To preserve, defend, and protect the music, culture, arts & rhythms of the South.

"The Festival is a grand parade of the best Memphis has to offer, where our greatest gift to the world - music - is writ symphoniously large. It is a destination for music aficionados from around the world, who make a pilgrimage to downtown Memphis every Labor Day Weekend. It is the only weekend where you can boogie, strut, jitterbug, sway to your heart's content - and with good reason - the Center assembles the best artists and musicians the South has to offer!"

- Bill Ellis

Performer, scholar, and former Commercial Appeal music writer

"The Memphis Music & Heritage Festival is a perfect example of what the arts in Memphis are doing right!  It is inspirational to see so many people of different ages, races, backgrounds, gathering to listen to music, and that it's something Memphis can be proud of."

- Pat Mitchell Worley

Memphis Music Foundation

DONATE NOW

Contributions from $10,000 to $500 will be listed on the
Sponsor Section of southernfolklore.com and
the Center'sMobile Phone App for one year. 
Heritage Sponsor $10,000
Music Sponsor $5,000
Folklore Sponsor $2,500
Arts Sponsor $1,000
Community Sponsor $500

“I just can’t wait until the first of September so I can have a vacation (The Festival) two days downtown. I’ve been with the Center for I think it’s about twenty years. My work was discovered by the Center. It just motivates me. When you are making something beautiful you just feel like keep on keeping on. It relaxes your mind and nerves a lot to create, to be creative. You see yourself developing and making something. It is very rewarding to a person. It makes you feel so good when other people love it.”

- Hattie Childress, Quilter

“Loved this Festival. Loved it so much it will be on the festival going once a year for this household.   What I loved most about all of this was it was located on Main Street, so we were amongst all the downtown storefronts and lined up on the cobblestoned street enjoying Memphis at its finest. That’s just what it is. It isn’t some run of the mill fair with no history or culture—rather it is a way to make Memphis history fun and new for the Memphians who choose to partake.

Job well done!”

- Festival Review on Yelp.com by Erica B.

Ask a friend to help support this year's festival!