Need something to do, but don't want to break the bank? Enjoy this guide to free stuff to do in Memphis.

Some are available for everyone, some are for TN or Shelby County residents only, and some are once a year, but all of them are tee-totally free of charge. 

1. Visit the Meditation Garden at Graceland, 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. daily. 
2. Visit the Dixon Gallery & Gardens (galleries and gardens are free through 2024)
3. Tour Elmwood Cemetery, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
4. Catch a Mighty Lights show, nightly every hour on the hour
5. Walk through Crystal Shrine Grotto at Memorial Park, daily dawn to dusk
6. Observe the Peabody Duck March at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily
7. Hang out in Shelby Farms Park, sunrise to sunset daily
8. See the aquariums, boats, and more inside the Bass Pro Pyramid
9. Browse the A. Schwab General Store
10. Hike the Old Forest Trail at Overton Park
11. Volunteer for a local charity or non-profit (here’s a monthly list of ways to do so)
12. Walk the Riverwalk at Mud Island, dawn until dusk, year-round. (note that you'll have to do some searching for free parking and walk or bike there)
13. Walk or bike across the Mississippi River on the Big River Crossing
14. Find all of the I Love Memphis Murals
15. Ride or walk the Shelby Farms Greenline
16. Watch the sunset (we suggest Beale Street Landing, the River Garden, or the Chickasaw Mounds)
17. Explore the Crosstown Concourse’s atriums and artworks
18. Attend a concert show at the Overton Park Shell, weekends in summer and fall—you can even bring in your own picnic and drinks!
19. Run with a Breakaway Running Group
20. In the summer, skip through Peabody Park's splash pad or the fountains in front of City Hall
21. Play at the Overton Park Rainbow Lake Playground 
22. Immerse yourself in Black Memphis Music History at the FedExForum bollards
23. Stop by all five of the Civil Rights Trail sites in Memphis, starting with Beale Street:
24. Walk through the I AM A MAN Plaza (Civil Rights Trail)
25. Drive by the Mason Temple (Civil Rights Trail)
26. See the WDIA historic site and history marker (Civil Rights Trail)
27. Visit the plaza at the National Civil Rights Museum (Civil Rights Trail)
28. Take a self-guided South Main architecture tour
29. Visit the historic Collierville Town Square 
30. Hike the loop at Herb Parsons Lake Trail
31. Take photos on the self-guided Overton Square art tour
32. Find the Wolf River beach in Germantown
33. Visit the Metal Museum’s Sculpture Garden (donations are appreciated, though!) 
34. See the Big Kids and walk the Vollintine Evergreen “V&E” Greenline
35. Find even more murals, including the Paint Memphis mural areas
36. Wave at the Bison at Shelby Farms Park 
37. Tune in to Memphis’s indie radio stations: WEVL and WYXR
38. Take your dog to meet some furry friends at a local dog park
39. Instagram yourself at a seasonal sunflower field
40. Visit sites from the Memphis Women’s Legacy Trail
41. Skate or skateboard at Tobey Park or Raleigh Springs Skate Park
42. Walk the Riverbluff for river views and cool houses
43. See Memphis from the rooftop (Peabody rooftop is free to visit)
44. Catch a movie at Chimes Square in Overton Square
45. The Brooks Museum is free to enter on Wednesdays during regular hours (10 a.m. - 8 p.m.)

For TN Residents with state I.D. 

46. Memphis Zoo, Tuesdays from 2 p.m. until close. Not valid in March. Rules apply; read here.
47. Metal Museum Building, Thursdays 
48. National Civil Rights Museum, Monday from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

For Shelby County Residents

49. Check out books, e-book, or audiobook at a Memphis Library (free for City of Memphis, Bartlett, and unincorporated Shelby Co. residents) 
50. Stax Museum, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays (for Shelby Co. residents)

Free events and things to do

We are looking forward to these free events and attractions reopening after covid.

• Visit the University of Memphis Art Museum, Mon. - Sat. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. excluding school holidays. If you go on a Saturday then the Central Ave. parking lot is free!
• Attend a monthly Nerd Nite Memphis
• Attend a free event at Crosstown Arts
• People and bike watch at Beale Street Bike Night, Wednesday evenings in the summer
• South Main Trolley Nights; last Friday of the month from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
• Take free dance lessons at the Rumba Room
• Listen to music at the Memphis Listening Lab
• Catch some live music in Handy Park on Beale Street
• Go to the Collierville Concert Series (Summer)
• Beale Street St. Patrick's Day Parade (March)
• Overton Square Crawfish Fest (April - free to enter; crawfish are extra)
• Rajun Cajun Crawfish Fest (April - free to enter; crawfish are extra)
•  Beale Street Wine Race (April)
•  Do the Zombie Walk (May; canned food donations accepted)
•  Fourth of July Fireworks (yearly guide posted in June)
• Holiday Parades (yearly guide posted in November)
• Cheer on the runners at the St. Jude Marathon (December)

Got any suggestions for additions? Let us know and we'll add them to the list!