October is upon us, and the promise of cooler temperatures and changing leaves has us feeling festive and ready to hit the town! A brisk, new fall energy has brought Memphis to life, and the month of October is filled with food, drink, art, dance, music and fun — not to mention the start of basketball season … Go Grizz! Enjoy the change of seasons, as well as our curated list of the best happenings around town!
Sip and snack to your heart’s content at Memphis Food & Wine Festival. Image: Memphis Food & Wine Festival
October 7, 2017: A Bug’s Life Movie Night at The Garden
If you haven’t caught David Rogers’ Big Bugs at the Garden exhibit, this is the time to do it! Wander through the garden after hours to view these towering insect sculptures, ranging from 10 to 18 feet tall! Then, bring out your picnic basket and blanket to watch A Bug’s Life on the big screen. Gates open at 6 p.m., and the movie starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 for Memphis Botanic Garden members and $10 for non-members. memphisbotanicgarden.com
October 7, 2017: Dia de los Muertos: Parade & Festival at the Brooks Museum
Dia de los Muertos is upon us, and the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art is ready to celebrate! A parade will kick off the Day of the Dead celebration in Overton Square’s Tower Courtyard at 10 a.m., with floats and performers making their way to the plaza at the Brooks Museum where the festival begins at 12:15 p.m.! There will be art-making activities, face-painting, music, costumed performers, dance performances and a Frida Kahlo costume contest until the event wraps up at 3 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. brooksmuseum.org
October 13, 2017: Memphis Tequila Festival
Head to Overton Square for the Memphis Flyer’s first annual Memphis Tequila Festival. Savor 15 tequila tastings, food by Babalu Tacos & Tapas, party music by local DJs and lots of spooky surprises. This evening of merriment is guaranteed to get you in the spirit of the season, all while benefitting Volunteer Memphis. The event starts at 6 p.m. and will wrap up at 9 p.m. Tickets are $34. memphistequilafestival.com
October 13 & 14, 2017: La Traviata with Opera Memphis at GPAC
Opera Memphis is performing La Travita at GPAC on October 13 and 14. Lavish parties, forbidden love, betrayal and death – La Traviata is everything you would expect from Verdi’s best-loved opera. While the opera is performed in Italian, there will be English supertitles running above the stage so you can catch every delightfully dramatic plot twist and turn. The curtain will rise at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $38 and run up to $89. operamemphis.org
October 13-15, 2017: Pink Palace Crafts Fair
Experience the sights and sounds of the Pink Palace Crafts Fair, in celebration of 45 years of crafts, cultural education and, of course, shopping! While artisan crafts may be the name of the game, there will also be music, food, rides and plenty of family-friendly activities to enjoy, all to raise money for the Pink Palace Museum. Don’t miss the festivities from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $9 for adults, $7 for seniors and military, $3 for children ages 4 to 12 and free for children under the age of 3. memphismuseums.org
October 14, 2017: Memphis Food & Wine Festival
Memphis is celebrating its culinary excellence by showcasing exceptional local talent, alongside some of the most acclaimed chefs from around the country and around the world. Taste to your heart’s content while you sample top-tier bottles with vintners, certified sommeliers and enlightening wine enthusiasts. Not to mention, there will be live music and entertainment at this entrancing evening at Memphis Botanic Gardens. The event runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Individual tickets are $200; reserved table seats are $250 sold in groupings of 2, 4 or 6; and a reserved table for 8 costs $2,000. memphisfoodwinefestival.org
October 14, 2017: Cooper-Young Beerfest
Celebrate the hardworking local brewers who devote their time, talent and energy to making beers that are uniquely their own at Cooper-Young Beerfest. The festival is regional, meaning you can visit any of the brewers within a day’s drive from Cooper-Young. Sip and sample local brews to raise money for the Cooper-Young Community Association (CYCA), which keeps the neighborhood clean, friendly, safe and welcoming for everyone. The event is held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 795 Cooper Street. Tickets are $50. cybeerfest.org
Oct 14-22, 2017: Take Shape presented by Ballet Memphis at Playhouse on the Square
Leap for joy over this 2017/2018 Ballet Memphis season opener, complete with a creative selection of three boundary-breaking short works by George Balanchine, Trey McIntyre and Julia Adam. Balanchine, revered as the “father of American ballet,” is back this season with a work never before seen in Memphis, the tremendously athletic Square Dance. Complemented by the works of McInytre and Adam, it is assured to be an enchanting evening of creativity. The performance runs at Playhouse on the Square on October 14, 20, and 21 at 8 p.m. and on October 15, 21, and 22 at 2 p.m. Tickets prices vary from $10 to $45. balletmemphis.org
October 19, 2017: Unwind For Hope
Take a break and “un-wined” on Thursday, October 19, at Unwind for Hope, an event benefitting Hope House. The nonprofit serves women and children affected by HIV and poverty in the Memphis Area. Sip on wine, snack on hors d’oeuvres and peruse an art sale featuring local female artists. The event is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Hope House. Tickets are $25. hopehousememphis.org
October 20-31, 2017: Le Bonheur Zoo Boo at Memphis Zoo
Prepare to be spooked at Zoo Boo! Join the Memphis Zoo the last two weekends of October for candy stations and hayrides, straw mazes and magic shows and plenty of seasonal fun! Zoo Boo is fun for ghosts and goblins of all ages. The festivities are happening October 20 through October 22, then again October 27 through October 31. Tickets purchased in advance are $10 for members and $13 for nonmembers. On the day of the event, prices go up to $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers. memphiszoo.org
October 21, 2017: Soulsville USA Festival
There is no denying Memphis has soul! The 2017 Soulsville USA Festival will have three stages of live music, as well as local food trucks and so much soulful fun to revel in. Enjoy educational talks and storytelling inside Stax Museum of American Soul Music, demonstrations from an array of visual artists, a kids’ center with fun child-friendly activities and interactive dance performances. The festival takes place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the historic Soulsville USA District on College & McLemore. The festival is free and open to the public. soulsvilleusafestival.com
October 21, 2017: Art on Fire at The Dixon
Grab your friends and gather around a roaring bonfire, snack on fabulous food, listen to live music, and pore over the art sale and silent auction at the Dixon Gallery and Garden’s biggest night of the year, Art on Fire. This festive fall party starts at 7 p.m. and runs until 11 p.m. In advance, tickets are $60 for Dixon members and $75 for nonmembers. Day-of event tickets are $75. dixon.org
October 21, 2017: Big River Crossing Half Marathon & 5k
Be a part of the first race to make the interstate trek across the Mississippi River’s longest public pedestrian bridge! Starting at the foot of Beale Street on Riverside Drive, the Big River Crossing Half Marathon will take runners over Big River Crossing, through the Big River Trail on the Arkansas floodplain, and along Dacus Lake. The event also includes a 5K through downtown and Tom Lee Park. Registration is $25 for the 5K and $90 for the half marathon. Prices may increase as the race approaches. runsignup.com
October 24-29, 2017: An American in Paris at The Orpheum
Get a taste of both Broadway and Paris at The Orpheum this month. An American in Paris is a Tony Award-winning musical about an American soldier, a mysterious French girl and an indomitable European city, each yearning for a new beginning in the aftermath of war. Acclaimed director/choreographer and 2015 Tony Award-winner Christopher Wheeldon brings the magic and romance of Paris into perfect harmony with unforgettable songs from George and Ira Gershwin. The show runs from October 24 through 29, and showtimes vary each day with matinees and evening performances available. Tickets start at $25 and run up to $125. orpheum-memphis.com
October 26, 2017: Peacock Alley Presentation and Book Signing
Join Lisa Mallory Interior Design as they welcome Peacock Alley founder, Mary Ella Gabler, to Memphis. Listen as she shares her lessons of a well-made bed and her secrets to a life well lived on Thursday, October 26, at The Brooks Museum. The 11 a.m. presentation will be followed by lunch in the Terrace Room. Then, join Mary Ella from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. back at Lisa Mallory Interior Design for the Bubbly and Book Signing event. Tickets are $75 individually, $450 for a table of 6 and $600 for a table of 8. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Baptist Women’s Hospital. lisamallorydesign.com
October 27, 2017: Day of the Dead Fiesta by Latino Memphis
Sponsored by Laurelwood Shopping Center, Day of the Dead with Latino Memphis is back! Dress in black and white, and dance the night away to Latin rhythms at this high-end fiesta, featuring one-of-a-kind performances, sugar skull-inspired face painting, authentic food bites, handmade flower-making stations, a photo booth and so much more. No Halloween costumes, please, and only those 21 years of age or older. The party starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $50 in advance, $65 at the door and $100 for VIP. latinomemphis.org
October 27-29, 2017: RiverArtsFest
RiverArtsFest is a street celebration of fine arts and fine local music. Nearly 200 artists from Memphis and around the country gather to exhibit and sell their original art. Kicking off on October 27 and running through October 29, the festival will be open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $5 for daily in-and-out access on Saturday and Sunday. Friday night is free to all. Children 10 and under get in free. riverartsmemphis.org
October 29, 2017: St. Jude Garden Harvest
In the beautiful St. Jude Garden, the 7th annual Garden Harvest dinner includes cocktails and a premium silent auction, followed by a farm-to-table six-course dinner created by some of the region’s most renowned chefs. Hear the story behind each of the dishes from the chefs and, most importantly, the story of a St. Jude patient. The event starts at 4 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m. Individual tickets are $200, while a table for 10 is $2,000. stjude.org
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Stay up to date on the best events in the 901 by checking our Happenings Page, where new local activities are posted almost every day!
