Welcome back to The To-Do List, where Daily Memphian staffers suggest their favorite events and activities for the coming week.

This week, cuddle up by a fire pit near the river, celebrate Latin American and Caribbean holiday traditions and get buck at Imagine Vegan Cafe.

“Plein Air” exhibition at Memphis Botanic Garden, through Dec. 30:

The Memphis Botanic Garden’s “Plein Air” exhibition runs through Dec. 30. (Courtesy Memphis Botanic Garden)

Earlier this fall, artists were invited to capture their favorite Memphis Botanic Garden scenes for the garden’s “Plein Air” exhibition. Plein air is French for outdoors, and MBG hosted workshops to offer tips on depicting landscapes. Artists of all skill levels and age ranges, including kids, were invited to participate. The resulting exhibition features a diverse showcase of visual works that offer glimpses of garden life. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Free with garden admission. 750 Cherry Road. Click here for more information. — Bianca Phillips

“Back to the Light: Not Too Late Night Talk Show Holiday Spectacular” at The Green Room at Crosstown Arts, Thursday:

J.D. Reager

J.D. Reager’s podcast does a live holiday taping featuring conversation and performances with local musicians Steve Selvidge, Bailey Bigger, Mark Edgar Stuart and Josh Shaw (aka Blvck Hippie) and additional appearances by chef/comedian Joshua McLane and professional wrestler Trace Lee Hunt, which should work well in the intimate listening-room setting of Crosstown Arts’ Green Room. Doors at 7 p.m., showtime at 7:30 p.m. $15 in advance or $20 at the door. See here for more info. — Chris Herrington

Fire Pit Fridays at the River Garden, Friday:

What’s better than camping? Pretending you’re camping and then going home to sleep in your warm bed, that’s what. Every Friday through Dec. 23, you can chill out by a fire pit near the river and enjoy free s’mores and holiday music at Memphis River Parks’ Fire Pit Fridays. There’s even a professional photo booth for riverfront portraits — perfect for your holiday cards. This Friday’s event will also feature a special guest performance from puppeteer Jeghetto. 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Free. 51 Riverside Dr. Click here for more information. — Phillips

“Buck Up Sauce” Memphis Link Up at Imagine Vegan Cafe, Friday:

Lil’ Buck will debut his “Buck Up” vegan cheese sauce at Imagine Vegan Cafe on Dec. 9. (Courtesy Carlo J. Nerko)

Memphis jookin legend (and vegan) Charles “Lil Buck” Riley collaborated with Imagine Vegan Cafe to create a purple vegan cheese sauce that he hopes will eventually be available in vegan-friendly restaurants in Los Angeles and New York City. But you can be the first to try it at a special “Buck Up Sauce” release dinner at Imagine this Friday. Guests will pay a $10 cash fee at the door, which includes an entree (covered in purple “Buck Up” sauce), a side, a drink and a purple dessert. Why purple? You can ask Lil Buck yourself. He’ll be on hand, alongside viral YouTube star Mr. Hotspot, for a meet-and-greet. 5 to 8 p.m. $10. 2158 Young Ave. Click here for more information. — Phillips

“¡Christmas Fiesta!” at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens, Saturday:

¡Christmas Fiesta! highlights the holiday traditions of Latin America and the Caribbean at The Dixon Gallery & Gardens on Dec. 10. (Courtesy Dixon Gallery & Gardens)

Don’t know your parrandas from your piñatas or your posadas? Then head to the Dixon for their second annual “¡Christmas Fiesta!” with Cazateatro Bilingual Theater Group and Opera Memphis. The event will highlight the Christmas traditions of Latin America and the Caribbean, and you’ll learn about Puerto Rican caroling events (parrandas), Latin American devotional prayers (posadas), Spanish holiday music, and Latin Christmas foods. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free. 4339 Park Ave. Click here for more information. — Phillips

Memphis Holiday Parade on Beale Street, Saturday:

The annual Memphis Holiday Parade will be on Beale Street on Dec. 10. In this file photo, Dion Chavis gets into the holiday spirit during the 2019 Memphis Holiday Parade. (Jim Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

There are Christmas parades all over the county throughout the month, but the official Memphis Holiday Parade is this weekend on Beale Street. So dig out your tackiest Christmas sweater and head to the entertainment district to see local high school marching bands, steppers, twirlers, garish holiday floats and, of course, Santa Claus himself. And since the festivities are happening right on Beale, you can stop into any bar and grab some holiday spirits for extra cheer. 3 p.m. Free. Beale Street. Click here for more information. — Phillips

Pentatonix: A Christmas Spectacular at FedExForum, Saturday:

Pentatonix presents “A Christmas Spectacular” at FedExForum on Dec. 10. (Courtesy FedExForum)

Everyone needs a guilty pleasure, and mine is pop music. I’ve tried to be cool and like indie rock; it’s just not my thing. But give me some Lady Gaga or Dua Lipa, and I’m here for it. Better yet, give me a fresh arrangement, like an EDM mix or an a cappella version, of a top 40 pop song, and you’re speaking my love language. Enter Pentatonix, the multi-Grammy Award-winning, Texas-based a capella group that puts new spin on songs you know, mixing vocal harmonies, basslines, percussion and beatboxing. For their annual holiday show, they’ll present new arrangements of classic Christmas songs in a performance that any “Glee” fan (raises hand) will adore. 7 p.m. $25 to $149. 191 Beale St. Click here for more information. — Phillips

“Time Warp: Strange Christmas 9” at Summer Drive-In, Saturday:

“Time Warp Drive-in: Strange Christmas” features “The Polar Express” and “The Grinch” at the Malco Summer Drive-in on Dec. 10. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian file)

Maybe Christmas gets less strange over time? This month’s edition of the Time Warp Drive–In series celebrates the season with a couple of modern Christmas movies that I’d venture to say aren’t all that strange. “The Polar Express” is a 2004 computer-animated film from director Robert Zemeckis (“Forrest Gump,” or, more importantly, “Used Cars”) that is about a boy on a train ride to the North Pole, with an animated Tom Hanks as conductor. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is director Ron Howard’s live-action version of the Dr. Seuss classic, with Jim Carrey in green, mugging in the title role. 7:15 p.m. $25 a car. See here for more info. — Herrington

“Carols of the Victorians” at Elmwood Cemetery, Tuesday:

Elmwood Cemetery and St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral present “Carols of the Victorians” in the Elmwood chapel, shown here in a file photo, on Dec. 13. (Ziggy Mack/Special to The Daily Memphian file)

The Victorian era in Memphis probably wasn’t a great time to be alive. The city had an open sewer system, which surely didn’t smell that great, and there was no public garbage service. Oh, and there was that little yellow fever epidemic that killed thousands. But this Tuesday, you can step back in time (minus all those unpleasantries) for a Victorian holiday celebration in Elmwood’s chapel. Elmwood is partnering with St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral for a sing-along of Victorian-age carols with sweets, wassail and a special appearance by a surprise historical character. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. $20 for adults (free to children under 10). Click here for tickets. — Phillips

Corey Feldman with Spacer at Black Lodge, Tuesday:

Corey Feldman will play a show at Black Lodge on Dec. 13. In this file photo, Feldman arrived at the Los Angeles premiere of "Nope” on Monday, July 18, 2022. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP file)

Corey Feldman was never my favorite of the two Coreys. Nope, that was Corey Haim, the wilder, badder boy of the two (R.I.P., Corey Haim). But as the co-star of 1980s kid movies that shaped the identities of GenXers and Xennials — “The Goonies,” “Stand By Me,” “The Lost Boys” — it’s impossible not to have some kind of feelings for Feldman, even if he is problematic. (If you want a true glimpse at just how so, check out his episode of “Celebrity Wife Swap.”) His music isn’t great, and his stage presence is just, well, wacky and embarrassing. But the man just keeps on going with seemingly no self-awareness. His new song, “Comeback King,” is a little bit goth, a little bit rap, a whole lot of weird and, honestly, really bad. Feldman’s Memphis show will be worth seeing for cringe factor. 7 p.m. $25 general admission (meet-and-greet tickets are $125; does not include admission). Click here for tickets. — Phillips

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