Memphis, Tennessee

=== Cultural events ===
One of the largest celebrations of the city is [[Memphis in May]]. The month-long series of events promotes Memphis's heritage and outreach of its people far beyond the city's borders. The four main events are the [[Beale Street Music Festival]], International Week, The World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, and the Great River Run. The World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is the largest pork [[barbecue]]-cooking contest in the world.

In April, downtown Memphis celebrates "Africa in April Cultural Awareness Festival", or simply Africa in April. The festival was designed to celebrate the arts, history, culture, and diversity of the [[African diaspora]]. Africa in April is a three-day festival with vendors' markets, fashion showcases, blues showcases, and an international diversity parade.<ref name="africainapril">{{cite web |url=http://www.africainapril.org/ |title=Africa In April |publisher=Africa In April Cultural Awareness Festival, Inc. |access-date=September 10, 2012}}</ref>

During late May-early June, Memphis is home to the [[Memphis Italian Festival]] at Marquette Park. The 2019 festival will be its 30th and has hosted musical acts, local artisans, and Italian cooking competitions. It also presents chef demonstrations, the Coors Light Competitive [[Bocce]] Tournament, the Galtelli Cup Recreational Bocce Tournament, a volleyball tournament, and pizza tossing demonstrations. This festival was started by Holy Rosary School and Parish and began inside the School parking lot in 1989. The Memphis Italian Festival is run almost completely by former and current Holy Rosary School and Church members and begins with a 5K run each year.

[[Carnival Memphis]], formerly known as the Memphis Cotton Carnival, is an annual series of parties and festivities in June that salutes various aspects of Memphis and its industries. An annual King and Queen of Carnival are secretly selected to reign over Carnival activities. From 1935 to 1982, the African-American community staged the Cotton Makers Jubilee; it has merged with Carnival Memphis.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.memphismuseums.org/sub_exhibit-1537/ |title=Cotton Carnival |publisher=Memphismuseums.org |access-date=July 2, 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

A market and arts festival, the Cooper-Young Festival,<ref>{{cite web|title=Cooper-Young Festival: How it Redefined Community|url=http://cooperyoung.weebly.com/cyfest-then--now.html|publisher=micromemphis.com  |access-date=June 20, 2013}}</ref> is held annually in September in the [[Cooper-Young, Memphis|Cooper-Young]] district of [[Midtown Memphis]]. The event draws artists from all over North America and includes local music, art sales, contests, and displays.

Memphis sponsors several film festivals: the [[Indie Memphis Film Festival]], Outflix, and the Memphis International Film and Music Festival. The Indie Memphis Film Festival is in its 14th year and was held April 27–28, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://onlocationmemphis.org/2013/14th-annual-on-location-memphis-international-film-announces-category-winners|title=14th Annual On Location: MEMPHIS International Film & Music Fest Wraps Up Its Weekend; Announces Category Winners|publisher=Onlocationmemphis.org|access-date=June 13, 2013|archive-date=July 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723090317/http://onlocationmemphis.org/2013/14th-annual-on-location-memphis-international-film-announces-category-winners|url-status=dead}}</ref> Recognized by ''MovieMaker Magazine'' as one of 25 "Coolest Film Festivals" (2009) and one of 25 "Festivals Worth the Entry Fee" (2011), Indie Memphis offers Memphis year-round independent film programming, including the Global Lens international film series, IM Student Shorts student films, and an outdoor concert film series at the historic [[Levitt Shell]]. The Outflix Film Festival, also in its 15th year, was held September 7–13, 2013. Outflix features a full week of [[LGBT]] cinema, including short films, features, and documentaries. The Memphis International Film and Music Festival is held in April; it is in its 11th year and takes place at Malco's Ridgeway Four.

[[Mid-South Pride]] is Tennessee's second-largest [[LGBT pride]] event.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wmcactionnews5.com/2019/09/28/thousands-attend-mid-south-pride/|title= Thousands attend Mid-South Pride|date=September 28, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nowplayingnashville.com/event/nashville-pride-festival/|title= Nashville PRIDE Festival|access-date=May 4, 2021}}</ref>

On the weekend before Thanksgiving, the Memphis International Jazz Festival is held in the South Main Historic Arts District in Downtown Memphis. This festival promotes the important role Memphis has played in shaping Jazz nationally and internationally. Acts such as George Coleman, Herman Green, Kirk Whalum and Marvin Stamm all come out of the rich musical heritage in Memphis.

Formerly titled the [[W. C. Handy]] Awards, the International Blues Awards are presented by the [[Blues Foundation]] (headquartered in Memphis) for [[blues]] music achievement. Weeklong playing competitions are held, as well as an awards banquet including a night of performance and celebration.