Top Parks in Memphis, Tennessee: Tom Lee Park | Memphis Smoke and Vape Shop

Riverside Dr, Memphis, TN 38103

Tom Lee Park is a community park overlooking the Mississippi River, situated to the immediate west of downtown Memphis , Tennessee. It provides panoramic views of the Mississippi River and the coasts of Arkansas on the opposite side, encompassing about 30 acres (12 ha) parallel to the Mississippi River for about one mile (1.6 km). The park is named after Tom Lee, an African-American river worker, who rescued the lives of 32 M.E. sinking steamboat passengers.

The Beale Street Music Festival that kicks off Memphis in May, Tom Lee Park is a popular venue for walkers, joggers, roller bladers and cyclists, and hosts one event every year.

Geography

Tom Lee Park is approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) long, but at no point is it more than 400 ft (120 m) wide. It occupies approximately 12 ha (30 acres), running south from Beale Street, bordered to the west by the Mississippi River, and east by Riverside Blvd, offering panoramic views of the Mississippi River.

Overlooking the park and the water, luxury homes and condominiums line the top of the bluff.

Events held in Tom Lee Park

The park is well known in the city and area as the location of numerous outdoor activities, among other sites organized throughout the year.

Music

A high-profile event in the park is the annual Memphis in May celebration.

During the Memphis in May celebration, the Beale Street Music Festival is a three-day affair, featuring over 60 musical acts each year on four stages, in different genres such as blues, hip-hop, and metal.

The Sunset Symphony concert, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra’s largest annual performance event, since discontinued, was a highlight in the park during the weekend of Memorial Day, marking the end of the May celebration in Memphis. It was replaced by an event named “Celebrate Memphis” marking the conclusion of the month long affair.

Barbecue Cooking Contest

The World Barbecue Cooking Contest Championship, held on the third weekend of May, is the largest pork barbecue cooking competition in the world, bringing hundreds of participants from around the world to Tom Lee Park.