5 Things To Do This Weekend: 4/21 – 4/23

Brace yourselves, Memphis. This weekend is the big one. The one spring weekend every year when there are a million events and a Grizz playoffs home game. I don’t know how or why it happens – maybe it’s just Memphis magic – but it’s always a great time and also completely crazy.

My advice: embrace the crazy, drink water, and take lots of photos (and then post them tagged #ilovememphis!)

Here are five things you won’t want to miss – plus plenty more.

Photo via @whitneydfinch. Tag your pics #ilovememphis to be featured!

1. Africa in April, Robert Church Park, all weekend, free, all ages
Celebrate this year’s honored African country, The Republic of Togo, with five days of fun in Robert Church Park during Africa in April. During the festival, the park will be packed with vendors, food, cultural activities, a parade, live music, and workshops on diversity, entrepreneurship, and health and wellness.

2. Southern Hot Wing Festival, Mississippi River Park, Saturday, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., $15 online / $20 at the gate, all ages
Cooking teams compete for $5000 in prize money for the best hot wings in Memphis, and most teams will give out samples for a $1 or $2 donation to Ronald McDonald House. Expect live music, a wing eating contest, a cornhole tourney, and more. Buy tickets online ahead of time and save $5.

3. V&E Greenline Art Walk, V&E Greenline, Saturday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., free, all ages
Local artists and vendors will line the V&E Greenline in Midtown for the 6th annual V&E Art Walk. In addition to dozens of local artist booths, the festival will have food vendors, kids’ activities, live music and a silent auction. If you’ve never been there, the V&E Greenline is an unpaved trail that starts at Cleveland and North Parkway and runs to Rhodes College.

4. Grizzlies v. Spurs, FedExForum, Saturday, prices vary, all ages/kid-friendly
Y’all, I need FedExForum to be packed out on Saturday night for Game 4 of Round 1 of the 2017 NBA Playoffs.

5. Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival, Wagner Place, Sunday, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., free, all ages
The annual Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival is the city’s largest, at least by amount of crawfish: during the single day festival, they’ll serve 15,000 pounds. There will also be live music, a gumbo cooking contest, and all manner of crawfish-related activities. Bring a lawn chair and set up camp along the trolley tracks while you eat. Proceeds from the festival benefit Porter-Leath. This year, they celebrate their 25th year.

Even more:

– Madison Avenue Park Opening, Friday, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., free, all ages
Downtown’s new pocket park celebrates its opening day with a lineup of performances, vendors, and food all day long, rain or shine. Read more about the park here.

– Record Store Day, Shangri-La Records, Saturday, all day, free, all ages
Great deals on music all morning, then live (free!) music all afternoon, starting at 2 p.m. and finishing up in time for you to walk over to the Lucero Block Party.

– Cooper Young Community Farmers Market Crawfish Boil, First Congo Parking Lot, Saturday, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., free entry, all ages/kid-friendly
It’s time for the 4th annual CYCFM! Enjoy local beer, crawfish, and other food for sale, plus live music from The Three Kings.

– Memphis Veg Fest, Levitt Shell, Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., free, all ages/kid-friendly
Whether you’re a vegan, vegetarian, or just want to feel better about what you eat, this fest is for you. Expect food, demos, and speakers.

– Lucero Family Block Party, Minglewood Hall, Saturday, 2 p.m. – ’til, $20 – $30, all ages
This is one serious throwdown. (It’s pretty ok for kids early on, though.) If you’re a fan of Lucero (or their openers Son Volt, Sons of Mudboy, or William Matheny) you need to get your tickets right away.

– Memphis Brewfest, AutoZone Park, Saturday, 4 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., $45 gen. admission/$100 VIP, 21 and up
Try a whole bunch of beer at the ballpark at the 8th annual Memphis Brewfest. Benefits the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy

– River Series, Harbor Town Amphitheater, Sunday, doors at 3 p.m., $5, all ages/kid-friendly
These concerts are a fun way for grownups to enjoy great music and beer in a place where the little ones are welcome. Click here for the lineup. Proceeds benefit The Maria Montessori School.

And even more…

Friday

• – Cocktails & Conservation at Old Dominick Distillery
• – Dearly Departed opens at Circuit Playhouse
• – Comedy show at The Guest House at Graceland
• – Footprints in Motion wine tasting at Shelby Farms
• – Tales From a Juke Joint at Earnestine & Hazel’s
• – South Main Sounds Songwriter Night #53
• – Hoedown For Hope at Propcellar
• – Sister Hazel at Agricenter
• – Auguste: A Family Drama at TheatreSouth
• – Friday Night Lights music showcase at 360 Sports Bar & Grill
• – Benefit for Jane at Hard Rock Cafe
• – Lantern Light Festival at Agricenter

Saturday

• – Memphis Area Veterans 2nd Annual Silkies Hike
• – Mineral, Fossil, Jewelry Show at Agricenter
• – Maria Montessori School Regatta and Duck Race
• – Grizzlies Prep Mini-Golf Classic
• – March For Science (starts at Civic Center Plaza)
• – St. Joseph Community Festival
• – Phone of the Spirit Dedication Ceremony at St. John’s UMC
• – Opening Weekend for A Feast For The Eyes at the Brooks
• – Shop Small Saturday at Ghost River
• – How To Ride A Bike Class at Cossitt Library
• – Southern Prohibition Devil’s Harvest can design release at Hammer & Ale
• – St. Benedict at Auburndale Crawfish Boil
• – Memphis ChoralArts in Concert
• – Lantern Light Festival at Agricenter
• – Bobbie & Tasha at Ghost River
• – Society Memphis at The New Daisy
• – Comedy Show at the Hard Rock Cafe

Sunday

• – Brunch at the Brewery at Ghost River
• – Sunday Evening Slowdown at Ghost River
• – Lantern Light Festival at the Agricenter
• – Lance McDaniel Band at Hard Rock Cafe
• – live music at all the Huey’s
• – Community Concert: Citizens to Preserve Overton Park at Memphis Made
• – Crawfish Boil at Brookhaven Pub
• – Orpheum’s 22nd Annual Art Sale at the Halloran Center