Free Events

It doesn't have to cost a lot to make a day of it in Downtown. Here are just a few ideas to do in Downtown without breaking the bank.

AutoZone Park / Memphis Redbirds Take a tour of the nation's most celebrated AAA-baseball park! Built in the style of Camden Yards, this stadium opened in 1999 and is a centerpiece of Downtown's revitalization! And you can watch a game in the cheap seats on the grassy Bluff for only $5! more info

Beale Street
Take a stroll on one of the most historic and musicially significant streets in the country. You can listen to free music shows in Handy Park or watch the world-famous Beale Street Flippers flip up and down. You have to check out A Scwab's, a general store that opened in 1876 and has everything you need, or don't, from hardware to voodoo supplies. more info

Bike Downtown
With views of the river, convenient bike racks and great sites to see, Downtown is one of the best places in Memphis to bike!
Recommended Bike Route
Map of Downtown Bike Racks

Bluff Walk and River Walk
Lace up your shoes for a great walk along the River! This path will take you from Mud Island, along the river through Confederate Park and Tom Lee Park, to Martyr's Park and back along the Bluff on the other side of Riverside Drive. You can't beat the views of the river. more info

Center for Southern Folklore
Houses exhibits and photographs on the arts, music and culture of the area, as well as a café serving hot-water cornbread, vegetarian greens and peach cobbler plus a coffee/beer bar. Check their website for special events and weekend concerts. Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 123 S. Main, (901) 525-3655 more info

Cotton Museum at the Memphis Cotton Exchange
Cotton was king, and in this impressive museum at The Memphis Cotton Exchange, it retains its royal splendor. The Cotton Museum is located in the Memphis Cotton Exchange, founded in 1873 and still a viable member organization. Although there is a charge for the museum, The Cotton Museum Hall of Fame in the lobby is free to the public. 65 Union Ave., (901) 531-7826 more info

Cotton Row
Located along the docks of the Mississippi River and along Front Street, this historic area was the hub of the South's cotton industry.

Danny Thomas -- ALSAC Pavilion, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Learn the history of the hospital and its founder through a self-guided tour.332 N. Lauderdale, (901) 495-3508 Sun.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. more info

Downtown Alive Lunch Events
Almost everyday in the spring, performers take the streets to liven up the lunch hour! From dance, performance art, musicians, karaoke, aerial acrobats - you never know what you might see! April - June, 11:45 am - 1 pm on weekdays.

Elmwood Cemetery
Founded in 1852, this is the final resting place for some of the city's most celebrated residents, including Robert Church, Mayor "Boss" Crump and victims of the Yellow Fever epidemic. Grounds open daily 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The cottage is open Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. and Sat. 8 a.m.- noon. 824 S. Dudley, (901) 774-3212 more info

Heritage Collection Art Exhibit
Lobby of First Tennessee Bank at 165 Madison.

Historic Walking Tours with Jimmy Ogle
Join local historian Jimmy Ogle every Tuesday and some Saturdays through the summer months for free walking tours of various locations in downtown Memphis. Tours begin at 11:45 a.m. and meet at different locations. A list of tours and times is available at more info.

Memphis Farmers Market
One of the community's most celebrated weekly events, the Memphis Farmers Market not only offers fresh produce right off the farm, they also program live entertainment and offer educational seminars. Front at GE Patterson behind Central Station. Saturdays, April - October from 7 am - 1 pm. more info

Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum
Free admission on Tuesday from 2 p.m.- 7 p.m. for Shelby County, Tenn., residents only. 191 Beale St., (901) 205-2533 more info

Mud Island River Park
Free admission to the grounds from Memorial Day until Labor Day. (Please note there is a cost for the Mississippi River Museum.) 125 N. Front St., (901) 576-7241 more info

National Civil Rights Museum
Free admission Mondays from 3 p.m.- 5 p.m. for Tennessee residents only. 450 Mulberry St., (901) 521-9699more info

Orpheum Theatre Walk of Stars
Sixty-three stars commemorating the nation's leading entertainers who have performed at the Orpheum Theatre in the past 80 years are laid in the concrete sidewalks of South Main and Beale Street. 203 S. Main Street.

Peabody Hotel Duck March and Rooftop
The march of the famous Peabody ducks is free and takes place daily at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Afterward, take the elevator to the roof to see the ducks' home and the wonderful views of Memphis. 149 Union, (901) 529-4000. more info

Picnic in the Parks
Downtown has more than 300,000-sf of parkland and greenspace, plenty of room to stretch out on a blanket! View the list of Downtown parks

Shelby County Courthouse Lobby
Six display cases contain memorabilia about the history of the Shelby County Court System, and the 175-year-old bust of President Andrew Jackson (the first of a sitting president) and co-founder of the City of Memphis is on display in the Grand Lobby decorated with seven different kinds of marble. 140 Adams Ave., 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri.

Sidewalk Stories, Self-Guided Walking Tour of Downtown Download this tour and spend a day discovering the colorful historic stories that made Memphis the crazy, fun and cool place that it is today. Download the tour South Main Trolley Night
The South Main Historic Arts District, one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Memphis, throws an on-street party on the last Friday of every month! Live entertainment, shopping, art openings, and lots of fun! Free, 6 - 9 pm, last Friday of every month. more info

Trolley Rides (close to free!)
Well worth the $1 ride (or 50-cents at lunch)! Hop the Riverfront Trolley Loop for a 30-minute tour through the heart of Downtown and along the River. more info