30+ Exciting Memphis Events Happening In May
MAY this month be the best yet!
MAY this month be the best yet!
Anyone else can't believe it's already May? But time flies when you're having fun! Continue enjoying the good times with these events happening this month in Memphis.
Celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
All Month
Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month all of May with a series of events, food outings, and activities. The month kicks off with a happy hour at Caption by Hyatt Beer Garden. More events to celebrate include film screenings, a Dragon Boat Festival, a food tour, and so much more.
Enjoy free movie screenings at Overton Square
Every Thursday | 7 p.m.
Overton Square Movie Nights are back! Head to the Courtyard for a free movie night featuring screenings like Wonka, Barbie, Interstellar, and more. Bring your picnic blankets and folding chairs to enjoy this free, fun, and relaxing evening of cinema under the stars.
Take in the views at a Peabody Rooftop Party
Every Thursday | 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Want to party on a Memphis rooftop? The Peabody Hotel is where you need to go! For more than 80 years, the historic downtown hotel spends the spring and summer hosting throw-downs every week. Peabody Rooftop Parties are $15. Tickets will be available to purchase at the door of the event. They have drinks and food for sale. VIP seating tickets are available for $40 and are available on a first come, first served basis. The VIP area offers an assortment of apps from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Come hungry to these unique food and drink festivals
If you can eat or drink it, Memphis has a festival for it! This month is poppin’ with fun and unique festivals that include:
- Overton Square Crawfish Festival on May 3
- Manes on Main Festival on May 10
- Lemon Drop Festival on May 25
- Memphis Vegan Festival on May 31
- Memphis Margarita Festival on May 31
- HOPPED on May 31
Tour 260+ gardens across 25+ Memphis neighborhoods
May 1 til June 15
The 3rd annual Experience Memphis Gardens Tours runs all May thru June 15 with the 10th Annual Signature Cooper-Young Garden Walk, May 17-18, 2025, featuring over 100 gardens, speakers, musicians and garden vendors, throughout the vibrant, historic neighborhood. The 2025 City Wide Garden Walk is a “must attend” 6 week summer garden event for garden lovers across the Mid-South and beyond. Visitors will tour public/private gardens, business gardens, community gardens, cut flower farms, aquaponics, and a railroad garden, to name a few.
Take yourself out the ball game
May 1-4 and 13-18
Memphis Redbirds games are such a fun experience! It's easy to forget that you're in the middle of a city during a Redbird's game. The stadium is breezy and quiet, the food is awesome (they have barbecue nachos!), and relatively inexpensive with in-field tickets starting at $18. The stadium is almost like a park that happens to have a huge baseball diamond.
Put your thang down, flip it and reverse it at RiverBeat Music Fest
May 2-4
Missy Elliott, The Killers, and Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals are set to headline the second annual RiverBeat Music Festival, returning to Tom Lee Park in Memphis on May 2-4, 2025. The festival is making its highly anticipated return in 2025 with an electrifying lineup that also includes Benson Boone, Cage the Elephant, Khruangbin, Ludacris, Public Enemy, and a celebration of Memphis’s rich musical legacy. This year’s festival promises to be an unforgettable three-day experience from ferris wheels to fireworks and everything in between.
Put your artistic skills to the test at Chalkfest
May 3 | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Join local artists and transform Brooks Museum’s plaza into the most colorful work of art! Create your own chalk masterpiece, Dance to music from the Soul Shockers and DJ Siphne, Watch local artists Kaylyn Webster, Carl E. Moore, Craig Thompson, and Mikaela Colina recreate favorites from Memphis' art collection, and more.
Watch Double Dutch matches takeover Beale Street
May 3 | 2 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
This event is brimming with energy and excitement as we take over one of the most famous streets with the joy and thrill of Double Dutch. If you’re passionate about Double Dutch and want to spread the happiness it brings both inside and outside the ropes, this is the event for you!
Take your four-legged friend to Puppy Palooza
May 3 | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
I went to this event two years ago and was in doggy heaven! Bring your leashed dog to the Crosstown Concourse plaza for pet photos + caricatures, dog adoptions, costume contests, and lots more fun.
Go loco for Cinco de Mayo
May 5
Cinco de Mayo falls on a Monday this year, which means Memphis is kicking off the fiesta early with a weekend full of tacos, margaritas, and special events—here’s your guide to all the best deals, parties, and places to celebrate. Drink responsibly and tip your bartenders.
Celebrate excellence at the 46th Blues Music Awards
May 8 | 7 p.m.
The Blues Foundation is Memphis-based, but world-renowned organization dedicated to preserving blues music history, celebrating recording and performance excellence, supporting blues education and ensuring the future of this uniquely American art form. Located at the Renasant Convention Center, the 46th Blues Music Awards brings together Blues performers, industry representatives and fans from all over the world to celebrate the best in Blues recordings and performances from the previous year.
Serve looks for Memphis Art & Fashion Week
Say hello to Memphis Art & Fashion Week—formerly known as Memphis Fashion Week—now hosted by the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art and expanded to highlight fashion and art. The week is stacked with can't-miss events, thought-provoking experiences, and high-style vibes.
Experience vibrant Greek culture at the Memphis Greek Festival
May 9-10
The 66th Annual Memphis Greek Festival is hosted by the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. Indulge in authentic Greek cuisine, immerse yourself in traditional music and dance, and connect with the local Greek community. With several activities for the entire family, plan to spend the day with us to celebrate heritage, tradition, and community. OPA!
Show your mama lots of love this Mother’s Day
May 11
Mother’s Day is almost here—time to treat your favorite lady like the queen she is! Check out this roundup of mom-worthy Memphis brunches, events, and sweet ways to celebrate. Events include tea parties, live music, cake decorating, and more.
Cheer on the Memphis Showboats
May 11 and 24
The Memphis Showboats are back for their third season under interim head coach Jim Turner. This month features two home games, so be ready to tailgate, support the home team, and have a blast!
Grab fresh fruits, veggies, and baked goods at a Farmers Market
From seasonal markets to year-round farmers markets, this is your guide to fresh fruits, veggies, flowers, meats, baked goods, prepared foods, and other local goodies.
Be part of the ultimate BBQ festival weekend
One weekend, two BBQ events! From May 14-17, the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is taking over Liberty Park. Since the first contest in 1978 teams representing the best of barbecue have been honing their craft to compete for the title of Memphis in May World Champion and a share of the more than $150,000 in prize money. Also, the Smokeslam BBQ Showdown from May 15-17 at Tom Lee Park is back for the second year in a row. Bring your empty belly and your whole family to historic Tom Lee Park for a fully inclusive and interactive experience celebrating the craft and culture of our legendary BBQ, as well as music, art, and all things Memphis.
Get pumped for Overton Park Shell’s free concert series
May 17, 18, 25, 29, and 30
The free concerts at the historic bandshell is a beloved tradition. Sit back in the grass or in your lawn chair and enjoy nights of funk, soul, hip-hop, house music and more. Bring chairs, blankets, coolers, picnics, any of your own food and drink – or enjoy the beer and food for sale. Most shows begin at 7:30 p.m. sharp, but I would get there at least a half-hour early to snag a good spot. (Or an hour if a good spot is really important to you!)
Catch a vibe at these clubs and lounges
A good vibe is always the goal when it's time to go out. Memphis' nightlife scene is so diverse and lively, but here are a few clubs and lounges I tend to frequent. Celebrate a birthday, go for happy hour, or dance at these spots.
Get inspired at the Ruby Bridges Reading Festival
May 17 | 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Enjoy a day of inspiration, storytelling, and fun at the 8th Annual Ruby Bridges Reading Festival, in partnership with civil rights icon Ruby Bridges-Hall. This enriching festival at the National Civil Rights Museum invites children from pre-K through elementary school, along with their families and educators, to come together in a celebration of reading, diversity, and community.
Experience art and metal work at the Metal Museum’s Family Fun Day
May 17 | 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Twice a year, the Metal Museum hosts a day of hands-on activities, demonstrations, and kid-friendly games on the Museum grounds. On these days, families can learn about different metalworking processes through educational activities, view latest exhibitions, and watch as the foundry artists pour molten iron. Visitors can participate in several free hands-on activities, observe metalsmiths honing their craft, explore our exhibits and browse the Museum Store for adornments, kitchenware and more by artists from around the country.
Light it up at the Water Lantern Festival
May 21 | 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
The Memphis Water Lantern Festival brings people together for a celebration of light and community! Enjoy tasty food trucks, fun music, and activities perfect for the whole family. Watch the water light up with lanterns symbolizing love, hope, and happiness - creating memories you'll cherish for a lifetime.
Stroll through the Dixon Gallery and Gardens (it’s free forever!)
Open daily, Closed on Mondays
Great news for Memphians and visitors—the one-of-a-kind Dixon Gallery & Gardens is free for good! Everyone can now experience the galleries and gardens at no cost. The Dixon is a Memphis institution. There are multiple gardens, meandering pathways, towering trees, outdoor sculptures, flowers, a cutting garden, and more. Learn more about the gardens on Dixon's website.
Race to the finish line during The Great American River Run
May 24 | 7 a.m.
A Memphis Memorial Day Weekend tradition. Half-marathon, 10K & 5K means there’s a race for everyone. Start and finish at AutoZone Park, running along the Mississippi River and throughout downtown Memphis. Everyone who crosses the finish line will receive a medal, race shirt and an invitation to our famous post-run after party with plenty of food … and beer!
Show off your moves at the Funkytown Dance Party with South Memphis Jeff
May 30 | 7:30 p.m.
Experience the ultimate funk-infused dance party with South Memphis Jeff, live at Crosstown Green Room. Step into a night of electrifying beats, infectious rhythms, and non-stop grooves that will make you move like never before. South Memphis Jeff, host of WYXR’s FUNKYTOWN, will take you on a journey through all eras of funk, blending classic tracks and current bangers with hidden gems to keep the dance floor alive.
Experience Beatles vs. Stones - A Musical Showdown
May 31 | 7:30 p.m.
The British Invasion brought us the two most popular rock groups of all time, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, as well as the liveliest debate in rock history - which band is the greatest? Head to the Orpheum Theatre where these two legendary bands will engage in a musical “shoot out of the hits” featuring internationally renowned tribute bands, Abbey Road and Satisfaction - The International Rolling Stones Show.
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