This guide highlights meaningful ways to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis from museum events and volunteer opportunities to historic sites and community celebrations.
Join the city on Monday, January 19, 2026, to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy, whose 97th birthday would have been January 15, and discover ways to participate in King Day activities across Memphis. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday, making the celebration especially significant.
photo provided by the Maj
Picture yourself at the mic like Life, Explicit.Get ready for four smoky, sauce-slathered days as the world’s top pitmasters fire up their grills for the 47th annual World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, May 14–17, 2025, at Liberty Park.
The eighth day of the year is Elvis Presley's birthday, so Assignment #8 on our list of 365 Things to Do in Memphis is to celebrate!
There are many ways to enjoy Elvis' birthday in Memphis, including attending the official events at Graceland, or making pilgrimages to important places that tell his story: Graceland, Rock 'n' Soul Museum, or Sun Studio.
