Storms wreaked havoc for many Memphians last week. But April showers also brought a rainbow, captured by Beth Okeon (above), over the fire station Downtown. Billy Willson caught it over Madison (below) looking south from Huey’s.
Posted to Facebook by Billy Willson
Porchfest
Posted to Facebook by Crockett Hall
Porchfest brought big crowds to Cooper-Young last Saturday to see dozens of bands play on more than 30 porches.
“Hope this counts as being on the Flyer,” wrote Crockett Hall, who played a stage close to Celtic Crossing standing atop one of our boxes. To which we’ll retort, “Crockett, hope this counts as being in the Flyer.”
Big Typo
Posted to Reddit by u/Hungry-Influence3108
Reddit users pointed out the massive typo on Africa in April’s billboards that adds an extra “A” to Rwanda.
Two annual springtime festivals in Memphis honored African countries this year, both of which outlaw basic LGBTQ+ rights, and those choices face critics who wish the organizations would have picked other countries to celebrate.
Africa in April (AIA) this year honored Malawi for its festival held last weekend. Memphis in May (MIM) picked Ghana to celebrate in 2018 for its 2020 festival and kept the country in place through Covid-canceled and pared-down festivities until this year.
Same-sex intercourse is banned in both countries, punishable by imprisonment, according to the U.S. Department of State. Gay marriage is illegal in both, according to Equaldex. Discrimination is tolerated in education, housing, and employment, according to the State Department.
In 2019, Human Rights Watch reported LGBTQ+ Malawians face “routine violence and discrimination in almost every aspect of their daily lives.” In February 2021, the LGBT+ Rights Ghana advocacy group headquarters was raided by police, shut down, and remained closed. A law under review in Ghana would make identifying as gay or a gay ally punishable by five years in prison. The new law would make LGBTQ advocacy punishable by 10 years in prison.
“We honor the culture of the country.”
David L. Acey, Africa In April organizer
“We honor the culture of the country,” said David L. Acey, an organizer of AIA. “We don’t get involved in the politics.”
Acey said his group checks with government officials in choosing its honored country to help ensure “they’re not just killing each other.”
MIM picks its honored countries three years in advance, said Randy Blevins, spokesman for the group. They are chosen by an International Selection Committee comprised of people with international experience from business, government, education, and the arts. This group looks for ties between nations and the Mid-South to exchange culture and foster economic connections.
He said Ghana fit the selection guidelines but did not address local criticism of the country’s LGBTQ+ record.
“A large portion of the population in Memphis and the Mid-South can trace ancestry to West Africa and Ghana in particular.”
Randy Blevins, Memphis In May spokesman
“A large portion of the population in Memphis and the Mid-South can trace ancestry to West Africa and Ghana in particular,” Blevins said in a statement. “There’s a lot of excitement around the festival’s salute to Ghana and we look forward to showcasing the people of Ghana’s art, music, dance, cuisine, and more.”
Memphis filmmaker Mark Jones said he’s eager to get MIM’s Ghana celebration over with but said, “I don’t ever want to see Memphis In May do this again.”
“They cannot honor a country with such a horrific viewpoint against LGBTQ+ people.”
Mark Jones, local filmmaker
“They cannot honor a country with such a horrific viewpoint against LGBTQ+ people,” Jones said. “It just sends a bad signal to the LGBTQ+ folks here in Memphis and the Mid-South that we would honor a country that does not honor all of its citizens.”
Should MIM honor such a country like Ghana again, Jones threatened to organize a “Memphis In Gay” festival.
OUTMemphis executive director Molly Rose Quinn said much of the world is unsafe for LGBTQ+ people, including Tennessee with its litany of discriminatory laws passed this year and years before it. It’s also unsafe for the group in Memphis where “many kids are not safe from bullying, violence, and harassment at school.”
“We hope those same people and same institutions spend even a fraction of the same time and resources invested in the basic human rights not afforded to queer and trans Memphians.”
Molly Rose Quinn, executive director OUTMemphis
“We stand in solidarity with LGBTQ+ people everywhere, and while Memphis learns about and celebrates Ghanaian culture this spring, we hope those same people and same institutions spend even a fraction of the same time and resources invested in the basic human rights not afforded to queer and trans Memphians,” Rose Quinn said.
Shahin Samiei, Shelby County organizer with the Tennessee Equality Project, said it wasn’t long ago that LGBTQ+ people were criminalized in the U.S. He’s hopeful in the cultural exchange from these festivals.
“This gives us an opportunity to collectively learn from, and impart positive examples back with those countries, examples like equality and defending the human rights of all persons.”
Shahin Samiei, Shelby County coordinator with the Tennessee Equality Project
“This gives us an opportunity to collectively learn from, and impart positive examples back with those countries, examples like equality and defending the human rights of all persons,” Samiei said. “In time, these may influence positive changes in their laws. After all, it has taken decades of visibility, representation, and advocacy to expand equal rights in the United States and we’re by no means done.
“It is critical that we support the fight toward equality, justice, and freedom for all here at home, and thereby still prove ourselves an ever-evolving shining beacon of those for other countries as well.”
Little Willie Farmer plays at the Juke Joint Festival. (Photo: Courtesy Juke Joint Festival)
For the past two years or so, our calendars have been a bit bare. But things are looking up as Memphis is going full-throttle with events once again. With food, fashion, art, music, and more, it’s time to celebrate the return of the fair and festival season!
APRIL
Bluff City Blues Crawfish Festival
Where crawfish are red and the music is blues, this festival is perfect for a rendezvous. Benefiting A Betor Way, the festival will have arts and crafts vendors, food, and music by Memphissippi Sounds, Mick Kolassa and the Endless Blues Band, the Eric Hughes Band, and more.
Carolina Watershed, April 16, tinyurl.com/bluffcityblues
Farm to Tap Festival
As part of an initiative to have more Tennessee brewers use more local farm products, the festival will showcase more than 20 guild member breweries, with tickets including unlimited samples, tasting cups, and great times with farmers, food trucks, vendors, and more.
Wiseacre Brewing, April 16, farmtotap.org
Shelby Forest Spring Fest
Shelby Forest Spring Fest is going to be a hoot — at least that’s what the owl there tells me. With live music, shopping, kids zone, food trucks, and wildlife exhibits and lectures throughout the day, you won’t want to miss out.
Shelby Farms, April 16, shelbyforestspringfest.com
Africa in April
Saluting the Republic of Malawi for its 35th festival, the family-friendly Africa in April event will be filled with live performances, food and merchandise vendors, and the International Diversity Parade.
Robert R. Church Park, April 20-24, africainapril.org
Double Decker Festival Oxford
In 1994, Oxford, Mississippi, made the bold decision to import a double-decker bus from England. A momentous occasion for the history books if you ask the Double Decker Festival, which speaks to the momentous-ness, with 100+ art and 20+ local food vendors, an impressive slew of musical performances, art demonstrations, and a Best Dressed Pet Contest.
Oxford Courthouse Square, April 22-23, doubledeckerfestival.com
Sashay! Memphis Fashion Week walks the runway. (Photo: Courtesy Sierra Hotel Images)
Memphis Fashion Week
Walk, walk, fashion, baby. You’re gonna want to work Memphis Fashion Week into your schedule. The live runway show will feature emerging designers and a special headlining designer guest, Amanda Uprichard.
Arrow Creative, April 22, memphisfashionweek.org
Juke Joint Festival
The Juke Joint Festival celebrates the Delta’s past and living history. Kicking off at 10 a.m., the day will include blues music, racing pigs, arts and crafts, food, and a dozen free outdoor stages of blues and roots music.
Clarksdale, MS, April 23, jukejointfestival.com
Taste the Rarity: Invitational Beer Festival
The best and weirdest beers from breweries all over the country are coming to Memphis to celebrate the seventh Taste the Rarity with unlimited drinking, plus live music, food trucks, and other nonsense.
Wiseacre Brewing, April 23, tastetherarity.com
Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival has crawfish galore. (Photo: Courtesy Porter-Leath)
Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival
Too few occasions present themselves when you can bob for crawfish, race crawfish, and eat crawfish, but you’ll have the chance at Porter-Leath’s festival.
Downtown Memphis, April 24, porterleath.org/rajun-cajun-home
Art in the Loop (Photo: Courtesy Greg Belz)
Art in the Loop
Some of the region’s most talented artists will set up shop at this festival celebrating the arts, where you can also enjoy live music and food trucks.
Ridgeway Loop Road, April 29-May 1, artintheloop.org
Storyfest
Forty Memphians, ranging in ages from 9 to 93, will share their stories through live performances at the Halloran Centre. Engagement activities and community reflections will follow at the free fest.
Halloran Centre, April 29-30, orpheum-memphis.com/event/storyfest
May Day Festival and Memphis Children’s Theatre Festival
Theatre Memphis celebrates a century of entertaining with live entertainment, an array of artists’ and artisans’ booths, food trucks, and more. On the same day, Theatre Memphis will host the Children’s Theatre Festival as a pay-what-you-can event.
Theatre Memphis, April 30, theatrememphis.org
MAY
Beale Street Music Festival
Megan Thee Stallion, Weezer, Van Morrison, Lil Wayne, and many more (60+ artists) are coming for the city’s legendary springtime music festival.
Fairgrounds in Liberty Park, April 29-May 1, memphisinmay.org/BSMF
Memphis in May International Festival
For the month of May, this annual festival brings the world to Memphis and Memphis to the world, and this year, it is saluting Ghana through cultural events and performances, museum and gallery exhibits, films, luncheons, and a gala.
Various locations, May 1-31, memphisinmay.org
Bookstock: Memphis Area Authors’ Festival
You’re gonna want to book it to Memphis Public Libraries for this festival of author talks, activities for teens and children, and 60 local authors’ exhibits.
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, May 7, memphislibrary.org/bookstock
World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest
When May rolls in, Memphis knows that’s the cue to start getting our tummies ready for what USAToday calls the “Most Prestigious Barbecue Contest.” For four days, the best of the best barbecue buffs will compete in such categories as Ribs, Shoulder, and Whole Hog, as well as Hot Wings, Sauce, and “Anything But Pork.”
Fairgrounds in Liberty Park, May 11-14, memphisinmay.org/WCBCCtickets
Bluff City Fair
This fair isn’t bluffing when it comes to fun and excitement. You’ll be entertained with a majestic thrill show, rides galore, fair food, and an all-day petting zoo.
Liberty Bowl Stadium, May 20-30, bluffcityfair.com
DreamFest Weekend
A dream is a wish your heart makes, but this festival is doing more than just wishing for its dream of unity, collaboration, and community. For this three-day event, an impressive array of artists will come together to promote Memphis music and artist collaboration.
Overton Park Shell, May 20-22, dreamfestweekend.com
Memphis Greek Festival
Cue the groans from children as parents inevitably evoke the phrase “It’s all Greek to me” at this family-friendly festival with scrumptious Greek food, tours of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, live music, artisan booths, and activities for kids.
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, May 20-21, memphisgreekfestival.com
Beale Street Artcrawl Festival
Before the barcrawlers creep onto the street we call Beale, artcrawlers can go amuck at this pop-up market of art and merchandise.
Beale Street, May 21, bealestreetartcrawlfestival.com
Memphis Mushroom Festival
All fungi, fungals, and funpals are invited to this five-day, four-night camping festival that celebrates the foods and fungi grown in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas. With speakers, workshops, forays through the forest, yoga, dancing, cooking classes, and tastings — let’s just say this festival covers a lot of ground.
Shelby Forest Park, May 26-30, memphismushroomfest.com
JUNE
Memphis Italian Festival
Is it sauce or gravy? Well, the folks at this fest have taken a side, seeing that the festival boasts a Spaghetti Gravy Contest. In addition to their food-related competitions, the event will have live music, along with art vendors and, of course, tons of great food.
Marquette Park, June 2-4, memphisitalianfestival.org
Memphis Pride Fest Weekend
Spanning four days, the celebration includes a Drag N Drive, dance party, parade, and full festival with two stages, more than 150 vendors, food trucks, and so much more.
Various locations, June 2-5, midsouthpride.org/pridefest
Memphis Margarita Festival
Sometimes all life gives you is limes, and all you can do is make margaritas. Thankfully, the city’s best margarita-makers are ready to inspire you at this festival where you can sample margaritas from your favorite restaurants alongside awesome entertainment.
Overton Square, June 4, memphismargaritafestival.com
Craft Food & Wine Festival
Showcasing scrumptious, locally-produced breads, cheeses, fruit preserves, cured meats, and more, this event will raise funds for Church Health.
The Columns, June 5, craftfoodandwinefest.com
MidSouth Nostalgia Festival
Veteran actors from your favorite classic movies and TV shows — from the likes of Leave It To Beaver and Laramie — are appearing in person to talk about their careers and give out autographs at this fest.
Whispering Woods Hotel and Conference Center, Olive Branch, MS, June 9-11, midsouthnostalgiafestival.com
Memphis Vegan Festival
If you’re living on the veg, you’ll want to check out this day full of vegan food, live entertainment, and a marketplace featuring local businesses, plant-based health and beauty products, and clothing.
Pipkin Building,, June 18, facebook.com/901veganfestival
Tri-State Black Pride Weekend
Tri-State Black Pride presents workshops, lectures, a drag show, stand-up comedy, and a Sunday Funday of live music.
Various locations, June 16-19, tristateblackpride.com
Bluff City Balloon Jamboree
Scheduled for Father’s Day weekend, the Bluff City Balloon Jamboree will delight its attendees with hot air balloon rides, a balloon glow event, carnival attractions, arts and crafts, and live music.
Shelby Farms Park, June 17-19, bluffcityballoonjamboree.com
With Juneteenth being declared a federal holiday in the U.S. last year, the 29th Annual Memphis Juneteenth Festival promises to celebrate African-American culture, food, entertainment, and the overall significance of the holiday. Along with food, music, and entertainment, festival-goers can look forward to the annual Juneteenth Career and Health Fair Expo, the Memphis Juneteenth Lifetime Achievement Awards, the Juneteenth Ultimate Dance Showdown, Food Truck Sunday, and Praise Fest at Juneteenth.
Health Sciences Park, June 18-19, juneteenthfreedommemphis.com
Mid-South Air Show
It’s a bird. It’s a plane. No, it’s … yeah, it’s a plane. While Superman might not be in the sky for the Mid-South Airshow, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels are just as impressive, featuring military demonstrations, aerobatic performances, static display aircraft, and local emergency response helicopters.
Millington-Memphis Airport, June 18-19, midsouthairshow.com
Memphis Crafts & Drafts
Shopping is exercise. Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. So if you don’t want summertime happiness to be smothered by rising temperatures, you’ll want to head over to this market of local makers and artists. It’s called the transitive property, right?
Crosstown Concourse Plaza and Atrium, June 25, memphiscraftsanddrafts.com
July
Summer Cocktail Festival
Shake it up a bit this July with this epic dance party with summer-inspired cocktails, fresh local food, photobooth ops, and fun activities.
Overton Square, July 29, memphisfestivals.com/summercocktailfestival
AUGUST
Memphis Chicken & Beer Fest
If, like the Zac Brown Band, you appreciate your chicken fried, a cold beer on a Saturday night, a pair of jeans that fit just right, and the radio up, you’ll appreciate the Memphis Chicken & Beer Fest where you can get all that — except the jeans. With live music, interactive games, a bungee run, and more, tickets include more than 90 beverage samples, and a portion will benefit the Dorothy Day House.
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, August 6, memphischickenandbeer.com
Elvis Week 2022
This August marks the 45th anniversary of Elvis’ death and the 44th anniversary of the first Elvis Week. What began as a small group of fans gathering at Graceland’s gates has turned into the multi-day phenomenon we know today. Highlights from the week include personal tours of Graceland led by Priscilla Presley and Jerry Schilling, the Candlelight Vigil, the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, and nightly parties.
Graceland, August 9-17, graceland.com/elvis-week
SEPTEMBER
Delta Fair & Music Festival
Carnival rides, live music, attractions, livestock shows, oh boy, there’s so much going on every day at the Delta Fair.
Agricenter International, September 2-11, deltafest.com
Germantown Festival
This festival is one of the few places in town where you’re guaranteed to see a weenie and say, “Aww, look how cute.” In addition to its Running of the Weenies race, this festival of arts has children’s activities, rides and games, entertainment, a car exhibit, community displays, and more.
Germantown Civic Club Complex, September 10-11, germantownfest.com
Cooper-Young Festival
There’s no need to stay cooped up in your house when you can join in on the fun at the Cooper-Young Festival, where art, music, and crafts come together to celebrate Memphis’ culture and heritage.
Cooper-Young, September 17, cooperyoungfestival.com
Gonerfest 19
Music enthusiasts won’t be able to resist Goner Records’ siren call, and yes, somehow, this siren call reaches all the way to Australia. Be on the lookout for the lineup.
Railgarten, September 22-25, goner-records.com/pages/gonerfest
Mid-South Fair
At this must-do event since 1856, fair-goers can enjoy more than 50 rides, an array of ground acts, and of course favorite fair fare — funnel cakes, turkey legs, candied apples; you name it, they’ve perfected it.
Landers Center, September 22-October 2, landerscenter.com/mid-south-fair
Mighty Roots Music
Whatta fest, whatta fest, whatta mighty good fest. Mhhm, this event is back for year two, taking place at the same spot the famous blues singer-songwriter Muddy Waters began his love of blues music. The lineup will be announced April 11th, so keep an eye out.
Stovall, MS, September 23-24, mightrootsmusicfestival.com
Latin Fest
We may not be talking about Bruno once September rolls around, but we should be talking about Latinx representation year-round. Though this fest takes place for just a day, it captures that spirit of appreciation with live Latin music, Latin food and drinks, crafts, and fun for everyone.
Overton Square, Saturday, September 24, overtonsquare.com
Pink Palace Crafts Fair
The Pink Palace Crafts Fair is back to celebrate its Big 5-O with 150 artists from around the country, ready for you to explore their works.
Museum of Science & History, September 24-26, moshmemphis.com
Mempho Music Festival
Mempho never disappoints, and you know it. Three days of music’s biggest names playing amid the natural beauty of Memphis Botanic Garden. The lineup will be released next week and tickets are already selling fast.
Radians Amphitheater at Memphis Botanic Garden, September 30-October 2, memphofest.com
OCTOBER
King Biscuit Blues Festival
Founded in 1986, this fest celebrates blues music with the highest regard across five stages; plus you’ll see a variety of buskers. Of course the three-day event wouldn’t be complete without the Flour Power 5K, the Tour da Delta bicycle race, and a Kansas City-sanctioned barbecue contest, all in historic Downtown Helena.
Helena, AR, October 5-8, kingbiscuitfestival.com
Memphis Bacon & Bourbon Festival
You might ask, what’s shakin’ over at this festival? Well, bacon, that’s what’s shaking — bacon and bacon-inspired dishes to sample. Oh, and bourbon, lots of bourbon.
Metal Museum, October 7, memphisbaconandbourbon.com
Edge Motorfest
Start your engines and gear up for this day of more than 150 cars, food trucks, vendor booths, and more in the Edge District. Trust us when we say, this’ll be more than a pit stop in your weekend activities.
Edge Motor Museum, October 8, edgemotormuseum.com
Soulsville USA Festival
We all know Memphis wouldn’t be Memphis without its roots in soul music, and this festival aims to remind us of that fact. In addition to educational and interactive activities, the festival will include live music, food trucks, vendors, games for kids, and free admission to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.
Soulsville USA District, October 14-16, soulsvilleusafestival.com
Memphis Food & Wine Festival
Benefiting FedExFamilyHouse, the Memphis Food & Wine Festival, which showcases local chefs alongside acclaimed national chefs and top global vineyards, will leave your tummy so full and happy that you’ll miss the festival dearly until its return.
Memphis Botanic Garden, October 15, memphisfoodwinefestival.org
Indie Memphis Film Festival
If you’re a bit more introverted, a lot of the events on this list will probably leave you needing a day to recover from the social exhaustion. And while it’s worth it in exchange for all the fun you’ll have, what if I told you there was a festival where you can have fun while being your introverted self? Yep, at this one, you get to be a semi-couch potato and watch indie film after indie film to your heart’s content while in the company of your fellow movie-lovers. Plus, enjoy behind-the-scenes panels and discussions.
Midtown, October 19-24, indiememphis.org
World Championship Hot Wing Fest
A championship that is everything we wish it to be — dare I say, it’s the wind beneath our wings, there to bestow the glory upon the best chicken wings, content to let the winners shine and the festival-goers sample the fare, all the while supporting The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis.
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, October 22, worldwingfest.com
RiverArtsFest
The largest juried artist market and urban festival in the Mid-South, the RiverArtsFest brings more than 180 artists from around the country to show off and sell their fine arts. As an added bonus, the festival features artist demonstrations, hands-on art activities for all ages, and local music.
Downtown Memphis, October 22-23, riverartsmemphis.org
Dia de Los Muertos Parade and Festival celebrates the Day of the Dead. (Photo: Angel Ortez)
Dia de Los Muertos Parade and Festival
If you think Dia de Los Muertos is Mexico’s version of Halloween, you’re dead wrong. The Brooks Museum and Cazateatro Bilingual Theatre will show you what the day is all about: honoring ancestors and celebrating the cycle of life and death. A parade begins in Overton Square with floats and performers making their way to the plaza at the Brooks Museum, where you can enjoy art-making activities, face painting, music, costumed performers, and more.
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, October 29, brooksmuseum.com
MLGW spokesperson Beverly Perkins won’t comment on Mayor Jim Strickland’s lip-syncing skills.
“We just don’t know yet,” she says. “We’ll have to wait and see.” Strickland, Memphis rapper Al Kapone, TV personality Gina Neely, auto dealer Mark Goodfellow, and Memphis broadcast vet Bev Johnson will square off at the Hard Rock Cafe in an all-out, lip-sync battle against the finalists in Lip Sync Plus, a competition sponsored by MLGW and MIFA to raise money and awareness for MLGW’s Plus-1 program for customers experiencing economic emergencies.
In 1982, MLGW developed Plus-1 to provide financial utility assistance for customers in crisis. “Maybe they lost their job,” Perkins says. “Or there was a medical emergency, or they were robbed.” MLGW customers participate in the program by adding a dollar or more per month to their utility bill. MLGW turns that money over to MIFA who screen requests and administer the funds.
Celebrate culture at Africa in April.
“Unfortunately, last year MIFA got around 17,000 requests,” Perkins says. “And due to limited funds, we’re only able to assist about 3,000 customers.”
Celebrity lip-sync artists have their work cut out for them. Winners of the Lip Sync Plus preliminary round include “Super Freak” Aristarchus Neely; David Page who showed up with Prince’s “Chocolate Box”; and Latasha Peeples, who donned a bolero hat and white gloves and hiccuped her way through Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror.” But the contestant to beat is the fast-talking Carlie Lawrence, who rolled her eyes, banged on her chest, and executed a perfect take on Karmin’s tongue-twisting “Look at Me Now.”
Memphis’ Africa in April is a mere flip of the calendar in the future, but for those needing it, a fix can be had at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art this Saturday. The museum is celebrating the opening of the exhibit “Power Dressing: Men’s Fashion and Prestige in Africa” with a free family day. In addition to no-charge admission to the exhibit, visitors can create their own African-inspired art and clothes and will be treated to the song-and-dance rhythms of Watoto de Afrika (a Memphis group composed of African Americans age 8 to 17). Visitors can also enjoy a screening of short films inspired by African folk tales (unless Anansi gums up the projector).
“Power Dressing” runs Saturday through May 10th, and it proves that the emperor does, indeed, have clothes. The exhibit shows off a wide variety of dress, from the threads of itinerant workers and warriors to the duds of kings (no, ’68 Comeback leather isn’t on the sched), from Morocco to South Africa, from the 19th century to the present. All told, 49 outfits will grace the Brooks, and their colorful array will prove that the Dark Continent is anything but. In particular, the exhibit explores the relationship between fashion and social, political, and spiritual status. If you’re going to be the alpha male, you better look the part — your duds better not be a dud. There’s nary a one in the Brooks’ bunch.
“Power Dressing: Men’s Fashion and Prestige in Africa” Family Day at the Memphis Brooks Museum of art, 1934 Poplar (544-6200). Saturday, March 10th, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free.
