What to do? Plan with Memphis Parent!

A list of virtual (and some non-virtual) happenings.

by

Family Friendly

Camp Expo, meet area camp staff at Memphis Parent's 2021 Camp Expo - and learn more about your choices for summer, and fall camps, and extra-curricular activities. Free. Saturday, April 17, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. FedEx Event Center at Shelby Farms, 415 Great View. memphisparent.com.

Art in the Loop, featuring works of fine craft in metal, glass, wood, clay, and fiber, as well as 2-D disciplines. Food trucks and entertainment will be on site. Free.  Friday-Sunday, Apr. 16, 1-6 p.m. Apr. 17, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday, Apr. 18, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.  Ridgeway Loop at Briarcrest. artintheloop.org

Cooper-Young Porchfest, staged on the eclectic porches of the historic neighborhood, the event is intended to be a grassroots celebration of spring, music, and Cooper-Young. Free. Saturday, April 17, noon- 6 p.m., Yard sale starts at 8 a.m. Cooper-Young District. cooperyoung.org.

Rajun Cajun Crawfish To Go, Porter-Leath is celebrating 28 years of Rajun Cajun Crawfish with a two-day crawfish drive-thru. Enjoy awesome music from local talent, R2DJ, as you experience drive-thru crawfish to go. Saturday, April 17, noon-5 p.m. Minglewood Hall, 1555 Madison, and Sunday, April 18. noon-5 p.m. Malco Cordova Cinema, 1080 N. Germantown Parkway. rajuncajunmemphis.org.

Dinosaur Adventure Drive-Thru, travel back 60 million years to experience the prehistoric age and all of its dinosaurs. Encounter a massive, 40-foot T-rex, confront a pack of wild Velociraptors, and more from the safety of your vehicle. $49 per car. Friday, April 16, 1-8 p.m., Wednesday, April 21, 1-8 p.m., Thursday, April 22, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., and Friday, April 23, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Sundays, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. through April 25. Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, 335 S. Hollywood. dinosauradventrue.com.

Glide Rides, attendees should be able to ride for about an hour at an easy pace. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Arrive early to borrow a bike, and air up the tires if needed. Free.  Saturdays, through April 24, 10:30 a.m. South Memphis Farmers Market, corner of Mississippi Boulevard and South Parkway East. thworkscdc.org.

Porch Chat, learn about the Park’s iconic buffalo herd from the rangers that take care of them as they share info and fun facts about the herd. Free.  April 25, 11 a.m. First Horizon Foundation Visitor Center @ Shelby Farms Park, 6903 Great View. 767-7275.

Performances

Neat, the story of an urban African-American girl bursting into adulthood, experiencing first love, and embracing both black pride and feminism. $150 for four seats. Opens Friday, April 16, 7:30 p.m., continues Saturdays, Sundays, 2 p.m., and Fridays, 7:30 p.m. through May 9. Hattiloo Theatre, 37 S. Cooper. 502-3486.

Working: A Musical. features an exciting, eclectic score that juxtaposes individual sang and spoken stories, showing us a glimpse at how Americans view work. Free with registration. Wednesday-Saturday, April 21-24, 7:30-9 p.m. 678-2576. memphis.edu/theatre.

30 Days of Opera, participate in the virtual version of this annual festival featuring virtual events, drive-thru arias, and more. Free. April 1- 30. Opera Memphis, 6745 Wolf River. operamemphis.org. 257-3100.

Museum and Gallery Events

"Victorians & Dinosaurs," Steve Masler will talk about what the Victorians thought about dinosaurs and how it affected Victorian life in this enlightening talk. $10. Sat., April 17, 6 p.m. Mallory-Neely House Museum, 652 Adams. memphismuseums.org.

Virtual reception for "Measured Making: The 150mm Challenge," exhibition of work by amateur and professional blacksmiths who each turned a 150mm steel rectangle into something spectacular. During this virtual reception, the Museum will provide live viewing of artworks exhibited. Free. Sunday, April 18, 2-3 p.m. Online from the Metal Museum, metalmuseum.org. 774-6380.

In the Garden

Spring Blooms at the Garden, explore irises blooming at the Garden. Featuring activities for the whole family, horticultural features, and food trucks. Masks and social distancing are required. Free with admission. Saturday, April 17. Memphis Botanic Garden, 750 Cherry. memphisbotanicgarden.com. 636-4100.

Annual Volunteer Plant Sale, thousands of plants predominantly native to the Mid-South including milkweeds, coneflowers, and a variety of shade plants will be available via online and on-site shopping. Starts Friday, April 16, 9 a.m., continues through May 29, on-site shopping by appointment. Lichterman Nature Center, 5992 Quince. 767-7332.

Dixon Garden Fair, featuring a wide range of plants from difficult-to-find natives to choice shrubs and herbaceous perennials. Choose from an excellent selection of native azaleas, ferns, and other shade perennials appropriate for the Memphis area, as well as herbaceous and Itoh peonies. Friday, April 16, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and Saturday, April 16, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dixon Gallery and Gardens, 4339 Park. 761-5250.

Spring Plant Sale, features a huge assortment of perennials, annuals, tropicals, herbs, shrubs, and trees, plus specialty garden items by local artisans. Expert Garden staff and Master Gardeners on-hand to assist with purchases and plant care tips. April 22-24, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and April 26-30, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Memphis Botanic Garden, 750 Cherry. 636-4100.

Family Learning at the Garden (FLAG), hands-on garden experience — discovery, exploration, family craft projects — will supplement distance learning and homeschool curriculum. $8 members, $10 nonmembers. Fridays, 10 a.m.-noon. Continues through May 28. Memphis Botanic Garden, 750 Cherry. 636-4100.

Movies

Chimes Square Family Movie Nights, enjoy family-friendly movies on an outdoor screen with state-of-the-art surround sound. Tipsy Tumbler will be onsite selling adult beverages. Free. Fridays, 8 p.m. through June 4.  April 16: Forrest Gump; April 23: 12 Angry Men; April 30: Dirty Dancing; May 7: Back to the Future; May 14: To Kill a Mockingbird; May 21: Dumb & Dumber; May 28: Pride & Prejudice (2005); June 4: How to Train your Dragon. Overton Square, 2101 Madison. overtonsquare.com.

Shrek: 20th Anniversary, once upon a time there lived an ornery ogre named Shrek whose precious solitude is suddenly shattered by an invasion of annoying fairy-tale characters. $15. Sunday, April 25, 3 p.m. and Wednesday, April 28, 7 p.m. Malco Paradiso, 584 S. Mendenhall and Collierville Town Square Cinema, 80 Market. malco.com.  682-1754.

For a full listing, check out our calendar of events.  Also, check the Memphis Parent Facebook Page for information and giveaways. Be sure to tag your favorite family-fun Instagram photos with the #memphisparent hashtag. I hope you have a great week.