Family events in Desoto County, MS

For the summer, this Coffee Club meets twice each month at Cafe 127, where young children can enjoy the play area while mothers connect. It is a welcoming option for anyone hoping to make new friends, see familiar faces, or simply have a reason to get out of the house. Registration is not required. Order your favorite drink and arrive at a time that works for you.

On the Collierville Town Square, bluegrass fills the air as pickers gather for an informal, all-acoustic jam in fair weather. Spectators can settle in for a free, family friendly evening, and bringing a chair and a picnic is encouraged. Now in its 26th year, this open jam welcomes bluegrass musicians, including visitors from out of town, to make music together in Collierville, Tennessee.

Build practical knife-based self-defense and survival skills in Southaven, Mississippi. Offered by Kingdom Elite Tactical, this training focuses on both defensive responses and controlled offensive techniques with edged weapons to help protect yourself and your family, including in places where firearms are restricted. It welcomes families with participants ages 10 and up, and can be especially relevant for people who run or want personal protection strategies in everyday settings. The cost is $65 per person, with a $30 rate for each additional family member. This class also qualifies for professional continuing education hours for law enforcement.

Complimentary registration for the Memphis Bubble Run remains open. At Shelby Farms Park, this playful 5K blends movement and celebration in an untimed, noncompetitive format. Participants can run, walk, or dance through colorful bubble filled sections and swirling foam, with lively music and plenty of laughs along the way. Open to every age and ability, it welcomes strollers as well as walkers and runners. Comfortable clothing is suggested, and groups of friends and families are welcome. Cross the finish splashed in every color, covered in bubbles, with memories to share.

The 7th Annual Sweet Cheeks 5K has a new name, now presented as the Summer Fun Run 5K with a companion Kids Dash. This family friendly gathering supports Sweet Cheeks Diaper Ministry and brings attention to poverty and diaper need in Shelby County and surrounding areas. Participants of any pace can take on the course by running, walking, or even dancing to the finish. A Kid’s Fun Run is available for ages 8 and under, and a child ticket includes a shirt, entry to the fun run, and access to a kids zone with games, face painting, and more. U of M’s Pouncer will be there to cheer on the youngest racers.

Community Mental Health Day brings neighbors together for a welcoming celebration of well-being at the parking lot of Desoto Family Counseling and Pediatric Therapy Center. With a focus on caring for mind, body, and spirit, this family-friendly gathering offers hands-on options like rock painting, nature and art activities, making flower bouquets, bounce houses, visits with animals from the humane society, and refreshments from coffee and food trucks. Admission is free and open to the entire community.

Hosted at New Direction Christian Church, this community pantry offers groceries to families in a respectful and reliable setting, reflecting a hands-on faith that cares for neighbors. The focus is on meeting practical needs with compassion and consistency. No advance registration is required, and the process is simple and welcoming.

Overton Park Conservancy is setting up waterslides on the Greensward beside Veterans Plaza, giving kids a fun way to beat the heat. The pop up takes place on the second Saturday of July and August. It is free to attend and no registration is needed.

Enjoy cartoons on the projector, endless bowls of cereal, and unlimited arcade play in one fun session. Admission is $12 for kids and $15 for adults, which covers all-you-can-eat cereal and nonstop access to the games. The Cereal of the Week is announced regularly, so there is always something new to pour.

Join Barnes and Noble for Saturday morning storytime, with a different picture book featured each week. This is a relaxed, family-friendly event at the Wolf Chase Galleria store.

Meet lovable dogs looking for homes and learn about fostering. Get details on monthly microchip clinics, explore local low-cost spay and neuter resources, and more.

Classroom ABC hosts an informative session led by experienced nurses that introduces the essentials of breastfeeding and includes dedicated time for Q&A. To register, contact the Maternity Care Coordinator at Beautiful.Beginnings@bmhcc.org or call 901-227-9873.

Feline fans can gather for a big-screen celebration of cats as the leading cat video festival returns with a fresh mix of never-before-seen clips. The program is locally presented at the Pink Palace by Like You Film Club in association with Oscilloscope Laboratories. Expect a curated reel featuring recent favorites drawn from unique submissions alongside animated pieces, creating family-friendly fun for all ages. Available only in theaters, the event also supports cats in need through collaborations with local charities, animal welfare organizations, and shelters. For this screening, 10 percent of ticket sales will be donated to Mewtopia Cat Rescue. There is only one local showing, and sellouts happen.

Kids are invited to drop in for Lego Club at the Randolph Branch Library. This is a hands-on Lego program for children and tweens, meeting on the second Saturday of each month.

This microchip clinic offers on-site microchipping for pets for 20 dollars per pet, and registration is included in the fee. Payments are accepted via cash, Venmo, PayPal, and major credit or debit cards, and checks are not accepted. To speed up check-in, complete a registration form ahead of time, fill out one form per pet, and give it to the volunteers when you arrive. The SmartTag microchip features anti-migration technology designed to help it remain in place so it can be easily found and scanned. If a pet becomes lost and is taken to a shelter or veterinarian, staff can scan the chip to read its unique ID, which SmartTag uses to match the pet with the owner’s contact details and facilitate a reunion. SmartTag membership also includes 30 days of PetFirst pet insurance as an introductory plan that helps reimburse veterinary expenses.

Have your pet microchipped at a simple, affordable clinic. Each pet is $20 and includes registration. Payment options include cash, Venmo, PayPal, and major credit or debit cards, and checks are not accepted. To speed up check in, complete the registration form in advance, fill out one per pet, and hand it to the volunteers when you arrive. The SmartTag microchip is designed to resist migrating so it stays in place and can be located and scanned easily. If a lost pet is brought to a shelter or veterinarian, staff can read the chip’s unique ID number, which SmartTag uses to access your contact details and help reunite you with your pet. A SmartTag membership also includes 30 days of PetFirst pet insurance to help with veterinary expenses, and SmartTag notes it is the only ID tag provider that includes insurance with membership.

On the Guest House Patio in My Big Backyard, children can dive into messy, creative play as they shape their own mud pies with materials from nature. Participation is included with Garden admission, and the activity is canceled if it rains.

Chick-Fil-A Union Kids Night offers a family-focused outing that takes the stress out of dinner. Enjoy a relaxed evening centered on the kids while the restaurant handles the meal, making it easy to spend time together without turning on the stove.

Memphis Street Rods partners with Collierville Classic Cars to present another season of Cruise Nights at Collierville Town Square, a historic setting. The event highlights classic and custom vehicles from across the Mid-South, offering a place for owners to showcase their rides and for friends and families to enjoy the scene. This series is held every other Wednesday.

Ash’s Irish Pub in Olive Branch Old Town offers axe throwing for ages 10 and up. Closed-toe footwear is required to participate. Free play is available for $10, and a season subscription starts at $50. Those planning a gathering can book axe throwing as entertainment, with event packages starting at $350.