Other major annual events include the Germantown Festival, an arts and crafts fair, in early September.

The Arbor Day Foundation has designated Germantown a "Tree City USA" for 23 consecutive years.

Between 1825 and 1830, Miss Frances Wright established Nashoba Plantation, a utopian community intended to educate emancipated slaves and teach them a trade.

Germantown experienced setbacks through the period of the Civil War (1861–1865); the yellow fever epidemics reduced its population to a few hundred.

Churches destroyed in the war were rebuilt, schools were constructed and the population began to return around the turn of the century.

The city name was briefly changed to Neshoba, a Chickasaw word meaning 'wolf', during World War I, because of widespread anti-German sentiment in the United States at that time.

During the twentieth century, the community derived its strength through involvement of citizens, as evidenced in the churches, garden clubs and civic organizations.

The Poplar Pike Improvement Association and the Germantown Civic Club played vital roles in the physical and social development of the community.

"[12] Fort Germantown, located on Honey Tree Drive off of Poplar Pike is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

It was at this site that 250 Union Soldiers built their fortification from the ground in order to guard the Memphis and Charleston railroad during the Civil War.

[12] The John Gray House, located in Municipal Park, built prior to 1851 is one of the oldest brick homes in Shelby County.

More than 200 citizens annually volunteer their time, expertise and energy in service on the city's 20-plus advisory commissions and boards.

Most appointments, made by the mayor and aldermen each December, are for one year terms; most groups meet monthly.

Their responsibilities range from recommendations on City government matters and community interests to identifying opportunities, challenges and solutions to conducting special activities.

The commissions are Audit, Beautification, Design Review, Economic Development, Education, Environmental, Financial, Athletic Club, Great Hall, Historic, Industrial Development, Neighborhood Preservation, Parks and Recreation, Personnel, Planning, Public Safety Education, Retirement Plan Administration, Other Postemployment Benefits, Senior Citizens, and Telecommunications.

The Germantown Performing Arts Centre (GPAC) is an acoustically perfect 800-seat theater featuring top artists from around the world.

The Great Hall & Conference Center is an 8,000 square feet rental facility space for accommodation of meetings, weddings and receptions.