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| Kim Morrison |
When Ned Stark proclaimed that “Winter’s coming,” he sure wasn’t kidding! Memphians were treated to a colder, icier and snowier winter than normal this year, so I think everyone is glad for the warmer temperatures and opportunities to get out and about and enjoy the city. In case you find yourself wondering about what to do first, here are 20 quick tips to get you out of the house and enjoying some of the great outdoor activities the city has to offer!
A photographer buddy of mine, Ariel Antonío of AleksWorks Photography, is having a photo scavenger hunt, with new clues every Monday over the next few weeks. The prize is bragging rights for getting your photos on his blog, but more importantly, you can get out there and get some fabulous shots of this awesome city we live in! (Before it gets to be 200 degrees Fahrenheit with 500 percent humidity. Ick.)
Get out and walk, run or bike any of the wonderful local parks we have. (Riverwalk, Tom Lee, Overton, the Greenline, Shelby Farms, etc.)
Yes, warmer weather means patio time, and there’s no shortage of them around town, so grab some buds and enjoy their company at your outdoor patio of choice!
Check out a show at Live at the Garden…
Or at the Mud Island Amphitheater. (Yes, we have LOTS of outdoor venues, so use them!)
Go take a ride on a riverboat.
Take a historical walking tour with local historian Jimmy Ogle.
Visit the world-class Memphis Zoo.
Check out the array of events in the Broad Avenue Arts District.
Go to Thursday Nights Out in Cooper-Young.
Did you know we have an outdoor skate park? Check it out by Tobey Park.
Check out the art and view from the National Ornamental Metal Museum in Downtown Memphis.
Get the kids out of the house and check out My Big Backyard at the Memphis Botanic Gardens.
May means Memphis in May and weekends full of music, food and fun galore! Check out the Memphis in May International Festival website for all the details on the festivities surrounding the International Salute to Panama, Beale Street Music Festival, World Champion Barbecue Cooking Contest and AutoZone Sunset Symphony.
If Panamanian culture isn’t for you, what about Greek? You can get a taste of it at the Memphis Greek Festival hosted by Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church.
If that doesn’t do it for you, you can get a taste of Italy during the Memphis Italian Festival.
Think you missed all your chances for crawfish? Not quite, go check out the South Branch Lions Club second annual Crawfish Music Festival in Olive Branch, Miss.
Oh, these aren’t enough? No worries, go check out the event calendars at the Memphis CVB, Memphis Flyer, GetDown Memphis, Memphis Magazine, Memphis Parent, Go Memphis, I Love Memphis blog and tons of other outlets!
So what are you waiting for? Get out there and enjoy our town! Got some other good ideas? Feel free to share them with everyone in the comments below!
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| Lauren Hannaford |
To me, nothing says springtime more than the festivals that take place around Memphis beginning in March. We now have a few different crawfish festivals, culminating with the big daddy, Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival, which is organized by and supports our client Porter-Leath. There’s Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival and the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, which we like to call BBQ fest. Throughout the year, we also have the Southern Hot Wing Fest, RiverArtsFest, Cooper-Young Festival, Gonerfest, the Down to Earth Festival, Memphis Italian Fest, plus many more art, music, film and food festivals.
There are so many festivals in this area. When it comes to sponsorship dollars and PR, the market is competitive. Let me address sponsorship dollars first. Sometimes our clients ask for guidance on sponsorships and whether they should or shouldn’t sponsor something. Sometimes sponsorship levels are out of reach for our clients, but when they are not, we think it’s a great thing to consider. It’s important to show how much you support the community, whether that’s by supporting a festival that contributes to a nonprofit or another event for a good cause. Sometimes, sponsoring something is not all about getting the recognition for it. We do help clients maximize their sponsorships when appropriate.
When it comes to PR around big festivals and events, how do you manage to spread the word among a plethora of other events around the city? There are tons of sites where you can post and submit information about your event, including all the local media websites. Are you using social media to promote your event? Target lifestyle and trade publications that fit your audience a few months in advance. We also like to set up TV segments for our clients to talk about their event and why it’s important for the community. If you have an email database, utilize an email marketing service like Constant Contact to invite guests to the event. If you are a nonprofit, send a PSA to local radio networks. Make sure to send information about your event no later than three weeks before, and that’s cutting it close. Four to 6 weeks is preferable.
There are so many ways to spread the word and promote your festival or event. Finding the right mix and the right method to reach your specific audience makes all the difference.
Office poll: What is your favorite festival?
Kelli: Mardi Gras (she’s from Louisiana) and Cooper-Young Beer Festival
Lauren: Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival
Erinn: RiverArtsFest
Kim: Cooper-Young Festival
Thomas: JazzFest in New Orleans, La.
Crissy: RiverArtsFest
Kerri: Gumtree Arts Festival in Tupelo, Miss.
Kristen: State Fair of Texas, y’all.
Courtney: RiverArtsFest
Ilovememphisblog.com compiles a great festival guide each year. Here’s the 2013 list of spring festivals. Which ones are you planning to attend?
http://ilovememphisblog.com/2013/03/memphis-spring-festivals/
