Memphis in May
| Memphis in May International Festival | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Genre | All |
| Dates |
May 5 - 28, 2017 May 5 - 7, 2017: Beale Street Music Festival May 8 - 14, 2017: International Week May 17–20, 2017: World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest May 27, 2017: 901Fest May 28, 2017: Great American River Run |
| Location(s) | Memphis, Tennessee |
| Years active | 1977-Present |
| Founded by | Memphis in May Events Committee |
| Website | |
| http://memphisinmay.org | |
Memphis in May is a month-long festival held in Memphis, Tennessee. The festival, which is saluting Colombia in 2017, honors a specific foreign country every year and features many different events. The Beale Street Music Festival takes place the first weekend in May and showcases an eclectic lineup of national and local musical talent. International Week is a series of exhibits, screenings, arts and performances dedicated to each year's honored country. The World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest has become one of the most popular barbecue contests in the country and is celebrating its 40th year in 2017. The Great American River Run Half Marathon & 5K welcomes runners of all experience levels through the streets of Memphis and along the banks of the Mississippi River, while 901Fest is a unique celebration that includes a salute to all things Memphis.
The Beale Street Music Festival is a three-day music festival that has both a mix of big-name stars performing side by side with local musical acts. Held during the first weekend of May in the city's Tom Lee Park at the foot of Beale Street, it is considered to be the kick-off event of the entire Memphis in May celebration. It typically hosts over 100,000 people during the weekend. The Beale Street Music Festival is the only program that has been held every year since the inception of Memphis in May in 1977. Its history can be traced back to the 1800s, when African-American musicians throughout the South would come to Beale Street and perform.
2017 Beale Street Music Festival dates: May 5 - 7, 2017.
Every year the festival recognizes a different country and is saluting Colombia in 2017. A week of events that typically begin the day after the Beale Street Music Fest, International Week is dedicated to a country and showcases the foods and culture of that nation. While International Week provides a learning experience for the community at large, the core is a comprehensive educational program for area youth in public and private schools throughout Memphis and Shelby County. The goal of International Week is for area students, by the time they graduate from high school, to have had the opportunity to experience the customs and cultures of 12 different countries. Countries recognized in the earliest years– Japan, Germany and Canada – have been featured twice. Perhaps most important are the trade delegates that visit Memphis and have introductions to suitable, high-level trade partners.
The WCBCC started in 1978 with 26 teams. The contest drew 50 teams in 1979, 80 in 1980, and 180 teams from nine states in 1981. It has now grown to be the largest pork barbecue competition in the world. More than 250 teams from 20+ states and several countries compete, and an estimated 100,000 people attend the competition. Media from around the world, including BBC and The Food Network, come to the city to cover the event.
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