5 Things To Do This Weekend

Head over to the September Live Music Guide for our top picks.

For more, check out the blog's calendar here and submit your own events here.

1. Canoes + Cocktails, Shelby Farms Park, Friday, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m., $35  - $75, ages 21 and up

Only two more weeks for Canoes + Cocktails at Shelby Farms! This is the perfect date night idea. Enjoy a guided sunset paddle on Hyde Lake with wonderful sunset views, followed by socially-distanced Old Dominick cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, yard games, and music at Hyde Lake Pavilion. Rent a kayak ($50 single; $75 double), a canoe ($75; holds 2 people), or a stand-up paddleboard ($50), or bring your own boat for $35. 

2. Memphis Redbirds v. Louisville Bats, AutoZone Park, Tuesday through Sunday, times vary, prices vary ($17 and up), all ages/kid-friendly *masks required in all indoor areas per Shelby Co. mandate 

It’s the second-to-last regular season homestead series for our Redbirds, so if you haven’t made it out to the ballgame, now’s the time! There are promotions each day, including throwback jerseys and $2 beer on Thursday, special All-You-Can-Eat tickets on Friday, postgame fireworks on Saturday, and free ice cream for kids on Sunday. Thursday is also Doggie Bag day, so bring your dog to the ballpark and get a surprise giveaway item!

3. Levitt Shell Free Concerts, Overton Park, Saturday, free (donations encouraged), all ages/kid-friendly *masks required yes even outside

This weekend’s Levitt Shell concerts start with zydeco soul songstress Marcella Simien on Friday—the show starts promptly at 7 p.m. (cancelled due to inclement weather).

Saturday is a special show, the Stone Soul Picnic featuring a dozen bands and singing groups, finishing off with the Bar-Kays at 7:50 p.m. Bring your chairs and blankets and coolers and picnics, or buy food and drink on site. Masks are required and the dancing area is closed this season. I recommend getting there an hour or so early to claim your area. 

4. Live at the Garden, Memphis Botanic Garden, Friday, gates at 6 p.m / show at 8 p.m., $55 + fees, all ages (parental guidance) *masks strongly encouraged

This Friday’s Live at the Garden show headliner is Sheryl Crow so soak up some sunset and bring your chairs, picnic baskets, and bug spray to the Botanic Gardens’ Radians Amphitheater. Masks are required in any indoor spaces, and strongly encouraged outdoors. 

5. Mid-Autumn Festival, Crosstown Concourse, Saturday, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m., free, all ages/kid-friendly *masks required per Shelby Co. Health Dept mandate

Vietnamese Association of Memphis and Crosstown Arts host the traditional Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival at Crosstown Concourse with a lantern lighting, moon cakes, live music, Vietnamese food demos, crafts, face painting, and more! More Ideas: 

More ideas: 

Memphis Tigers v Mississippi State Bulldogs, Liberty Bowl, Saturday, 3 p.m., prices vary, all ages/kid-friendly

Cooper Young Fest and a football game on the same day? Wow! Gird your loins for a wild day in Midtown. Masks are required in all indoor areas at the Liberty Bowl and encouraged outdoors, for vaccinated and unvaccinated people. 

Memphis Made Beer To-Go

Memphis Made Brewing in Cooper Young is not hosting their annual Cooper-“York” Festival because of the pandemic, but will be open 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. for to-go beer only. Mask up, pick up, and enjoy. Thank you Memphis Made, for making safe decisions! On Saturday, they’ll have deep discounts on cases, and if you make a purchase they’ll also give you a code for six awesome playlists.  

Even More Ideas

All Weekend

• Meemaw’s Ratchet Barbecue Comedy Stage Play at the Evergreen Theatre (Friday - Sunday, through Sept. 26) 
• Lifespan of a Fact at Playhouse on the Square (Friday - Sunday, through Oct. 2) 
• The Mid-South Corn Maze at the Agricenter opens this Friday and is open Wed. - Sun. through Oct. 31. Read more.

Friday

• Fab Friday Laser Show on Friday at the Museum of Science and History (Pink Palace)
• Food Truck Friday at the Dixon 
• Canoes + Cocktails at Shelby Farms Park on Friday 
• Family Movie Night at GPAC on Friday: The Emperor’s New Groove 
• Duet for Theremin and Lap Steel in The Green Room 

Saturday 

• Cooper Young Farmers Market  No market this weekend due to CY Fest
• Memphis Farmers Market
• Butterific Bakery & Cafe “10K In A Day” - support local black-owned businesses! 
• Lichterman Nature Center Talk & Walk Series on Saturday 
• New Wing Order’s 3 year anniversary at Crosstown Brewing on Saturday, starting at 4 p.m. 
• National Cheeseburger Day at Hopdoddy 
• SneakFest Sneaker Expo at the Agricenter
• Max Weinberg’s Jukebox at The Halloran Centre 
• ARROW Creative Grand Opening at 653 Philadelphia St.

Sunday 

• Night Time Jazz Brunch at the Hi Tone
• Bluegrass Brunch at Loflin Yard 
• Making Movies at Railgarten 
• ZZ Top at The Orpheum on Sunday 
• Sunset Yoga Downtown 
• Smashed to the Blast Zone (Super Smash Bros. Tournament) at Black Lodge 

Cooper-Young Fest 

Cooper Young Fest, Cooper Young, Saturday, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., free to enter, all age

So. CY Fest is happening this Saturday, September 18. I don’t know if the pandemic surge and full hospitals means that the crowds will be smaller, but usually the event is shoulder-to-shoulder with large crowds by midday, just FYI! (I'm always honest when I bring up something on this here blog, and I won't change that now.)

There WILL be a vaccine station at the edge of the festival at Bluff City Sports 769 S. Cooper Street if for some reason you decided to go to this event unvaccinated. You can go get any of the shots OR THE BOOSTER at this location. 

I recommend going early (9 a.m. when it opens) and wearing a mask even outside. The crowds are too big, even for an outside event, to risk not masking up especially if you are not vaccinated.

I have been to CY fest many times, early, midday, late, and all of the above—and the early morning experience is 100 percent the way to go. Again, let me stress that arriving early is worth it, not only because you may actually be able to spread out a little (social distancing is not possible at this event) but you will miss some of the traffic and chaos from the Memphis 3 p.m. football game!

Shop and support local vendors, grab yourself a Pronto Pup, and stay safe! If you go inside one of the neighborhood’s restaurants or shops, you are required by Shelby Co. Health Dept. to wear a mask. 

Have a great weekend and stay safe!