As the leaves start to change and the weather cools down, Memphis comes alive with fall festivals, events, and activities. Whether you’re looking for spooky thrills, outdoor adventures, or cozy evenings with friends, there’s something for everyone. Here’s your ultimate fall bucket list to help you make the most of the season.
As the leaves start to change and the weather cools down, Memphis comes alive with fall festivals, events, and activities. Whether you’re looking for spooky thrills, outdoor adventures, or cozy evenings with friends, there’s something for everyone. Here’s your ultimate fall bucket list to help you make the most of the season.
1. Get Lost in the Mid-South Maze
September 18, 2026 – October 31, 2026 | Agricenter International
Kick off your fall adventures with a visit to the Mid-South Maze at Agricenter International. Wander through a massive corn maze, and if you’re feeling brave, try the haunted version on Friday and Saturday nights in October. Kids will also enjoy the jumping pillow and corn cannons. This is a Memphis fall tradition you won’t want to miss.
Pro tip: Wednesdays in October are family nights where you get a free hayride and bonfire with your admission.
2. Take a Stroll Through Elmwood Cemetery
Year-round | 824 S. Dudley Street
There's nowhere quite like Elmwood Cemetery when the leaves start turning. One of the oldest cemeteries in the South, its rolling hills, towering oaks and Victorian-era monuments make for a walk that's equal parts peaceful and pretty. Wander the self-guided walking tours or their October tram tours by day, or come back after dark for a seasonal nighttime tour if you're ready for a little extra chill in the air.
The cemetery is one of the oldest in the South and offers self-guided tours of its storied grounds, especially atmospheric during the fall season. Feeling extra spooky? Try one of their seasonal nighttime tours.
Best part: They host super fun fall events, from a cemetery cinema movie night to the annual Soul of the City and more. Check out all the upcoming events.
3. Visit Jones Orchard for Fall Fun
Year-round | Millington, TN
Jones Orchard is a must-visit in the fall for its 10-acre maze and pumpkin patch. Visit the Jones Market & Country Kitchen along Hwy 51 for fresh-picked options, and there’s always a cute photo op with the pumpkins. The corn-maze opens October 2 and remains open every Friday-Sunday that month.
Pro tip: For those looking for a fright, visit their Festival of Fear, which features two haunted and scary attractions. It also opens October 2.
4. Hit the Pumpkin Patches
Fall Season | Various Locations
No fall is complete without a trip to the pumpkin patch. Whether you head to Jones Orchard, Cedar Hill Farm or Priddy Farms, it's the perfect excuse to spend an afternoon outside, hunt down the perfect pumpkin for carving and snap some genuinely great photos in the process. Bring the whole crew. There's plenty to keep kids and adults entertained. Here’s our full guide to area pumpkin patches.
Best part: Many local farms offer hayrides, corn mazes and petting zoos.
5. Experience Zoo Boo at the Memphis Zoo
October | Memphis Zoo
Get ready for a month of spooky and family-friendly fun at Zoo Boo. Monsters are taking over the Memphis Zoo with trick-or-treat stations, a magic show, festive displays and more themed areas. This year, the zoo presents an all-new experience with more decor, candy and nights. There will be a new seven-foot-tall maze, photo opportunities, interactive play spaces and more. Costumes are encouraged.
Must-do: Tickets are limited, so you want to secure your time early. Open September 18, 19, 25, 26, October 2-4, 9-11, 16-18, 22-25, 29-31, November 1. Sensory Night October 21.
6. Survive a Haunted House
September–October | Various Locations
Looking for a serious adrenaline rush? Memphis has no shortage of haunted houses, and they’re the perfect way to get your scare fix this fall. Check out Wicked Ways, Shadowlands Festival of Fear, Haunted Web Scream Park and more in our haunted house guide for some spine-chilling experiences.
If you're up for a challenge: Many haunted attractions are offering haunted escape rooms, too. Plus, some have hidden bars to calm your nerves at.
7. Enjoy a Fall Fest
September–November | Various Locations
Fall is festival season, aka the best season, in Memphis. Browse hundreds of artist booths at RiverArtsFest, dance along at Mempho Music Festival, catch the inaugural Memphis Jazz Festival or shop handmade goods at Pink Palace Crafts Fair. However you spend your weekend, expect great live music, great food and a whole lot of local pride.
Pro tip: Check out our Can't Miss Fall Events in Memphis for all the festival happenings.
8. Celebrate Oktoberfest
September–October | Various Locations
Raise a stein and embrace the festive spirit of fall by attending an Oktoberfest celebration. Whether it’s at Soul & Spirits, Crosstown Brewing or Wiseacre Brewery, you can expect plenty of beer, brats, pretzels and fun times. Many of the events feature live music, traditional German games and beer stein-holding competitions. There are a ton of upcoming Oktoberfest celebrations.
Bonus: Fall is a great time for beer festivals like the Cooper-Young Beerfest.
9. Explore Shelby Forest & Eat at the General Store
Year-Round | Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park
Trade the city for the woods with a day at Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, a 12,500-plus-acre stretch of bottomland forest along the bluffs with more than 20 miles of hiking trails to choose from, so there's a route for every pace and distance. Cooler temps and turning leaves make the scenic trails feel like a completely different Memphis. Work up an appetite hiking, then reward yourself at the Shelby Forest General Store. The burgers and corn nuggets are the stuff of local legend, and worth the drive on their own.
Insider tip: Catch the foliage while paddling at Poplar Tree Lake. Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park rents out canoes, kayaks, tandem kayaks, paddleboards and pedal boats.
10. Tailgate at a Tigers Football Game
Fall Season | Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium
It wouldn’t be fall in Memphis without some Tigers football, and this year, you'll be tailgating outside a completely transformed stadium. Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium just wrapped a $226 million renovation, and the upgrades are the kind fans actually notice: massive new video boards and a ribbon board that wrap the field, color-changing LED lighting through the concourse, and a new sound system that makes the whole place feel electric. After the final whistle, stick around on Landers Plaza for the "Fifth Quarter," a postgame hangout open to every ticket holder with music and drinks flowing again once the game ends or you can watch the full game from the plaza for a completely new way to experience a game in-person.
Tailgating tip: Don’t have a tailgate connection? Head to the Tiger Tailgate area on Tiger Lane, where they have a large TV streaming games, food trucks, beer sales, seating and more.
11. Visit the Pumpkin House
October | Dixon Gallery & Gardens
A visit to the Dixon Pumpkin House has become one of the most popular fall traditions. Set in the beautiful Dixon Gardens, it makes for fantastic photo opportunities. The best part? The Dixon Gallery & Gardens is free!
Insider tip: Be sure to explore the rest of the gardens and check out any fall exhibitions at the gallery while you're there. The Dixon is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
12. Cozy Up by the Campfire at Loflin Yard
October–November | Downtown Memphis
For a cozy, laid-back evening, head to Loflin Yard for one of their campfire nights. Gather your friends, grab a cocktail and relax by the fire pit under the stars. The rustic, outdoor vibe will get you in the fall spirit, especially paired with s’mores and hot drinks.
Pro tip: Go early for Loflin Yard’s great weekday happy hour from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
13. Explore Victorian Village
Fall Season | Victorian Village, Memphis
Few blocks in Memphis feel as picture-perfect in the fall as Victorian Village, where grand 19th-century mansions line Adams Avenue under a canopy of changing leaves. It's an easy, walkable afternoon that feels like a step back in time and once the sun goes down, Woodruff-Fontaine House's twilight tours turn the whole visit delightfully spooky.
Don’t miss: Tours are available for both the Woodruff-Fontaine House and the Mallory-Neely House.
14. Take a Ghost Tour in Memphis
Year-Round| Various Locations
Memphis is full of haunted history, and there’s no better time to explore it than in the fall. Whether you join the Historical Haunts Ghost Tour or the Backbeat Tours Memphis Ghost Tours, you’ll hear spine-tingling stories of eerie encounters at some of the city’s most haunted locations. From historic homes to hidden alleyways, these tours offer a thrilling glimpse into Memphis’ ghostly past.
Spooky highlight: Some tours include stops at iconic places like the Orpheum Theatre and Earnestine & Hazel's, both known for their paranormal activity.
15. Take a Scenic Bike Ride
Fall Season | Greenline or Mississippi River
Fall is hands-down the best time to bike in Memphis. The humidity's gone, the light is golden, and the views are unbeatable. Cruise the Shelby Farms Greenline through the trees or ride across Big River Crossing for sweeping views of the Mississippi, all without breaking a sweat.
Pro Tip: Don’t have a bike? You can rent one at Shelby Farms Park’s Hyde Lake Wheel House or rent an e-bike at one of the many Explore Bike Stations around the city.
