Events & What’s Happening
Month-long celebration featuring the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, Beale Street Music Festival, and Great Southern Food Festival along the Mississippi River
💡The BBQ contest weekend has lots of sampling and a festive carnival atmosphere — arrive early for parking and bring sunscreen
Annual celebration of Memphis wing culture featuring competitions among local and regional restaurants, live music, and family-friendly entertainment at Tiger Lane
💡Many vendors offer mild options for kids and the live music keeps the whole family entertained — go hungry and arrive at opening time
One of the South's largest street festivals featuring live music, local art vendors, food, and a lively neighborhood block-party atmosphere in the Cooper-Young Historic District
💡The festival is very walkable and kid-friendly in the morning hours before crowds peak — hit the art vendors and food booths early
Annual Halloween event at the Memphis Zoo featuring trick-or-treat stations, costume contests, themed animal encounters, and family-friendly entertainment throughout the zoo grounds
💡Costumes are encouraged and younger children love the trick-or-treat trail — weeknight visits are far less crowded than weekends
The Memphis Grizzlies NBA season at FedExForum in downtown Memphis, with family-friendly game-day promotions, mascot appearances by Grizz, and youth-focused activities throughout the arena
💡Look for Family Night promotions with discounted tickets and concessions — upper level seats offer great sightlines and are much more budget-friendly
Spectacular holiday light display transforming the Memphis Botanic Garden with thousands of lights, light tunnels, animated displays, and seasonal music throughout the garden paths
💡Dress warmly and plan for about 90 minutes — weeknights before December 20 are least crowded and parking is much easier
One of the nation's oldest African cultural festivals held in Robert Church Park, celebrating African and African-American heritage through music, dance, storytelling, art, and authentic cuisine
💡The cultural performances and storytelling sessions are wonderful for children of all ages — the food vendors offer a great opportunity to try new flavors together
Vibrant outdoor farmers market at the South Main Arts District featuring local produce, baked goods, honey, handmade crafts, and food vendors from across the Mid-South region
💡Saturday mornings are lively and manageable with kids — grab a breakfast pastry from one of the bakery vendors and let little ones explore the produce stalls
Weekly interactive storytime sessions for young children at multiple Memphis Public Library branches, featuring picture books, songs, fingerplays, and simple crafts led by children's librarians
💡Sessions are free and no registration is required at most branches — arrive a few minutes early to grab a good spot and check your local branch for their specific schedule
Organized and self-guided family cycling along the paved Shelby Farms Greenline and park trails, with bike rentals available at the park and easy flat terrain suitable for all ages
💡Rent bikes at the park's Peddler station if you don't have your own — the lake loop trail is perfect for younger riders and offers great duck-watching stops
Regular Sunday programming in Overton Park including nature walks, lawn games, art activations near the Brooks Museum, and community gatherings in the Old Forest and open meadows
💡Pack a picnic and combine your visit with a walk through the Old Forest — the shaded trails are magical for curious kids and feel like a forest adventure right in the city
Planning Your Visit
Neighborhoods & Areas
Local Tips for Families
- 💡The Peabody Hotel duck march happens every day at 11am and 5pm in the lobby on Union Avenue — it's completely free to watch, takes about 10 minutes, and kids are often invited to walk alongside the ducks. Arrive 20 minutes early to get a spot along the red carpet.
- 💡Graceland tickets are significantly cheaper if purchased online at least 24 hours in advance — the basic Elvis Experience mansion tour runs about $42/adult at the gate but drops to around $36 online, and children under 7 are always free regardless of booking method.
- 💡The Memphis Zoo inside Overton Park is included in the Memphis Zoo membership, which pays for itself in two visits and includes reciprocal access to over 150 other zoos nationwide — worth buying at the gate if you plan to visit any zoo within six months.
- 💡Sun Studio on Union Avenue offers tours every hour on the hour from 10am to 6pm, and the 45-minute tour ends in the actual recording studio where you can hold the original microphone stand — book tickets online because the tour groups are capped at 14 people and weekend slots sell out by Thursday.
- 💡Tops Bar-B-Q has multiple Memphis locations and is the local's everyday barbecue choice — a full family meal of pulled pork, chopped beef, slaw, and beans runs about $35–45 total, which is roughly half what you'd spend at the more tourist-facing Central BBQ locations near Beale Street.
- 💡Shelby Farms Park rents bikes, kayaks, and paddle boats at the Patriot Lake Activity Center from late March through October — rates are about $12–15/hour for adult bikes and $8/hour for tag-alongs and kids' bikes, making it a half-day activity for under $60 for a family of four.
- 💡The National Civil Rights Museum offers free admission every Monday from 3pm to 5pm for Tennessee residents — if you're road-tripping through the state, time your Memphis stop to take advantage of this. Non-resident families pay $17/adult and $14/child, so the savings are substantial.
- 💡Beale Street is pedestrian-only and lined with live music venues — the music spills out onto the street entirely for free, so families can experience authentic blues and soul performances just by walking down the street between 6pm and 9pm without paying any cover charges or entering bars.