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

This week, holiday parades kick off across Shelby County, baristas throw down in a latte art contest and WYXR’s “Raised by Sound” offers free live music.

Holiday Parades:

Aiden Ramsawack was The Grinch during the Bartlett Christmas Parade on December 7, 2019. (Ziggy Mack/The Daily Memphian file)

Several suburbs across Shelby and DeSoto counties will host their holiday parades this week and weekend, starting with Millington on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 6:30 p.m. (following the city’s tree lighting at 6:15 p.m.). Collierville’s parade is Friday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. And on Saturday, Dec. 6, you can catch parades in Southaven (10 a.m.), Olive Branch (2 p.m.) and Bartlett (4 p.m.). For more on these parades and others later this month, check out our holiday events guide.— BiancaPhillips

Creole Feast fundraiser at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Thursday:

Every year, St. Patrick’s hosts this Creole dinner to benefit the students of St. Jules Elementary School in Petit Bourg du Borgne, Haiti. Both public and private schools in Haiti charge tuition, and it’s $200 per student at St. Jules. So, each attendee at this dinner donates $200 to sponsor one child, and in return, the donors can enjoy a feast of seafood gumbo, dirty rice, spiced pork, jambalaya, mixed greens, smothered okra, pecan pie and bread pudding. Both dine-in and takeout options are available. The $200 donation is payable by cash, check or credit card at the door. 5-9 p.m. 277 S. Fourth St. — Phillips

Season of Delight at Crosstown Concourse, Friday:

Crosstown Concourse’s Season of Delight holiday lighting party is on Friday, Dec. 5. (Jamie Harmon/Courtesy Crosstown Arts)

Crosstown will flip the switch on its massive, upside-down holiday tree lighting installation in the central atrium. Plus, there will be an iceless skating rink, live music, holiday crafts, face painters, a visit from the Grinch and more. 5-8 p.m. Free. 1350 Concourse Ave. Click here for more information. — Phillips

Stitch and Sip at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art and Fiber Arts Open Studio at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Thursday:

Sewers, knitters, crocheters, you are in luck. Two Memphis museums are offering nights for fiber and textile artists and hobbyists to gather. The bad news is that you have to choose one. Delta Fibre Arts is hosting a Fiber Arts Open Studio for “fiber enthusiasts” in the Dixon’s Farnsworth Education Building. The event is for those 16 and up. No registration is required. Stitch and Sip is part of the Happy Hour at the Brooks series. The event includes cocktails and appetizers (both available at a discount) and live music. The event is free, but registration is required. For both events, attendees should bring their yarn, fabrics and supplies that they wish to work with. Both museums have textile-related exhibitions on view. Fiber Arts Open Studio runs from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at 4339 Park Ave. Stitch and Sip runs from 6-8 p.m. at 1934 Poplar Ave. — Elle Perry

A Degenerate Food Drive at Haven Haus, Friday:

Degenerate Breakfast, an alt-rock band composed of a group of best friends and University of Memphis students, is hosting a concert benefitting the Mid-South Food Bank. The band has a goal of at least 1,000 donations of non-perishable food and non-food items (think paper towels, toilet paper, diapers, deodorant, soap). All donations must be in the original packaging. Along with the host band, there will be performances from The Narrows, Zoë Dominguez and Sock Rocket. Participating musicians are hosting a raffle of band merchandise. Attendees get one raffle ticket for every two items donated beyond the item needed for admission. 6 p.m. Free with canned good donation. 84 G.E. Patterson Ave. — Elle Perry

Slowdown Dry Goods Weekend at the Yurt at Shelby Farms Park, Friday-Saturday:

DJ Nate P (Courtesy Eli Berry)

There’s a Slowdown hoedown happening at the park. In honor of its new merch for Shelby Farms Park, Slowdown Dry Goods is planning a yurt party. You have two options: On Friday night, there will be a yurt speakeasy with a Slowdown pop-up, dance party and food trucks. DJ Nate P will be on the decks. On Saturday morning, swing by for breakfast from Kinfolk and hot cocoa from Byway Coffee. Of course, there will be even more dancing with music from DJ Digital Tech (formerly DJ Blinggg). So head over and dance, eat and grab a shirt at the yurt. 6-10 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday. Free to attend. 6903 N. Great View Drive. Click here for more info and to see a map of how to get to the yurt. — Kelsey Bowen

‘A Neighborly Christmas’ with Drew and Ellie Holcomb at the Orpheum Theatre, Friday:

Singer-songwriters and married couple Drew and Ellie Holcomb will take the stage together in their annual holiday performance. 8 p.m. $18-$104. 203 S. Main St. Click here for more.— Phillips

‘Cabaret Noel 10: An Emerald Christmas Special’ from Emerald Theatre Co., Friday-Sunday:

Emerald Theatre Co. draws inspiration from old Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin Christmas specials for this annual holiday variety show. Expect nostalgia, fun winter songs and campy slapstick humor. Friday-Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. $23.18. 2085 Monroe Ave. Click here for tickets. — Phillips

Memphis Mineral, Fossil and Jewelry Show at Agricenter International, Saturday-Sunday:

Looking for the perfect gift for your woo-woo friend? Head to this annual sale of crystals and jewelry. The Memphis Archaeological and Geological Society’s expo is usually held in the spring, but it’s moved to December this year just in time for the holidays. (I once got the most beautiful chunk of rainbow aura quartz at this show for under $30.) Once you’re done oogling at the pretty rocks, you should catch some of the scheduled talks from geologists and fossil hunters. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. $6 for adults, $2 for kids and $10 for a two-day pass. The organizers are requesting people pay the entry fee in cash. 7777 Walnut Grove Road. More info here. — Phillips

Stumbling Santa Pub Crawl at Downtown bars, Saturday: 

Simon Hill (left) and Morgan Suarez (right) took part in the 2024 Stumbling Santa Pub Crawl. (Bianca Phillips/The Daily Memphian file)

This 21st annual pub crawl starts at the Flying Saucer, where Santas will gather to donate a toy for the Porter Leath toy drive. From there, the pack will stumble their way through Downtown with stops at Beale Street bars until about 11 p.m. It’s free, but bring a new, unwrapped toy or a cash donation. By the way, I did this last year with some friends (two of whom are pictured above) after finishing the St. Jude Marathon earlier that morning. And let me tell you, my sore little legs gave new meaning to “Stumbling Santa.” 7-11 p.m. 130 Peabody Place. Click here for more. — Phillips

Edge District Art Crawl at multiple locations, Saturday:

The Edge District Art Crawl stops by Sheet Cake Gallery on Saturday, Dec. 6. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Area artist studios and art galleries will be open during the latest Edge District Art Crawl. Participants are Ugly Art Co., 635 Madison Ave.; Something Solid Studio, 669 Monroe Ext.; Sheet Cake Gallery, 405 Monroe Ave.; Marshall Arts Gallery, 639 Marshall Ave.; Contemporary Arts Memphis, 652 Marshall Ave.; and Slowdown Dry Goods, 655 Marshall Ave. 5-9 p.m. Free admission. More info here. — Perry

WYXR’s Raised by Sound Fest at Crosstown Concourse, Saturday:

Los Angeles-based musician Jay Som headlines the 2025 Raised by Sound Fest’s free daytime shows. (Daniel Topete/Submitted)

The festival’s headlining set with Kurt Vile and Stephen Malkmus in Crosstown Theater has sold out, but you can still attend the free daytime shows in the central and east atriums and the (ticketed) VIP afterparty featuring Larry Heard, Cloudland Canyon and Kid Millions in the East Atrium. The free shows will feature Jay Som, Jake Xerxes Fussell, Melinda, Deonna Sirod and BlueTom Revue. Those shows begin at 1 p.m. with BlueTom. New this year: the festival will sell a cassette mixtape featuring nine new songs (and an older song) from three of the festival’s Memphis performers (Melinda, Deonna Sirod and Cloudland Canyon) and WYXR DJs (Pull Chains, Decoration Policy, Nots, Qemist, Cel Shade, Aquarian Blood and Fake). Raised by Sound Fest proceeds benefit WYXR 91.7 FM. Click here for set times. Free shows run from 1-6 p.m., and the afterparty (tickets are $49.87) is from 9-11 p.m. — Perry

Tennessee Ballet Theatre’s ‘Clara & The Nutcracker’ at Mike D. Rose Theater at the University of Memphis, Saturday-Sunday:

Anne Elyse Bell (Tillman Bunch)

This take on the holiday classic features Tennessee Ballet Theater’s professional dancers alongside the youth of Children’s Ballet Theater. Youth dancers portray many of the roles, including Clara. Mary Van Dyke and Cami Curran direct the 90-minute show. Intermission features the Sugar Plum Ornaments Sale. Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy will be available for photos after their performances. (Note: Free parking is available on show days in the Zach Curlin Garage at 505 Zach Curlin St.) 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, 2 p.m. on Sunday. Ticket prices vary. 470 University Ave. —Perry

Latte Art Throwdown at City & State, Sunday:

City & State will host a Latte Art Throwdown on Sunday, Dec. 7. (The Daily Memphian file)

Local baristas will battle at this Grind City Coffee competition to find the best latte artist in town. They’ll start with hearts and work their way up to more complicated patterns. And coffee lovers are invited to come cheer them on, while sipping coffee (duh) and munching on treats from Whisks of Doom. Think you’ve got what it takes? Registration for competitors is still open. Doors open at 5 p.m., and first pour is at 6 p.m. 2625 Broad Ave. More info here. — Phillips

Acoustic Sunday Live: Concert to Protect Our Aquifer at First Congregational Church, Sunday:

Bobby Rush will play a show to benefit Protect Our Aquifer on Sunday, Dec. 7. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP file)

Memphis has some of the cleanest drinking water in the world, and that’s all thanks to the Memphis Sand Aquifer. But a recent study found that the aquifer’s protective layer has started to look like Swiss cheese with all of its little holes. Here’s your chance to save our water and see iconic bluesman Bobby Rush at the same time. He’ll be joined by blues singer Shemekia Copeland, blues guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd, singer/songwriter James McMurtry, folk-Americana duo Alice Howe and Freebo and Memphis musicians Eric Lewis and Jimmy Davis. 7 p.m. General admission is $50, and VIP tickets are also available. 1000 S. Cooper St. More info here. — Phillips

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