50+ Free Things To Do In Memphis

How many have you done?

1. Walk through Crystal Shrine Grotto at Memorial Park, daily dawn to dusk
2. Hike the Old Forest Trail at Overton Park
3. Volunteer for a local charity or non-profit (Check out Volunteer Odyssey's volunteer needs)
4. Walk and explore the newly renovated Tom Lee Park dawn until dusk, year-round
5. Speaking of Tom Lee Park.. hit the free basketball courts along the riverfront or across the city
6. Walk or bike across the Mississippi River on the Big River Crossing
7. Find all of the I Love Memphis Murals
8. Ride or walk the Shelby Farms Greenline
9. Watch the sunset (we suggest Beale Street Landing, the River Garden, or the Chickasaw Mounds)
10. Explore the Crosstown Concourse’s atriums and artworks
11. Attend a concert show at the Overton Park Shell, weekends in summer and fall—you can even bring in your own picnic and drinks!
12. Visit the Dixon Gallery & Gardens which is always free!
13. Tour Elmwood Cemetery, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
14. Catch a Mighty Lights show, nightly every hour on the hour
15. Hang out in Shelby Farms Park, sunrise to sunset daily

16. Run with a Breakaway Running Group
17. In the summer, skip through a splash pad
18. Play, walk, or relax at Overton Park
19. Stop by all seven of the Civil Rights Trail sites in Memphis
20. Admire 19th century homes with a tour through Victorian Village
21. Hit an area farmers market 
22. Follow the bronze plaques in downtown to learn all of Memphis' rich history
23. Play disc golf at Shelby Farms Park updated course
24. Explore the shops of South Main or hit trolley night
25. Visit the historic Collierville Town Square 
26. Hike the loop at Herb Parsons Lake Trail
27. Take photos on the self-guided Overton Square art tour
28. Find the Wolf River beach in Germantown
29. Visit the Metal Museum’s Sculpture Garden (donations are appreciated, though!) 
30. Attend a Meet the Author event at Novel

31. Find even more murals, including the Paint Memphis mural areas
32. Wave at the Bison at Shelby Farms Park 
33. Tune in to Memphis’s indie radio stations: WEVL and WYXR
34. Take your dog to meet some furry friends at the no. 1 dog park in the country
35. Instagram yourself at a seasonal sunflower field
36. Visit sites from the Memphis Women’s Legacy Trail
37. Skate or skateboard at Raleigh Springs Skate Park
38. Walk the Riverbluff for river views and cool houses
39. See Memphis from the rooftop (Peabody rooftop is free to visit)
40. Catch a movie at Chimes Square in Overton Square
41. The Brooks Museum is free to enter on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon
42. Take free dance lessons at the Rumba Room
43. Listen to music at the Memphis Listening Lab
44. Attend a monthly Nerd Nite Memphis
45. Attend a free event at Crosstown Arts

46. Work up a sweat at a free outdoor workout class 
47. Visit the Meditation Garden at Graceland, 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. daily. 
48. Observe the Peabody Duck March at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily
49. See the aquariums, boats, and more inside the Bass Pro Pyramid
50. Browse the A. Schwab General Store

For TN Residents with state I.D. 

Memphis Zoo, Tuesdays from 9 a.m. until close. Not valid in March. Rules apply; read here. Scroll down to Tennessee Tuesday (reservations are now required!)
Metal Museum Building, Thursdays 
National Civil Rights Museum, Mondays from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

For Shelby County Residents

Check out books, e-book, or audiobook at a Memphis Library (free for City of Memphis, Bartlett, and unincorporated Shelby Co. residents) + our libraries always have a ton of free programming
Stax Museum, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays (for Shelby Co. residents)

For Any Resident

The Pink Palace Mansion offers “Free Third Thursdays” with individual General Admission entry free of charge on the third Thursday of each month.

Even more Free events and things to do

• Visit the University of Memphis Art Museum, Mon. - Sat. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. excluding school holidays. If you go on a Saturday then the Central Ave. parking lot is free!
• People and bike watch at Beale Street Bike Night, every 4th Wednesday night in the summer
• South Main Trolley Nights; last Friday of the month from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
• Visit The Enesco Gallery & Gift Shop at Graceland ft tons of Christmas decor and a Department 56 Gallery
• Catch some live music in Handy Park on Beale Street i.e. KIX on Beale
• Go to the Collierville Concert Series (Summer)
• Beale Street St. Patrick's Day Parade (March)
• Overton Square Crawfish Fest (April - free to enter; crawfish are extra)
• Rajun Cajun Crawfish Fest (April - free to enter; crawfish are extra)
• Beale Street Wine Race (April)
• Happy Hours with live music at GPAC (Summer)
• Fourth of July Fireworks (yearly guide posted in June)
• Holiday Parades (yearly guide posted in November)
• Cheer on the runners at the St. Jude Marathon (December)

Got any suggestions for additions? Let us know and we'll add them to the list!