Art Openings Bonanza
I don’t know what is in the air this Friday, but every art gallery is having an opening reception this evening. I mean, not every one, but enough where I’m like it’s too many. How am I going to see all the shows? I’ll try though. And so should you.
- “Hank Smith: Swamp: A Meditation on Self and Silt”: I wrote about Hank’s show the other day. It’s inspired by the local wetlands, and Hank’s partnered with the Wolf River Conservancy, who’ll be a part of the artist talk. There’s also gonna be cocktails by Bar Limina and music by Too Small. | Ugly Art Co., Friday, May 30, 5:30-8 p.m.
- “Home Is a Dream I Keep Having: New Works by Noah Miller and Sara Moseley”: Miller and Moseley are exploring concepts of home in their first joint exhibition. The show will be on view through July 18th. | Urban Art Commission, Friday, May 30, 6-9 p.m.
- Summer Exhibition Opening Reception | Crosstown Arts celebrates three new exhibitions: “Bleeding Together,” “[Fe]atured Ar[Ti]sts” (that’s difficult to type out), and “Zen on the Installment Plan.” (Go here for descriptions on the exhibitions because I won’t be typing those out at the moment.) There’s going to be food from Bao Toan, cocktails from Art Bar, music by DJ Ty Boyland, and a demonstration of “Paint What You Feel” by Aaron James. (From what I gather, this man stands shirtless in a room and you can paint what you feel on him.) | Crosstown Arts, Friday, May 30, 6-8 p.m.
Memphis Italian Festival
Marquette Park
Friday-Saturday, May 30-31, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Everyone is Italian at the Memphis Italian Festival, where bocce, grape stomping, wine race, face painting, and cooking demonstrations come together along with a variety of food and arts vendors.
Cemetery Cinema: The Sixth Sense
Elmwood Cemetery
Friday, May 30, 8:30 p.m.
I see dead people. Honestly, I wish. It’d make me *unique.* I used to see a ghost when I was 3, but I haven’t seen Dorea since. Oh well. See the movie that made the quote famous at Elmwood this Friday as the cemetery brings its Cemetery Cinema series back for the summer. Tickets are $17.85.
The Memphis Potters’ Guild Spring Show and Sale
St. Anne Catholic Church
Friday-Sunday, May 30-June1
Buy some cool pottery this weekend. The show runs 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Memphis Dragon Boat Festival
Shelby Farms Park
Saturday, May 31, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
See dragon boats race and dancers perform, enjoy live music, and eat lots of food at this free event.
Memphis Vegan Festival
The Fourth Bluff
Saturday, May 31, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Veg out at the Memphis Vegan Festival, where there will be vegan food galore (duh), plus live entertainment and a marketplace with local businesses, plant-based health and beauty products, and more.
Memphis Margarita Festival
Overton Square
Saturday, May 31, 3-6 p.m.
Sample from the city’s best margarita-makers, vote on your favorite, and crown an audience winner at the end of this best ’rita fest hosted by your favorite Memphis Flyer. Tickets ($59.78) will get you 12 margarita samples. Food will be available for purchase, and so will full-sized drinks.
6th Annual Juneteenth Shop Black Festival
The Fourth Bluff
Sunday, June 1, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Shop from more than 100 Black businesses.
Cooper-Young Cat Walk
Cooper-Young Gazebo
Sunday, June 1, 2 p.m.
Meet the cats of Cooper-Young on this free, approximately one-hour walking tour. Read more about it here.
There’s always something happening in Memphis. See a full calendar of events here.
Submit events here or by emailing calendar@memphisflyer.com.