The Memphis Italian Fest has been offering a eclectic variety of vendors,cooking demos &…read moreentertainment since 1989. Leaving festival-goers with a wonderful experience Memphians & visitors alike will remember for a lifetime that they'll return next year for another wonderful experience. When it comes to Festivals in the Memphis area i've always enjoyed The Memphis Italian Festival compared to Music Fest & a variety of others which seem to offer very little or nothing in entertainment value. This is the one festival I look forward to every year as I enjoy the games vendors, food, family & fun every last weekend in May. Whenever I attend festivals such as the Memphis Italian Festival. I'm always going around to each vendor & see what each vendor offers. I'm always left amazed discovering a vendor that I've never heard about before. The vendors I discovered in years past I still shop with some of them or refer them by word of mouth like here on Yelp or social media outlets. What also impresses me being & is a highlight for me would be the cooking demos & every year they start out with last year's sauce winners who'll do a cooking demo of their favorite Italian dish. When the demonstration is over audience members get to sample what was cooked by the cooking team. When the cooking team is done they'll be a local restaurant ready to give the audience a demonstration of their dish. The chefs from the restaurant that are representing will show everyone how they cook their appetizers or entrees. After they've finished showing the audience on how they made their dish everyone gets to sample what was cooked & enjoy it. The biggest closer to a majority of Festivals would be the bands they've asked to perform for festival-goers. Every year Memphis Italian Fest will always have a big name band perform at the end of the night closing out the festival. This year's band happened to be Ingram Hill & I thoroughly enjoyed the show as they're my favorite band. Every year is hit or miss when it comes to the music acts but for the past 3 years I've enjoyed Gin blossom Train and of course Ingram Hill. That's just a small variety of what is offered & I would recommend to anyone looking for a simple inexpensive ($10-$15 admission) festival to attend. This would be the festival to enjoy with your family and friends. I have thoroughly enjoyed it every year regardless of what some yelpers on here had to say comparing it to other festivals in a unfair comparison. I would like to say in closing enjoy the festivities & make memories with others around you to remember for a lifetime Be sure to like Memphis Italian Festival on FB and tell a friend. https://www.facebook.com/MemphisItalianFestival/

My new favorite festival! And not just because I got to judge aka eat delicious free food all day…read more This baby has A LOT going on and there is absolutely no way you can be bored. Between the music, dancing, vendors, contests, and FOOOOOOD, I wanted to spend the whole weekend here. Yeah, it might rain, but this is Memphis and it is May...so you kinda expect it...and deal with it. Plus, it gives you the chance to wear those cute rain boots you bought for 50% off that one time. If you haven't been, you're missing out so remedy it ASAP. Go ahead and put it on your calendar since it only happens ONCE A YEAR!!!!

Cooper Young Festival. How I love you so. You might be getting too big for your britches though…read more This year was by far the busiest I have ever seen it. We got there about noon and parked .81 miles away from the entry point on the south side by the Tabernacle. When we left at 4:00 or so, the streets were lined miles further away than we were. It was really kind of crazy how many where there. I am sad to say I didn't find a damn thing other than food and beer to buy this year. Not a damn thing. I already have all of the shit that peaked my interest. My wife did want a painting for my kid, but hesitated and said she would come back for it. When we got back, it was gone and she was bummed. We talked to the artist about commissioning a new piece, so maybe. It was the best piece of art in the festival. I should have just bought it myself when we liked it. I'll be back next year, hope someone with some nice art will tempt me. Just a heads up, snack wise.... Stick Em' food truck and Butterific cookies for the win no matter m what here. For real.

Our first time going to this festival and it was packed. First time we went was around 11am and it…read morewasn't as bad then but the second time we went around 4pm and it was shoulder to shoulder. The parking was bad. I think we parked almost 2 miles away. So many booths yet not many food options. Guess I expected a lot of options. I did however find something great, a place called Wild Bills. The place sold sodas in tin mugs with unlimited refills. We bought the barrel mug for 15 bucks and we probably refilled it 6-7 times. Easily got my money back with those refills. Overall we had a good time.

I don't think I've ever been in a bigger food coma. I am literally fighting to keep my eyes open as…read moreI write this. If you haven't been to Best Memphis Burger Fest, then I highly suggest you go ahead and mark it for your calendar next year! Alllllllll of those burgers! I'm totally swooning just thinking about some of the things I tried today. For me, this is my kind of food festival because it raises money for animal charities (which is very near and dear to my heart - like Fayette County Animal Rescue, Tunica Humane Society, Streetdog Foundation), they have puppies available for adoption there, there are burgers, like really good burgers, we're talking gourmet, legitimate, LOCAL burgers that you can sample, and really good music. This was my first time at the festival and it certainly won't be my last! Oh, and don't forget to bring cash because you can donate at the different booths and also buy things at the different vendors. Love it!

My experience with food festivals in Memphis has been spotty at best. I still haven't gotten over…read moremy 2004 foray to the Italian Festival with two fellow new Memphis residents. We paid at least $10 each to walk around and watch other people have a good time and eat. I think there was one trailer - Coletta's - selling Italian food among the Pronto Pups and funnel cakes. We left after 30 minutes as demoralized outsiders and went to Ciao Bella. A later May trip to Tom Lee Park was same song, second verse, but with jello shots. So, with low expectations, I was enticed to Best Memphis Burger Fest by word of free entry and the presence of food trucks. I'm very happy to say that my expectations were dashed like a Pete Townsend guitar. I suspect that the dreary weather played a factor, but I think I can safely say that those enthusiastic few hundred of us who braved BMBF left Minglewood reeking of meat-smoke and satisfied! For somewhere around $12 (suggested donation: $1/sample), I got a great microbrew and what equates to around 3 burgers. (With two friends, I probably sampled 7-8 quarters-to-halves of burgers?) And that is, 3 burgers from some gifted grillers who were putting their most creative and ambitious foot forward in a competitive setting. Man, for what I ate, I feel like I stole some kid's lunch money or something. This was "small batch" grilling, just like any backyard cookout. The public just milled and socialized until teams had food coming off the grill. Unlike some festivals, the BMBF teams were actually excited and generous about sharing their creations. Well, no one has to hawk almost-free food at me. I ate until I couldn't eat anymore and had to turn away some intriguing burger recipes. I really regret not trying Ciao Bella's lamb and prosciutto burgers, but they were huge and I was stuffed. Also, I saw some pretty far-fetched burgers in the judging area - e.g., a massive patty served between two pizzas - but those weren't being served to the general public. Note to self: find a way to get into that tent next year... I hope that BMBF will become an annual event. There was cornhole, live music, NFL football, and a Kooky Canuck burger-eating contest to pass the time for those who are more averse to red meat megadosing. (There was a veggie-only component in the competition, but I didn't see anyone serving veggie burgers to the public.) With some gorgeous weather, this could turn into a destination like Crawfish Festival. The organizers' challenge IMO will be to find a way to up the supply to meet the demand. I just can't see a large crowd being fed as the fest existed today. But on a rainy day in its inaugural year, BMBF succeeded. The only losers were the food trucks, I'm afraid.

So much fun! This was my first year to attend but it definitely won't be my last! There are great…read morevendors, the parade was a blast to watch, and I loved loved loved the live music!! Another bonus? Plenty of food options

I absolutely enjoyed the Memphis Labor Council Picnic! The vibe was amazing, the Overton Park Shell…read morewas the perfect space, and the local performers did exactly what Memphis is known for--GREAT MUSIC! The energy was incredible, and I loved seeing local talent represented. Atmosphere for all AGES! There was also plenty of free food--burgers, hot dogs, bologna, smoked sausage, spaghetti, potato salad, slaw, and more. Since I don't eat meat, my options were basically potato salad and slaw, so I would love to see a few more meatless options at future events. My only real complaint was the HEAT! Whew! August in Memphis from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. is HOT. I would definitely suggest moving the hours earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon/evening next year. Other than the heat, I loved every bit of it. Great music, great people, great atmosphere, plenty of food, and an awesome Memphis vibe. This was an amazing community event, and I would definitely attend again--just hopefully at a cooler time of day!

A Sunset Symphony concert at the Levitt Shell was the perfect way for us to end our stay in…read moreMemphis. With a stop at the Brooks beforehand, the Shell has history! Elvis gave his first public performance here, and the summer concert series goes back generations. This is a family friendly activity make sure to fill the donation buckets to keep it going. Bring your chairs, blankets, it gets crowded early! There were some local food trucks, but some people bring their own food, Ravinia style. We loved the music program of pop hits going back a few decades, some symphony standards, and some singers gave us chills. Walkin' in Memphis with full singers? "What's Goin' On" with Symphony backing the score? Shell, Yeah!

i was really impressed with this setup. the mini golf was great for kids and the layout of the…read morewhole spot was guest friendly. the staff were cheerful and helpful. even tho i know arcades are germy, the whole area was clean and well kept, even the restrooms. they also have a cafe which we didn't use but i included pictures.

Just in time for Halloween Season, I received an mail with a magazine that has a coupon to Monster…read moreMini Golf. I looked at some of the magazine's photos and thought the concepts looked cool! So some friends and I decided to check the place out. It was just amazing when we walked through those doors. The staff were friendly and amazing. I just love looking at the artworks while playing miniature golf. The various monster-themed statues and art were just wonderful! I definitely will come back!

Free food and singing and a band playing Focus on health and…read moresafety Chance to meet local community leaders

This is a wonderful, local festival that is held each fall. This year's festival is September…read more25-26. It is held on the grounds of the Cordova Community Center which is a historic area in the heart of "old Cordova." It has maintained it's small town feeling and is a fun event with families or just with a girlfriend. I like it because it is small, easy to manage and you always find lots of unique items. I go with my mom and we get a pronto pup, glass of lemonade and we browse all of the booths. I always find seasonal, holiday items and hand made jewelry. The weather is usually great this time of year and it is a good outdoor event.

I'm pretty conflicted with this place. Everything we saw on it didn't really explain what it was…read more So my husband and I had no idea what to expect going in. We thought maybe it was like an escape room? Or maybe it was just a museum? Well, first of all, whoever owns mud island needs to clean the place up and get the river running. That alone would make this place a lot better to visit! BVO is tucked away upstairs. You get a wrist band and basically have to collect as many scans as you can find. When we first walked in, I was pretty shocked at how it looked. I mean, the whole place is neat, but the concept is confusing as all hell. First your eyes have to adjust to how dark it is in there. Then there are some things you have to solve to open the scan box, but there is literally no instructions, hints, or slight clues on what to do. We entered another room and had to do some crawling. Physical activity was not explained before entering this place. A few spots we were supposed to listen to either noises or voices, but it was so loud with kids screaming and echos that we couldn't hear. Some of the scans didn't work. One may have worked for my husband, but not me. And there was again no clues to suggest we needed to solve something to get the scan. Another area had a slide and viewing globes like you would find at the prairie dog's area at the zoo. So then it dawned on me that this place was more for kids to run around and interact with things. Not so much for adults. The concept here is great... but it needs MAJOR work. This was also phase 1, so here's to hoping the other phases improve drastically.

As a huge fan of Meow Wolf, I was so excited for BVO! I'm equally excited to see Mud Island being…read morebrought back to life in such a unique way. They've done an exceptional job with it and we had a blast. If you are unfamiliar, it is an immersive fantasy-like steampunk experience. It feels something like a "go at your own pace, choose your own adventure" escape room without the stress of escape room vibes. You go through different rooms and exhibits - and are free to push, pull, open, climb through, etc. to find the secrets of BVO. You can also try to find all of the hidden artifacts (scan points) - which is a fun way to compete with friends (or by yourself - trying to find them all was a ton of fun!). A few notes for the early months of the exhibit opening: 1: the full exhibit is not open, only phase 1. This means it is quite a bit shorter/smaller, and doesn't take too terribly long to get through. On one hand, it will be fun to continue returning as they open new phases to get all new experiences each time. On the other hand, especially if you've been to Meow Wolf, it does feel noticeably incomplete/phase 1. 2: They've posted a ton of photos on their website and even here on yelp of areas that are locked behind future phases. Thus, at this time - you will NOT see the riverboat and some of the other exhibits. They really should be more clear as to what is actually open right now. 3: It is new and they are working out the kinks, so our wristband scanners didn't work quite right and our final "artifact" count was off because we couldn't get some of them to scan properly. 4: last thing - when googling, be careful of spoilers! I imagine as this gains momentum, people are going to post all the secrets, which could make it less fun for the adventurer. Overall, I highly recommend visiting, though you should manage your expectations in the early phase. Please go support this awesome, local, new venue! And enjoy the park, the Memphis sign, and such while you are there;)