Welcome back to The To-Do List, where Daily Memphian staffers highlight can’t-miss events and fun activities heading into the weekend. 

This week’s events will get you out of bed with a good cup of coffee and into the Great Outdoors with a whole festival’s worth of activities. 

Fieldaze throughout Downtown, Friday-Sunday:

Fall is a great time to get outside in Memphis, and the first three-day Fieldaze festival, part of the Discover Memphis Naturally initiative, agrees. This three-day series of related outdoor activities is designed to showcase Downtown Memphis’ battery of outdoor assets. Events include a two-state half-marathon on Saturday that will cross the Mississippi River via the Big River Crossing pedestrian bridge, a 2-mile kayak race in Wolf River Harbor on Saturday afternoon and a Sunday morning cycling race along the banks of the Mississippi. There will also be outdoor fitness classes (Zumba, line dancing, salsa and yoga) at various Downtown locations. Wiseacre’s Downtown brewery will act as the event’s “home base” throughout the weekend, with breakfast pizza, a Grizzlies watch party on Friday night and live music from Black Cream on Saturday night. See memphisadventures.com/fieldaze for a full lineup of activities and more information. 

A Grind City Coffee Xpo attendee filled out a “tasting card” at the inaugural event in 2019. (Jamie Harmon, courtesy Grind City Coffee Xpo.)

Grind City Coffee Xpo at Wiseacre Brewing, Saturday:

Locally owned coffee shops and coffee roasters have multiplied in Memphis over the past decade, and the Grind City Coffee Xpo seeks to bring local coffee providers and consumers together in a zone of “community and education.” Held at Wiseacre’s newish Downtown brewery, this second “Xpo” showcases more than a dozen vendors offering tastings and demonstrations. Learn more about it here. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 6, at Wiseacre Brewing’s Downtown location, 398 S. B.B. King Blvd. Ticket prices descend through the day: $35 at opening, $25 starting at 11:30 a.m. and $20 starting at 12:30 p.m. See grindcitycoffee.com for additional details.

Impala at Maria Montessori School, Saturday:

Surf-rockers Impala were among the signature Memphis bands of the late 1990s and early 2000s. They still get together for shows occasionally, which are always a good time. This reunion will be a fun band in a fun environment, at the outdoor amphitheater at the Maria Montessori School on Harbor Town. This annual “River Series,” a fundraiser for the school, has only one show this fall, and this one’s it. Younger Memphis rockers Turnstyles will open. With DJ Hot Tub Eric on the wheels of steel. 740 Harbor Bend Rd. Doors at 2 p.m. Showtime is 3 p.m. Suggested donation of $10 for adults and $5 for kids. For more information, click here. 

Ruth Crawford helped plant saplings in Memphis Tilth’s St. Paul Garden in 2019. Memphis Tilth will host an open house this weekend. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian file)

Memphis Tilth open house, Saturday: 

Memphis Tilth will hold a community open house from 2 to 4 p.m. at its headquarters at 575 Suzette St. The nonprofit works to build an equitable, sustainable food system in Memphis by supporting local farmers and helping people plant community gardens. It also runs a weekly CSA program and a community kitchen to help people learn to cook healthy foods. For details, call 901-443-7623 or go here. 

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