Exploring Events in May
Memphis In May
Beale Street Music Festival
May 3 – 5
Featuring Dave Matthews Band, Khalid, Cardi B, The Killers, OneRebublic and more!
World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest
May 15 – 18
Nearly 250 teams travel from around the world and across the U.S. to compete for the title of World Champion and a share of the more than $115,000 in prize money.
Great American River Run
May 25
The half marathon course leads racers along the banks of the Mississippi River while 5K runners experience a route through downtown Memphis. The fun all culminates with a massive post-race party that includes food, drinks and live music.
Celebrate Memphis
May 25
Memphis in May joins the city’s bicentennial commemoration with a new event: Celebrate Memphis! We’ll be honoring our city’s rich heritage and colorful history as we ring in a new century of soul. Gates open at 3:00 p.m. Blankets, lawn chairs and outside food, beverages and coolers are permitted for this FREE event.
For more information about the events visit
memphisinmay.org or call 901-525-4611.
Museum of the Mississippi Delta presents For All The World To See
Through May 25
Greenwood, MS
Exhibition: visual culture and the struggles for civil rights. For more information visit museumofthemississippidelta.com or
call 662-453-0925.
Spirits of the Passage: The Story of the the Transatlantic Slave Trade
Through August 11
Two Mississippi Museums
Jackson, MS
Explore rare, firsthand accounts of loss and resilience from the unlikely discovery of a sunken slave ship. For more information visit twomississippimuseums.com/spirits.
Creative Aging Senior Arts Series featuring Grammy Award-winning songstress Joyce Cobb
and the Boscos’ Trio
May 1
Theatre Memphis
Memphis, TN
1:30pm
Accompanied by the witticisms of Mark Twain, portrayed to perfection by accomplished actor Ron Jewell. Tickets available online at creativeagingmidsouth.org or at the door ($5 cash or check). For more information call 901-485-5369.
Five Star Fest
May 3 – 4
Downtown Senatobia, MS
Car show, kids zone, live music, corn hole tournament, steak cook off & BBQ contest, 5k Race and more! For more information visit facebook.com/fivestarcityfest/ or call 662-562-8715.
7th Annual Native American Customs/Traditions Festival
May 4
Tish State Park
For more information call 662-438-6914.
Day at the Derby
May 4
The Gin
Nesbit, MS
Presented by Junior Auxiliary of DeSoto County. Food, dancing, silent auction, live music by Emerald Empire, mint juleps and more. For more information visit jadesoto.gives.
New Kids on the Block Mix Tape Tour
May 10
FedEx Forum
Memphis, TN
8:00pm
Featuring Salt-N-Pepa, Naughty By Nature, Tiffany and Debbie Gibson. For more information visit ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-3000.
48th Annual Gumtree Festival
May 10 – 11
Downtown Tupelo, MS
The Gumtree Festival is Mississippi’s premier arts festival. Each spring, artists from all over the Southeast descend on Downtown Tupelo for a weekend of music, performance, food, crafts, and visual arts. For more information visit gumtreefestival.com or call 662-844-2787.
Panola Playhouse presents “9 to 5”
May 10 – 19
Panola Playhouse
Sardis, MS
Directed by Keith Salter. For more information visit panolaplayhouse.com or call 662-487-3975.
Earth, Wind and Fire
May 14
Orpheum Theatre
Memphis, TN
8:00pm
For more information visit orpheum-memphis.com or call 901-525-3000.
PJ Masks Live!
May 15
Landers Center
Southaven, MS
6:00pm
For more information visit ticketmaster.com or email info@landerscenter.com.
45th Annual A’Fair Arts & Crafts festival
May 18
Courthouse Square
Hernando, MS
9:00am – 5:00pm
Over 200 vendors with handcrafted pottery, painting, photography, woodcraft, and jewelry, plus kids zone, food and more. There is no admission fee and parking is free. For more information call 662-280-8875 or visit hernandooptimist.org.
3rd Annual KImbrough Cotton Patch Soul Blues Festival
May 17 – 19
The HUT
Holly Springs, MS
Hosted by Robert Kimbrough Sr., Junior’s youngest son. Three days of live music, food, and plenty of education about Original Cotton Patch Soul Blues Boy Junior Kimbrough. The Kimbrough Cotton Patch Soul Blues Festival is an interactive unfiltered cultural experience. For more information visit Kimbroughfest.com.
Summer Symphony featuring Dennis DeYoung
and the music of STYX
May 24
Memphis Botanic Garden
Memphis TN
Picnic baskets, lawn chairs and coolers welcome! For more information visit liveatthegarden.com.
Landscaping Camp
May 24 – 25
Oxford, MS
Take a personal tour learning from the expert who made Ole Miss Beautiful. Featuring Jeff McManus, Director of Landscape Services. Workshops, Personal Tours and more. For more information visit oxfordms.com or call Rosie Vassallo at 662-234-4651.
Memphis Area Master Gardeners Tour
June 1
Memphis, TN
9:00am – 4:00pm
Free tour – open to the public and all ages are welcome. Plant lists, labeled plants, educational displays, garden docents and plants for purchase. Rain or shine. For more information visit memphisareamastergardeners.org or
call 901-752-1207.
