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5 Things To Do In Memphis This Weekend

Art in the Loop, Ridgeway Loop, Friday til Sunday, free to attend

ArtWorks Foundation presents its 9th annual edition of Art in The Loop, the Art Festival in East Memphis, featuring works of Fine-Craft in metal, glass, wood, clay, & fiber, as well as 2-D disciplines. You'll also enjoy the fare of the town’s top food trucks,  craft demonstrations and performances of classical music.

Memphis Oddity & Curiosity Expo, Pipkin Building, Saturday and Sunday, $17.96/weekend pass

This exposition brings together a variety of artists, creators, collectors, and small businesses who are all focused around oddities and macabre items. The expo's vendors sell a wide variety of items including macabre and spooky art, animal bones, wet specimens, jewelry, knitted items, stickers, candles, ritualistic items, ceramics, toys, antiques, taxidermy, and more!

THINGS TO DO ON FRIDAY

Plant Swap & Shop, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis ReStore, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., free to attend

Stock up on garden gear at great prices, mingle with other plant parents, and bring a cutting or plant to swap with other collectors. This is a great opportunity for seasoned growers or newbies. Memphis City Beautiful will be on site with wildflower seeds and information for how you can help beatify the 901!

Trolley Night, S Main St, 5 p.m. - 10 p.m., free to attend

Stroll Main St and soak up the atmosphere, get complimentary drinks and snacks or stop into your favorite South Main business for food and drink specials. Hear live music up and down S. Main St!

Science of Wine, Pink Palace Mansion & Museum, 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m., $70/GA, 21+

The Museum of Science & History will host their 11th annual Science of Wine event at the Pink Palace Mansion & Museum, offering professionally crafted wine and food pairings from more than 17 distributors and 14 restaurants. Memphis local favorites will include hors d’ oeuvres from Bala’s Bistro, Char, Cafe 1912, Ecco, Tonica, Libro, Imagine Vegan, and more.

Roar & Pour, Memphis Zoo, 7 p.m. - 10 p.m., $125/non-member, 21+

Stroll through the zoo, sip on samples from various distilleries across Tennessee, and enjoy a night of great music, dancing, and delicious food! Try samples from favorites like Old Dominick, Ole Smoky, and Jack Daniels, and more. Best of all, every sip supports Sumatran tiger conservation efforts in the wild.

Pop Punk Night, Minglewood Hall, 8 p.m., $21

Van Full of Nuns brings Pop Punk Nite to Minglewood Hall with the homies in Offended by Everything & Moonstone! The goal? For you to all lose your voices to songs from bands like Blink-182, My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Sum 41, and way.... WAYYY more all performed LIVE as a full band by Van Full of Nuns!

THINGS TO DO ON SATURDAY

2nd Annual Rhythm of Life, Groovy Gratitude, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., free to attend  

From morning movement sessions and curated wellness moments to DJ sets and soulful eats, Rhythm of Life is designed to inspire joy and togetherness in honor of Minority Health Month. Come ready to move and flow — bring your yoga mat!

Blooms, Birds, Brews, and Chalk Art Competition, Maria Montessori School, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., free to attend

The Harbor Town Commercial District will transform into a live art exposition where talented local artists will turn the streets into canvases, bringing their artistic visions of Blooms, Birds and Brews to life! Modeled after the Denver Chalk Art Festival, they aim to establish this spring tradition in Memphis.

Spring Fest, Mud Island River Park, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., free to attend

Bring the whole family and join us for Spring Fest hosted by Play Your Park. There will be plenty of FREE activities, including bouncers, a live DJ, laser tag, a rock climbing wall, yoga sessions, and more. Youth and adults can compete in the Madden tournament to win a VR headset. Free food will be available to attendees while supplies last.

East Buntyn Artwalk, East Buntyn Neighborhood, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., free to attend

Each spring, the East Buntyn ArtWalk celebrates local artists, musicians and food trucks with an amazing open-air bazaar of galleries set up in the front yards and porches of the historic east Memphis neighborhood. Visit and engage with local artists while enjoying the hospitality of East Buntyn residents.

World Championship Hot Wing Contest and Festival, Riverside Dr, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., $25/GA

Sample dozens of wings, dance to live music, meet new people, and more all while helping to support the families of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis. To date, this nonprofit event has raised over $350,000 in financial support for this worthy organization. This signature fundraiser event features Memphis music highlighting blues, soul, and rock & roll by targeting a diverse array of Memphians and regional natives with an unquenchable hunger for fun, and outdoor entertainment.

Calvin Austin III Meet and Greet, Babalu Overton Square, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m., free to attend 

Former Memphis Tiger and current Pittsburgh Steeler Calvin Austin III is joining us at BABALU Overton Square for a meet and greet. Be sure to bring something you want autographed!

PS: They'll have $8 BABA Burgers (his favorite!) for the duration of the event.

Magic Show in the Park with Magic Mr. Nick, Mud Island River Park, 2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m., free to attend

Enjoy an afternoon of bubble fun, illusions, and tricks. Bring your family, your friends, and your sense of wonder. 

Taste the Rarity, Wiseacre Brewing Co., 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., $50

Cheers to year 10 of Taste the Rarity! Featuring breweries from all over the country, this is a specially curated festival dedicated to the things we love most: beer, fun, & weirdness. Tickets get you a wristband, taster glass, and 4 hours of unlimited drinking from 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. They will have live music, food trucks, and other nonsense for you to enjoy! 

Soul Babies Songwriter Series, South Main Sounds, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., $20

Groove to the sounds of talented artists as they perform stripped down renditions of their original songs, woven together with the stories behind the music. At Soul Babies, artists perform in a variety of genres, but they all sing from the soul!

THINGS TO DO ON SUNDAY

Mimosa Festival, AutoZone Park, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., $52/GA, 21+

Sip on expertly crafted mimosas—included with your ticket—and indulge in an array of delicious bites from a variety of top food truck vendors. Designed for the ultimate mimosa connoisseur, also enjoy top-tier cocktails from our premium bars! This event is all about great vibes, fashion, amazing food, music, games, and unforgettable fun! Don’t forget to wear yellow!

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 and live music from nationally known and local award-winning artists! Enjoy games including crawfish bobbing, eating, and racing, arts & crafts vendors, and a kid's area. 

Beale Street Wine Race, 1 p.m., free to attend

Cheer on your favorite restaurants and bartenders as they take on four exciting events for cash, prizes, and bragging rights. Enjoy a festive parade, the Queen of the Vine contest, a classic grape stomp, and the Great Wine Race. It’s all about good times, great people, and a little friendly rivalry—perfect for a day out!

15th Anniversary Jazz Gala, FedEx Event Center, 2 p.m., $235

Enjoy an unforgettable anniversary gala featuring remarkable performances by acclaimed musical artists plus, Collage Dance Collective, and rising stars from the Collage Dance Conservatory. Enjoy a gourmet brunch by Chef Melissa Swearing, handcrafted cocktails, and inspiring conversations with community-invested guests.

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!