MoSH is here to teach you the science-y stuff behind the eclipse with a cool eclipse simulation in the planetarium plus some cool activities like making an eclipse viewer from a cereal box. Museum of Science & History, Saturday-Sunday, April 6-7, during, like, opening hours obv
- Total Eclipse of the Park (Partial Eclipse Edition): Watch the celestial spectacle from the Greensward with free eclipse viewing glasses. Lunch options from Feast and Graze will be available for purchase. Register here. Overton Park, Monday, April 8, 12:30-3 p.m.
- Solar Eclipse Rooftop Viewing Party: Get an eclipse-themed drink, music, and exclusive views. Beck & Call, Monday, April 8, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., $23.18
- Solar Eclipse Drop-In Activity: Join Memphis Botanic Garden for an eclipse viewing on the lawn. Children can plant a moonflower or sunflower to take home. No registration is necessary. Eclipse glasses will be available for purchase. Free with garden admission. Memphis Botanic Garden, Monday, April 8, 1 p.m.
- Solar Eclipse Preparty Moonpie & Beer Pairing: Three different flavors of moonpies paired with three beers and a pair of solar eclipse viewing glasses. Proceeds benefit The Dream Factory of Memphis. Meddlesome Brewing Company, Sunday, April 7, noon, $15
- Solar Eclipse Viewing on the Mounds: Join a T.O. Fuller Park Ranger for a walk to the Chucalissa mounds to view the eclipse. Bring a lunch if you’d like and a blanket or chair and water. Solar eclipse glasses will be provided. Reserve your spot soon, there are only 10 spots available. T.O. Fuller State Park, Monday, April 8, 12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m., $5
- Pro Tip: You can get solar eclipse glasses for FREE at your local library branch. So far, they’re out of stock at Cordova, East Shelby Library, Frayser Library, and Raleigh Library.
Resident Artists Open Studios
Crosstown Arts
Tuesday, April 9, 6-8 p.m.
Visit Crosstown Arts’ resident artists’ studios during the Open Studios night. Residency alumnus Nelson Gutierrez will present his installation A Journey into the Shadows spanning from the second-floor balcony to Crosstown Theater.
MAS Kitten Shower
Memphis Animal Services
Thursday, April 11, 5:30-7 p.m.
Embrace your inner cat lady already and join MAS for the annual Kitten Shower to celebrate the start of kitten season with food, games, prizes, and fun. Consider making a donation. MAS is registered on Amazon. You can also buy many of these products locally and drop them off or have them delivered to MAS at 2350 Appling City Cove.
There’s always something happening in Memphis. See a full calendar of events here.
Submit events here or by emailing calendar@memphisflyer.com.
