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

This week, the sun sets on the Sunset Skate series, the Delta Fair brings thrills (and a lot more) and Slider Inn goes “Back to the Future.”

Whet Thursday: Beats on the Bluff at the Metal Museum, Thursday:

South Memphis Jeff

The theme for the Metal Museum’s happy hour changes monthly, and this time, they’re bringing some rave vibes. DJs AD, South Memphis Jeff and Rhinestonee will be spinning tunes as the outdoor sculpture garden transforms into a dance floor. Good Groceries Mobile Diner will provide the eats, and The Tipsy Tumbler will have the drinks. You can also make enameled pendants and gold-leaf records. 5-8 p.m. Free. 374 Metal Museum Dr. Click here for info. — Bianca Phillips

‘Yeah Glow!’ Sunset Skate at the Sunset Canopy in Tom Lee Park, Thursday:

Dozens of local residents gathered on Riverside Drive for Sunset Skate. The final event for the season will be Thursday, Aug. 28. (Courtesy Madeline Rose)

The year’s final Sunset Stake will be held at Tom Lee Park. The Memphis River Parks Partnership organizes the recurring event, which includes free-30 minute skate rentals from the Cordova Skating Center, skating dance lessons from Step and Stake Movement owner Ebony Lemons and music from DJ John Best of 88.5 FM. This skating night is a subtle nod to Memphis rapper GloRilla, with the theme “Yeah Glow!” Attendees can get a free glow necklace while supplies last. Volunteers can register here, and attendees can RSVP here. The skate night is subject to weather; the rain date is next Thursday (Sept. 4). 6-9 p.m. Free admission. 422 Riverside Drive. — Elle Perry

Music Export Memphis’ AmericanaFest Preview Party at The Ravine, Thursday:

Black Cream, featuring Thomas “T.O.” Crivens, will play at Music Export Memphis’ AmericanaFest preview party. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Music Export Memphis is hosting a showcase ahead of next month’s AmericanaFest in Nashville. In Memphis, attendees to this party can see some of those artists for free. They are Cyrena Wages, John Nemeth, Black Cream and The Stupid Reasons. The party also includes the Amurica photo trailer and Music Export Memphis’ new Mobile Listening Lounge, where attendees can hear Memphis Record Pressing cut vinyl on Egglestonworks Speakers. 6-9 p.m. Free (RSVP here). 16 S. Lauderdale St. — Perry

Finish Liza’s Run, meets near Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Friday:

The annual Finish Liza’s Run will be held on Friday, Aug. 29. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Memphis runner and teacher Eliza Fletcher was abducted during an early-morning run near the University of Memphis on Sept. 2, 2022. Her body was found days later behind a vacant home. This 8.2-mile annual run/walk in Fletcher’s memory gathers at 4 a.m. with a 4:20 a.m. kickoff. That’s the time Fletcher was kidnapped. The run is now in its fourth year, but it almost didn’t happen this time. Our own Geoff Calkins has that story. And if you want an idea of what to expect, here’s my first-person account of the 2023 run. 4 a.m. 1695 Central Ave. More info here. — Phillips

Bobby Rush at Overton Park Shell, Friday:

Bobby Rush plays the Oveton Park Shell on Friday, Aug. 29. (Chris Pizzello/AP file)

Blues Hall of Famer Bobby Rush won his first Grammy in 2017, at age 83. He won two others after that, in 2021 and 2024, both for Best Traditional Blues Album. There’s aging gracefully, and there’s aging fiercely. Bobby Rush has always been fierce. Now 91, the indefatigable Rush, a living repository of both Delta blues and what was proudly called chitlin’ circuit soul, is still at it. For this show, part of the Shell’s free concert series, Rush will be joined by Memphian Rodd Bland and the Members Only Band. The young Bland is blues legacy in the flesh, the drummer son of another Blues Hall of Famer, the late Bobby “Blue” Bland. 7 p.m. Free. See here for more info. — Chris Herrington

Simon Joyner at The Green Room at Crosstown Arts, Friday:

Nebraska songwriter Simon Joyner started releasing albums in the early 1990s, as part of a burst of “lo-fi,” home-crafted songwriters that were notable on the indie scene at that time. And if Joyner has remained something of a cult figure, this underground singer-songwriter has been cited as an influence by like-minded artists who have broken mainstream, including Beck, Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst and Americana mainstay Gillian Welch. Joyner’s acoustic-oriented albums feature a warbly, intimate voice, a ramshackle sound and an idiosyncratic writer’s eye. For this rare Memphis visit, Australian musician Leah Senior and Memphis band Aquarian Blood are also on the bill. $18 in advance, $22 at the door. 7:30 p.m. See here for more info. — Herrington

Emerald Theatre Company’s 10 Minute Play Festival: Monday’s Child, Friday-Sunday:

Local LGBTQ theatre company, Emerald, presents its eighth annual super-short play festival with seven new plays from across the U.S. and New Zealand. Each play in this year’s fest was inspired by the classic children’s poem “Monday’s Child.” You know, the one that starts with “Monday’s child is fair of face ..” Still need a refresher? Here you go. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. $23.18. 2085 Monroe Ave. Click here for tickets. — Phillips

Delta Fair & Music Festival at Agricenter International, begins Friday:

The Delta Fair begins Friday, Aug. 29. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

With school back in session and the fair arriving this weekend, it finally feels like fall — even if autumn doesn’t technically begin until late September. The fair starts Friday and runs through Sept. 7, with all the rides, daily music shows (including a Friday kickoff by Hope Clayburn and the Memphis Manes), a Jurassic Park-inspired dinosaur exhibit, livestock shows, a beauty pageant, a chainsaw juggling comedian and so much more. Check the website for schedules and tickets. — Phillips

‘Woofstock’ Team Memphis Rescue Benefit Show at Wiseacre HQ, Saturday:

Three bands will play for a good paws (eh?) at Wiseacre. Alvin Youngblood Hart’s Duo Sonik, The Sonny Wilsons and San Salida are playing a mini festival at the brewery to benefit Team Memphis Rescue, a local nonprofit providing care to stray dogs in the area. And listen folks, I got my angel pup from Team Memphis, so I might be a little biased. There will be raffle prizes, including two, three-day general-admission tickets to Mempho Music Festival. The beer is good, the music is great and the menu at Little Bettie, the pizza joint inside Wiseacre HQ, is a must-have. All for a good purpose (paw-pose, pup-pose?) 5-10 p.m. $25. 398 S. B.B. King Boulevard. Click here to buy tickets and raffle entries. — Kelsey Bowen

Shinedown at FedExForum, Saturday:

Shinedown will play the FedExForum on Saturday, Aug. 30. (Amy Harris/Invision/AP file)

Shinedown is a major modern-rock success story, having landed 20 songs at No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart. The band is also a major Memphis-music success story, with hometown guitarist Zach Myers a key member. The band made its FedExForum debut a few years ago. This return comes with a notably interesting pair of openers. There’s Bush, one of the biggest bands of the post-grunge late 1990s. And if you’re going, I’d suggest getting their early for the first opener: terrific, tough-minded country singer Morgan Wade, who was last seen around these parts playing a sharp afternoon set at the Riverbeat Music Festival. 7 p.m. See here for more information. — Herrington

House in the MidSouth Labor Day Picnic at the East Parkway Pavilion in Overton Park, Sunday:

Social club/DJ collective House in the MidSouth and Goodlife DJs are teaming up for a celebration of house music in Midtown’s favorite park. It is set to feature Chicago house legend (and Memphis resident) Larry Heard aka Mr. Fingers, as well as Brian Hamilton, Selector Jack, Brandon, Rawhouse, TJ Carter, Deadly Kelly, Dantz King and DJ Ike. Tents and coolers are welcome. Note: This event takes place on the East Parkway side of Overton Park. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 389 E. Parkway North. Free admission. Click here for more information. — Perry

River City Jazz & Music Fest at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, Sunday:

A two-time Grammy winner, a vocalist with a four-octave range and a platinum soul singer will put the groove in Memphis on Sunday night. The show stars R&B and soul greats Angela Winbush, Major, Leela James and the “King of Balladeers” Peabo Bryson, known for hits like “If Ever You’re in My Arms Again,” “I’m So Into You” and the rest of your mom’s Sunday cleaning playlist. Additionally, violinist Daniel Parker and saxophonist Joe Johnson will also be playing. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Tickets start at $79.70. 255 N. Main St. Click here to buy tickets. — Bowen

‘30 Days of Opera’ at various locations, starting Monday:

30 Days of Opera starts on Friday, Sept. 1. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

This month marks the 14th iteration of Opera Memphis’ “30 Days of Opera,” when members of the troupe perform in everyday places, such as playgrounds, libraries, farmers markets and dog parks. It will start on Monday, Sept. 1, with a free “Family Day” at the organization’s Midtown headquarters (216 S. Cooper St.), with a performance of the original mini-opera “The Playground King,” a photo booth, arts and crafts, and other family activities. The Family Day is 1-4 p.m. Later in the week, Opera Memphis will be popping up at the Collierville Farmer’s Market, Germantown Festival and Central Gardens Home Tour. Check out the full 30 Days of scheduled appearances here. — Herrington 

901 Day events, Monday:

Project Pat will perform with Alaynna Doty at 901 Day on Beale Street on Monday, Sept. 1. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Cue this video, because it’s time to celebrate the “beautiful land in the world.” Labor Day doubles as 901 Day in Memphis, and there’s plenty going to make the most of your day off work. There’s a 901 Day party on Beale Street from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with music, fashion, games and local vendors. Among the music acts is a performance by Project Pat with Alaynna Doty, the nine-year-old who went viral rapping “Chickenhead” in an Olive Branch restaurant. There’s also a Project 901 Block Party at Memphis Made Brewing with DJs, food trucks and more from 2 to 8 p.m. Later that night at 7 p.m., Tom Lee’s Mississippi River Gumption Revival Lantern Parade will celebrate Lee’s legacy by lighting up the night with lanterns. See more on these and other events here. — Phillips

‘Back to the Future’ at Slider Inn, Wednesday:

Where we’re going, we only need the roads that lead us to Slider. Take off in a DeLorean to Robert Zemeckis’ 1985 culture-shifting classic as Marty McFly jets into the past with a wacky old scientist and has some questionable interactions with his mom. Packed with electrifying action and rock ’n’ roll, this iconic movie pairs well with a couple sliders and a beer (or perhaps a nighttime bloody mary). Now, did anyone else have a childhood crush on Marty McFly? Free to attend. 363 Mulberry St. Free. 7:30 p.m. Click here for more info. — Bowen

.....