365 Things to Do in Memphis #255: Cooper-Young Fest

Get ready to listen to some great bands, support local artists and organizations and have a beer before noon: It's Cooper Young Fest time!

It's also assignment #255 in the 365 Things to Do in Memphis.

Cooper Young Fest
Alex Shansky

365 Things to Do in Memphis #255: Cooper-Young Fest

Every year, the Cooper Young Festival brings hundreds of vendors for arts, crafts, apparel, gifts, food, and activities to the streets near the intersection of Cooper Street and Young Avenue.

Cooper Young Festival is on Sept. 14, and runs from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. For its 36th year, there will be 435 artisans from around the country with the headliner being the iconic and fabulous Carla Thomas. She'll perform 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

On Friday night, there's four-mile run through the neighborhood when folks get wild and decorate their yards and have parties. 

On Saturday, the intersection of Cooper and Young—and surrounding streets—will be shut down and the street will be packed with vendors, bands, food stands and mid-towners looking to party. There are usually several music stages, too.

Be sure to take the kids early to check out the Children's Entrepreneur Market that runs from 9 a.m. to noon.

Here are a few things to know before you go:

- Parking is a free-for-all on the side streets around the festival. Unless you get there crazy early, plan to walk a long way. CY residents know that once they get home on festival eve, they won't be leaving until Sunday.

- It will be crowded by midday, usually shoulder to shoulder and slow moving. Go early to avoid this!

- Find a house party. If you know people in the neighborhood, see if they're having some sort of porch or yard party during the festival. That way, you've got a place to take a break, have a drink and use a non-portable bathroom.

- Please leave the pets at home. It's an outdoors events but it gets crowded and there's a lot going on.

-After you shop, bar hop. Stick around and support the local businesses!

If you've got any other tips for festival goers, leave them in the comments.

Want to learn more? Just visit their website!

Father - Daughter Pose at Cooper Young Festival
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