Memphis in May International Festival 2009

When you think of Memphis, music and barbecue comes immediately to mind. Musical acts like Elvis, Al Green, Jerry Lee Lewis, B.B. King, Ike Turner, Carl Perkins, Isaac Hayes, Three 6 Mafia and Justin Timberlake have put Memphis on the music road map. When tourist come to Memphis they expect to find some of the famous Memphis Barbecue. Corky's, Neely's, and Rendezvous are some of the restaurants that help Memphis to continue to stay on the top of the Barbecue world.

Memphis In May International Festival is an annual event that last the whole month long with events that honor both music and barbecue. The festival has been around for 33 years and draws people from all over the world to Memphis in the month of May. Every year the festival celebrates and shows tribute to a different country, 2009's will be the country of Chile. Throughout the festival you will see decorations and tributes set up showing the culture of Chile.

Memphis In May International Festival kicks off with the "Beale Street Music Festival" on May 1-3. The festival offers three days of music on four different stages with over 60 performances from local and big named artist that range in genres of blues, soul, gospel, R&B, rock, and alternative. It takes place in Tom Lee Park on Riverside Drive between Beale Street and Georgia Avenue and will happen rain or shine. Some of the artist playing on Friday night are Katy Perry, The All American Rejects, Steven Miller Band, G Love & the Special Sauce, bonnie Bramlett, The Cult, Tommy Castro. Saturday offers some more big names like Al Green, Korn, Elvis Costello, Shinedown, The Roots, George Clinton & The Parliament Funkadelic, and the Bar-Kay's. Sunday definitely has more to offer with artist like Bonnie Rait, Snoop Dogg, 311, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fall Out Boy, and Three 6 Mafia. You can get tickets for a single day or a three day pass. Blankets are welcome but picnic baskets are discouraged. You can enjoy food and drinks from the vendors that are going to be there.

The next event planned is the "International Salute to Chile" on May 4-9. During the month of May there are going to be displays of work around the city showing the beauty and rich history that Chile has. At the National Civil Rights Museum you can see the photography exhibit "Crowds in the Shadows" on display that depicts the civil rights history in Chile. The Brooks Museum is home to the exhibit "Chilean Life on Canvas", showcasing 12 paintings that are from the XIX and XX Centuries. You can learn about the life of Pablo Neruda who was a well-known figure and Nobel winning poet in Chile at the Central Library Gallery, as his story is told in images and photos. You can go to the Memphis Botanic Garden and see unique images of the landscape of Chile on display as seen through the eyes of a pilot. At the Mud Island Mississippi River Museum you can see the history of the Chilean Navy, nitrate commerce, and whale hunting. The Dixon Gallery Gardens is going to be the home of the "Chilean Paintings of the 1960s" during the month of May.

The next event for Memphis in May International Festival is the "World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest" on May 14-16. Come and smell the aroma of barbecue in the air. There will be well over 100 cooking teams competing for bragging rights and a piece of the $90,000 worth of prizes that are being rewarded. Things get kicked off with the official lighting of the grill on Thursday at 5:30pm and then be sure to witness the "Miss Piggy Idol" where grown men dress in tutus and snouts and oink tunes about grilling and food at 6pm. Be sure to stop at the "Peoples Choice Tent" to judge for yourself to find the winning barbecue. Be sure to be there on Saturday for the awards ceremony at 6:30pm to see if your favorite wins. Tickets are available online or you can purchase them at the entrances located at Beale Street and Riverside Drive or Georgia Avenue and Riverside Drive.

On the last day of the Memphis In May International Festival the Memphis Symphony takes the stage. Bring a picnic, a blanket, and your family and enjoy the sounds of the symphony. There will be special guest Three Dong Night and an air show performance by the Commemorative Air Force. There will also be a fireworks display signifying the end of the Memphis In May International Festival 2009.