15+ Things To Do This Weekend

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THINGS TO DO ALL WEEKEND

Celebrate Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is on Saturday! We’ve rounded up the best events happening across Memphis this Valentine’s Day weekend, so you can plan the perfect outing whether it’s a romantic date, a fun friend adventure, or a family-friendly activity.

Winter Mix, Ballet Memphis, All Weekend, $40

This event features all original Ballet Memphis works, all in one night. Choreographers explore different modes of storytelling with a variety of choreographic structures and aesthetics to create original works.

Cirque Italia: Water Circus, Wolfchase Galleria, All Weekend, ticket prices vary

Cirque Italia presents "Aquatic Spectacular." The name reflects a unique attribute under the tent, as the show features a custom designed water stage that travels from city to city. The stage holds 35,000 gallons of water that performers dazzle over while thrilling the audience with every move. With this unique feature under the tent, guests will be surprised, for it’s a show of its own!

THINGS TO DO ON FRIDAY

Friday the 13th vs Palentine’s Day, Cossit Library, 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., free to attend

Superstition meets camaraderie! Grab your besties—or come solo and make new ones—for an evening all about celebrating friendship, fun, and a bit of dangerous adventure! You can grab a coloring sheet, create a bookmark & spooky/heart-shaped card, or bring your own crafts. They’ll also be screening Goosebumps: The Headless Ghost and Elemental.

The 1920s: From Jazz to Hughes, Memphis Public Libraries - Frayser Branch, 4 p.m. - 5 p.m., free to attend

Step back into the 1920s with live music, interactive trivia, and hands-on art workshops inspired by the Harlem Renaissance. Celebrate the legacy of Langston Hughes and explore the era's poetic spirit. Join us for this immersive series to rediscover the rhythm and soul of a golden age.

Rickey Smiley and Friends Valentine Comedy Show, Orpheum Theatre, 7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m., $87-$99

Enjoy an evening of comedy featuring the one and only Rickey Smiley, known for his quick wit, hilarious characters, and real-life humor.

Yonder Mountain String Band, GPAC, 8 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., $56-$45

Yonder Mountain String Band, a driving force in roots music for nearly three decades and a key player in the progressive jamgrass movement, is kicking off a new chapter with their latest project Nowhere Next. This new venture follows their 2022 album Get Yourself Outside, which received a Grammy nomination for Best Bluegrass Album.

Rewind: The Ultimate 2000s Rave, Minglewood Hall, 9 p.m., $27

Step into the time machine and relive the early 2000s like never before. They”re taking it back with the biggest Y2K hits, remixes, and mashups from the 2000s era all reimagined for the modern dancefloor. Get ready for a euphoric night of nostalgia, throwback sing-alongs, and high-energy edits as our DJs blend pop, hip-hop, and electronic anthems from your favorite artists with a fresh, rave-ready twist.

THINGS TO DO ON SATURDAY

Molten Memories: Personalized Aluminum Picture Frames, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., $240

Bring your Valentine and head to the foundry to make a collaborative picture frame that reflects your relationship! Each pair will work together to craft a one-of-a-kind aluminum frame using a collage of your cherished belongings. Whether it's mementos from a memorable trip or tokens of affection that symbolize your love, bring personal items you hold dear to create a timeless treasure. Each pair will leave this class with a one-of-a-kind picture frame that can hold a 5"x7" photograph.

Mardi Gras Bash, CMOM, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., $21

Laissez les bons temps rouler! CMOM will host its annual family-friendly Mardi Gras Bash Feb. 14, bringing the streets of New Orleans to the City of Memphis! This event features the flair of the French Quarter, including mask and crown decorating with the traditional gold, green and purple ornaments; a dance party with a DJ spinning Cajun-inspired tunes; engage in the robotics session to help route the parade; creating floats and participating in the Mardi Gras parade; a storytime about an old, tired alligator and his big pot of gumbo; a festive scavenger hunt seeking Louisiana swamp creatures; jump into a round of King Cake musical chairs; and free candy and carousel rides.

Super Saturday - Lunar New Year, Brooks Museum, 10 a.m. - Noon, registration required, free to attend

It's time to celebrate the Lunar New Year by making some noise! Stop by this week's Super Saturday to make drums - used commonly in Lunar New Year celebrations to scare away bad spirits. You’ll transform plates, paint, ribbon, and beads into drums.

February Family Day, Stax Museum, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m., free to attend

Enjoy live music and special dance genre showcases from local groups, along with food trucks, arts and crafts, games, and other hands-on activities throughout the afternoon. Family Day is a joyful way to experience the arts while learning about Memphis history and the powerful legacy of Stax Records.

Farmhouse Studio Night, South Main Sounds, 7 p.m., $10

Farmhouse Studio and South Main Sounds are excited to bring you this great Songwriters Night! Songwriters Bryan Hayes, Rice Drewry, and Gerry Finney will share the stage...alternating songs and stories! Tickets are $10 at the door and seating is limited.

Memphis Comedy Night: Cold Brews, Hot Jokes, Memphis Made Brewing Co., 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m., $8-$11

This show sells out every time so grab your seat now! Enjoy standup from the South’s funniest rising comics as seen on Comedy Central, the Improv, Live Nation, the BBC.

Strictly Jazz: The Music of Carmen McRae ft. D’Monet, The Green Room at Crosstown Arts, 7:30 p.m., $24

This is February's installment of Strictly Jazz Entertainment's "Strictly Jazz" Series as Memphis-based vocalist D'Monet presents the music of Carmen McRae! Originally classically trained to study opera, the skills she acquired from her Alma Mater and HBCU LeMoyne Owen College allowed her to branch out across several genres as a feature on numerous stages, musical sets, and news stations. She soaks inspiration from artists such as Anita Baker, Oleta Adams, Rachelle Ferrell, Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder, Lalah Hathaway, and Mint Condition, just to name a few.

Gary Owens - No Hard Feelings Tour, Orpheum Theatre, 8 p.m., $51-$75

Known for his unapologetic, rule-defying style, Owens' material draws from his personal life, time in the military and the everyday absurdities that connect people across backgrounds.

THINGS TO DO ON SUNDAY

Galentine’s Cookie Swap hosted by 901 Bakes, Grind City Brewing Co., 1 p.m., free to attend

This event will take place at Grind City Brewery on February 15th. It will take place outdoors unless the weather says otherwise (in which case it will be moved inside). Here's what you can expect: Tons of bakers bringing homemade cookies to share with one another, a Valentines themed "Gingerbread House" contest, contests for: best professional cookies, best home baker, and "people's choice"(everyone's favorite cookie), local and celebrity judges, prizes, a cookie decorating table, and coffee vendor!

The Rellik Casino & Hotel: A Soulful Murder Mystery, Halloran Centre, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., $87

Enjoy an unforgettable Soulful Murder Mystery Dinner Theater Experience filled with live music, immersive theater, and interactive games that put YOU in the middle of solving the mystery. Come dressed in your best 1920s attire (costumes encouraged but not required) and prepare for an evening of laughter, suspense, and soulful entertainment you won’t find anywhere else.

Lilly Hiatt presented by Folk All Y’all + Crosstown Arts, The Green Room at Crosstown Arts, 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., $20

Born in Los Angeles and raised in Tennessee, Lilly Hiatt (she/her) first earned buzz with a pair of early solo records before breaking out with 2017’s Trinity Lane. Produced by Shovels & Rope’s Michael Trent, the record helped Hiatt earn dates with the likes of John Prine, Margo Price, Drive-By Truckers, and Hiss Golden Messenger in addition to festival slots everywhere from Pilgrimage to Luck Reunion. NPR called the album “courageous and affecting,” while The Independent raved that it showcased Hiatt’s “gift for unpicking knotty lyrical themes in a personalised blend of countrified rock music,” and Rolling Stone hailed it as “the most cohesive and declarative statement of the young songwriter’s career.”