Are you looking for the 2018 list of Memphis events and festivals? CLICK HERE. 2017 is upon us! Are you excited yet? If so, then this list will only make you more excited. If you're still shaking off the shackles of 2016, I hope this list will nudge you towards New Year's enthusiasm. Below is a month-by-month guide to important dates for Memphis events and festivals in 2017.

Do you want to seriously throw down for New Year's Eve in Memphis? I have something good for you.

Picture this: the historic, snazzy interior of the Cadre Building downtown with its gleaming gold columns, folks dancing while decked out in black-light-friendly getups, ice luges flowing, Lord T & Eloise, DJ Wick-It The Instigator, and DJ Jordan Rogers performing, and a big ol' balloon drop at midnight.

It's the EX-HA-LA-TION New Year's Eve party, and it's happening this weekend.

Settle in for the winter in Memphis with these ten delicious things to eat and drink in town right now. 1. Gourmet grilled cheese and bison tacos from Fuel Food Truck If you can catch Fuel's food truck (which has a slick new paint job) on a day when they're offering their gourmet grilled cheese, get it.

Today in Memphis, we celebrate the opening of our very own IKEA, take ice skating lessons, and make our plans for the holidays. Also, we have some bragging rights.

If you're looking for the 2018 New Year's Eve Guide, click here.

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It's almost time for 2017, Memphis! Here are some fun and festive ways to celebrate the new year. If you have additions, submit them here. At the bottom of this post is a list of places open on New Year's Day.

First off, a warning: This post gave me all the feels. I'm lucky enough to have met many of the readers—some now friends—who contributed to this post, and they're wonderful people. I'm proud to share this city with y'all.

You can check out the giant Guide To Giving Back and Volunteer, but I also wanted to take it a step further.

Update August 2017:  Tickets for the 2017 Festival are now on sale. They are $200 per person, and include tastings from about 40 local and international chefs and 40 international wineries, plus live music. The event will be at the Memphis Botanic Garden on Saturday, October 14. Read more and get your tickets here. Ed. Note: October 15, 2016 was the first Memphis Food & Wine Festival. I wasn't able to attend (my BFF got married that night), but local foodie blogger Andrea LeTard was there.