Photo by Alex Litvin on Unsplash
4 ◊ Thursday
Overton Square Summer Movie Series: Big
Join Overton Square for a screening of the 1988 classic Big, starring everyone’s favorite Tom Hanks. Guests are encouraged to bring picnic blankets and chairs. Free popcorn will be provided.
Overton Square, Thursday, August 4, 8:30 p.m., free
5 ◊ Friday
GPAC Summer Movie Series
In August, movie nights at GPAC are all about dance, with live music to open the night followed by a screening of a bopping movie. Mr. Holland’s Opus, about a frustrated composer who finds fulfillment as a high school music teacher, will be shown on August 5, with Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella on August 12 and Dirty Dancing on August 19. Food trucks will be on-site and picnics are welcome.
Germantown Performing Arts Center, Friday, August 5, 12, 19, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., $10
Photo courtesy Mike Kerr
6 ◊ Saturday
Adventure Saturdays
Join Alice in her adventures at the garden with monthly drop-in craft and activity stations. This month let your love of reading bloom with this fun craft, featuring a fun lesson inspired by the pages of Wonderland. Free with garden admission.
Memphis Botanic Garden, Saturday, August 6, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Project Pop-up!
For the first Saturday of each month, the Dixon invites participants of all ages to pop in to explore a new part of the Dixon with an inspiring project.
Dixon Gallery & Gardens, Saturday, August 6, September 3, 10 a.m.-noon, free, dixon.org
Block Party
To end the summer, Memphis Public Libraries is hosting its annual block party with food, games, music, crafts, and a school supply giveaway.
South Library, Saturday, August 6, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., free
Free Backpack Giveaway
This event will have plenty of activities, including a puppet show, park rangers and their little animal friends, and of course, plenty of backpacks!
Levi Library, Saturday, August 6, 1-3 p.m., free
Backyard Sessions
Live music from talented young students, artists, and local bands! Bring your coolers, your chairs, and your love for music for this event!
The Song Shack, Saturday, August 6, 7–10 p.m., $10
9 ◊ Tuesday
Elvis Week 2022
Photo Courtesy Elvis Presley Enterprises
This August marks the 45th anniversary of Elvis’ death and the 44th anniversary of the first Elvis Week. What began as a small group of fans gathering at Graceland’s gates has turned into the multi-day phenomenon we know today. Highlights of the week include personal tours of Graceland led by Priscilla Presley and Jerry Schilling, the Candlelight Vigil, the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, concerts, panels, and nightly parties.
Graceland, Tuesday, August 9-17
13 ◊ Saturday
Dino & Dragon Stroll
Walk with massive, life-like dinosaurs, some just babies and others standing over 28-feet tall and spanning over 60-feet long. Along the way, you might find some legendary dragons. Kids can also enjoy hands-on crafts stations, inflatables, themed rides, and more. A sensory-friendly session available, with sound and light adjustments designed to be less stimulating and overwhelming.
Agricenter International, Saturday-Sunday, August 13-14, $26.99
Back-to-School Community Health Fair with Memphis Health Center
School supplies, goodie bags, food, game truck, bouncers, and healthcare services available onsite!
Memphis Health Center, Saturday, August 13, 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Eco Arts & Workshops: Animal Builders
It would be impossible to count the number of artists in the natural world. And I’m not talking about your Van Goghs or Picassos; I’m talking about the ants who build magnificent piles, the spiders who spin detailed webs, and the birds who weave intricate nests out of twigs. And on this rare occasion, you can learn how to be more like those natural artists in this workshop that lets creators use some natural materials to create a piece of art for your home garden and for the zoo’s new pollinator gardens. Plus, meet an animal and gain entry to the new Butterfly Exhibit — all with enough time to enjoy the rest of the zoo following the workshop.
Memphis Zoo, Saturday, August 13, 10 a.m.-noon, $50
Magic Carpet Ride’s On Your Toes with the Sugarplum Fairy and Buckman Dance Conservatory
Girls and boys ages two and up are invited to grab their magic carpet for an adventure across the globe. Participants will be transported through the wonder of their imaginations to Tchaikovsky’s magical Land of Sweets as part of the Nutcracker. With the help of the Buckman Dance Conservatory, children will explore ballet and this holiday classic with interactive storytelling and creative movement. Admission is "pay what you can" with donations accepted.
Buckman Arts Center at St. Mary's School, Saturday, August 13, 10 a.m.
Kids in the Garden
If your kid is between the ages of 7 and 10 and has a case of a Green Thumb, you better send them to this fun, hands-on gardening workshop which will teach them all about nurturing that Green Thumb by learning the basics about horticulture and the flora around them.
Dixon Gallery & Gardens, Saturday, August 13, 10:30 a.m.-noon, free
Family Fun with Fossils
Head over to the Cordova Branch Library to learn about fossils. Then dig one of your own! For all ages and no registration is needed.
Cordova Branch Library, Saturday, August 13, 11-11:45 a.m., free
MoSH20
Beat the heat at MoSH20, a family outdoor water day on the mansion lawn. Bring your own water guns and super soaker, and MoSH will provide the fun with H2O! Sprinklers, giant slip and slides, water blasters/super soakers (bring your own), outdoor games, and more! Be sure to tour the museum before enjoying water day or bring a change of clothes; visitors will not be allowed in the museum wet. No water balloons!
Museum of Science & History, Saturday, August 13, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., $5
River Quest: Nature Walks
Discover riverfront flora and fauna with Ranger Allison on a guided exploration immersing yourself in the Mississippi River environment. Afterwards, get a River Quest passport stamp for Pollinator Party, Say Yes to Trees, or Birds on the Fly(way). What’s a River Quest passport? you ask. Well, it’s a set of nine self-guided, family-friendly challenges designed to get you out and about in the Mississippi River ecosystem. Though the quests can all be done on your own, events like this one and another on September 17 can also get you your stamps. Once completed, you can earn a prize. The last day to complete your passport is September 30. Learn more at memphisriverparks.org.
River Garden, Saturday, August 13, 4 p.m.-5 p.m.
Twilight Tours
Ever wondered what happens at the zoo when the sun goes down? Well, now is your chance. Lace up your sneakers and prepare for an adventure in the Outback with a knowledgeable tour guide as your fearless leader through the zoo as you uncover what animals are moving around after dark.
Memphis Zoo, Saturday, August 13, 6:30-8:30 p.m., $30-$35
Photo by Julieta Cervantes
16 ◊ Tuesday
To Kill a Mockingbird
Set in Alabama in 1934, Harper Lee’s enduring story of racial injustice and childhood innocence centers on one of the most venerated characters in American literature, small-town lawyer Atticus Finch. The cast of characters includes Atticus’s daughter Scout, her brother Jem, their housekeeper and caretaker Calpurnia, their visiting friend Dill, and a mysterious neighbor, the reclusive Arthur “Boo” Radley. The other indelible residents of Maycomb, Alabama, are Bob Ewell, Tom Robinson, prosecutor Horace Gilmer, Judge Taylor, and Mayella Ewell. Recommended for ages 12 and up. Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theater.
Orpheum Theatre, Tuesday, August 16-21, $29-$125
Ongoing
Memphis & Shelby County’s 901 Student Passport Program
The “901 Student Passport” program allows Shelby County’s school-aged children and their families free admission to nine historic sites and cultural institutions. Simply visit each location and present your passport at the admissions counter to earn a stamp, plus free entry for the student and one parent. The participating museums and galleries are: Fire Museum of Memphis, Dixon Garden & Gallery, Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, Lichterman Nature Center, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, the National Civil Rights Museum, Museum of Science & History, Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum, and the Metal Museum. After you get all your stamps and submit your passport, you may earn a personalized gift from the mayor’s office. Learn more about the program here, and check out this Memphis Parent article by Krishnav Manga.