MEMPHIS IN MAY 2010
Memphis is Tennessee’s largest city. It combines gleaming new office buildings with the old cotton mills, steam paddle wheelers, Beale Street, Sun Studios, the Peabody Hotel ducks, Mud Island and of course Elvis Presley’s home Graceland.
It is becoming most famous for the Memphis in May International Festival. The annual celebration of music, food and fun. This year the fun starts on April 30th with the Beale Street Music Festival. This is a three day celebration of music on the banks of the Mississippi. It covers 33 acres and there are more than sixty top artists. There will be everything from local performers to international acts performing on four stages.
This festival is one of the major music events in Memphis. The music is varied and there is something to suit all tastes. You will be able to listen to a variety of musical genres including gospel, blues, R&B, alternative and soul. This attraction sells out annually so be sure to get your tickets at the earliest opportunity or you might miss out on this fabulous World famous event.
This year Memphis in May 2010 is featuring the country of Tunisia. Performers will be brought from the honoured country and there will be special programs designed to share the culture of the country through music, song and dance. Memphis in May runs educational classroom programs and competitions which are complemented by these events. This year I am sure everyone will enjoy the featured Orpheum performance Tunisia: Rhythm of the Sands which will be on May 6 & 7.
The Memphis in May International Festival believes that education is an integral part of the festival and they are committed to the education of the Mid-South community, both children and adults. Each year they are immersed in the culture of the chosen country. There are competitions, international exchanges and so much more! By the time a student graduates from high school they should have experienced the customs and cultures of 13 different countries.
For all of those who have a love of Barbecue, you must make your way to Tom Lee Park in downtown Memphis for the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest which runs from May 13-15. There are hundreds of teams competing for over $90,000 in prizes. This area is a riot of colour with the decorated team areas doing their best to win the best booth competition and of course their many trophies are on display to prove their right to be there. They may be busy grilling but many are dressed up for the Ms. Piggie competition or the t-shirt competition.
Speaking of competitions don’t miss the Memphis in May Triathlon. Head down to Edmund Orgill Park in Millington where you will find athletes from around the world ready to compete in the 1.5K swim, the 40K bike and the 10K run event. After this event there will be a barbecue, DJ and band.
Memphis in May 2010 closes this fabulous month with its oldest event, the AutoZone Sunset Symphony. This is an entire day of family entertainment on the banks of the Mississippi River. The day starts with music by local performers and is followed at 6pm by a spectacular Air Show from the Commemorative Air Force. There will be a variety of air craft performing amazing aerial stunts. Later as the sun sets the Memphis Symphony Orchestra performs as the sky lights up with a spectacular fireworks display.
Memphis in May International Festival is such a popular attraction Travel Advice Pages suggest you book tickets for the events you are interested in as early as possible since tickets for the most popular shows sell out rapidly.
There will be a further article concerning the artists performing at the Festival as soon as the information is available.
MEMPHIS IN MAY 2009
Fabulous Fireworks Display
This month-long event generated so much interest in 2008 that Travel Advice Pages has decided to feature the event again for 2009.
Culture, food and fun are once more on the menu for the expected 100,000 visitors.
The four main events include “The Beale Street Music Festival” which takes place from 1-3 May and celebrates Memphis’ great musical heritage. Over 60 acclaimed artists will perform on the huge stage in Tom Lee Park overlooking the Mississippi. Visitors can enjoy music for all tastes including Blues, Rock, Gospel, R&B and Soul.
Each year, the Festival spotlights a different country. This year, 4-9 May, The “International Salute to Chile” features that country’s life and artistic excellence. A collection of 12 paintings from the XIX and XX centuries, on loan from the National Museum of Fine Arts in Santiago, is by noted Chilean artists.
The remote and diverse landscapes of Chile are captured by camera in the “Landscapes of Extremes” exhibit. “Moon Tears” is a collection of rare silver pieces. Mapucho Art is making a rare appearance in Memphis.
A colorful exhibit of images and photographs celebrates “The Life of Pablo Neruda,” a Nobel Prize winning poet.
“Chilean Maritime History & The Hunt for Commerce,” highlights naval history and whaling.
“Crowds in the Shadows,” is a photographic exhibit of key events in Chilean Civil Rights history.
As we mentioned, food is a great feature of Memphis in May 2009. “The World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest” takes place from 14-16 May. Thousands of contestants cook pork, beef and poultry in search of cash prizes. If you want to taste, stop by the “People’s Choice Tent,” sample offerings from 5 different teams and vote for your favourite. “The Cooker Caravan” is a tour of the contest site providing cooking information and ideas from the pros. The male extroverts can enter “The Miss Piggie Contest,” dress up and embarrass the rest of the family, dancing and singing on the stage.
The other main event, on 23rd May, is the “Memphis in May Symphony” Relax by the river and enjoy popular music, musical tributes to the country and orchestral favourites followed by a fireworks display. A fitting finale to the Festival.
Finally, before leaving, make time to visit, the National Civil Rights Museum, Sun Studio (Shades of Cash, Orbison, Lewis and Elvis.) Ride the monorail from Memphis Centre to Mud Island and of course, pay homage at Gracelands.
Memphis in May 2009 is one of America’s great festivals, with fun, food, music and culture for all the family.
MEMPHIS IN MAY INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
Why not join the 100,000 people heading for Tennessee for the “Memphis in May International Festival.” The highlight of this Mid-America Party is the world-famous World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest from 15 May to 17 May 2008. Apart from the Barbecue Contest there are nightly performances of Country, R&B and Blue Grass Music on the Festival’s main stage.
Thursday, May 15 kicks off in the evening with “The Lighting of the Grill” followed by the annual Ms Piggie Contest. Considered the most hilarious event of the week. If it is not too embarrassing, you can watch grown men dressed as Ms Piggie wearing tutus and false snouts parading around and singing (?) well known songs with less familiar lyrics about pork, grilling and barbeque’s in general. The winner being declared later in the evening.
On both the Thursday and the Friday the foodies can join the Kingsford Cooker Caravan for a tour behind the scenes and see the Championship Teams in action. The tour will provide cooking information, a chance to see techniques and speciality grills, collect tips on how you can improve your own backyard barbecue technique to enable you to impress the neighbours back home.
On the Thursday and Friday you can also visit the People’s Choice Tent, sample barbecue from award-winning teams and cast your vote in the Championship. Staff will advise you on how to become a barbecue judge. Best come hungry!
Memphis has many other great attractions for you during your visit. Many will know that Memphis is the location of Graceland Mansion, the home of Elvis Presley the undisputed King of Rock n’ Roll. Graceland is one of the most visited houses in the United States - second only to the White House. It is visited by 600,000 visitors annually and houses Elvis’s collection of aircraft, automobiles and motor cycles.
On the subject of Rock n’ Roll, visit the Sun Studio which lays claim to be the birthplace of R&R and launched the careers of stars such as Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis himself.
Memphis will always be remembered for the Civil Rights Movement in America and the former Lorraine Motel houses the National Civil Rights Museum. Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated on the steps of the motel.
The days of cotton plantations are brought to life in the Cotton Museum located on the trading floor of the old Cotton Exchange Building.
The Pink Palace Museum is one of the largest facilities in the Southeast and with exciting exhibits and dioramas allows visitors to explore the culture, society and natural history of the Mid-South.
Do not miss the opportunity to see great views of downtown Memphis, the great Mississippi River and Mud Island from the Swiss-built monorail which travels from Memphis center to Mud Island. Built in 1982, the monorail is 1700ft above ground and travels at the supersonic speed of 7MPH! Mud Island itself is a unique exhibit of the geology of the Mississippi. Your trip would not be complete without a ride on the mighty river on board the Memphis Queen
Finally, for the family there is the Lichterman Nature Centre, the Memphis Botanic Gardens and the Memphis Zoo which all provide an entertaining and educational experience for all the family.
