On Labor Day, people generally avoid labor.
After all, it's a federal holiday, and has been since 1894, when President Grover Cleveland — who preceded Donald Trump as the first president to serve nonconsecutive terms in office — signed a bill to that effect.
Even so, many people make themselves busy over the long Labor Day weekend. They want something to do.
Memphis offers plenty of options, for the weekend if not for Labor Day itself, which this year is unusually late — Sept. 7. Here are some of them — a Lucky 13, to augment such always available options as the movies, the parks, the zoo and so on.
'Speak, Salvation, Speak' at Hattiloo Theatre: Sept. 3-6
No stranger to Memphis, the distinguished, Chicago-born actor
Harry Lennix — whose credits include "The Five Heartbeats," Spike Lee's "Get on the Bus," "Matrix" sequels and the Zack Snyder Superman/Batman/Justice League films — returns to the Bluff City to star in "Speak, Salvation, Speak," an original play by Ekundayo Bandele, the founder of Hattlioo, the theater at 37 S. Cooper near Overton Square that is "dedicated to championing Black stories." Lennix — whose past Memphis appearances include events and productions hosted by Hattiloo, Rhodes College and Indie Memphis — stars in the play as a Pentecostal father whose values bring him into conflict with his wife and son. The play, which debuted Aug. 13, ends its run Labor Day weekend.
Few tickets remain, so those who would like to attend this show better move fast. The website for tickets and more information is hattiloo.org.
Memphis Symphony Big Band: Sept. 4
Led by trumpeter Scott Moore, the "Big Band" iteration of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra takes the outdoor stage at The Grove at the Germantown Performing Arts Center to demonstrate that classical musicians can swing and groove (as if you didn't already know that a classically trained musician can pretty much play anything). With Kortland Whalum providing vocals and food trucks providing vittles, the show begins at 7 p.m.
For tickets and more information, visit gpacwb.com.
The Band Camino at Satellite Music Hall: Sept. 4-5
Located at 1291 Autumn, just south of Crosstown Concourse, Memphis' new music venue launches its busy event schedule with 7 p.m. "Homecoming" performances by The Band Camino — a rock group that formed when its members were students at the University of Memphis — that are being recorded for release as a live album. With a 1,300-person capacity, the Live Nation-operated venue already has another 26 events booked through December, including appearances by such notable acts as Valerie June, Chance the Rapper, Modest Mouse and Mastodon.
For tickets and more information, visit satellitemusichall.com.
Memphis Redbirds: Sept. 4-6
Baseball is back as the city's Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals continues an extended home stand, with night games on Sept. 4 and 5 and a 1 p.m. game on Sept. 6. A second run of games from Sept. 8-13 includes a noon game on Sept. 9. Most of the games have special promotions (for example: Sept. 10 is "$2 PBR Thursday"). And fans, it's now or never, more or less: The Sept. 13 match is the last regular-season home game; playoffs begin a week later.
For tickets and more information, visit milb.com/memphis.
Delta Fair & Music Festival: Sept. 4-13
Rides, games, parades, livestock, magic shows, petting zoos, competitive pageants, rodeo ridin', "Dino Encounters," performing grizzly bears (the show is "Educational," promises a press release) and much, much more will again occupy the Agricenter International at 7777 Walnut Grove for 10 days of distinctive sounds, tastes, feels and smells. "Theme days" and special-admission days are frequent (Sept. 8 is "Discount Wristband Tuesday"). Activities include a 1-mile walk and a 4K walk/run.
For tickets and more information, visit deltafest.com.
Healthier 901 Fest: Sept. 5
Running (sometimes literally) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Shelby Farms, this "free, family-friendly celebration of health, wellness and community" (to quote the websites) invites folks of all ages to "enjoy fitness activities, healthy food, live entertainment, sponsor giveaways, wellness resources and interactive experiences."
For more information, visit healthier901.com.
WLOK Stone Soul Picnic: Sept. 5
A long-running self-described "family tradition," the Stone Soul Picnic — which aims to uplift and inspire as well as entertain — returns for its 51st year overall, but not without tribulation: The Coronet, the venue on Shelby Oaks that was home to the picnic the past three years, remains without power due to the Aug. 22 storm that tore through Memphis, so organizers had to scramble to find a new home. The happy solution: The event will be held at New Salem Missionary Baptist Church at 2237 South Parkway East, with gospel and soul music running from noon until 7 p.m. The lineup of close to a dozen choirs, choruses and solo singers, includes — to name a few — the Tennessee Mass Choir, Josh Bracy & Power Anointed (their "Blessed Be the Name" hit No 1 on the gospel charts in 2024), and Memphis-based powerhouse soul/faith artist and Chicago Blues Hall of Fame member Melvia "Chick" Rodgers. As if all that wasn't praiseworthy enough, the "Picnic," as always, offers free admission. (Even so, bring funds: Beverage providers and food trucks will be on site.)
For more information, visit wlok.com.
Metal Museum Grand Opening: Sept. 5
Billed as "A Very Metal Grand Opening," the public introduction of the Metal Museum in its new location in Overton Park might be one of the more significant Memphis arts-and-culture events of the year. The only museum in the country devoted to the craft and art of fine metalwork, the museum — originally known as the National Ornamental Metal Museum — opened in 1979, on the riverfront grounds of a former hospital near the Interstate 55 Mississippi River bridge; its new home is the former Memphis College of Art building, a midcentury marvel designed by architect Roy Harrover, which has been rejiggered inside to accommodate galleries and exhibit spaces to showcase jewelry, tools, dishes, sculptures and other crafted metal objects. Opening day activities run from noon to 5 p.m., and will include art displays, metalsmithing demonstrations with hands-on participation, music, food and more. Those who can't wait until Sept. 5 can test their mettle at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, when the Metal Museum hosts "Metal Night" at 7 p.m. at the nearby Overton Park Shell; headlining the free concert will be KaRRot, a Nashville-based KoRn tribute band.
For more information, visit metalmuseum.org.
Memphis Power Pop Festival: Sept. 5
As if the Metal Museum weren't buzzy enough, Overton Park also is hosting its free annual "power pop" festival, which showcases the brand of irresistibly tuneful pop-rock associated with the Beatles, Badfinger and Memphis' own Big Star (and that's just the B's). The fest runs from 5-9 p.m. at the Overton Park Shell, with the headline act, New Jersey's The Smithereens — still power-popping after 46 years — taking the rainbow-backed stage at 7:30 p.m., with John Cowsill of the hit-making 1960s band The Cowsills on lead vocals (the original frontman, Pat DiNizio, died in 2017). The schedule also includes three Memphis-based ensembles: Joybomb (5 p.m.), Your Academy (5:40 p.m.) and The Sonny Wilsons (6:25 p.m.).
For more information, visit overtonparkshell.org.
University of Memphis Football's First Home Game: Sept. 5
The University of Memphis Tigers open their 2026 home season with a 6 p.m. contest against the Arkansas State Red Wolves, inside a massively upgraded Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium that should please fans who have endured some two years of construction. According to university officials, the arena will feature enlarged scoreboards, an enhanced sound system, improved lighting and comfier conditions: As part of the $226.5 million renovation, capacity has been reduced to 45,632. (Seating was expanded to 62,380 in a 1987 revamp.)
For tickets and more information, visit gotigersgo.com.
Beale Street Cigar Festival: Sept. 5-6
"Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." That quote is popularly attributed to Sigmund Freud. He probably never actually uttered those words but he very well might have if he'd attended the Beale Street Cigar Festival, which lights up for the 11th year from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on two days in the city where barbecue is not the only thing people like to smoke. Although the name says "Beale," the festival — which celebrates "music" and "culture" in addition to "premium cigars" — actually will waft throughout much of Downtown (taking in, for example, the Havana Mix cigar shop in Peabody Place).
For tickets and more information, visit bealestreetcigarfestival.com.
Sunset Southern Soul and R&B Picnic / Mimosa Festival: Sept. 5-6
Both promising plenty of "vibes," according to their websites, two connected festivals will occupy Tom Lee Park on Labor Day weekend. The first, with a focus on music, runs from 6-10 p.m. on Sept. 5; while the second, set for 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 6, is a "lifestyle festival" that promises a "chic Sunday," with "top-tier cocktails" and "an array of delicious bites from a variety of top food truck vendors."
For tickets and more information, visit mimosafestival.com.
Craft Food and Wine Festival: Sept. 6
More than 35 vendors will offer "small bites of their best creations" from 5-7 p.m. at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art in Overton Park during this seventh annual festival, which "celebrates local foodpreneurs, chefs, and artisan makers alongside carefully curated wine and cocktail pairings," plus music from local bands and DJs.
For tickets and more information, visit brooksmuseum.org.
John Beifuss is an entertainment writer at The Commercial Appeal. Contact him at john.beifuss@commercialappeal.com.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Labor Day weekend events? 13 things to do in the Bluff City
