Upcoming Events & Happenings May 2023

Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet Of 1812: Now through May 21. Adapted from a fragment of War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. Playhouse on the Square, 66 South Cooper St. Tickets are available at playhouseonthesquare.org or by calling the box office 901-726-4656.

“Spring Fling” art exhibit: May 1-30, weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Works by Suzanne Evans and Connie Lampen. Artists’ reception Sat., May 6, 2-4 p.m. Gallery Ten Ninety-One at WKNO studios, 7151 Cherry Farms Rd. 65 of their acrylic and multi-media pieces are on display at WKNO and online at https://www.wkno.org/gallery-1091/ .

Michelangelo Sistine Chapel Exhibit: May 5 - June 10, Renasant Convention Center. Floor to ceiling artwork will cover our lower level lobby and transport you to the heart of Rome. For tickets or more information go to: https://chapelsistine.com/exhibits/memphis/

Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival: May 5-7, Tom Lee Park. For talent, times and tickets go to https://memphisinmay.org/events/calendar/

Natchez Trace Century Bike Ride: May 6, starting at the Ross Barnett Reservoir bordering the Natchez Trace Parkway in Ridgeland, Mississippi and ending at the Ridgeland Recreational Center, 137 Old Trace Park. A choice of distances from 8, 25, 50, 62 and 100 miles. With mild to moderate elevation is a nice ride for all ages and abilities. Register at runsignup.com/Race/MS/Ridgeland/NatchezTraceCenturyRide.

Frank Ferrante in An Evening with Groucho: at the Halloran Centre on May 6. Tickets are $37.50 through the Orpheum box office 901-525-3000, orpheum-memphis.com, and Ticketmaster.

Jockey’s and Juleps: May 6, 3-7 p.m. Celebrate the Run for the Roses Memphis style to benefit Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy for children and adults with disabilities. 916 Billy Bryant Rd., Collierville. Tickets start at $150 and may be purchased at https://event.auctria.com/

Front Porch Crafting: May 6, June 3, 2-3 p.m., Davies Manor, for those interested in folk art and trying different crafts. Additional first Saturdays through Dec. 2. 9336 Davies Plantation Rd. in Bartlett. Free but donations are welcome.

“Under the Sea” Fashion Show: May 9, 5:30 pm. Benefiting Thrive Memphis. Rose Theatre at St. Mary’s School, 60 Perkins Ext. Tickets may be purchased at givebutter.com/fashionshow23 for $10 or a larger donation.

Illustrative Painting class: Explore the Harmonia Rosales exhibit at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art through a course in illustration with teaching artist Sarah Nowlin. This all-levels class will cover basic illustrative painting using a variety of mediums. 1:30-3:30 Thursday for eight weeks beginning on May 11. Supplies provided. This FREE course is offered by Creative Aging in partnership with Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. Register at https://CreativeAgingIllustrativePainting.eventbrite.com

“Cinco De Mayo” Senior Expo: May 9, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Agricenter. Presented by The Professional Network on Aging. Free admission and parking.

Mother's Day English Tea: May 9 at the Woman's Exchange 2:30 - 4 p.m. Reservations required call 901-327-5681 88 Racine St.

Memphis in May International Festival presents Malaysia!: May 11, 7 p.m. Live in Memphis at the Cannon Center during International Week, featuring the National Dance Troupe of Malaysia.. Adults $15, children 12 and under $10, Groups of 10 or more $10 ea. Available at Ticketmaster.

Sense-ational!: The Art of the Five Senses: ON exhibit May 12 - August 27 at Brooks Museum in Overton Park.

Memphis Greek Festival: May 12 & 13, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 573 N. Highland. $3 adults & children ages 6 & up. Free shuttles from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. daily. Park At Poplar Plaza Shopping Center or Life Church, 255 N. Highland. On-site parking for handicapped only. Children aged 5 & under free! Donate 3 cans of food to the Mid-South Food Bank for free festival admission.

The Falling and the Rising: Fri. May 12 and Sat. May 13, 7:30 p.m. Presented by Opera Memphis at the new Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center. Tickets start at $35 and are available at operamemphis.org Free tickets for service members and veterans May be applied for at https://www.operamemphis.org/military-family-tickets Performances will be at the new Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center, 3800 Central Ave.

“Clyde’s”: Fri., May 12, 8 p.m. and running until June 4. Thur.-Sat. start at 8 p.m. Sun. matinees at 2 p.m. Comedy in a truck-stop sandwich shop becomes a place of employment and redemption for the formerly incarcerated staff. The Circuit Playhouse, Overton Square Performing Arts District, 51 South Cooper Street. For tickets, call the Box Office at 901-726-4656 or visit the website www.playhouseonthesquare.org. Special ticket pricing for opening weekend is$30. The Pay What You Can performance is Thur., May 18, 8 p.m.

MIFA 5K Family Fun Run: Sat. May 13, 8:30 a.m. 400 Monroe Ave. register at runorion5K.com

Memphis in May Olympic and Sprint Triathlons and Aqua-Bike races: May 13-14 at Shelby Farms Hyde Lake

Jr. Fishing Rodeo: Join Catch ‘Em Lakes on May 13, 8-10 a.m. for the first fishing rodeo of the season. Any child between age 5 and 15 can be registered, but there must be a parent present. All catfish caught can be taken home with no extra charge, and only a small fee to have cleaned on-site. Awards for the heaviest fish in two age divisions, and the largest fish caught by boy and by girl. Register on-site only starting at 7 a.m. $10 per child.

Elmwood Cemetery’s Tea Party: Sat. May 13, 10:30 a.m.in the beautiful Lord’s Chapel at Elmwood Cemetery, 824 S. Dudley. Enjoy delicious scones, finger sandwiches, lemon squares, brownies, and of course, tea. $40. Sign up at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/519860806667

Paws 4 A Cause – Sat., May 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Saddle Creek North. A celebration of all things dog. A massive pet adoption event by multiple Mid-South rescue agencies plus lots of activities to enjoy with the dogs you already have: games; demonstrations; a pet artists’ market; lots of puppy treats and our annual Celebrity Pet Wash. Your pup can enjoy a spa-treatment at the hands of local media celebrities & politicians. Saddle Creek’s Day of Puppy Pandemonium is sponsored by Memphis Veterinary Specialists, Animal Emergency Center, Hollywood Feed, The Friends of The Germantown Animal Shelter and ArtWorks Foundation. 7615 West Farmington.

Mother’s Day at the Garden: Sunday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Memphis Botanic Garden Guests can pre-order a picnic brunch from Fuel or Fratelli’s Cafe to enjoy on May 14 or bring their own food.

Understanding Alzheimer’s & Dementia: May 17, 6 p.m., “Effective Communication Strategies.” Jordan River Health Campus at The Farms at Bailey Station. RSVP to (901) 295-1596 or thefarmsatbaileystation.com/alz

Memphis in May BBQ Cooking Contest: Wed. May 17 at 5 p.m. until closing Sat. May 20 at 10 p.m. in Tom Lee Park. Judging begins Sat. morning with awards at 6:30 p.m. Single day 5, 4 day pass $54VIPit pass $549 with limited availability. For tickets go to https://tickets.memphisinmay.org/p/events/barbecue-content

Cooper Young Garden Walk: May 20-21, 9-4 p.m. 100 gardens, vendors, speakers, music, shuttle. The largest garden walk in Memphis. Tours begin at the pavilion at the corner of Cooper and Young. Tickets are $30 and include six weeks of garden tours spread throughout the city on other dates: Bartlett, Berclair, Binghamton, Buntyn, Central Gardens, Collierville, Cordova, Downtown, East Memphis, Evergreen, Frayser, Germantown, Hein Park, High Point Terrace, Idlewild, Lenox, Midtown, Orange Mound, Overton Square + Park, Somerville, Soulsville, Veca, Whitehaven, and more. For more information visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/experience-memphis-gardens-tickets-577840355057

Millington Pow-Wow, May 210-21, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Music, native American hand -made items, music, adults $5, 65 and over $3, family of 6 or less $10, military, first responders,, nurses, FREE. VFWj Post 7175, 4651 Cuba-Millington Rd.

The Best Times 50+ East Memphis Health and Home Expo: May 23, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Colonial United Methodist church, 6330 Park Ave., free admission and parking.

Pride and Prejudice: May 26-June 11, Germantown Community Theatre. 3037 Forest-Hill Irene Rd. The website states “This isn’t your grandmother’s Austen”. For times and tickets go to https://ci.ovationtix.com/35186

Sunset Symphony: Featuring MSO’s Big Band Sun. May 28, Overton Park Shell. Admission is free.

In the Moment: Art from the 1950s Exhibition Opens May 20, at Brooks Museum of Art in Overton Park

DreamFest Weekend 12 on May 19th-21st at the historic Overton Park Shell in Memphis, TN. DreamFest Weekend is a weekend of events dedicated to promoting Memphis Music and artist collaboration. This 3-day event spotlights an impressive array of artists coming together in pursuit of a common goal: the promotion of unity, collaboration and community. 4-10 p.m. each day. This event kicks off the Shell’s free summer concert series through Oct.15. For line up and dates go to https://overtonparkshell.org/freeconcertseries.

Memphis Italian Festival: June 1-3, Fri. 4-11 p.m. Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Marquette Park in East Memphis.

SISTAS THE MUSICAL: Hattiloo Theatre Rendition of Dorothy Marcic’s Musical Runs From June 2-June 25, 2023 General admission tickets are $30, while seniors, students, and military service members can receive discounted tickets at $25. On June 4 and 18, guests are welcome to attend special “Talk Back” performances that allow attendees to interact with the cast post-performance. Hattiloo Theatre also features a “Pay-What-You-Want” performance for the first official showing of each play. For Sistas The Musical, this showing will be held on June 1. To purchase tickets, visit the Hattiloo website via this link. 37 So. Cooper St.

Ongoing:

The Memory Café: every second Thursday of the month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Germantown Library. For those with dementia and their care partners to enjoy fellowship, activities and share information on community resources. RSVP to 901-757-7323.

Exercise classes for Women: Mon.-Wed.-Fri. 9:30-10:30 a.m. Colonial Methodist church, 5330 Park Ave. Free.

FREE Tai Chi classes: 6-7 p.m., Every Monday, May-August in the River Garden, 51 Riverside Dr. Parking available at the River Garden lot. Reserve your spot at Eventbrite.

Twilight Thursdays: Every Thursday from May 11 through Oct. 26, from 5-8 p.m., Memphis Botanic Garden will be open for extended hours for visitors to explore the 96-acre grounds. Dogs are welcome during these special extended hours, and a cash bar will be available. The second Thursday of each month will feature food trucks & live music. This event is free.

Live music in the MoSH AutoZone Dome at the Sharpe Planetarium: Saturdays, May 13, June 10, July 15, Aug. 19, Sept. 30, 7 p.m. and the other at 8:30 p.m. except for the Freeworld shows on June 10, which shift to 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. All music shows will be accompanied by a full laser show. Tickets are $18, $15 for members.

Playing in the Shade at Davies Manor: May 14 and every second Sunday 1-4 p.m. through Dec. 2. This month is Java Trio. Free. 9336 Davies Plantation Rd. in Bartlett.

Send your June event to sgreene@thebesttimes.com by May 15th.