68 things to do in Memphis today

Today — Thursday, October 29

• 2026 Memphis Yeshiva Invitational Championship (basketball tournament, Thu–Sun)

  Memphis Sports & Events Center (Liberty Park) · 9:00 AM

  A four-day Jewish day-school basketball invitational fills the MSEC courts from Thursday morning through Sunday evening — teams fly in from out of town for it.

• Metal Museum at Overton Park: 'From the Bluff to the Park' + 'Strike! Pour! Create!' (Tennessee Thursday, free with TN ID)

  Metal Museum at Overton Park (former Rust Hall) · 11:00 AM · Free for Tennessee residents on Thursdays (regular $10 adults, $8 seniors 62+, $7 military/students, $5 ages 5-17, 4 and under free)

  The Metal Museum's first big shows in its new Overton Park home trace the collection from the 1979 bluff-top founding and put 20-plus apprentices' work on the first floor; Thursdays are free for anyone with a Tennessee ID, and the bluff campus is closed to the public.

• A Nightmare on Beale Street: horror movie prop & wardrobe museum

  A. Schwab (upstairs) · 11:00 AM

  Screen-worn wardrobe and props from Scream, Final Destination: Bloodlines, 1408, Thanksgiving, Hostel 2 and more, upstairs at A. Schwab Thu-Sat of Halloween week.

• Watercolor at the Lakeland Senior Center

  Lakeland Senior Center (Lakeland) · 1:00 PM · Free

  Thursday-afternoon watercolor at Lakeland's senior center.

• Teen Art Gardens with the Dixon: ghostly paintings

  Whitehaven Library · 2:00 PM · Free

  Dixon educators visit Whitehaven so teens can put a spooky twist on a classic painting.

• Creepy-Crawly Bug Hunt for Teens — CLOUD901

  CLOUD901, Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library · 3:00 PM · Free

  Teens hunt hidden bugs around CLOUD901 and trade them for candy.

• Crews Fall Festival (U of M Crews Center for Entrepreneurship)

  Crews Center for Entrepreneurship · 3:00 PM · $23.18–$33.85

  Pumpkin carving, a costume contest and seasonal treats, with the ticket money going to the University of Memphis entrepreneurship student club.

• Creepy-Crawly Bug Hunt for Teens

  CLOUD901, Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library · 3:00 PM · Free

  Teens hunt hidden bugs across CLOUD901's two floors and trade them for candy.

• DIY Crystal Ball (teens)

  Officer Geoffrey Redd Library · 3:00 PM · Free

  Make your own crystal ball two days before Halloween.

• Dummies and Dragons

  Randolph Library · 3:30 PM · Free

  Monthly chaos-D&D for tweens and teens where, by the branch's own admission, nobody knows the rules.

• Thirsty Thursday ($5 beers) + Poker Night

  Meddlesome Brewing (Cordova) · 4:00 PM · $5 beers; free poker

  All beers $5 all night, with free poker from the River Rat Rounders starting at 6.

• U of M Black Alumni WKND: The Prelude

  The Dame, inside Hotel Pontotoc · 4:00 PM · $10 suggested donation

  Opening gathering of Black Alumni Weekend with sounds by SOLA; donation benefits the Black Alumni Chapter.

• Night at the Museum at AMUM

  Art Museum of the University of Memphis (AMUM) · 4:00 PM · Free

  Free snacks and drinks plus hands-on activities built around the museum's shows, the week the Best of Tennessee Craft biennial opened, so it doubles as a no-cost first look.

• Creative Corner: after-school arts & crafts

  Frayser Library · 4:00 PM · Free

  Drop-in crafts for kids 5-12 at Frayser; under-13s need a grown-up along.

• Imagine, Build, Share: Lego Thursdays @ South

  South Library · 4:00 PM · Free

  Weekly Lego challenges with no winners or losers; builds go into the branch's archive.

• Mid-South Maze: Thursday classic maze

  The Mid-South Maze (Agricenter) · 4:00 PM · $12 adult (13+) / $8 kid (6-12) / 5 & under free

  Last Thursday of the corn maze's 2026 season; October weekday hours are Wed-Thu 4-10 PM.

• Arlington's Trunk or Treat at The Crossing

  The Crossing Market & Amphitheater (Forrest Street Park) (Arlington) · 4:00 PM · Free

  Third annual town trunk-or-treat aimed at the little kids, with candy, face painting and games two nights before Halloween.

• Halloween Festival at the Hernando library (3rd annual)

  James F. Anderson Public Library (Hernando) · 4:00 PM · Free

  Spooky games, crafts and treats; costume contest runs 4-5 with winners named at 5:15.

• Halloween Storytime

  M.R. Dye Public Library (Horn Lake) · 4:30 PM · Free

  Age-appropriate spooky tales for little kids at the Horn Lake branch.

• Board Games Happy Hour (teens)

  CLOUD901, Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library · 5:00 PM · Free

  Teen board-game night in the Brainstorm Zone; bring a snack or grab one there.

• Ladies Lounge Happy Hour / Papa Bear Trivia / Karaoke Thursdays

  Dru's Bar · 5:00 PM · Free

  Dru's Thursday triple: no-cover Ladies Lounge happy hour 5–7, Papa Bear trivia at 7, karaoke from 9.

• Baptist Health & Wellness Series: SCULPT

  Overton Park Shell · 5:30 PM · Free

  Low-impact slow-burn Pilates/barre class with The Well on the Shell lawn.

• Canva Presentations for Professionals (session 1 of 2)

  Lucius E. & Elsie C. Burch, Jr. Library (Collierville) · 5:30 PM · Free

  Build a Canva deck tonight and present it at the follow-up session.

• Sip and Stroll (21+) -- Halloween edition

  Memphis Botanic Garden · 6:00 PM

  After-hours 21+ garden stroll with drinks on Halloween week.

• Trivia w/ Challenge Entertainment

  Young Avenue Deli · 6:00 PM · Free

  Free-to-play Thursday trivia at the Deli.

• Free Poker Night with the River Rat Rounders

  Meddlesome Brewing (Cordova) · 6:00 PM · Free

  Free Thursday poker at the Cordova taproom; all beers $5 all night.

• Free drop-in yoga at the Dixon

  Dixon Gallery & Gardens · 6:00 PM · Free

  Thursday drop-in yoga with Laura Gray McCann, all levels; location varies with weather.

• Get Outside! Fitness: Yoga Sculpt

  Shelby Farms Park · 6:00 PM · Free, registration required

  YMCA yoga-inspired flows with cardio bursts and bodyweight strength work.

• Le Bonheur Zoo Boo

  Memphis Zoo · 6:00 PM · $20 members / $23 non-members

  The reimagined Zoo Boo: a new 7-foot maze, free train rides, $10 zipline, a 'Toxic Waste Zone' not meant for small kids, and a digital costume contest; Oct 24 sold out.

• Sip and Stroll (21+) at the Botanic Garden

  Memphis Botanic Garden · 6:00 PM · $30 members / $35 non-members (two themed cocktails or mocktails included)

  After-hours garden walking tour with two drinks included; October is the series' last date of 2026.

• Enchanted Evenings: tea tasting & blending

  Enchanted Tea Lounge · 6:00 PM · $43.01–$60.58

  Taste a flight of teas, then blend and take home your own at the Cleveland Street tea lounge.

• Le Bonheur Zoo Boo (Thu night)

  Memphis Zoo · 6:00 PM · $20 members / $23 non-members (ages 2+ need a ticket)

  The rebuilt Zoo Boo: a 7-foot maze, a 'Toxic Waste Zone', free train rides, $10 zipline, more candy — last four nights are Oct 29-31 and Nov 1. Oct 24 sold out, so buy ahead; last entry 8:30 PM.

• Sip and Stroll: Halloween edition (21+)

  Memphis Botanic Garden · 6:00 PM · $30 members / $35 non-members (two cocktails or mocktails included)

  After-hours haunted walk through the Herb Garden on deadly drinks and powerful tonics, two themed cocktails in hand.

• Olive Branch Community Trunk-or-Treat + Goosebumps on the City Hall lawn

  Olive Branch City Hall, Old Towne (Olive Branch) · 6:00 PM · Free

  Trunks open at 6, then the season's last Movies Under the Stars — Goosebumps — at 7 on the City Hall front lawn.

• Le Bonheur Zoo Boo (final week: Thu Oct 29)

  Memphis Zoo · 6:00 PM · $23 ($20 members); ages 2+ need a ticket; online only

  The rebuilt Zoo Boo is in its last four nights: a 7-foot maze, free train rides, a $10 zipline, a Toxic Waste Zone the zoo warns may be too much for small kids. Last entry 8:30 PM; Oct 24 sold out, so buy ahead.

• Olive Branch Community Trunk-or-Treat + Movies Under the Stars: Goosebumps

  Olive Branch City Hall front lawn, Old Towne (Olive Branch) · 6:00 PM · Free

  Trunks open at 6 on the City Hall lawn, then the October movie series closes with Goosebumps at 7; costumes encouraged, Domino's on site.

• Magical Night at Loflin Yard (magician + costume contest + Harry Potter)

  Loflin Yard · 6:00 PM · $7.88–$31.30

  Magician Michael Clayton at 6, costume contest at 7, Harry Potter on the screen with free popcorn at 7:30 — a Thursday-night Halloween warm-up in the yard.

• MSEC Community & Crafts: Holiday Craft DIY

  Memphis Sports & Events Center · 6:00 PM · Free

  A free drop-in holiday craft night at the Liberty Park sports center — supplies provided, no athletic ability required.

• Le Bonheur Zoo Boo — final weekend (Thu–Sun)

  Memphis Zoo · 6:00 PM · $20 members / $23 non-members

  The reimagined Zoo Boo closes out Oct 29–31 plus a Nov 1 finale night: free train rides, $10 zipline, costumes encouraged, last entry 8:30.

• Trivia with Challenge Entertainment

  Young Avenue Deli · 6:00 PM

  Thursday trivia at the deli.

• Spooky Centerpieces floral workshop

  Ghost River Brewing Co. Taproom · 6:00 PM

  Farmer-florist Marisa Mender-Franklin leads a 75-minute class arranging fall flowers in a skull vase; ticket includes flowers, vase, supplies and a drink ticket, optional happy hour from 5.

• Concerts in The Grove: Lina Beach

  The Grove at GPAC (outdoors) (Germantown) · 6:30 PM · $13 adults; $8 kids 5-18; 4 and under free

  A rising Memphis soul voice plays GPAC's outdoor lawn stage on a Thursday evening.

• Speaker Box Slam: Open Mic Night (Culture Box)

  Hattiloo Theatre, Culture Box · 7:00 PM · $10 advance / $12 door; performing poets free (doors 6:30 PM)

  Hattiloo's Thursday poetry slam — poets who sign up to perform get in free.

• Speaker Box Slam: Open Mic Night

  Hattiloo Culture Box · 7:00 PM · $10 advance / $12 door

  Hattiloo's Thursday poetry slam — sign-up at 6:30, ten-poet cap, show at 7.

• Throwback Thursday: Halloween (1978) — $5 screening

  Malco Studio on the Square · 7:00 PM · $5 plus tax

  Malco's $5 Throwback Thursday lands on Carpenter's Halloween two nights before the real thing — the cheapest big-screen scare in town.

• Halloween-ish Punk Nite

  Hi Tone Cafe (small room) · 7:00 PM · $13.50

  An early-start punk bill in the Hi Tone small room two nights before Halloween; doors 6.

• Crosstown Arts Film Series: Creepshow (1982)

  Crosstown Theater · 7:00 PM

  Romero directs, Stephen King writes: the five-story horror anthology tribute to 1950s EC comics, on the big screen Halloween week.

• Fall Movie Night: Poltergeist (1982)

  Overton Square Courtyard · 7:00 PM · Free

  The Square's free Thursday movie series goes full Halloween with Poltergeist under the stars; bring a blanket.

• Speaker Box Slam: Open Mic Poetry Night

  Culture Box at Hattiloo Theatre · 7:00 PM · $10

  Hattiloo's weekly Thursday poetry open mic; poets sign up at 6:30 and perform free, listeners pay $10 ($12 at the door).

• Crosstown Arts Film Series: Creepshow

  Crosstown Arts Theater · 7:00 PM · $5

  Romero and Stephen King's five-tale horror anthology for five dollars, two nights before Halloween.

• Trick or Trivia Spooktacular at Dan McGuinness Southaven (Cerrito)

  Dan McGuinness Pub (Southaven) · 7:00 PM · Free

  Cerrito's Halloween trivia, DeSoto stop.

• Halloween-ish Punk Nite at Hi Tone

  Hi Tone (small room, downstairs) · 7:00 PM · $13.50

  Doors 6, show 7 — a Halloween-ish punk bill in the small room, 21+.

• Overton Square Fall Movie Night: Poltergeist (1982)

  Overton Square Courtyard · 7:00 PM · Free

  The Square's free Thursday courtyard screenings go spooky for Halloween week with the original Poltergeist (PG-13); bring blankets and folding chairs.

• Haunted Web Scream Park (Thu)

  Haunted Web · 7:00 PM · From $29.99

  Four houses on one ticket — Piney River Campground, Slotch Sanatorium, The Residence, Voodoo Village. Shorter Thursday hours, shorter lines.

• Thursday high-school football, final regular-season week (Week 11): East vs. Melrose

  Crump Stadium · 7:00 PM

  Week 11 is the last regular-season week before TSSAA playoffs open Nov 6; nine MSCS games kick off Thursday night at 7, and East–Melrose at Crump is the Midtown one.

• Trick or Trivia Spooktacular at Huey's Southwind (Cerrito)

  Huey's Southwind · 7:00 PM · Free

  The Halloween edition of Cerrito's Thursday trivia circuit, southeast-Memphis stop.

• Trick or Trivia Spooktacular & costume contest at Hampline Brewing (Cerrito)

  Hampline Brewing · 7:00 PM · Free

  Cerrito's Thursday trivia goes full Halloween — spooky general-knowledge rounds plus a costume contest in the Hampline taproom.

• Buddy Guy ('Buddy Guy 90')

  Graceland Soundstage · 7:30 PM · $75.25 - $169.50 (fee-inclusive reserved tiers)

  The Chicago blues titan plays the Soundstage with the show billed 'Buddy Guy 90' on the venue page; reserved seating only, and every Graceland Live ticket includes free admission to Elvis Presley's Memphis 3-6 PM that day.

• Million Dollar Quartet

  Theatre Memphis — Lohrey Theatre · 7:30 PM · $15 - $62

  The Sun Studio jam-session musical, played in the city where it happened; the run ends Nov 7.

• Spamalot

  Orpheum Theatre · 7:30 PM · $46.70 - $162.15

  Thursday performance of the Holy Grail musical.

• Buddy Guy

  Graceland Soundstage · 7:30 PM · $75.25–$169.50 (fees included)

  The 90-year-old Chicago blues titan on the Graceland Soundstage, reserved seating.

• The Pit Comedy Club's Thursday Showcase

  Flyway Brewing Co. (back room) · 8:00 PM

  Weekly pop-up comedy club in the back of Flyway mixing touring headliners with Memphis comics; doors 7, show 8.

• Full Metal Racket

  Hernando's Hide-A-Way · 8:00 PM · $10–$15

  Metal night in the old honky-tonk room; doors 6.

• Sterling Elza with Boondocks Boys

  1884 Lounge at Minglewood Hall · 8:00 PM

  Country singer-songwriter Sterling Elza in Minglewood's small room; doors 7, all ages, cashless venue.

• Thirsty Thursdays Adult Skate (21+) with DJ Phatzilla

  Skate Odyssey of Horn Lake (Horn Lake) · 9:00 PM · $10

  Grown-folks roller skating with a DJ, the Thursday before Halloween.

• Karaoke at Earnestine & Hazel's

  Earnestine & Hazel's · 9:00 PM

  Thursday karaoke at the famously haunted former brothel two nights before Halloween.

• Traffic Kone Party (red = taken, yellow = situationship, green = single)

  831 Cooper St · 10:00 PM · $7.88–$21.93

  Konceited Kartel's cup-color singles party on Cooper — your cup announces your status.

• Ghost Town Blues Band

  Blues City Band Box (Blues City Cafe) ·

  Thursday set in the Band Box.

Tomorrow’s list at 6am, before you need it — free, every weekday.