MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Spring is settling in the Mid-South, and with the better weather comes the festivals.
It might not be Memphis in May, but Memphis will see a quite busy April. Here are some of the most prominent festivals happening around the 901.
April 5
Are you looking for fresh ink? The Memphis Tattoo Fest will take place from April 5 to April 7. With over 200 artist, the festival will also host numerous tattoo contest. Tickets are available now.
For Americana, Alternative Country and Rock-n-Roll fans, Grind City Music Festival will arrive to Grind City Brewing Company in Memphis for a weekend.
Tickets for a single day cost $69 and they will have shuttles available from different parts of Memphis. Just keep in mind they have a clear bag policy.
April 6
April 6 is the first day of the Memphis Farmers Market in 2024. Local farmers and artisans will sell their goods every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through October. They set up shop at 566 S. Front Street in the parking lot of the Malco Powerhouse theater downtown.
The market is free to attend.
April 11
Another one for music fans, this one with free entry. The Music series will take place every Thursday throughout April from 5 to 7 p.m. on 200 Beale Street Memphis.
April 13
Back with the beers, music, food and comedy, HOPPED Festival starts at noon at Memphis Made Brewing Co., in Cooper-Young.
Memphis Made will provided a limited run of beers, but they will also have food trucks and comedians will join them for a Comedy Show at night.
April 18
Thursday, April 18, the Peabody Rooftop Parties return! Every Thursday from April through August, the Peabody Hotel has a rooftop party with live music, drinks and views of the Mississippi River. The parties kick off at 6 p.m. and run until 10 p.m.
Tickets are $15 for General Admission and $30 for VIP. All tickets have to be purchased at the door, but hotel guests get in free before 7 p.m.
April 19
Overton Park Shell in Midtown will host the third annual Shell Daze Music Festival. JJ Grey & Mofro will headline on Friday, while Oteil & Friends will take the lead on Saturday.
The amphitheater has lawn seating so remember to bring your own lawn chairs and blankets for seating.
This year, the Republic of Gambia will make a showcase in culture, fashion, music, history and cuisine.
Located at Beale Street & Robert Church Park, this will be the 37th anniversary of the Africa In April Cultural Awareness Festival, they will bring entertainment every day including food and music. The festival will also include a parade on April 21, at 10:30 a.m.
This annual event at the Memphis Zoo invites 27 distilleries from across the state to offer samples to attendees. The event will have the three things Memphis does best: food, drinks and music. Roar and Pour is a fundraiser benefitting the zoo's counterparts in Sumatra and the work they do to preserve Sumatran tigers.
Tickets are $100 for zoo members and $150 for non-members.
You must be 21 or older to attend.
The Memphis Botanic Garden will officially have their Spring Plant Sale April 19-20. The gardens will be selling native trees, shrubs, vegetables and pollinator-friendly plants from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
April 20
With $10,000 in cash prizes, the 22 Annual World Championship Hot Wing Contest and Festival will take place at River Garden Park on Riverside Drive.
Whether you like sweet or spicy, or if wings aren't really your thing, the contest will also have music and different food vendors.
Money raise will go to the Ronald McDonald House Charities and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Who says you need to go to Napa? For wine lovers, Vintage901 is hosting their Spring Festival.
The main event will be the Grand Tasting at The Medicine Factory, just outside Downtown. Wine producers from around the world will be highlighted, and if you are not an expert yet, they will also have classes on wine and food pairings.
For a more laid-back event, The Sparkling Brunch will be on Sunday, April 21 on Shelby Farms.
For thrifting enthusiast, Cooper-Young will be hosting their neighborhood yard sale. While bands from all genres will be playing live music, residents will open their yards and porches with their yard sales.
April 21
If you love brunch, how about a Mimosa?
Hosted by the river, at Tom Lee Park, tickets are now available. If you have a custom champagne glass, don't forget to bring it!
Over 30,000 people are expected at the 31 Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival in Downtown Memphis.
This event is free entry and it will have two stages for live music, and of course there will be a Gumbo cook-off.
April 26
As April 26 is the last Friday of the month, it will also mark the second Friday since the return of Trolley Night in 2024.
Shops, restaurants and galleries will host open houses and open until late with live music and some free drinks and snacks. Whether you want to take the trolley or just walk, make sure to check it out.
April 27
Tickets are now available for the Memphis Cocktail Fest downtown, at the Commonwealth. General admission tickets are $66.44, while VIP go for $89.86.
With over 50 different breweries and more than 200 beers to try, Brewfest will also host live music, food and giveaways in Olive Branch.
Continuing with the beer festivals, Tate the Rarity is hosted by Wiseacre. One tickets gets you four hours of unlimited drinking from 3 to 7 p.m. and of course, live music will be included. This is Wiseacre's 9th year putting on the event.
At Overton Square, kids are welcome to this free festival that will also highlight a local artist's market and live music. Breweries from Louisiana will be there as well as music from the Lucky 7 Brass Band and Deep Roots.
Why go all the way to Louisiana when Memphis will bring it to you?
Cafe du Memphis will come to the Summer Drive-In with a drive-thru New Orleans experience or tailgate with the Dorothy Day House crew. Shrimp and grits plates will be available for purchase, with the full plate also including beignets.
Proceeds will go to Dorothy Day House and The Rotary Club of Memphis.
April 28
With a choice of food, or a ticket to simply get you entry, the second Annual Crawfish Boil at Railgarten in Midtown is coming.
The Boil is benefiting THRIVE Memphis, an organization that helps those with intellectual disabilities.