25+ Things To Do This Weekend

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THINGS TO DO ALL WEEKEND

Satellite Music Hall Grand Opening Weekend 

Fri 9/4 & Sat 9/5, 7 p.m. (The Band Camino) | Sun 9/6, 7 p.m. (FattMack) | tickets from $57.50 
Memphis' newest live-music venue finally opens its doors this weekend! Crosstown Concourse's 1,300-capacity Satellite Music Hall christens the stage with two nights from hometown favorites The Band Camino on Friday and Saturday, then closes out its opening weekend Sunday with FattMack rounding out the weekend on Sunday. It's the first of six marquee shows kicking off the venue (Valerie June, Project Pat, Modest Mouse, and Iron & Wine follow this fall), so this is your chance to be there for Memphis' newest music landmark's very first weekend.

2026's 80th Annual Peter P. Lahde TN Open and State Chess Championship 

Fri 9/4 – Mon 9/7 | entry fees $80–$100 
Checkmate your Labor Day weekend plans with the 80th Annual Peter P. Lahde Tennessee Open and State Chess Championship, a four-day tournament drawing up to 150 players from across the state to the Holiday Inn Downtown. Hosted by the Memphis Chess Club, it offers multiple entry schedules for every skill level and a guaranteed prize fund north of $10,000. Whether you're a grandmaster or just chess-curious, it's a rare chance to watch or join some serious strategic showdowns all weekend long.

Beale Street Cigar Festival 

Sat 9/5 & Sun 9/6 | starting at $90
Beale Street lights up for its 11th annual celebration of cigars, music, food, and fellowship this Labor Day weekend, with top cigar brands setting up shop in front of Robusto by Havana Mix Cigar Emporium. Expect live entertainment, exclusive deals, giveaways, and some of Memphis's favorite food trucks lining the street — plus the feel-good bonus that proceeds benefit A Safe Place Inc.

Hattiloo Theatre Presents: Speak, Salvation, Speak 

Fri 9/4 & Sat 9/5, 7–10 p.m. | $45–$75 
Catch it before it's gone! Hattiloo Theatre's milestone 20th season opener wraps up its run this closing weekend. This gripping family drama follows a Pentecostal father, his son drawn to ancestral spiritual traditions, and the mother caught between them, with shared dreams pulling the family toward a reckoning of faith, legacy, and survival. Featuring screen and stage veteran Harry Lennix, it's powerful, must-see theater in Overton Square before the curtain closes for good.

Memphis Redbirds Homestand 

Fri 9/4, gates 6 p.m. / first pitch 7:05 p.m. — Halfway to St. Patrick's Day | Sat 9/5, gates 4:30 p.m. / first pitch 6:05 p.m. — Wrestling Night 
AutoZone Park keeps the good times rolling all weekend. Friday is Halfway to St. Patrick's Day, presented by Silky O'Sullivan's, with a pregame parade, green beer, live Dueling Pianos on the Orion Financial Soundstage, and a free jersey for the first 1,500 fans through the gates — plus $5 Fiesta Friday specials (margaritas, Dos Equis, and 2-for-$5 street tacos). Saturday is Wrestling Night: meet WWE Hall of Famer "The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart, catch live Memphis Wrestling matches on the plaza before and after the game, grab a free Rockey "Bobble-Elbow" bobblehead (first 1,400 fans), and stick around after for postgame fireworks. Buy tickets by 11:59 p.m. the night before your game to snag $8 parking.

THINGS TO DO ON FRIDAY

Finish Liza's Run 

4 a.m. | free to attend 
Before the sun's even up, Memphis runners lace up together for the annual Finish Liza's Run, a heartfelt tribute to Eliza Fletcher. Now in its fourth year, this free, community-organized gathering at Belvedere and Central lets participants complete the route Eliza couldn't, honoring her memory and the city's running spirit.

Canoes + Cocktails at Shelby Farms Park 

6 p.m. | 21+ 
Cap off Friday with a paddle and a pour at Shelby Farms Park's breezy sunset happy hour on the lake. Grab a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard (or bring your own) for a guided sunset paddle, then dock for cocktails from Old Dominick, bites from Feast & Graze, yard games, and live tunes. Prefer dry land? There's a cocktails-only option too.

Metal Museum Metal Night at the Shell 

7 p.m. | free to attend 
The Metal Museum kicks off its grand-opening weekend with "Metal Night" at the Overton Park Shell, part of the free Orion Concert Series which also kicks off for its fall season this night. Nashville-based tribute act KaRRot pays homage to Korn, and fans are encouraged to dress the part. Anything from blacksmith-chic to full rock regalia is fair game.

Bey Day feat. DJ AD 901 

Doors 7 p.m., show 8–11 p.m. | tickets from $23.10 | all ages 
Lafayette's Music Room throws its annual Beyoncé birthday bash, with DJ A.D. spinning the hits, deep cuts, and anthems all night long. Dress up, dance hard, and grab a table on a first-come, first-served basis. Organizers promise this one gets bigger every year.

Memphis Symphony Big Band at The Grove 

Gates 6 p.m., music 7–8:30 p.m. | $30 adults, $5 kids 5–18, free under 4 
Pack a picnic blanket and settle in under the trees at Germantown Performing Arts Center's Grove for a swinging outdoor evening featuring vocalist Kortland Whalum alongside Principal Trumpet Scott Moore. Expect dance-band classics, big band swing, and even a little samba, plus food trucks and cocktails for sale. (Rain date: Saturday 9/5.)

Rude Movements 

10 p.m. | $10 
Lamplighter Lounge's side room transforms into a proper club for two nights running, with professional sound and lighting built for "an extrasensory experience." Four Memphis DJs — Andy on Bluff City, Ferbe Fresh, Just Stiino, and Von Gogh 901 — each spin 30-minute sets of house music with a dark, tech-inspired edge and heavy bass. Come both nights or just one; either way, it's a late-night dance floor built by the local scene, for the local scene.

THINGS TO DO ON SATURDAY

Healthier 901 Fest 

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (4K starts 10:30 a.m.) | free 1-mile walk / ~$29 for the 4K 
Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare's 4th annual family-friendly wellness celebration takes over Shelby Farms Park. Choose a laid-back 1-mile walk or lace up for the chip-timed 4K, then stick around for fitness demos, cooking demonstrations, live entertainment, and wellness resources for the whole family.

Metal Forming Class: Leaves and Pods 

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | ~$85 members / $98 non-members 
Spend the day at Memphis Botanic Garden learning copper metal-forming techniques, hammering flat copper sheets into dimensional leaves and pods. Walk away with several pendants and a pair of earrings finished in your choice of torch-applied rainbow color, chemical patina, or polished copper.

Taijiquan with Milan Vigil 

10:30–11:30 a.m. | free to attend | 16+ 
Start your Saturday with a gentle drop-in taijiquan session led by Milan Vigil in the gardens at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens. This flowing Chinese martial art builds balance and offers no-impact aerobic benefits. No experience needed, all skill levels welcome.

Metal Museum Grand Opening Weekend: Public Celebration 

Noon – 4 p.m. | free to attend 
The Metal Museum's new Overton Park home (1930 Poplar Ave) throws open its doors for good, with inaugural exhibitions, live metalworking demonstrations, hands-on activities, and entertainment for all ages. It's your first look inside before the museum fully reopens to the public September 11.

Memphis Meets Shamar: A TikTok Block Party 

12–6 p.m. (meet-and-greet 12–2 p.m.) | starts at $30
TikTok star Shamar brings his fanbase to downtown's Cache 42 Downtown Express Lounge for an afternoon built for content creators and fans alike. Swing by early for the meet-and-greet to snap photos and chat, then stick around as it rolls into a full block party celebrating Memphis culture and community.

Memphis PowerPop Festival feat. The Smithereens 

5–9 p.m. | free to attend 
Part of the Orion Financial Free Concert Series, this jangly, guitar-driven lineup at Overton Park Shell stacks four acts: Joybomb, Your Academy, Sonny Wilsons, and headliners The Smithereens into one free evening of power pop and rock. Pack a picnic and lawn chairs (leashed pups welcome); food trucks and concessions have you covered.

Tiger Football Home Opener vs. Arkansas State 

6 p.m. | tickets from $9 
The Memphis Tigers bring football back to the newly renovated Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium for their 2026 home opener against Arkansas State, fresh off a season-opening road win over UNLV. Tickets start at just $9 and they added meal prices at just $7, so get out there. Go Tigers Go!

Sunset Southern Soul & R&B Picnic 

6–10 p.m. | $45–$80 | 21+ 
Tom Lee Park turns into a riverfront soundtrack for the evening as this upscale Mimosa Festival Weekend event brings Southern soul and classic R&B to the Mississippi's edge. Spread a blanket, sip a handcrafted cocktail, and watch the sunset with thousands of other guests soaking up live music and local food vendors.

THINGS TO DO ON SUNDAY

Mimosa Festival Memphis 

5-10 p.m. | GA & VIP tickets available | 21+ 
Bubbles, beats, and good vibes take over Downtown Memphis this Sunday. Admission comes with complimentary mimosas, and you can upgrade to premium cocktails while browsing food trucks and soaking up live music, games, and entertainment. This event was moved to the evening due to the heat so this is the first time Mimosa Festival will be an evening affair! 

2026 Craft Food and Wine Festival 

5–7 p.m. (VIP entry 4 p.m.) | $75–$300 | 21+ 
Memphis's favorite culinary showcase lands at the Brooks Museum of Art, bringing together 35+ local food entrepreneurs and chefs for an evening of small bites, wine, craft cocktails, and local spirits, with a DJ and live band keeping the energy going. VIP tickets get you in an hour early with a champagne toast, a chef-curated lounge from JEM Dining's Josh, and reserved seating.

Sunday Trivia at MFS Brewing 

5–7 p.m. | free to attend 
Cap off the weekend with trivia night at MFS Brewing, where host Damien keeps things fun, chill, and refreshingly not-too-hard. Grab your crew, snag a table, and settle in with a calzone and a cold one while you shout along to "Beat the Bar."