Month Long Memphis in May Festival

Come spring, everyone in Memphis is knocking down the doors of all the nurseries and garden shops. Home Depot is swarming with crowds in for plants, sprays, and all sorts of home improvement materials. It's time to get outdoors and we all await with anticipation all the great activities that are coming up in Memphis in May, a month-long celebration of a single country and life in the south itself. This year, the featured country is Spain.

What is the real purpose of this festival? The overall promotion of the city is its main focus. MIM generates around $30 million in economic impact. It also fosters international relationships between countries. As the city's largest largest consumer event hands down, it promotes tourism on a major scale. In other words, it gets the city on the map and introduces it to people who might want to relocate here or who might want to make future visits. A 501-C (3) corporation, MIM pumps all of its money into its staff and back into the community. Contact the web site for phone numbers and to ask about schedules.

Now for a little about the schedule--all during the month there are lecture programs, chef demonstrations, exhibits and performances at many different venues throughout the city. For instance, at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts on Friday evening, May 11, the most talented flamenco dancers backed by the Spanish musicians of the famous Casa Patas, will perform on stage to audiences who pay just $11 to take part. Chef samplings will be offered between performances too. What a bargain! Exhibits are still being finalized, so check back to see the lineup of those. MIM also sponsors the 15-member student exchange with host families in Spain and pays for their expense round trip to travel by air. The chef demonstrations have not completed scheduling, but the feature dish will be Spanish tapas and usual venues are at the musicfests and at various pubs and other locations around town. Mmmm.