---
title: Memphis Madness Moves to the Memphis Zoo for Free Zoo Hoops Night | WOW Memphis
description: "Memphis Madness heads to the Memphis Zoo for free Zoo Hoops on Oct. 13: Tigers basketball, the Mighty Sound of the South, trick-or-treating and more."
---

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# [Memphis Madness Moves to the Memphis Zoo for Free Zoo Hoops Night | WOW Memphis](https://blog.evvnt.com/news/memphis-zoo-hoops-memphis-madness)

 Written by  | Oct 8, 2026, 7:53:25 PM

Memphis, the Tigers are going wild. Literally. For the first time ever, Memphis Madness, the big party that tips off college basketball season, is leaving the bright lights of Beale Street behind and moving into the Memphis Zoo.

The event, now called **Zoo Hoops**, lands on **Tuesday, Oct. 13**, and here's the best part: admission is free. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the fun gets rolling around 6.

So what happens when you mix Tiger hoops with actual animals? A 90-minute showcase of both the Memphis men's and women's basketball teams as they kick off the 2026-27 season, with the Mighty Sound of the South marching band and the Memphis Spirit Squads bringing the noise. DJ Mic Tee is on the decks, so expect the energy to stay high from the first beat.

And because it's October at the zoo, the kids are well looked after. There are trick-or-treat stations, face painting and some of the zoo's Zoo Boo attractions, plus the zip line and rides on the Zoo Farmer Train. It's a family night out and a pep rally rolled into one.

Once the on-court action wraps, fans get to meet both teams up close in a meet-and-greet session. Bring a Sharpie. Bring a jersey. Maybe bring a camera for the moment a Tiger meets a, well, tiger.

Last year's Memphis Madness took over Beale Street, so swapping blues clubs for the big cats is a bold new look. Our advice: wear your Tiger blue, get there early and don't be surprised if the giraffes have opinions about the starting lineup.

Free basketball, free zoo fun, Halloween treats and a whole lot of hometown pride. That's about as Memphis as a Tuesday night gets.

**Source:** Action News 5. [Read the original article](https://www.actionnews5.com/2026/10/01/memphis-madness-comes-memphis-zoo/).

**Looking for something fun to do?** [See what's on in Memphis this weekend on EVVNT](https://evvnt.com/events/?towns=Memphis).

*Illustration: AI-generated for EVVNT. It shows an imagined scene, not the real event, and depicts no real people.*

[View full post](https://blog.evvnt.com/news/memphis-zoo-hoops-memphis-madness)

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