Welcome to April in Memphis — the month of spring sunshine, blooming blossoms and plenty of ways to celebrate! We love this month for its focus on philanthropy, fitness and, of course, delectable food and beer festivals. Here are our top picks for fun-filled days in the Bluff City this April!
Happy April, Memphis!
April 3-6, 2019: Forging on the River
Forging on the River is a weekend conference with a pre-conference workshop hosted by the Metal Museum. In addition to the chance to learn from an internationally recognized Master Blacksmith, Forging on the River is a place for metalsmiths and enthusiasts alike to network, exchange ideas and collaborate on projects… all while enjoying the Metal Museum exhibitions and grounds. The pre-conference workshop is April 3 through 5. The general conference is April 5 through 7, and the dinner and auction are on April 6, with tickets starting at $175. metalmuseum.org/fotr
April 4-7, 2019: Memphis Comedy Festival
The Memphis Comedy Festival is a festival of stand-up comedy, improv, podcasts, open-mics, informational seminars, featured shows and fun! The opening showcase begins on Thursday, April 4, at 6:30 p.m. You can purchase all-access passes for $65, “Everything But” passes for $45 and individual showcase tickets for $10. For all the showcases and times, visit memphiscomedyfestival.com.
April 6, 2019: Pour & Explore
Enjoy wine tastings and bites at 15 shops throughout Saddle Creek, as well as live music, live art, dog adoptions and so much more! One hundred percent of your ticket purchase benefits Streetdog Foundation. This event will sell out, so don’t wait to buy your tickets. Pour & Explore is sponsored by Doc’s Wine, Spirits & More. This event will be on April 6 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and the cost is $30 in advance and $35 at the door. shopsofsaddlecreek.com
April 6-14, 2019: Midtown Opera Festival
Come out to the Playhouse on the Square this April and gift your ears the voices of Opera Memphis! The 6th Annual Midtown Opera Festival will present two featured productions, as well as a variety of other complimentary events. The Falling of the Rising will run on Saturday, April 6, at 7:30; Friday, April 12, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m. Regular event tickets start at $10, and a full festival pass costs $100. operamemphis.org
April 7, 2019: Kosten Foundation Kick It 5K
Get active this April by joining the Kosten Foundation for its 8th Annual Kick It 5K. This family-friendly run will benefit the Herb Kosten Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, so the whole family can feel good while doing good for others. Plus, runners are encouraged to donate, raise funds and build a team to win prizes. The fun begins at 1 p.m. at Shelby Farms. Tickets are $25 for age group and fun run, $15 for a spirit run and free for survivors. kickit5k.racesonline.com
April 11-13, 2019: Memphis Botanic Garden Spring Plant Sale & Preview Party
On April 11, the Spring Plant Sale Preview Party will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $15 for members and $25 for non-members. Get the first pick of the plants and enjoy botanical bites and herbal cocktails as you listen to live music by Kenneth Jackson. April 12 and 13 will be the main days of the Spring Plant Sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Expert garden staff and master gardeners will be on-hand to assist with purchases and plant care tips. Proceeds from plant sales go directly to support the educational and horticultural growth of Memphis Botanic Garden. Admission is free to the public on April 12 and 13 and members receive 10% off purchases. Not a member? Join today and receive a member discount! memphisbotanicgarden.com
April 12, 2019: Hoedown for Hope
We can’t get enough of Memphis’ philanthropic April events, and the Hoedown for Hope is no exception! This event will take place at Propcellar and will feature music from DJ Nugget, delicious Southern food, specialty cocktails, an amazing silent auction, photo booth and a mechanical bull. Best of all, funds raised will benefit the Hope House, a nonprofit organization that has provided quality early-childhood education and social services to HIV-affected children and their families. The event starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $75. hopehousememphis.org
April 13, 2019: Rise Yoga Spring Fest
This energetic day of yoga will include live music, delicious healthy food, Tai Chi, essential oils, The Salt Caves experience, outdoor classes, pilates and much more! This event will take place at Better Bodies Yoga from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance and $35 at the door. wellnessliving.com
April 13, 2019: 17th Annual Southern Hot Wing Festival
Hot wings and the South go hand-in-hand, and this annual festival celebrates just that. Over 70 teams will bring the chicken wing to the spotlight with their own unique recipes and fiery sauces. Music, entertainment and the sweet smell of hot wings will draw Memphis’ food lovers to Tiger Lane, beginning at 11 a.m. and spreading love for the almighty wing until 7 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis. southernhotwingfestival.com
April 13, 2019: Overton Square Crawfish Festival
Celebrate the start to spring the right way — eating crawfish, listening to live music and soaking in the sunshine with the whole family! This all-day festival will feature crawfish and Cajun food, arts and craft vendors and live music. The event begins at noon and admission is free. overtonsquare.com
April 13, 2019: Kaleidoscope Food Festival
Nothing tickles our fancy quite like a day full of Memphis sunshine and unforgettable eats. The Binghampton Development Corporation is back at WISEACRE Brewery with the 2nd Annual Kaleidoscope Food Festival. Experience cultures from around the world through food, performance, and storytelling. Their food and other vendors will feature multicultural entrepreneurs operating in the Binghampton neighborhood. And of course, enjoy top-quality and uniquely flavorful Wiseacre beer with your food. The festival runs from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is free. facebook.com/events
April 13, 2019: 15th Annual Mudbug Bash Supporting Palmer Home for Children
One of the greatest awareness and fundraising events for Palmer Home is back! Grab the family and head to the square in Hernando, MS, for the 15th Annual Mudbug Bash. This night of festive fun includes delicious food, libations and live music. Each year, a record number of community members fill the streets in celebration of the rescue and restoration of children, raising much-needed funds and a spirit of hope. Feel that uplifting sense of community on Saturday, April 13, at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $75. palmerhome.ticketspice.com
April 13, 2019: V&E Greenline Artwalk
Explore Memphis’ booming art scene while raising money and awareness for the V&E Greenline, a community-owned trail that travels through the heart of Midtown and the Vollintine Evergreen Community. On Saturday, April 13, experience the V&E Greenline Artwalk. This family-friendly event will feature 70 vendors selling their original creations at affordable prices, a silent auction, children’s area, beer, wine and scrumptious barbecue dishes (vegetarian options available as well). vegreenline.org
April 19-21, 2019: Africa in April Cultural Awareness Festival
Explore African culture this April with this unique festival grounded in providing awareness of the eclectic, diverse cultures of Africa — this year’s focus is saluting the Republic of Nigeria. The festival showcases Africa through multiple mediums, including education, economics, fashion, music and cuisine. Attendees will enjoy a cultural marketplace complete with three days of fun, festivities and food! Admission is $5. africainapril.org
April 23-27, 2019: 39th Annual Southaven Springfest
The Memphis favorite Southaven Springfest is back for its 39th annual celebration. Attendees will enjoy delicious barbecue, a beauty pageant, amusement park rides and fabulous entertainment for a weekend to remember. This quintessential small-town festival is the perfect way to celebrate Southern style. So head to the top of Mississippi for a weekend of sunshine, eats and fun, fun, fun! The event begins at 4 p.m. each day and admission prices are $10 for those over 11 years old. southaven.org
April 26, 2019: Trolley Night
The South Main Trolley Night is the longest-running street party in Memphis for more than 18 years. The entire neighborhood will be buzzing with art galleries, shops, restaurants and bars offering music, performances and special discount rates. Come join in the fun of South Main. Trolley Night runs the last Friday of the month at 6 p.m. on South Main Street. gosouthmain.com/trolley-night
April 26, 2019: Roar and Pour at the Memphis Zoo
Join the Memphis Zoo for Roar and Pour, a delicious culinary and cocktail experience you do not want to miss. From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., taste the delights of Farm Burger, P.O. Press Public House & Provisions, Restaurant Iris, Amerigo Italian Restaurant, Erling Jensen and many more local favorites. Live music and hand-rolled Cuban cigars paired with bourbon will complete the beautiful event. Tickets are $125. memphiszoo.org
April 27, 2019: Midsouth Food Truck Festival
Come with a hungry stomach to the Midsouth Food Truck Festival at The Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. With over 70 food trucks from the cities along the mighty Mississippi and beyond, it will be worth the wait! Adult tickets are $5, children are $2 and University of Memphis students are $3. The event will begin at 11 a.m. midsouthfoodtruckfest.com
April 27, 2019: Taste the Rarity
April is for beer lovers in Memphis! The 5th Annual Taste the Rarity Invitational Beer Festival will showcase over 30 breweries from across the nation plus the release of Unicornucopia 2018 — an imperial stout at Wiseacre Brewing Company. Broad Avenue will also feature live music from the Mighty Souls Brass Band, the Griz Line, circus acts and some surprise entertainment, as well as backyard games and food trucks. The event begins at 3 p.m., and tickets range from $50 to $60. tastetherarity.com
April 27, 2019: 10th Annual East Buntyn ArtWalk
Wander through the eclectic finds in Memphis at the 10th Annual East Buntyn ArtWalk. Featuring regional artists, this open-air bazaar of galleries set up on the front yards and porches of East Buntyn is a vibrant celebration of Memphis’ community, complete with live music and local food. Ideal for Bluff City fans and art lovers alike, the ArtWalk is also kid- and pet-friendly — and admission is free! So, head to East Buntyn at 11 a.m. eastbuntynartwalk.com
April 27, 2019: Memphis Maker Market
Taking place at Muddy’s Bake Shop in Midtown is the ultimate makers market with 75% of the vendors being solely from Memphis and the rest from the Mid-South. Customers know they’ll be delighted by great quality and variety, as their curated-by-jury process ensures that we feature a truly remarkable selection of Memphis maker brands. So head on out to buy some local goodies on Saturday, April 27, starting at 11 a.m. memphismakermarket.com
April 28, 2019: Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival
Known as the unofficial start to spring, the Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival is back in downtown Memphis on Wagner Place and Riverside Drive between Union Avenue and Beale Street! Over 30,000 festival-goers will enjoy live Cajun, rock and funk music from local artists, all benefiting the programs and services given at no cost to over 50,000 local children and their families through Porter-Leath. Crawfish bobbing, eating, racing, arts & crafts, a kids’ zone and VIP extras will make this festival unforgettable. Admission is free, and the event runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. So, grab the whole family and show up with an empty stomach at this year’s highly anticipated Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival. porterleath.org
To look ahead for next month…
May 8-12, 2019: Art by Design
More than a dozen designers create custom “vignettes” inside a chic gallery showroom. Attendees all across the Mid-South come to experience this unique collaboration by attending an event and/or touring the showroom at the Pipkin Building. The party begins on Wednesday, May 8, with Cocktails and Floral Arranging beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets for this are $75. On Thursday, May 9, enjoy a seated dinner exquisitely prepared by Chef Ryan Trimm and served in the center of our designer vignette gallery. Tickets for the private dinner are $250. Friday, May 10, attend Mingle at Mimosas starting at 9 a.m. with tickets costing $40. Friday night, there will be a Ferguson Cocktail party beginning at 7 p.m. with special cocktails and live entertainment. Tickets for the cocktail party are $100, but gives you admission to all general admission days. The general admission sessions will be held on Saturday, May 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 12, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. General admission pricing is $20. Learn more at artsmemphis.org.
Celebrate spring at one of these fabulous events. Happy April!