Barbecue Weekend
May means barbecue in Memphis, and this year we have two whole barbecue festivals on the same weekend: Memphis in May’s World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest and the new SmokeSlam. Read about what to expect from the two festivals in our barbecue cover story here.
- World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, Liberty Park, Wednesday-Saturday, May 15-May 18, $15.00-$549
- SmokeSlam, Tom Lee Park, Thursday-Saturday, May 16-May 18, $15.13-$544.74
DreamFest Weekend 13
Minglewood Hall | Friday, May 17, 6 p.m.
Overton Park Shell | Saturday-Sunday, May 18-19, 6 p.m.
A dream is a wish your heart makes, and if your heart wished for a weekend dedicated to music, music, and more music, well, you’re in luck: This weekend is DreamFest Weekend, which means three days of free music for the whole family. Find out more here.
The ’Vous
Museum of Science & History
Friday, May 17, 7 p.m.
Catch a screening of The ’Vous documentary about the world-famous Memphis barbecue institution and celebrity attraction The Rendezvous as it faces unprecedented change as the legendary waiters retire and family business moves into a third generation. A Q&A and tasting will follow the screening. Tickets are $12/adults, $10/seniors (60+), and $10/youth (3-12). Purchase tickets here. (Read more about the film in Chris McCoy’s article here.)
Experience Memphis Gardens: Cooper-Young Garden Walk
Cooper-Young Historic District
Saturday-Sunday, May 18-19, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Embark on the first garden tours of the Experience Memphis Gardens citywide garden walk with the Cooper-Young Garden Walk. The two-day event will feature over 100 gardens, speakers, musicians, and garden vendors throughout the vibrant, historic neighborhood. Tickets for the CY Garden Walk will also get you into the other 250-plus amazing gardens throughout the Greater Memphis area that are a part of the monthlong Experience Memphis Gardens tour. And they cost only $26 for 26 days of fun. Learn more about the event here.
AAPI Heritage Month Celebration
Bert Ferguson Community Center
Saturday, May 18, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
May is Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, so explore the rich and diverse cultures of Memphis’ local Asian ethnic communities. Enjoy live performances, cultural activities, and food. This event highlights the diversity of Memphis with representation from Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Indian, Indonesian, Malaysian, Filipino, Vietnamese, and Pakistani communities.
Comic Con
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Saturday, May 18, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Fans of comics, movies, anime, manga, video games and pop culture in general will want to check out Memphis Public Libraries’ second annual Comic Con, where you can meet Matt Wagner and Gene Ha as well as more than 50 local vendors selling art, comics, toys, prints, graphic novels, art supplies, knickknacks, and more. There will also be free graphic novels for the first 200 in attendance — we’re talking Grendel, Mae, Superman, Spider-Man, Batman, One Punch Man, Demon Slayer, Heartstopper, Hilo, Nimona and My Hero Academia, to name just a few. There will also be arts and crafts, face painting for the little ones, and food trucks. Trivia will take place at 11 a.m. as will a children’s story time, followed by a Super Smash Bros. Tournament at noon. Matt Wagner and Gene Ha will participate in a panel discussion at 1 p.m., and you can register for a cosplay contest at 2 p.m.
Uptown Arts Festival
Grind City Brewing Company
Saturday, May 18, noon-7 p.m.
Grind City’s yard will transform into Uptown’s very own art festival. Local artists and businesses from and near the neighborhood will be selling food, goods, and high-quality art. Experience the Uptown neighborhood, local artists, live music, local food and dry goods, games, freebies, and beer of course. It’s free to enter, $10 to park.
Goat Yoga in the Park
Marquette Park
Saturday, May 18, 1-3 p.m.
Enjoy a relaxing afternoon of yoga and cute goats from 901Goats from Walkapony Goat Ranch at this fun, free event hosted by Play Your Park. There are two time slots for Goat Yoga in the Park: 1 to 2 p.m. and 2 to 3 p.m. No pre-registration is required. Slots are first come, first served to the first 80 people at the event. This event is for ages 10 and up.
City of Memphis’ 205th Birthday Celebration
Overton Square
Wednesday, May 22, 6 p.m.
Happy birthday to you, Memphis! That’s right: Overton Square is celebrating Memphis’ 205th birthday with a performance by jazz and blues artist Jeremy Shrader, an Elvis impersonator, plus a birthday balloon photo opp and Memphis themed treats for sale at 17 Berkshire.
Concerts in The Grove: Chinese Connection Dub Embassy
The Grove at Germantown Performing Arts Center
Thursday, May 23, 6:30 p.m.
GPAC will have music, food trucks, and corn hole, all in the beautiful, park-like setting of the TruGreen Lawn. Cocktails and drink specials are available on the First Horizon Foundation Plaza. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets. Outside food and drinks are permitted at Concerts in The Grove. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free.
There’s always something happening in Memphis. See a full calendar of events here. Submit events here or by emailing calendar@memphisflyer.com.
