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.

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 

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.

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!

- Bring cash. I'm sure some of the vendors will have ways to pay with plastic, but having cash for food makes things much easier on everyone.

- 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.

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