Cooper-Young Festival – Memphis Flyer

It was great to get back to the Cooper-Young Festival after three years. I saw people I hadn’t seen in — well, three years.

I parked six or so blocks away, but it was a beautiful day to walk. When I got to Cooper Street and Central Avenue, I was awestruck at the crowd. This was around 2 p.m. and it looked like people were still streaming in when I left around 6 p.m.

Tucker and Hope at Cooper-Young Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Uriah Mitchell at Cooper-Young Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Erika Montesi and Montie Doss at Cooper-Young Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Kameron and Jo Jo Blakely at Cooper-Young Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Keith Cooper at Cooper-Young Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Buck Morris and Melanie Young at Cooper-Young Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

There was no festival in 2020, but they did have one last year. Tamara Cook, Cooper-Young Festival executive director, said that because of “up and down Covid,” they only had 75,000 people attend. But, she says, “This year, we were back, man. They’re saying there were 126,000 out there. And that crowd turns four times a day. Typically, you come out here, you stay three or four hours.” This year’s 34th festival will be one to remember.

There were two stages and 12 bands this year. Singer/songwriter/ musician Bailey Bigger was headliner.

Cook said, “We kind of got away from rock and roll this year. The music was a little more laid back. And we had some new people out here.” Soundbox, whose members range from 10 to 15 years old, was “the youngest group of people that ever played on our stage before,” she said.

Cooper-Young Festival didn’t make much money last year. “We just got hit,” Cook said. “This is our only fundraiser. In 2020, we didn’t have any money coming in. We were back on our reserves.”

That’s why the First Congregational Church parking lot wasn’t used this year. “We just haven’t done the First Congo parking lot,” she said. “It’s expensive. Those stages are very expensive. And music is expensive. And sound is expensive. So, we had to cut back.”

The festival also featured more than 400 booths this year. They ranged from arts and crafts to info booths on sponsors and non-profit businesses.

Stone Sherrod at Cooper-Young Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Antonio D. Johnson at Cooper-Young Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

David Ferguson and Mike Houston at Cooper-Young Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Ryan Blankenship at Cooper-Young Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Sam Cox and Katelyn Lambert at Cooper-Young Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Cook said, “I was having people texting me on social media how great a time they were having. And that’s never happened before. I don’t know. I guess people were just ready.”

Isabella Harbor and Nate Dattel at Cooper-Young Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Kerri Phillips and Spekulate the Philosopher at Cooper-Young Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

William Mosteller and Henry Perkins at Cooper-Young Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Sophia Williams and John C. Stubblefield at Cooper-Young Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Jeffrey Matlock, Cali Hubbard, and James Pope Jr. at Cooper-Young Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Alex Hwang, Manny Howze, and Ethan Piccirii at Cooper-Young Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Will Allen, August Moon Stevens, and Anna Vo at Cooper-Young Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Keybaby and Dominique Gates at Cooper-Young Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Tri Nguyen at Cooper-Young Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Destiny Nicole, Danielle J, Simone Yates, Diva Nelson at Cooper-Young Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Alex Smith and Anya Brignole at Cooper-Young Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Derek, Ava, and Ellie Cooper, and Blake, Ruthie, and Emmett Lichterman at Cooper-Young Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

As you flip your wall calendars to the fresh, crisp September page, after Memphis’ humid, boiling August, you can exhale: It’s almost fall. And that means it’s time for more fairs and festivals, so crack open your planners, pull up your calendar app, tape a sticky note to your head, do whatever you gotta do to make sure you have these fairs and festivals tapped into your autumn plans.

SEPTEMBER

Southern Heritage Classic Cultural Celebration

Can I tell you what a yellow card is or what a running back does? No, but I can tell you that the Southern Heritage Classic, a premier sports and entertainment event, will be a good time. And if you don’t believe me, just take a look at the agenda: The O’Jays are putting on a concert, Landers Center is hosting a Classic Funk Fest, the Classic Parade will roll through Park Avenue, and so much more, including, of course, the Southern Heritage Classic football game featuring Jackson State vs. Tennessee State at the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.

Various locations, September 8-10

Germantown Festival

Some might say weenies aren’t cool by definition, but at this festival, the weenies will prove you otherwise as they gear up for the annual Running of the Weenies at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 10th. So don’t be a weenie! Go show your support at this festival of arts that, in addition to the famed race, offers children’s activities, rides and games, entertainment, a car exhibit, community displays, and more.

Germantown Civic Club Complex, September 10-11

Goat Days Festival

Bah-bah-bah, Bah-Barbara Ann, you got me rockin’ and a-rollin’, rockin’ and a-reelin’ from too long without goats. But take my hand and bring me to the Goats Days Festival and I’m yours. Starting at 7 a.m. with the much-beloved pancake breakfast, the day features goat yoga, live music all day, local vendors, food galore, a car show, an antique tractor show, a barbecue contest, an all-day kids zone, and so much more.

Millington Sports Complex, September 10

Memphis Rox Yoga Festival

This festival is yogalicious, definition makes yogis go crazy. (It’s hot, hot.) With more than 15 yoga classes, from acro yoga to handstand workshops, this festival also boasts a kids’ zone, live music, and lectures, including topics ranging from nutrition to personalizing yoga through astrology.

Memphis Botanic Garden, September 10

Collierville Balloon Festival

Enjoy the Wizard of Oz’s preferred mode of transportation at this festival all about the whimsical hot air balloon. Each morning will begin with a breathtaking release of the balloons into the sky, which the family can witness for free before the festival’s activities commence in the afternoon. The day will include a kids’ zone, food trucks, vendors, carnival rides and games, and of course some hot air ballooning. Once the sun goes down, the balloons will light up the sky with an evening balloon glow.

Maynard Way, Collierville, September 17-18

Cooper-Young Festival

Whether you’re young or young at heart, when you’re in Cooper-Young, you’re in for some fun with this festival all about celebrating the arts, people, culture, and heritage of Memphis. Bailey Bigger will headline a lineup of great local, original music, and a slew of artisans from Memphis and across the U.S. will be selling handmade, unique, and quirky art.

Cooper-Young, September 17

Mint Cream Market: Fall Fest

Shop from vintage collectors, craft goods, and unique art at this fest with live entertainment and food trucks.

Arrow Creative, September 17

Orion Free Concert Series

If you press your ear to a shell, you’ll hear the ocean for free. If you press your ear to the Shell, you might be too close to the stage, but you might also hear some country blues or powerpop, depending on the weekend, also for free.

Overton Park Shell, Country Blues Festival, September 17

Memphis Powerpop Festival, September 24

Gonerfest 19

Going, going, gone off to Gonerfest 19 for four days of rocking music, courtesy of Goner Records. The caliber of these artists is too hard to describe in a mere few sentences, which is why I urge you to read our cover story next week because it’s going to be all about Gonerfest.

Railgarten, September 22-25

Mid-South Fair

If you fancy yourself an old soul, perhaps reincarnated from bygone times, you’ll feel at home at this festival which has been a must-do event since 1856. Fair-goers can enjoy more than 50 rides, a wide 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

50th Annual Pink Palace Crafts Fair

Lots of things are celebrating their 50th this year. I mean, 50 years ago, The Godfather premiered its first installment in theaters, Watergate began to unfold, Jennifer Garner was born, and right here in Memphis, the Pink Palace Crafts Fair took place for the first time. And now, 150 artists in various mediums are coming from around the country to celebrate the fair’s big 5-0. Attendees can marvel at craft demonstrations, enjoy live music, and entertain the kiddos at the petting zoo and with a ride on the choo-choo train, some rock climbing, and pony rides.

Audubon Park, September 23-25

Mighty Roots Music Festival

We root for music, the mighty, mighty roots music. No longer a rookie, this music fest is back for year two, taking place at the same spot the famous blues singer-songwriter Muddy Waters began his love of blues music.

Stovall, MS, September 23-24

Aquatseli Bluegrass Festival

“Aquatseli” is Cherokee for “our,” so make this bluegrass extravaganza yours and check out the instrument workshops, open jams, square dancing, clogging, vendors, and more.

Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, September 24

Latin Fest

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at Cazateatro Bilingual Theatre Group’s Latin Fest, where friends and families can listen to and dance to live Latin music, taste Latin food and drinks, enjoy activities for kids, and shop from vendors.

Overton Square, September 24

Memphis Comic Expo

The Mid-South’s largest comic-creator con has answered the Bat-Signal and is back in Memphis to celebrate your favorite creators, with over 100 artists and writers, a cosplay contest, more than 50 vendors, panels, and more. It’s going to be a marvel.

Agricenter International, September 24-25

Wiseacre Oktoberfest

Zicke zacke, zicke zacke, hoi hoi hoi! Oktoberfest is back, boy oh boy. So dust off your steins and snap on your lederhosen for a day with food trucks, Mighty Souls Brass Band, the Grizzline, and more.

Wiseacre Brewing Company, September 24

Soulful Food Truck Festival

Saddle up your picnic blankets and lawn chairs for this journey to the center of your stomach and your soul as you enjoy food from food trucks and vendors, shop from local artisans, and take in music by Carmen Hicks, Angie P. Holmes, and Courtney Little, plus DJs Zoom and Swagg.

Tiger Lane, September 25

Bartlett Festival

With the Judge Freeman Marr Panther Pride 5K to kick things off, this festival boasts local music, arts and crafts, a car show, children’s activities, a barbecue cooking contest, concessions, and so much more.

W.J. Freeman Park, September 30-October 1

Mempho Music Festival

You know it, I know, the music at Mempho always hits the right note. I mean, how could it not with The Black Keys, Portugal. The Man, Bobby Rush, Amy LaVere, Elizabeth King, and so many more on the lineup?

Radians Amphitheater, Memphis Botanic Garden, September 30-October 2

OCTOBER

Wine on the River Memphis

You don’t have to be Carmen Sandiego and glide around the globe and flimflam every nation just to get a taste of the world. Instead, take your taste buds on a global journey as you sample wine from national and international vineyards along with bites of food from each cultural region.

Riverside Drive, October 1

King Biscuit Blues Festival

Hear ye, hear ye, King Biscuit Blues Festival is back for its annual three-day event, complete with the Flour Power 5K, the Tour da Delta bicycle race, and a Kansas City-sanctioned barbecue contest, all in historic Downtown Helena. Oh, and of course, there’ll be blues music — lots of blues music — on five stages.

Helena, AR, October 5-8

Soul of the City

Rock around the clock as Elmwood Cemetery’s residents take you through Memphis music history. You’ll meet Sister Thea Bowman, Grammy Award-winners, rock-and-roll stars, blues crooners, and more.

Elmwood Cemetery, October 6-8

Memphis Bacon & Bourbon Festival

Bacon? Good. Bourbon? Good. Memphis Bacon & Bourbon Festival? Good. That’s all you need to know.

Metal Museum, October 7

Big River Fit Fest

Let’s get physical in an HR-approved way. For the love of all things good and pure, this fitness fest is designed to expose (again in an HR-approved way) and educate the Mid-South community of all ages and skill levels on fitness, wellness, and health.

Mud Island Park, October 8

Edge Motorfest

If Cars taught me anything, it’s that life is a highway, and I wanna ride it all night long, and if you’re goin’ my way, well, we’re driving to the Edge, for a day to check out over 150 cool cars, food trucks, vendor booths, and more. Ka-chow, am I right?

Edge Motor Museum, October 8

Shell Daze Fall Music Festival

The music doesn’t stop when it comes to the folks at Mempho. Hardly a week after the big shebang, they are putting on a two-day mini fest, with a lineup featuring Moon Taxi, Tab Benoit, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Daniel Donato, Star & Micey, and Garrison Starr.

Overton Park Shell, October 8-9

Southern Soul Music Festival

Jam to your favorite soulful hits and songs by Tucka, Calvin Richardson, Sir Charles Jones, Ronnie Bell, Theodis Ealey, Karen Wolfe, and FatDaddy.

The Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, October 8

Deep Blues Festival

Of all the shades of blue, deep blues are my favorite, and you can bet the Deep Blues Festival will be just the right shade of fun as it celebrates traditional and alternative blues with musicians from all over the world.

Clarksdale, MS, October 13-16

Mississippi Delta Tennessee Williams Festival

Are you a streetcar? ’Cause you look like your name should be Desire. Oh, is your name Tennessee? ’Cause you’re the only 10 I see. I promise I’m not a player, just a play-lover, and if you are too, meet me at the Tennessee Williams Festival, where we can enjoy screenings, lectures, and performances.

Clarksdale, MS, October 13-15

Fall Fest at the Nest

Soar like an eagle right over to Fall Fest at the Nest and enjoy food, fun, family, music and free admission. Shop vendors, enjoy a car show, chili cook-off, cornhole tournament, rides, food trucks, music fest, $10,000 cash raffle, and more.

St. Benedict at Auburndale, October 14-15

Memphis Brewfest

Fifty-something bottles of beer on the wall, 50-something bottles of beer, take one down, pass it around, and you’ll still have 50-something breweries and cideries to sample from. That’s right, at the Memphis Brewfest, you can get unlimited samples from more than 50 breweries and cideries from around the world.

Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, October 15

Memphis Food & Wine Festival

It’s wine o’clock somewhere. Sorry. I know what you’re thinking — that’s so cheesy, borderline offensive. If you’re of a certain age, you might even invoke the word cheugy. But I bet you’ll quit your whining when you get to wining and dining at this festival which not only benefits the FedExFamilyHouse but also showcases local chefs alongside acclaimed national chefs and top global vineyards.

Memphis Botanic Garden, October 15

Shop Black Fest

Support more than 50 local Black-owned businesses of all types at this festival of fun vibes, music, and food.

Downtown Memphis, October 15

Soulsville USA Festival

Treat your soul to a day of music, food, educational activities, games for kids, and free admission to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, all to honor the city’s rich spiritual heritage and its roots in soul music.

Soulsville USA District at College and McLemore, October 15

Indie Memphis Film Festival

Why Netflix and chill when you could be less run-of-the-mill at an independent film festival? The Indie Memphis Film Festival will screen a range of features, documentaries, and short films from all over the world. Plus, festival-goers can enjoy live music, parties, free panels, meet-and-greets with special guests, and the Black Creators Forum. For more information, be sure to check out our Flyer cover story on October 19th.

Various locations, October 19-24

Cooper-Young Beerfest

I don’t know if you’ve heard but Taylor Swift is releasing a new album on October 21st, which is worth raising a beer mug to and downing a couple more after. And there’s no better place than the Cooper-Young Beerfest the next day.

Midtown Autowerks, October 22

RiverArtsFest

The Mid-South runneth over with art, and the Mississippi River floweth with inspiration — two phenomena that merge only once a year to create RiverArtsFest, where more than 180 artists from around the country can 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

World Championship Hot Wing Fest

Wing wing wing! Sorry the old chicken can’t come to the phone right now. Why? ’Cause she’s dead. But that’s okay. She died a winner — a winner, winner chicken dinner — well, depending on how things shake up at the World Championship Hot Wing Fest. So don’t let the old chicken’s death be in vain and head on over to sample the competing wings, all while supporting The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis. As always, the contest will kick off with the Memphis Second Line Jazz Band leading a flock of chickens in a parade through Tiger Lane and across the main stage to the tune of “When the Saints Go Marching In.”

Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, October 22

Dia de Los Muertos Parade and Festival

Dia de Los Muertos is deadicated to celebrating and honoring ancestors who lived before us. On this day, enjoy a parade beginning 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, dance performances, and more.

Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, October 29

Hambone Festival

Presented by artist and musician Stan Street, this music festival features a stellar lineup, a jam night, street parties, and Cruisin’ the Crossroads Car & Truck Show.

Hambone Art Gallery & the Shack Up Inn, Clarksdale, MS, October 29-November 1

NOVEMBER

Fieldaze Memphis

Unlike other fields during autumn harvests, Fieldaze doesn’t have any crop circles (or fields for that matter), but it will have UFOs — Unadulterated Fun Outside — with fitness classes, music, food, entertainment, a half marathon, a bike race, a kayak race, and more.

Downtown Memphis, November 4-6

Memphis Tequila Festival

Da-DA-dada-DA-da-da-da … Tequila! Da-DA-dada-DA-da-da-da … Tastings! Da-DA-dada-DA-da-da-da … Music! Da-DA-dada-DA-da-da-da … Photobooth (and more)!

Overton Square, November 4

Fall Beale Street Artcrawl Festival

Call me a 6- to 12-month-old baby ’cause I’m gonna be crawling down Beale for this artcrawl that welcomes artists of all mediums and styles from Memphis, Nashville, and surrounding areas.

Beale Street, Downtown Memphis, November 5

Memphis Japan Festival

Celebrate the history, culture, and people of Japan at this festival featuring food, entertainment, games, crafts, vendors, exhibitors, and more.

Memphis Botanic Garden, November 6

Memphis Crafts & Drafts Festival (Photo: Courtesy Memphis Crafts & Drafts Festival)

Memphis Crafts & Drafts Festival: Holiday Market

Draft your friends and family to the only sporting event that matters — holiday shopping. There are no fantasy leagues, only the real deal, and if you can get it done before Thanksgiving, the glory is legendary. So get a head start and do it all in one stop at the Memphis Crafts & Drafts Festival where local vendors will show off their goods, and local craft beers will make the experience all the more enjoyable.

Crosstown Concourse, November 12-13

DECEMBER

Holiday Spirits: A Christmas Cocktail Festival

This holly, jolly cocktail festival is sure to get you in the Christmas spirit, with its festive … er … spirits, plus the big man in red himself.

The Kent, December 9