25+ Things To Do This Weekend
APRIL 17 - APRIL 19
APRIL 17 - APRIL 19
- These are 30+ events you can't miss in April
- Add these new restaurants to your list
- Your guide to Memphis food & drink festivals
- 50+ free things to do in Memphis
- Love live music? Here's the full live music calendar
- Want more Memphis love? Sign up for our emails
I Love Memphis Blog updates:
To be considered for the Things To Do This Weekend list, please submit AT LEAST 2 weeks in advance to the calendar. Thank you!
Submit here.
THINGS TO DO ALL WEEKEND
Good Vibes Comedy Festival, Hi Tone, Thursday til Saturday, $48/day
Bringing you some of the best comedians from all over the country, including amazing headliners! YOU definitely don't want to miss this event!! No matter the type of comedy you love, we have live Podcasts, Roast Battles, Themed shows, and of course Stand-up Comedy and Good vibes!
Shell Daze Music Festival, Overton Park Shell, Friday and Saturday, $74
Thanks to Mempho Presents, the Shell Daze Music Festival returns for a two-day rock ‘n’ roll rendezvous at the iconic Overton Park Shell. This unforgettable lineup features Old Crow Medicine Show, Molly Tuttle, The Last Revel, Greensky Bluegrass, Sam Grisman Project, and Bailey Bigger lighting up the historic stage. Grab your spot and experience the energy, music, and magic of Shell Daze.
Addicted 2 Dance Tour, Renasant Convention Center, Friday til Sunday
Get ready to step into the spotlight! Addicted 2 Dance is hitting the road, bringing an unforgettable competition experience to cities across the country. They aren’t just hosting a competition; they’re creating a movement where passion meets precision, and every dancer has the chance to shine. Feel the electricity as the nation’s most talented dancers go head-to-head. From contemporary and jazz to hip-hop and ballet, they celebrate the diversity and athleticism of the dance world.
Africa in April, Robert R. Church Park, Friday til Sunday
This year marks the 39th Anniversary of the Africa In April Cultural Awareness Festival. They will showcase the Republic of Guinea from an international perspective using a multiplicity of mediums education, economics, culture, fashions, arts/crafts, music, history, and cuisines. Enjoy a diverse cultural marketplace. Africa In April is a weekend of fun, festivities, and food with a different theme each day.
Spring Artist Market, Gattas Plaza, Friday til Sunday
Memphis Arts Collective’s Spring Artist Market offers new work by local artists and craftspeople from painted works to glass, metal, and fiber arts as well as jewelry, candles, soap, and many other handmade goods. Great place to find a Mother’s Day gift!
Monster Jam, Landers Center, Friday til Sunday, ticket prices vary
Nothing compares to the one and only Monster Jam®. With awesome trucks, amazing stunts and action-packed excitement, it's the definition of fun for everyone! You'll be close to the action watching the world's best drivers tear up the dirt and show off crazy skills and all-out racing in fierce head-to-head battles of speed and skill.
Memphis Mineral Fossil & Jewelry Show, Agricenter, Friday and Saturday, $6/adult, free for kids
Step into a world where Earth’s story comes alive. The Memphis Mineral, Fossil & Jewelry Show, proudly sponsored by the Memphis Archaeological and Geological Society, returns this April with an Earth Day–inspired celebration that’s bigger, brighter, and more awe‑filled than ever. This year’s theme — Earth Wide Open — invites you to explore our planet’s wonders with fresh eyes and a spirit of discovery.
THINGS TO DO ON FRIDAY
Science of Wine, Pink Palace, 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m., $80
Most of us are long past our science class days, but we have created a clever way for us to care about science. Join us for this year’s full-proof fundraiser supporting our STEAM Education outreach while sampling Memphis’ best wine and food – with a side of science.
An Evening of Ellington, Crosstown Theater, 7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m., free (RSVP required)
Memphis celebrates International Jazz Month with a once-in-a-lifetime evening honoring the Ellington legacy. Duke Ellington's grandchildren — the Savoy Ellingtons — take the stage alongside living jazz legend H.B. Barnum, vocalist Wendy Moten, and a stunning 100-piece student orchestra anchored by the Memphis Central High School Jazz Band, the number one jazz band in the world. Presented by Stax Music Academy and the Soulsville Foundation. Elegant chic attire encouraged.
KC Johns Live, Hernando’s Hide-A-Way, 8 p.m. - 10:30 p.m., $17/adv, $23/at the door
KC Johns delivers infectious country-rock with dynamic, compelling vocals and an undeniable determination. She turned heads with her viral single “Rodeo Queen,” hitting over 2.2 million streams, climbing to #28 on Texas Country Radio, and earning Top 10 honors from the Texas Country Music Association.
THINGS TO DO ON SATURDAY
Celebrate Record Store Day
Groove on over to these Memphis record stores:
Super Saturday - Tapestries, Brooks Museum, 10 a.m. - Noon, free to attend
Super Saturday: Tapestries, is a hands-on artmaking experience inspired by Henry Easterwood and other artists from the Memphis College of Art (MCA) legacy featured in the museum’s Permanent Collection. Young artists will explore color, texture, and shape as they create their own felt “tapestries” using scissors, glue, and colorful felt.
Stories of Stone, Elmwood Cemetery, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., $20
Join Elmwood staff member Amanda Zorn for the Stories of Stone walking tour and learn how to read the language of the monuments. As you explore the historic grounds, Amanda will explain the symbolism, artistry, and traditions behind these striking memorials and reveal what they can tell us about faith, hope, love, and remembrance.
World Championship Hot Wing Contest & Festival, Riverside Dr., 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., $20
Sample award-winning wings from the Wing Capital of the World. Enjoy live musical entertainment on two stages, a parade led by Memphis Second Line Jazz Band, a Wing Eating Contest, and new this year, a Soul Train Review Dance Contest.
Cooper-Young Porchfest, Various Locations, Noon - 6 p.m., free to attend
With 175-plus performances on front porches across Cooper-Young, Porchfest is one of the most Memphis things you can do all year. Rock bands, DJs, blues acts, folk singers, solo artists — you name it, somebody's playing it on somebody's porch. Stroll the tree-lined streets, post up in a lawn chair, catch a few songs, then wander to the next porch and discover something totally different. The whole neighborhood becomes one big walkable, open-air music venue, and it's entirely volunteer-run. Plus there's a neighborhood-wide yard sale that morning, so come early and make a full day of it.
Chess Tournament, Memphis Chess Club, Noon - 5:30 p.m., free to attend
New to chess? Lifelong player? Somewhere in between? The Memphis Chess Club is where strategy meets community in order to play, learn, and connect with others.
Earth Day Festival, Shelby Farms Park, Noon - 3 p.m., free to attend
Earth Day Festival is a fun way to inspire movement towards a greener, more sustainable future. Packed with activities, from the family-friendly Fun Run to free Get Outside Fitness sessions, there’s something for everyone. Music, food trucks, Kids Zone with eco-friendly crafts and activities, and interactive learning stations that bring our community together to learn about and invest in our planet.
5th Annual Bourbon & Bugs Crawfish Boil, Old Dominick Distillery, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m., $16/one pound
This is the annual Crawfish Boil, where the drinks are cold, the music is live, and the mudbugs are hot. They’re serving up piles of perfectly spiced crawfish with all the fixins, plus drink specials to keep the good times flowing all afternoon long. You can also get all-you-can-eat and a cocktail for $48.
Belgian Beer Festival, Soul and Spirits Brewery, 1 p.m. - 8 p.m., free to attend
Grab a flight of all limited beers being released or just pick a couple to enjoy a pint or two.
Vegan Block Party, Martyrs Park, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., free to attend
Enjoy a day filled with epic vegan food, DJs, and fun! This event is family friendly and open to all ages. Feel free to bring your blankets and lawn chairs.
Spring Landscape Watercolor Workshop, Brooks Museum, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., $65
A beginner friendly watercolor workshop with artist Drew Blake covering brushwork layering color mixing and composition with all materials included and a finished piece to take home.
Vintage901 Wine, Food, and Music Spring Festival: Grand Tasting, Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center, 5 p.m. - 9 p.m., $100
The flagship event features an array of wine vendors from numerous Old World and New World wine producers. Classes are curated for guests to learn about wine. Also, guests have an opportunity to talk directly with wine and food professionals. Chef demonstrations and good Memphis music are all part of this event.
Illusionist Leon Etienne, Halloran Centre, 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m., $46
You’ve seen him on America’s Got Talent, Jimmy Fallon, Masters of Illusion, and Penn & Teller: Fool Us! DO NOT MISS Illusionist Leon Etienne’s jaw-dropping, critically acclaimed hit show. Witness this family-friendly spectacular featuring the world’s best illusions, award-winning sleight of hand, and hilarious comedy. This show is an immersive experience that brings joy, laughter, and wonder when the world needs it most.
Memphis Magic Night, Flyway Brewing Co,, 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m., $25
The show features professional magician and mentalist Joe M. Turner accompanied by a Cowboy Fly. Enjoy laughter, legerdemain, and your choice of libations as you are amazed and amused by our fun and enthusiastic performers!
THINGS TO DO ON SUNDAY
33rd Annual Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival, Riverside Dr., 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., free to attend
The festival features thousands of pounds of fresh Louisiana crawfish, more than 25 local food trucks, and live music from Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krewe on the Orion Financial Main Stage and Freeworld on the Southland Casino Hotel Riverside Stage! Returning favorites like the crawfish bobbing, crawfish eating, and crawfish racing contests promise a day full of excitement and community spirit. The Downtown Memphis Commission Kids Area in River Garden Park offers fun and activities for children of all ages.
Shop & Sing Vendor Market, Drus Place, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., free to attend
Spend your Sunday shopping locally and singing your heart out at the Shop & Sing Vendor Market. Enjoy a day of karaoke, local vendors, and great food and drinks from the kitchen and bar.
Mid-South Food Truck Festival, Martyrs Park, Noon - 5 p.m., free to attend
Enjoy an array of great food at the Mid-South Food Truck Festival with plenty of amazing food trucks, food vendors, small businesses and more!
A Toast to Local Art, Brooks Museum, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m., free to attend
Sip mimosas, meet local gallerists, and learn how to start—or deepen—your own art collection while directly supporting artists in your community. You’ll also hear from working artists and discover simple, meaningful ways to stay connected, including joining Art Now.
Sip n’ Craft - Stained Glass, Hampline Brewing Co., 4 p.m. - 6 p.m., $35
Crafty folks, this one is for you! Enjoy the third Sip n' Craft with Easy Tiger Craft Club and this time they're making faux stained glass! Choose from a lighter, sardines tin, tomatoes vine, and cowgirl boots, lipstick, and 901 designs. They'll bring the materials and knowledge to lead you in a class where you'll leave with a unique craft, drinks and pizza will be provided!
