Memphis Events
Memphis kicks off the year by honoring the birth of its favorite sons. Fans from around the world flock to the Elvis Presley Birthday Celebration . The festival, which spans several days surrounding January 8, includes a concert of the King's tunes performed by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and an Elvis Presley Day Ceremony, complete with birthday cake.
In mid-January, the city honors another King. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. King Day Celebration features speakers, forums and concerts to honor the late civil rights leader on his birthday.
It wouldn't be Memphis without the sultry sounds emanating from Beale Street, and the Beale Street Music Festival in May highlights blues, rock, gospel, R&B, alternative and soul artists from around the country. The 3-day, Mardi Gras-like celebration brings throngs of partiers to the street, and more than 60 musical acts take to stages set up in Tom Lee Park, where Beale meets the Mississippi River.
The music festival is part of the city's most well-known event, the Memphis in May International Festival . This monthlong event focuses on a different country and its culture every year. A highlight is the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest , known as the Super Bowl of Swine, where grill masters gather under a cloud of hickory smoke and compete to prepare the tastiest pork barbecue.
Summer is ushered in with the FedEx St. Jude Classic , a key PGA Tour event in June. In mid-August, fans from around the world gather for Elvis Week , a weeklong, all-Elvis festival with more than 30 events including bus and house tours, tribute concerts, dance parties, karaoke nights, trivia competitions and a candlelight vigil.
Local and noted artists perform blues, jazz, country, pop and bluegrass music during the Memphis Music and Heritage Festival , held over Labor Day weekend. The festival also includes dance, poetry and spoken word performances.
With more than 300 booths featuring art, crafts and gourmet food, the Pink Palace Crafts Fair , set in Audubon Park in October, also is a big draw. The family-friendly fair also offers children's crafts, educational exhibits, entertainment and rides.
When the holidays approach, Graceland celebrates in style with the Christmas at Graceland event, held from mid-November to early January. The mansion's exterior and interior are made festive with decorations that Elvis himself used when he resided here.
The AutoZone Liberty Bowl is held in late December at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. And there's no better spot to ring in the New Year than where the blues began. Attend the New Year's Eve Countdown on Beale Street for a Guitar Drop and a merry good time.
See all the AAA recommended events for this destination.