VOL. 132 | NO. 159 | Friday, August 11, 2017

The Czech Republic will be the honored country for the 2018 Memphis In May International Festival, organizers of the 41-year-old event announced Thursday, Aug. 10.

The 2017 month-long set of events honoring Colombia posted a $278,000 surplus, according to financial statements released by MIM during its annual meeting Thursday at the Memphis Botanic Garden.

The 2017 festival brought in $9.9 million in revenues against $9.7 million in expenses. That compares to a $329,689 loss for the 2016 festival and a $493,225 surplus in 2015.

Memphis In May’s biggest event in terms of expense, revenue and attendance, the Beale Street Music Festival, held on the month’s opening weekend, grossed $3.7 million – a festival record and a 19 percent increase from 2016.

The dates for the 2018 events are: Beale Street Music Festival May 4-6; International Week May 7-13; World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest May 16-19; and 901Fest & Great American River Run May 26.