The To-Do List: A Winter Garden, an enchanted castle and sugarplum fairies
Welcome back to The To-Do List, where Daily Memphian staffers suggest their favorite events and activities for the coming week.
This week, Justin Timberlake is back in Memphis, there’s an early turkey trot at Overton Park and the holiday lights come on at Graceland and Downtown.
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Holiday Lighting Weekend at Graceland, Thursday-Saturday:
Graceland will flip the switch on its holiday lights on Thursday, Nov. 21. (Courtesy Graceland)
Graceland Mansion’s “Blue Christmas” kicks off Thursday at 6 p.m. as they flip on the holiday lights. If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t mind a little Christmas creep, you can catch two holiday music shows in the days that follow. On Friday, Graceland will host A Rockin‘ Memphis Christmas concert, and on Saturday, you can catch Dean Z’s Ultimate Elvis Christmas show. There will also be special holiday tours, more concerts, a screening of the Hallmark Channel’s second “Christmas at Graceland” movie and more. See here for times and all the event details. — Bianca Phillips
Memphis Art Collective holiday market on Summer Avenue, opening Friday:
This art collective, which represents visual artists, potters, jewelry-makers and many others, will host its annual holiday market from Nov. 22 to Dec. 24. Yes, that means they’ll be around until the last minute for all you lazy shoppers. But you might want to get there this weekend for first dibs on original artwork. The opening reception will be held on Black Friday (Nov. 29 at 7 p.m.). Market is open Mondays-Saturdays 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Sundays noon-5 p.m., Christmas Eve 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 4998 Summer Ave. Click here for more information. — Phillips
Memphis Potters Guild Holiday Show and Sale at St. Anne Catholic Church, Friday-Sunday:
The Memphis Potters Guild will host its holiday show Friday-Sunday, Nov. 22-24. In this file photo, Agnes Stark prepared works for the 2010 show. (The Daily Memphian file)
If you’re looking to stock up on handcrafted mugs, plates, bowls, vases and just generally pretty things created by Memphis potters, this holiday show is a must. You’ll find works by longtime local artists as well as creations by emerging makers Livia Carboni, Laura Edwards, Bryan Horn and Angela Kilpatrick. 5-8 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. 706 Highland St. Click here for more information. — Phillips
League of Loflin Legends at Loflin Yard, Friday:
Calling all lords and ladies! On Friday, Loflin Yard will be transformed into an enchanted castle, and guests at this masquerade ball will be treated to an ethereal waltz with music by DJ Siphne A. Come dressed in your finest armor and gowns because there’s a costume contest to claim the king’s and queen’s thrones for the evening. Those who shell out a few extra pence can also dine on a VIP feast and will get free punch all night. 6-11 p.m. $31 for general admission or $60 for VIP. 7 W. Carolina Ave. Click here for more information. — Phillips
‘Who’s Holiday’ at Circuit Playhouse, opening Friday:
Courtney Oliver performs in “Who’s Holiday.” (Submitted)
“Who’s Holiday” is a riotously funny and heartwarming adults-only comedy. The plot follows the story of Cindy Lou Who — the little girl from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” — and her life as an adult. “She’s lived some life is the best way to put it,” director Marcus Cox said, “and then we get to learn more about where things might have gone wrong in this poor little girl’s life. But it’s a lot of fun. It’s got heart to it.” Read more about it in our monthly theater guide. Runs through Dec. 22. Times vary. 51 Cooper St. Tickets and more information is available here. — Alys Drake
‘A Motown Christmas’ at Hattiloo Theatre, opening Friday:
“A Motown Christmas” is a musical revue featuring songs from The Jackson 5, The Supremes, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. Director Patricia Smith says the show will transport audiences back to the 1960s and ’70s. Read more about it in our monthly theater guide. Runs through Dec. 22. Times vary. 37 S. Cooper St. Tickets and more information is available here. — Drake
Starry Bazaar at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Saturday:
The Brooks Museum will transform into a winter wonderland Saturday where you can shop for holiday gifts, decor, jewelry, artwork and more by local makers. Holiday music will fill the air, and warm beverages will be served. And you can get a first glimpse of the Brooks’ inaugural Winter Art Garden, which features an illuminated starscape created from found objects — metal scraps, neon, and discarded signage — by artist Greely Myatt. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. 1934 Poplar Ave. Click here for more information. — Phillips
Downtown holiday tree lighting, Saturday:
The Downtown Memphis Commission will host its annual lighting ceremony for the giant holiday tree at the corner of Peabody Place and South Main Street. The lights will come on at 4:50 p.m., and that will be followed by free photos with Santa, a holiday sale from local vendors and music from the Downtown Elementary Choir, Angel Street’s The Crew and Sunset Saturday. Plus, there are lots of activities for children, including free treats for the first 250 kids. 4-6 p.m. Free. Click here for more information. — Phillips
‘NutRemix’ at Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, Saturday-Sunday:
“Nut Remix” will be at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 23-24. (The Daily Memphian file)
New Ballet Ensemble’s “NutRemix,” now in its 22nd year, reimagined the century-old ballet “The Nutcracker,” a holiday staple of dance companies around the world. High school seniors Langston Scrugham and Sunyah Fisher perform the role of Clara in a show that blends classic ballet leaps and turns with Memphis jookin‘ swivels and glides. The show features 100 dance students from across the Mid-South. Read more about it here. 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. $34-$63. 255 N. Main St. Click here for tickets. — Laura Testino
Justin Timberlake at FedExForum, Saturday:
Justin Timberlake will play a show at FedExForum on Saturday, Nov. 23. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP file)
The first song on Justin Timberlake’s latest album “Everything I Thought It Was” is called “Memphis,” and he sings about the pressure to “put on for your city, for your state.” No doubt JT has dealt with a public come-up and comedown (see his recent DUI arrest and all the Britney Spears drama). But hopefully for his sake he’s back on the up as he stops through Memphis on his first tour in five years. 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $65. 191 Beale St. Click here for more information. — Phillips
Turkey Trails 10K and 5K at Overton Park, Sunday:
Traditional turkey trots are held the morning of Thanksgiving, and there is one happening at Shelby Farms next Thursday. But maybe you’re already out of town by then. Or maybe you just really love a themed run and want to do them all. This one offers the option of a 1 mile, 3.1 mile or 6.2 mile runs or a kids’ dash. And you’ll get a Thanksgiving-themed medal, a long-sleeved T-shirt, free photos and free finish-line food. 9 a.m. $18.83-$44.28. 1914 Poplar Ave. Click here for more information. — Phillips
‘Peter Pan’ at the Orpheum Theatre, opening Tuesday:
“Peter Pan” runs at the Orpheum Nov. 26-Dec. 1. (Matthew Murphy/Courtesy Orpheum Theatre)
Take in the timeless story of Peter and the Darling children in this new adaptation by Larissa Fasthorse, who was the first Native American woman to bring a show to Broadway when “The Thanksgiving Play,” a satire of theater and U.S. history, opened at Second Stage’s Hayes Theatre in 2023. Read more about it in our monthly theater guide. Runs through Dec. 1. Times vary. 225 S. Main St. Tickets and more information is available here. — Drake
Topics
Memphis events events The To-Do ListBianca Phillips
Bianca Phillips is a Northeast Arkansas native and longtime Memphian who’s worked in local journalism and PR for more than 20 years. In her days as a reporter, she covered everything from local government and crime to LGBTQ issues and the arts. She’s the author of “Cookin Crunk: Eatin’ Vegan in the Dirty South,” a cookbook of vegan Southern recipes.
Laura Testino
Laura Testino is an enterprise reporter on The Daily Memphian’s metro team who writes most often about how education policies shape the lives of children and families. She regularly contributes to coverage of breaking news events and actions of the Tennessee General Assembly. Testino’s journalism career in Memphis began six years ago at The Commercial Appeal, where she began chronicling learning disruptions associated with the pandemic, and continued with Chalkbeat, where she dug into education administration in Memphis. Her reporting has appeared in The New York Times, The Times-Picayune, The Tuscaloosa News and USA Today.
Alys Drake
Alys Drake is a Memphian born and raised in the Bluff City. A theater-lover, she has worked in a variety of marketing and communications roles at entities within the advertising, legal, marketing, religious and financial services sectors. She is a graduate of Memphis Central High School and Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi.
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