In Memphis, the Cooper-Young Festival signals the end of summer and the beginning of fall. Before the cold winter months come around, be sure to get your festival fix at one of the many Memphis festivals yet to come. Read on for a look at a variety of activities to entertain you through autumn.
BreakFest 901
September 24th
Fans of all-things-breakfast should convene on Broad Avenue to delight in all of the best kinds of morning food. Benefiting the Urban Bicycle Food Ministry, the festival contains a plethora of breakfast-related stations to keep festival goers satisfied. Teams compete in breakfast tents, while others give their opinions at the Best Bloody Mary contest. In addition, there will be a waffle bar, plenty of games, live music, and local vendors. Each festival ticket entitles the buyer to a free cup of French Truck Coffee.
Gonerfest
September 29th–October 2nd
Independent record label Goner Records hosts its annual Gonerfest to celebrate Memphis music. The festival brings together Goner bands and attendees from Memphis and abroad, like Europe, Asia, and Australia. The event showcases the full range of Goner styles, with bands from many different genres getting the opportunity to perform. Past the music, Gonerfest plays host to a bevvy of artwork by artists from around the country. Memphis Made Brewery provides the beer, while plenty of local vendors will be present to feed the guests. Check out the website for the full international scope of the bands performing this year.
Moon River Music Festival
October 7th-9th
We’ve heard the great blues music that Memphis has to offer, but there’s so much more to the music scene. The Moon River Music Festival, hosted by Drew Holcomb, is dedicated to promoting and cherishing the local Americana scene. Now a two-day event (with an exclusive third, Friday night session available to VIP ticket holders), the festival hopes to grow and give a larger spotlight to Memphis Americana. Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors will be playing, along with other bands such as The Oh Hellos, Sean McConnell, and Stax Music Academy, while more artists are forthcoming. Finally, no fear of going hungry, as local food and drink vendors will be selling Memphis dishes.
Memphis Food & Wine Festival
October 15th
For local food and wine connoisseurs, there’s no better event in town. The Memphis Food & Wine Festival, hosted by the Memphis Botanic Garden, aims to explore the great culinary options in town by bringing in local, regional, and national chefs. For the wine folks, vintners, certified sommeliers, and wine enthusiasts will round out the lineup. The final component to enhance the festival experience will be a group of renowned Memphis musicians, like the Ghost Town Blues Band and Royal Blues Band. Ticket proceeds will benefit the FedExFamilyHouse, a home for families who have children being treated at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.
RiverArtsFest
October 21st-23rd
Music and food is all well and good, but for those more interested in fine art, check out the annual RiverArtsFest. The festival is a street celebration of original artwork by Memphis artists, but will also include Memphis food and music. Stop by and purchase a new piece of Memphis art for your home, or take a look as some of the artists create new pieces for their collection. Running alongside the festival will be an Invitational Art Exhibit in the gallery of ANF Architects, featuring pieces from last year’s festival artist Jeanne Seagle.
