Things to Do in Germantown, TN

Things to do in Germantown, TN — the one in Shelby County, not Nashville's brunch neighborhood — is a search that mostly returns lists of Memphis attractions a half hour away. Which is a shame, because Germantown itself quietly has one of the best suburban park systems in Tennessee, a real performing-arts center, and a working farm you can visit for free.

So here's the guide the search results won't give you: what's actually *in* Germantown, verified with the city or the venue itself. For dinner after, our Germantown restaurants guide has the list. It pairs well with our things to do in Memphis with kids guide, the Collierville and Southaven guides nearby, the full city guide for Memphis proper, and what's happening this week across the whole metro.

The anchors: worth the drive from anywhere in the 901

If you only know Germantown as a Poplar Avenue pass-through, start with these five.

• GPAC — Germantown Performing Arts CenterExeter Rd

  A legit performing-arts hall with a national-caliber season — this fall brings Mavis Staples (Sat, Oct 17), The Robert Cray Band (Oct 24), Terence Blanchard's Miles + Coltrane centennial (Nov 7), The Best of Second City (Nov 14), and Darren Criss (Dec 5), with the Count Basie Orchestra and Samara Joy coming in 2027. Its outdoor lawn venue, The Grove, runs Concerts in the Grove on Thursdays through October (a Beatles celebration Oct 15, the Memphis Wind Symphony Oct 22, Lina Beach Oct 29), and in summer hosts the free Happy Friday family concerts.

• Bobby Lanier Farm ParkCross Country Dr

  A free 10-acre working farm inside the suburbs — gardens, animals, and a petting farm that opens to the public Tuesday mornings, April through September (so the petting farm is back next April). Open sunrise to sunset; park at the Cloyes soccer fields and walk in.

• The Germantown GreenwayAlong the Wolf River

  More than 10 paved miles (of a planned 22) along the Wolf River, built with kids in mind: a walk-in beaver lodge at Beaver Boondocks and a turtle-watching dock with a telescope at Turtle Bayou. Trailheads with parking at Poplar Estates, Kimbrough, and Cameron Brown.

• Shops of Saddle Creek + ThornwoodPoplar at West Farmington

  The open-air shopping double feature: Saddle Creek's national lineup (vineyard vines, Lovesac, UNTUCKit, Altar'd State — Mon–Sat 10–8, Sun 12–5:30, with an All Aboard! Holiday Kick-Off on Nov 22 and Santa photos starting Nov 27) and, steps from GPAC, Thornwood's European-style courtyard district for restaurant patios and live-music evenings.

• The 1858 Train Depot & Old GermantownWest St

  The historic depot anchors the protected Old Germantown district — inside, a museum with a ceiling-mounted G-scale train layout and a live scanner tracking real rail traffic. Tours by arrangement with the city (901-757-7375).

The parks people sleep on

Germantown's park system is genuinely elite for a town this size — all of these are free and open daily.

• Municipal Park & the John Gray HouseS. Germantown Rd

  Seventeen acres next to GPAC with lighted tennis courts, a fishing lake, sand volleyball, and a playground — plus the John Gray House, one of the oldest brick homes in Shelby County (pre-1851), sitting right in the park.

• Cameron Brown ParkFarmington Blvd

  The pickleball hub: eight lighted courts with permanent nets, plus a 3-acre fishing lake ringed by a lighted half-mile trail and 32 picnic sites. (Fishing needs a TN license, ages 13+.)

• Riverdale Park & Everybody's Tree HouseNeshoba Rd

  Twenty acres built around inclusion — the Everybody's Tree House play area plus three ADA-accessible playgrounds, lighted tennis, and lined pickleball courts.

• Johnson Road ParkJohnson Rd

  Sixty acres with two fishing lakes, croquet courts, a greenway link — and the area's 18-hole disc golf course, free to play.

• Oaklawn GardenPoplar Pike

  A historic property turned public garden — Germantown's first Level 3 arboretum, with 90+ labeled tree species. Quiet, pretty, and free.

• Fort Germantown ParkHoney Tree Dr

  A five-acre National Register site preserving Civil War federal earthworks with interpretive signage — a 20-minute history stop most locals don't know exists.

• C.O. Franklin ParkPoplar Pike

  Fifty acres in the Civic Club Complex with a big ADA-accessible playground and six lighted tennis courts — next door to the Farm Park, so pair the two.

Mark the calendar: fall, holidays & the yearly traditions

Dated items were checked at each venue's own site on October 11, 2026; the traditions below them come back every year.

• Germantown Community Theatre: Little Women3037 Forest Hill-Irene Rd · Oct 9–25

  The Broadway musical opens GCT's 55th season, and the holiday show follows: Madeline's Christmas, Dec 4–13. A small, scrappy community stage — tickets through their site or (901) 453-7447.

• GPAC's fall headliners1801 Exeter Rd

  Mavis Staples (Oct 17), The Robert Cray Band (Oct 24), Terence Blanchard: Miles + Coltrane Centennial (Nov 7), The Best of Second City (Nov 14), and Darren Criss (Dec 5). Box office Mon–Fri 10am–5pm, (901) 751-7500.

• Concerts in the GroveGPAC's outdoor lawn · Oct 15, 22 & 29

  Three more Thursday lawn shows before the weather turns: One After 901's Beatles celebration (Oct 15), the Memphis Wind Symphony (Oct 22), and Lina Beach (Oct 29). Food trucks and a covered bar on site; tickets only through GPAC.

• Holiday kick-off at Saddle CreekSaddle Creek South · Nov 22

  The center's All Aboard! Holiday Kick-Off is Nov 22, and Santa photos start Nov 27.

• Germantown FestivalCivic Club Complex · every September

  The town's signature weekend, 53 years running — ~400 vendors, free admission and parking, and the Running of the Weenies dachshund race, which is exactly as good as it sounds. The 2026 edition ran September 12–13.

• Happy Friday at The GroveGPAC · summers

  Free family concerts on GPAC's lawn every Friday evening in summer — sing-along programming for kids, food trucks, full bar for the grown-ups. The 2026 run wrapped August 28.

• Germantown Charity Horse ShowPoplar Pike

  A June tradition since 1948 — five nights of hunters, jumpers, and the $25,000 Grand Prix of Germantown. The 2026 edition has run; next up is June 2027.

Just over the line: worth the five-minute drive

Two outdoor stops on the Memphis side that Germantown families treat as their own.

• Lichterman Nature Center5992 Quince Rd, East Memphis

  65 acres of lake, meadow, and forest with about three miles of hiking trails, run by the Museum of Science & History. Wed–Sun 10:30am–5pm; tickets through MoSH.

• Shelby Farms ParkWalnut Grove Rd (~10 min)

  4,500 free acres a short drive north — the buffalo herd, 20+ fishing lakes, 40+ miles of trails, and the Greenline. Everything to know is in our Shelby Farms guide.

Where to eat in Germantown

Thornwood's courtyard patios sit steps from GPAC, which makes dinner-and-a-show the easiest Germantown night there is. For the full list, sit-down and casual, see our Germantown restaurants guide.

The honest answers