365 Things to Do in Memphis #272: River Arts Fest
Updated July 2020. Photo credit: Allen Gillespie / Memphis Tourism
UPDATE: River Arts Fest is cancelled for 2020.
Downtown Memphis will turn into a giant artists market and street fair for this year’s River Arts Fest. Assignment #272 in the 365 Things to Do in Memphis is to spend a day at the festival.
At River Arts Fest, you can definitely shop for art from the more than 200 booths, but the event isn’t just about shopping. There will also be hands-on art stations, live music stages, and tons of food from local vendors. About that live music: organizers do everything they can to pack the festival with local acts of all kinds.
Tickets are $5 per person, and kids ten and under can get in for free. However, on Saturday after 5 p.m., the fest is staying open (and free) in celebration of the Mighty Lights bridge lighting ceremony.
The fest is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday (admission charged until 5 p.m., artists’ market open until 9 p.m.) and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Leave the pets, coolers, skates, and bikes at home.
Go there:
Returns 2021
Riverside Drive
Originally published Oct. 2012. Updated July 2020
Looking forward to this year's fest!