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5 Things To Do In Memphis This Weekend

Memphis Redbirds vs Louisville Bats, AutoZone Park, Thursday til Sunday, ticket prices vary

It's easy to forget that you're in the middle of a city during a Redbird's game. The stadium is breezy and quiet, the food is awesome (they have barbecue nachos!), and relatively inexpensive with in-field tickets starting at $18. Additionally, Saturday is Cinco de Mayo Celebration – Copa Night with Copa inspired Jersey Giveaway  + Bark in the Park and Sunday is Star Wars Day.

RiverBeat Music Festival, Tom Lee Park, Friday til Sunday, $249/GA 3-day pass

The RiverBeat Music Festival in downtown Memphis transforms the riverfront into a vibrant celebration of art and sound, offering an immersive experience for attendees. This year's lineup is stacked with headliners Missy Elliott, The Killers, and Anderson Paak & the Free Nationals as well as artists such as Benson Boone, Cage the Elephant, Ludacris and more! We are super pumped for year two– year one was absolutely incredible!

Memphis International Auto Show, Renasant Convention Center, Friday til Sunday, free to attend

The Memphis International Auto Show will fill the Renasant Convention Center with the latest cars, trucks, crossovers, SUVs, EVs, pre-production models, and more. Attendees can explore new vehicles from 24 brands in a relaxed, no-sales environment, speak with knowledgeable product specialists, and experience the newest automotive technology hands-on.

Monster Jam, Landers Center, Friday til Sunday, $26 and up

Experience Monster Jam® live and become a fan for life. 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.

THINGS TO DO ON FRIDAY

Friday Night Smackdown, Pickleball 901 @ The Plaza, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m., $25

The winning team takes home the full purse (up to $400), hoist the Undisputed Champions’ Belts, and achieve everlasting glory with your picture on the Wall of Fame Spectators are welcome and encouraged!

Canoes & Cocktails, Shelby Farms Park, 6:15 p.m. - 9 p.m., $35-$80, 21+

This event is the hottest ticket in town and has the best views of Memphis sunsets from iconic Hyde Lake! Enjoy a guided evening sunset paddle on the lake followed by specialty cocktails provided by Old Dominick, snacks from Cheffie's, yard games and music. If canoes don't float your boat, purchase the "Cocktails only" ticket for the party without the paddle.

Trolls Garden Party, Memphis Botanic Garden, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., $35, 21+

Sip and stroll at the Trolls Garden Party! This adults-only event invites you to explore the Garden after hours alongside towering Trolls, each offering fun, interactive activities that encourage us to help our planet. Enjoy live music, grab delicious bites from gourmet food trucks, and sip three botanical inspired cocktails as you immerse yourself in a celebration of nature and good vibes. 

THINGS TO DO ON SATURDAY

Children’s Entrepreneur Market, Lightfoot Market, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., free to attend

Lightfoot Farm is a fun, free farmer's market located in Millington, and this May, Children's Entrepreneur Market is partnering with them! CEM provides a fun opportunity for kids to be business owners for the day. Come support your local young entrepreneurs! 

Cafe du Memphis, Overton Park Shell, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., $15-$25

The Rotary Club of Memphis presents Cafe du Memphis 2025! Enjoy shrimp & grits, cafe au lait, beignets, and plenty of fun. We are bringing back the festival atmosphere at our new Overton Shell location, including music, mimosas, and more. Tickets are $15/half plate of beignets or $25/full plate of shrimp & grits and beignets. Proceeds go to the Dorothy Day House of Hospitality and the Memphis Rotary Foundation.

Chalkfest, Memphis Brooks Museum, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., free to attend

Join local artists and transform your museum's plaza into the most colorful work of art! Create your own chalk masterpiece, Dance to music from the Soul Shockers and DJ Siphne, Watch local artists Kaylyn Webster, Carl E. Moore, Craig Thompson, and Mikaela Colina recreate favorites from Memphis' art collection, and more.

Troll Fest, Memphis Botanic Garden, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., free to attend

Friday was for the grown folks, this one is for the whole family! Get your hands dirty with crafts, challenge your friends to games, enjoy family-friendly music from Andrew Best, and explore the Garden’s 96 acres including Bringing Nature Back tours of our Arboretum with Horticulturist Bella Kirkpatrick. Meet these larger-than-life Trolls, each designed to inspire sustainable living and mindful choices. You’ll learn simple ways to make a big difference for the planet!

Bookstock, Benjamin L. Hooks Library, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., free to attend

Bookstock is the largest annual local authors festival in Memphis! This free, family-friendly event features a fantastic lineup of speakers, performances, workshops, exhibits, and activities for all ages. Come celebrate local authors, storytelling, and the joy of reading at Bookstock. Giveaways, surprises, and more await!

Crawfish Festival, Overton Square, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., free to attend

Expect a day full of mouthwatering crawfish, live music, and local artists all surrounded by Overton Square's amazing shops and eateries. Round up your crew, bring your appetite, and let's have some fun! Mark your calendars for good times, great food, and the perfect way to spend a Saturday! 

Puppy Palooza, Crosstown Concourse, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., free to attend

I went to this event two years ago and was in doggy heaven! Bring your leashed dog to the plaza for pet photos + caricatures, dog adoptions, costume contests, and lots more fun.

Beale Street Double Dutch Takeover, 2 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., free to attend

Join the fun at our annual Double Dutch extravaganza on the iconic Beale Street! This event is brimming with energy and excitement as we take over one of the most famous streets with the joy and thrill of Double Dutch. If you’re passionate about Double Dutch and want to spread the happiness it brings both inside and outside the ropes, this is the event for you! 

Derby Day, Old Dominick Distillery, 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., free to attend

Enjoy the most stylish two minutes in sports at our Kentucky Derby Watch Party — set against the perfect backdrop. Bring your best hat, grab a cocktail from the upstairs bar, and enjoy the action of Churchill Downs from the comfort of Old Dominick’s beautiful downtown rooftop space. 

Alton Brown Live: Last Bite, Orpheum Theatre, 4 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., $44-$84

The famed foodist will reflect on his decades in food media, present several of his favorite culinary mega-hacks, sing some of his funny food songs, and in general offer a culinary variety show the likes of which human eyes have never seen.

Trap Karaoke, Minglewood Hall, 7 p.m., $47

Trap Karaoke returns to Memphis to put you at the center of the concert experience, bringing you closer to the artists, the music, and the culture you love. It’s not just trap, and it’s definitely not just karaoke—it’s a full night of games, challenges, and pure energy that puts you and your crew in the spotlight. Flex your nostalgia in the New Old School Challenge, where classic hits collide with today’s bangers.

THINGS TO DO ON SUNDAY

Paws in the Park, Shelby Farms Park, 1 p.m., free to attend

Bring your pups out to play where you’ll also experience live music, vendors, food, kids activities, and more.

GPAC Youth Symphony Program Spring Concert: Just Dance, GPAC, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m., $10

Have you ever found yourself tapping your foot or nodding your head to the rhythm of music? Music and movement are intrinsically connected, and this semester the GPAC Youth Symphony Program will explore that relationship through a concert titled Just Dance featuring the Mozart String Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, Mendelssohn String Orchestra, Chamber Strings, and the Youth Symphony Orchestra in collaboration with Ballet Memphis. 

Tinned Fish Potluck with Friends, Grind City Brewing Co., 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., free to attend

Explore the new trend of tinned fish and potluck with folks at Grind City Brewing Co. They have a wide assortment of sardines, mackerel, octopus, squid, cockles, anchovies, and more!  Remember to bring something to share, but they usually have a ton of food, so something small is okay too.

ONGOING SHOWS AND EVENTS

• Earth Matters: Rethink the Future at Pink Palace Museum til May 18
• Thomas Dambo's TROLLS: Save the Humans at the Memphis Botanic Garden til May 21
• Food Truck Fridays at Dixon Gallery and Gardens til June 27
• “Speaking Truth to Power: The Life of Bayard Rustin” at the National Civil Right Museum til Dec 31

More events are happening this weekend — scroll through them on the blog’s calendar!