World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is a food festival in Midtown, Memphis.
Editorially verified May 21, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Tip: Friday is the easier day to walk through the team tents. Saturday is the finals and most crowded.
Address: Liberty Park, 335 S Hollywood St, Memphis, TN 38104
The Cooper-Young Festival in Memphis runs one Saturday each September around Cooper and Young, drawing 130,000 people for food, crafts and live music.
Tip: Park on side streets early; the main strip closes to traffic. Brunch at Beauty Shop before the crowds.
The Memphis Italian Festival runs three days at Marquette Park in East Memphis at the corner of Park and Mendenhall, with the grape stomp, gravy contest.
Tip: Kids 10 and under and active military free. Thursday night is the cheapest entry and least packed.
The Memphis Greek Festival at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church on North Highland in Memphis runs a Friday and Saturday in early May with souvlaki.
Tip: Adults $5; ages 5 and under free. Lines run shortest right at the 11:00 open.
Africa in April Cultural Awareness Festival in Memphis runs each April at Robert R Church Park downtown, with food vendors, a parade and music spotlighting.
Tip: Free admission. The food tent area gets busy by 13:00; arrive at 11:00 for first-out plates.
