You might go for the barbecue but there’s so much else on offer too.  From hot wings to crawfish to beer, if you can consume it, there’s probably a Memphis food festival to honour it! Here’s a round up on just a few favourite culinary festivals...

You might go for the barbecue but there’s so much else on offer too.  From hot wings to crawfish to beer, if you can consume it, there’s probably a Memphis food festival to honour it! Here’s a round up on just a few favourite culinary festivals...

SOULFUL FOOD TRUCK FEST

12th March 2023

Head to Tiger Lane for all kinds of food truck fare, as well as live music, DJs and a kids zone, at the 8th annual Soulful Food Truck Festival. Dig into barbecue, quesadillas, sweet treats and so much more at this unique festival.

RAJUN CAJUN CRAWFISH FESTIVAL

16th April 2023
Crawfish festivals have become a spring tradition in Memphis. But you don't have to love crawfish to have a good time. The Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival attracts over 35,000 attendees every year in an over-the-top display of all things Cajun. Adult guests can enjoy margaritas, hurricanes and more. Plus, there’s plenty of carnival food, grilled corn and barbecue to round off your experience. 

OVERTON SQUARE CRAWFISH FESTIVAL

22nd April 2023
Can't make it to the Rajun Cajun Crawfish Fest? No worries! Memphians love their crawfish festivals, so you'll get a second crack at it with the Overton Square Crawfish Festival. After a few-year hiatus, this local-favourite festival is back in one of Memphis' most popular entertainment districts. Come enjoy live music, local vendors, craft beer and a whole lotta' crawfish.  

LET’S BRUNCH

May 2023
Mimosas, bloody marys, local coffee and brunch cuisine from Venice Kitchen, Babalu Tacos & Tapas and more — you don't want to miss Memphis' upcoming brunch festival Let's Brunch Memphis. Come sample some of the best brunch cuisine the city has to offer. Held at Memphis Botanic Garden, this festival features a variety of popular local restaurants, brunch cocktails, live entertainment and more. 

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BARBECUE COOKING CONTEST

17th-20th May 2023
Dubbed “America’s most prestigious barbecue cooking competition,” the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is the ultimate competition for pitmasters from around the world. Individual tents (some three stories tall!) set up for invite-only tastings by day and dance parties by night. While you'll need a personal invitation to access team tents, non-competitors can buy tickets for entry into the festival grounds and even better, look into tasting experiences like the Kingsford Tour of Champions and BBQ Alley.

MARGARITA FESTIVAL

3rd June 2023
You'll need tickets to the Memphis Margarita Festival on Overton Square to sample 12 margaritas from restaurants around town. Sip the mixes and concoctions from the best margarita-makers in Memphis and then vote for your favourite. Plus, food and full-sized drinks will be available for purchase.

CRAFT FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL

25th June 2023
Locally produced breads, cheeses, fruit preserves, cured meats and more from 40 different vendors. An onsite shop offers attendees an opportunity to purchase sampled foods and drinks and it wouldn't be a Memphis festival without live music entertainment too! The 2023 Craft Food & Wine Festival is a ticketed event so make sure you arrange these before arriving.

MEMPHIS CHICKEN & BEER FESTIVAL

12th August 2023
Is there anything better than chicken and beer?! Sample chicken dishes from local restaurants and sip on beer from national and local breweries at the 3rd annual Chicken & Beer Festival at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

MEMPHIS BREWFEST

Autumn 2023
Head to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium for unlimited samples of 100+ beers at Memphis Brewfest. The fest features more than 40 breweries from around the world, food trucks, music, and games.

MEMPHIS FOOD & WINE FEST

14th October 2023
Live music, festival art, a silent auction and, of course, delicious food and fine wine. This is what you should expect when attending the Memphis Food & Wine Fest. Chefs from around the country prepare tasty dishes to sample, wineries bring their best vintages and attendees enjoy an evening at the Memphis Botanic Garden full of food and fun. Past festivals have included Chefs Michelle Tribble (Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen), Ryan Trimm (Sweet Grass, 117 Prime, Sunrise Memphis), Erling Jensen, Nick Vergos (Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous) and many more.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP HOT WING CONTEST & FESTIVAL

October 2023
Organisers of the World Championship Hot Wing Contest & Festival say that they do for the chicken what the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest does for the pig. Every year, thousands of participants demonstrate that they agree. The wing appreciation event celebrates every part of the chicken wing – “the drummy, flap, flat and everything in between” – with nearly 100 teams, a cornhole competition, live entertainment and more. 

COOPER-YOUNG BEERFEST

October 2023
Grab your official mug at the gate and fill it up as many times as you’d like during this afternoon festival. The annual Cooper Young Beerfest features dozens of breweries from across the region for beer tastings, music, food and fun in the Cooper Young local neighbourhood. All attendees must be 21+. Rain or shine, go party in one of the most eclectic entertainment districts in Memphis.

For more on Memphis food fests, check out the Memphis Travel blog or email memphis@deep-south-usa.com