30+ Best Things To Do In Memphis This April
April is spring-loaded with so much to do. The amount of festivals alone happening this month, whew! Prepare for a huge month in Memphis with these events and more.
April is spring-loaded with so much to do. The amount of festivals alone happening this month, whew! Prepare for a huge month in Memphis with these events and more.
Have an event you'd like to promote? Submit it to the blog's calendar!
Of course this guide doesn't account for every single thing happening in Memphis this month. For even more events, consult these guides we update weekly:
- Huge List of 2024 Memphis Events, Festivals, and Shows
- Check out where you can find live music (updated monthly)
- The weekend guide is updated each week with exciting things to do on Friday-Sunday
- For even more events, just scroll though the blog's calendar
1. Defy gravity by seeing Broadway’s WICKED
The Broadway sensation returns to Memphis for nearly three weeks at Orpheum Theatre from April 3-21. There are 24 show opportunities to see the story based on the Witches of Oz long before Dorothy dropped in. Get your tickets here or check out all the upcoming Broadway shows coming to Memphis.
2. Slurp on some crawfish at a boil or festival
April means crawfish season is in full swing in Memphis. Hit one of the weekly crawfish boils this month or one of two crawfish festivals. Our guide helps you find upcoming events and places to buy mudbugs. Check it out here.
3. Listen to Americana music at Grind City Music Festival
Grind City Music Festival returns to Grind City Brewing on April 5-6 for the second time. While the first fest had more of a Bluegrass vibe, this year’s two-day lineup features some of the best and up and coming names in Americana like Charley Crockett and Whiskey Myers. VIP tickets are sold-out but general admission is still available. Get your tickets now.
4. Get home inspo at the Spring VESTA HOMES Show
The Spring VESTA HOMES show returns after taking a year off. This event, located east of Collierville in Piper Hollow subdivision, features five incredibly built homes. The show runs from April 6 to April 28 and is a way to showcase the best and latest construction and interior design techniques. Purchase your ticket here.
5. Get more interior design inspiration at Art by Design
Art by Design is a curated series of events and presentations designed to highlight Memphis’ interior design community and simultaneously support the local arts community. Centered around vignettes and arts activations in a gallery showroom format, this production runs from April 5-7.
6. See celebrity worn high fashion at Christian Siriano: People Are People
Award-winning American designer to the stars Christian Siriano will have 35 looks on display at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art now through August 4, 2024, part of the Christian Siriano: People Are People exhibit. The gowns on display have been worn by the likes of Janelle Monáe, Michelle Obama, Celine Dion, Lady Gaga, and more. Give our blog a read for more details.
7. Get a tattoo (or watch) at the Memphis Tattoo Festival
Ink lovers and top tattoo artists from around the world will converge on Memphis for a 3-day event packed with artistry, competitions, and community. The Memphis Tattoo Festival will be held April 5-7 at The Renasant Convention Center in Downtown Memphis. Read our blog for more details.
8. Groove through the free Handy Park Summer Music Series
Get ready to groove to the iconic sounds of Stax Records this April! Immerse yourself in live music from the Stax Music Academy during our Dance Into The Summer series at Handy Park, taking place on Thursdays throughout April from 5 - 7 pm.
9. Soak up the warmer weather on a rooftop
Take in the view or grab a drink at one of Memphis’ best rooftop bars offering unique vibes or views of the Mississippi River. From Beck & Call, Hu. Rooftop, The Peabody, and more. Use our guide to Memphis rooftops to plan your first stop this spring.
10. Hit a Peabody Rooftop Party
The legendary Peabody Rooftop Parties returns this month every Thursday night beginning April 18. The parties are 21+ only and feature a new band or DJ each week. Read more about the rooftop parties here.
11. Get hopped up at one of two beer festivals
Cheer for beer! The annual Taste the Rarity beer festival returns April 27 where Wiseacre hosts high-end craft breweries so attendees can sample regional and extra special limited edition beers. HOPPED will be on April 13 at Memphis Made Brewing Co. for a day full of hoppy beers, music, food, comedy, and more. Check out our food and drink festivals guide for more details.
12. Try all the wines at Vintage 901’s two-day festival
This 8th annual festival spans two days, April 20-21, celebrating wine, food, and music. The two events include The Grand Tasting and The Sparkling Brunch. The Grand Tasting, is the flagship event featuring an array of wine vendors to sample from. Read our blog on what Vintage 901 is all about.
13. Catch a Memphis Redbirds Game
April is the first full month of games for the Memphis Redbirds bringing back beloved promotions like Throwback Thursday, fireworks, Bark in the Park, and more. There are 12 games at AutoZone Park to catch in April. Check out our guide to the Redbirds season.
14. Or Cheer on the Beale Street Boys at a 901 FC game
901 FC kicked off their 6th season last month at AutoZone Park. In April, there are two more match opportunities to catch on April 6 and April 20. Join the Bluff City Mafia at The Brass Door for the pre-game march. Get tickets in the supports section with them to have a rowdy, good time. Check out our blog on 901 FC.
15. See a concert coming to Memphis this month
There’s always live music in Memphis. Don’t miss the incoming tours this month. We pull a list of some of the best concerts coming through each month. Find a show to see here.
16. Usher spring in at Shelby Forest Spring Fest
Get ready to embrace the flower power of the 70s as we go back in time at the 12th annual Shelby Forest Spring Fest. This year’s festival will be held April 13, featuring live music, food and art vendors, cultural exhibits and a 70’s costume contest. Read our blog on Spring Fest here.
17. Cruise down to Memphis Showboats game
The Memphis Showboats will return to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium under the newly merged United Football League. There are two home games in April to hit. Check out our guide for the Showboats season.
18. Laugh through the comedy drag show: Out In The Woods
Friends of George’s, an LGBTQ+ non-profit theatre company in Memphis, unveils its newest, original show: Out in The Woods: FOG Fairy Tales. This comedic variety show runs select nights from April 12-20 and features drag performers spinning classic fairy tales into a deconstructed spectacle of hilarity and high heels in the style of pantomime theatre. Get your tickets now!
19. Do some good and volunteer this month
Volunteer Odyssey is always in great need of volunteers to help with various events and efforts. Every month, they put together this volunteer guide of worthy causes in need of a helping hand. Spread some extra love this month. It’s the month of love after all!
20. Eat fresh and support local at a Memphis farmers market
Farmers markets really start to ramp up in April. Whether you’re looking for fresh fruits, veggies, flowers, meats, baked goods, prepared foods, or other local goodies–our markets have it! There are a number of local farmers markets offered daily and weekly that can be found in our guide here.
21. Compete or eat at the World Championship Hot Wing Contest & Festival
It’s part cooking competition, part celebration of Memphis as the hot wing capital of the South and it's going to be Riverside Drive this year! More than 80 teams will compete on April 20. Join a team and compete or sample away from the competing teams.
22. See the tulips before the bloom is over
As we write this, the Dixon Gallery & Gardens is exploding in color with this year’s tulip blooms featuring 250,000 bulbs. But the blooms won’t last forever! By mid-April, they’ll likely be done for the season so plan accordingly! Dixon is free to visit. Here’s our blog with more information.
23. Experience the cultural celebration that is Africa in April
Africa In April is four days of fun, festivities, and food with a different theme each day. The festival, now in its 37th year, will take place April 19-21. They’ll showcase the Republic of Gambia from an international perspective through education, economics, culture, fashions, arts/crafts, music, history, and cuisines.
24. Discover the dark secrets of the past in a new true crime tour
From vice-fueled saloons to forbidden love and murder, Memphis’ history includes a wide variety of true-crime tales. Backbeat Tours shares those historical tales dating back to the 1880s in their new Memphis True Crime Tour. Read our blog on it for more.
25. Or channel the spirits at Spirit Fest
The Sanctuary for Mind, Body, & Spirit returns to Memphis April 20-21, with the highly successful Spirit Fest, Florida's largest metaphysical expo. There will be intuitive readers, healing practitioners, artists and speakers, and vendors with crystals, merchandise, and healthy living products. Get tickets today.
26. Sample all the cocktails at the inaugural Memphis Cocktail Festival
The inaugural Memphis Cocktail Festival on April 27th at The Commonwealth includes unlimited cocktail tastings from international brands, regional mixers and the local bar artisans who mix it all together night after night. Get tickets today.
27. Hit the Memphis club scene
The nightlife scene is growing in Memphis and we’re happy for it. That’s why we put together this guide of 9 Vibey Clubs and Lounges to hit. Some of these are iconic institutions but many are relatively new.
28. Have a laugh at the Good Vibes Comedy Festival
Anticipated to be Memphis’ largest comedy festival with 13 shows over two days at Hi Tone featuring comics from all over the country on April 19-20. Headliners include Renard Hirsch, Jayson Acevedo, Hannah Belmont, and the Night Classy Podcast. Get tickets today.
29. Enjoy two days of music at Shell Daze Music Festival
Hit the Overton Park Shell for Shell Daze Music Festival on April 19-20 for two days of a funk-filled lineup: JJ Grey & Mofro and Oteil Burbridge & Friends ft. Steve Kimock, Jason Crosby, John Kimock, Tom Guarna & Lamar Williams Jr., and more. Get tickets today.
30. Be awed at two ballet productions
Ballet Memphis and Collage Dance Collective will both have ballet productions on the same weekend on. Ballet Memphis will perform American Roots, a celebration of Americana through dance, on April 19-21. Collage Dance will perform ELEVATE, Memphis premiere of Wayne McGregor’s Chroma, on April 20-21.
31. Get artsy at Chalkfest 2024
Go to the Brooks Museum on April 27 for the annual Chalkfest celebration to help transform the museum’s plaza into a work of art. Create your own chalk masterpiece explore the galleries and exhibitions, danceto live music, and enjoy activities and more. Free to attend!
32. Get Jooked at Red Bull’s Dance your Style
Memphis, the birthplace of jookin, will play host to the Red Bull Dance Your Style on April 27 where the best dancers in Memphis will battle for a shot at a title. The winner of the competition will go on to compete in the national finals.
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