In Memphis, we know fall has arrived when the air gets below 75 degrees, the football crowds begin gathering at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, and some of the area's biggest cultural, culinary events -
from Cooper-Young Fest to the Mid-South Fair - are just around the corner.
Around here, autumn is something you can literally taste, as Memphis festivals bring the season's flavors to the table.
With smoky pits, sweet carnival treats, and a week focused on the best that downtown Memphis dining has to offer, these local showcases for creativity and food culture celebrate what makes our Mid-South communities special.
So grab a lawn chair, bring your appetite, and get ready to eat your way through the best of the season.
A Taste of Memphis - Sept. 17
The 12th Annual “A Taste of Memphis" event brings local flavors and community pride together at Liberty Park at Tiger Lane. The theme: ”Memphis Communities: Together We Rise!,” celebrates the people, organizations, and traditions that give Memphis its character. Though the primary purpose is neighborhood engagement, there will be a variety of food trucks serving up everything from barbecue and burgers to tacos and strawberry daiquiris. Admission and parking is free.
For more information, visit https://memphishcd.org/atom/
Cooper-Young Festival - Sept 19
Part street fair, part neighborhood block party, Cooper-Young Festival brings local food vendors, Memphis restaurants, live music and hundreds of artisans to the crowded streets of Midtown. It's less a traditional food festival than an all-day excuse to eat, drink, shop and soak up the Cooper-Young vibe in one of the most anticipated and highly attended gatherings of the year.
Enjoy an eclectic range of culinary choices including fried pies, pizza, BBQ-loaded nachos, empanadas, lamb sliders, snow cones and so much more.
For more information, visit https://cooperyoungfestival.com/.
Latin Fest 901 - Sept. 26
Get ready to eat, drink and dance the night away at Latin Fest 901, a free, family-friendly celebration of Memphis' vibrant Latin culture. Expect delicious Latin food and drinks, plus cooking demonstrations highlighting traditional dishes from across Latin America. There will also be live music, interactive activities and a kids' area, all taking over Overton Square for a lively Saturday afternoon. It's a particularly good pick for anyone looking to make food part of the broader cultural experience this fall.
For more information, visit https://cazateatro.org/cultural-events/latin-fest/.
Asian Night Market - Sept. 26 - 27
Memphis' Asian Night Market returns for its fourth year with a bigger, two-day celebration of Asian street food and culture at the Agricenter International. More than 100 vendors will serve up flavors from across Asia. Come hungry and prepare to graze. This is one of the weekend's best bets for adventurous eaters and anyone who wants their fall food festival with a distinctly international flavor.
For more information, visit https://nightmarketmemphis.com/.
Mid-South Fair - Oct. 1 -11
Bring on the funnel cakes and pronto pups! Nothing says fall like the Mid-South Fair, held at the Landers Center in Southaven. Now, technically, this annual institution is not a food festival, but when there's 11 days of assorted carnival food, rides, games, pig races and entertainment, it bears mentioning. Especially if you consider fried everything a food group, which of course we do. The Mid-South Fair features all your nostalgic fair favorites: foot-long hot dogs, churros, candied apples, turkey legs, flavored popcorn, cotton candy and plenty of lemonade. It's the kind of unapologetically indulgent cuisine that makes a trip to the fair feel like a fall must.
For more information, visit https://www.landerscenter.com/mid-south-fair.
Bartlett Festival, BBQ Contest & Car Show - Oct. 2-3
Sanctioned by the Memphis Barbecue Network, this annual BBQ contest located at W.J. Freeman Park in Bartlett features some serious BBQ competition. Whole hog, pulled pork and ribs are some of the major categories, along with chicken, beef, fish/seafood, dessert, BBQ side and sauce. But maybe the most cutthroat of all is the Police & Fire Rib Eating Contest, sponsored by Fat Larry's, occurring on the Saturday of this weekend.
For more information, visit https://www.cityofbartlett.org/628/Bartlett-Festival-BBQ-Contest-Car-Show.
Arlington BBQ Burnout - Oct. 2-3
The first weekend in October is a big one for barbecue lovers in the Mid-South. In addition to the Bartlett BBQ contest, another of the season's biggest barbecue fall competitions is happening at Douglas Road Park in Arlington. Pitmasters compete in whole hog, pulled pork and ribs, alongside steak and a slate of creative ancillary categories. Admission and parking are free and there's even a public sampling of championship barbecue on Saturday.
For more information, visit https://www.arlingtonbbq.com/.
Taste of the District - Oct. 6
This annual flavorful fall gathering at Medical District Park will celebrate the dozens of restaurants, food trucks, bakeries, chefs and culinary talent of the district, with plenty of local bites and a festive atmosphere to get you in that cozy, pumpkin-spice mood. Enjoy taste samples along with live performances by DJ Jared Boyd, DJ Swan, and the Grizzlies Prep Boys Choir, featured on the Shell on Wheels stage.
For more information, visit https://www.memphismedicaldistrict.org/events/taste-of-the-district-2026.
Southern Foodways Alliance Fall Symposium - Oct. 10-11
A two-day celebration at Halloran Centre connecting Memphis foodways to everything from the Mississippi River and Stax Records to Beale Street and Memphis' civil-rights history. Expect culture, conversations and incredible meals by such standout local culinary talents as Jonathan Magallanes of Los Tortugas, Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman of Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen, Josh Steiner of Hive Bagel & Deli, Renata Henderson and Bartholomew Jones of Cxffeeblack and Patrice Bates Thompson of The Four Way.
For more information, visit https://www.southernfoodways.org/event/2026-southern-foodways-symposium/.
Food Truck Garden Party - Oct. 14
At Memphis Botanic Garden's Food Truck Garden Party, local food trucks gather among the lush landscapes, turning an afternoon outdoors into a casual feast of regional flavors, cold drinks and plenty of people-watching. It's a little bit food crawl, a little bit garden outing and a whole lot quintessential Memphis weekend. The October lineup includes Mr. Casas, Flipside Asia, 901 Birria Station, Chai's Halal Bowls & Tacos, Hot-N-Heavy Dogs and Say Cheese. Skip breakfast, head to Memphis Botanic Gardens, stay awhile, and let the delicious combination of great Memphis food, fresh air and fall foliage do the rest.
For more information, visit https://membg.org/events/food-truck-garden-party-3/.
Fall Fest Memphis BBQ Cook-Off - Oct. 16-17
At Fall Fest Memphis in Collierville, the Backyard BBQ Cook-Off brings a Memphis Barbecue Network-sanctioned competition featuring pulled pork, ribs, and steak, along with a lineup of other categories including cole slaw, baked beans, cocktail and sauce. But the appeal goes beyond the barbecue. Set amid Fall Fest's live music, food trucks, carnival rides, vendors and car show, the cook-off has the feel of a giant neighborhood party, just with trophies awarded at the end.
For more information, visit https://fallfestmemphis.org/festival-events/backyard-bbq-cook-off/.
Cooper-Young Beerfest - Oct. 17
For a taste of Memphis's craft-beer culture, head to this annual event, where more than 30 regional breweries bring their best pours to the historic Cooper-Young district, giving beer lovers an afternoon to sample everything from familiar favorites to new and unexpected brews. With music, food trucks and the colorful, walkable Midtown neighborhood as its backdrop, Beerfest feels less like a formal tasting and more like a giant autumn block party for grown-ups.
For more information, visit https://www.cybeerfest.org/.
Shroomlicious Mushroom Festival - Oct. 17
If you're the type insistent on ordering mushrooms on your pizza, do we have the food festival for you. For something completely different, spend a fall Saturday at Overton Park at this free, community-powered gathering. This event turns fungi into an unlikely star of an autumn food festival, with cooking demonstrations and tastings, foraging, workshops and plenty of opportunities to learn what's growing beneath your feet. Some of the adventurous items on this festival's menu include mushroom tacos, shroom crunch wraps and mushroom Philly cheesesteaks.
For more information, visit https://www.memphismushroomfest.com/.
Overton Square Oktoberfest - Oct. 24
This free Saturday afternoon event in the Chimes Square courtyard in Overton Square combines the best craft beer and traditional German foods. Think classic grilled bratwursts, fried potato pancakes and large Bavarian pretzels. Also a part of the festivities are tunes by the polka party band, Polkawagen, traditional German folk dancers and a stein-holding contest for those of you who like to say things like, "Hold my beer." Here's your chance.
For more information, visit https://overtonsquare.com/upcoming-events/2026/10/24/2026-overton-square-oktoberfest.
901 Hot Wing Festival - Nov. 7
This 4th annual event at Grand City Brewing sees twenty teams compete to make the best wings in the city. Visitors are allowed to taste these wings by making a small donation ($1-2 per wing) to the Memphis Child Advocacy Center. 100% of the proceeds go directly to the Memphis Child Advocacy Center to help abused children in the area.
For more information, visit https://www.901hotwingfest.com/.
Downtown Dining Week - Nov. 9 - 15
For one week each fall, downtown Memphis turns into one giant dining room. Downtown Dining Week brings dozens of the best area restaurants together with special lunch, dinner and breakfast menus, giving diners a chance to discover new spots, revisit longtime haunts and sample such foodie favorites as elevated Southern cooking, barbecue, global flavors and classic Memphis comfort food. With more than 50 participating restaurants in 2025, from Automatic Slims and Bar Hustle to McEwen's and Slider Inn, it's less a single festival than a weeklong excuse to eat your way through downtown.
For more information, visit https://downtownmemphis.com/.
Memphis Whiskey Festival - Nov. 21
Nothing signals the approach of winter quite like whiskey season. This 21-and-up tasting event brings together roughly 40 whiskey, bourbon and scotch labels at The Kent, along with local food vendors providing Memphis eats, whiskey cocktails crafted by Memphis' leading mixologists, bluegrass music and a cigar lounge. General admission includes a dozen tastings, while VIP tickets add early access and premium pours. It's a particularly good choice for bourbon fans looking for a more grown-up fall night out, right before the rush of holidays. Also, it's for a good cause, with proceeds going to Volunteer Memphis.
For more information, visit https://www.memphisfestivals.com/whiskeywarmer.
Brian Strickland is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. Contact him at brian.strickland@commercialappeal.com.
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This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Where fall tastes best: Memphis' must-visit food festivals
