Elvis Week 2008 events

Saturday: Elvis Presley International 5K Run. Benefiting United Cerebral Palsy starts 8 a.m. at the Graceland gates.

Saturday-Sunday: Children’s Elvis Week Art Activities. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday and 2-4 p.m. Sunday at Ticket Office Pavilion in Graceland Plaza. Children will get the opportunity to create Elvis art to be featured in the 2008 Elvis Week Art Contest Exhibit.

The Commercial Appeal

Elvis Presley performs what would be his last Memphis concert July 5, 1976, before a crowd of 12,000 at Mid-South Coliseum. Exactly twenty-two years earlier (7/5/54), Elvis recorded "That's All Right" at Sam Phillips' little studio at 706 Union. Introducing the song, he said: "I've had some people say - well, you can't do that song anymore - well, you, by God, just watch me."

Saturday and Tuesday: Kids Karaoke. 2-3 p.m. in Elvis Week Entertainment Tent. Children and youths ages 2 to 17 invited to perform karaoke Elvis songs.

Saturday through Thursday, and Aug. 15: “Elvis Week Art Contest & Exhibit.” Exhibit of Elvis-themed artwork from amateur and professional artists from around the world.

Sunday: Elvis Gospel Breakfast. 8:30-9:30 a.m. Elvis Presley Car Museum. Special brunch in Elvis Presley Car Museum with Elvis gospel music/videos on the drive-in theater movie screen. Tickets $33 per person. Call (800) 238-2000.

Monday: Music and Movies at Graceland. 7 p.m. on the front lawn of Graceland Mansion. Concert by Andy Childs and his band and a screening of “Jailhouse Rock.” Appearances by Jerry Schilling and George Klein, members of Elvis’ “Memphis Mafia,” who appear in the special.

Monday through Thursday, and Aug. 15: Children’s activities. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Graceland Ticket Pavilion. Craft activities for children ages 2 to 12. Free.

Tuesday: 22nd Annual Images of the King World Championship Contest. One of the longest-running contests for Elvis tribute artists starts Tuesday and concludes on Saturday, Aug. 16. Nearly 50 impersonators from around the world are scheduled to perform. Prelims are 7 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday,.

Tuesday: Elvis & Priscilla Wedding Doll Unveiling. The first ever Elvis® and Priscilla Barbie® Doll Giftset unveiled at a special ceremony in Graceland Plaza at 10 a.m., complete with wedding music and cake. One hundred and ninety-eight Elvis and Priscilla Barbie Doll Giftsets sold at Graceland Plaza during the launch party and press event. Giftsets available at Wal-Mart beginning in October, as well as ShopElvis.com and BarbieCollector.com.

Tuesday: Music and Movies at Graceland. 7 p.m., front lawn, Graceland Mansion. Concert by Terry Mike Jeffrey & Band, members of the TCB Band and the Imperials, followed by screening of “Elvis – That’s the Way It Is.”

Tuesday: Shawn Klush. 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, 255 N. Main. Concert of Elvis music by 2007 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest winner Shawn Klush. Opening act: comedian Sammy Shore, who opened for Elvis in Las Vegas in 1969-1972. Tickets: $22-$30. Ticketmaster, Cannon Center box office.

Aug. 12-16: Elvis Fan Club Festival. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Airport Inn, 1441 E. Brooks Road. Free admission. 30th anniversary of original Elvis Fan Club Festival. Vegas atmosphere with EPE, Inc. items from 1956 to the present; continuous Elvis music.

Aug. 12-16: Collecting the King Memorabilia. 15th annual. Elvis Presley dealers from around the world buying, selling and trading the King’s memorabilia and records. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Admission: $3 or $5 for 3-day pass. Clarion Hotel Airport-Graceland, 1471 E. Brooks Road. Call (815) 557-1415.

Aug. 12-17: Tours of The MED/Elvis Presley Trauma Center. Call 545-6405. Email: mevans@the-med.org for details.

Aug. 13-14: Artwork of Betty Harper Exhibit. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Everything Elvis at Graceland Crossing. Harper will be exhibiting her artwork and meeting fans.

Aug. 13-14: Elvis Expo 2008. 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. both days, South Hall, Memphis Cook Convention Center. More than 75 booths of Elvis music, movies, merchandise, plus celebrity autograph sessions, authors, artists and photographers, and Elvis freebies and samples.

Aug. 13-14: The Official Elvis Insiders Conference. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. both days, Cannon Center for the Performing Arts. Host is Tom Brown, a vice president of Turner Classic Movies. Guests include Dixie Locke Emmons; Mike Stoller, part of the Leiber/Stoller song-writing team (“Jailhouse Rock,” “King Creole,” “Hound Dog,’’ “Treat Me Nice,” “Love Me”); Sammy Shore, comedian who opened for Elvis from 1969-1972 in Las Vegas.

Aug. 13-14: Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest. 7 p.m. both days at Cannon Center for the Performing Arts. Elvis tribute artists from around the world perform and compete on stage to be named the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist of 2008. Finalists chosen during the semi-finals on Wednesday will return on Thursday for the finals. The Exspence Account Band will perform with contestants. Tickets, which are for both days, are $50-$140 and are available at Ticketmaster, (901) 525-1515 or ticketmaster.com.

Aug. 15: Candlelight Vigil. Begins 8 p.m. at the gates of Graceland Mansion. Fans are invited to walk up the driveway to Elvis’ gravesite and back down, carrying a candle.

Aug. 15-16: “A Tribute to the King” starring Ronnie McDowell. 9 p.m. at Horseshoe Casino’s Bluesville in Tunica, Miss. Tickets: $45 plus service fee. Call (800) 303-7463 or 525-1515.

Aug. 16: “Elvis: From Broadway to Memphis.” Matinee show at 2 p.m. ($70, $50, $30); an evening show at 8 p.m. ($125, $85, $65, $45). Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, 255 N. Main. Call Ticketmaster at (901) 525-1515. A sophisticated celebration of Elvis’ music, including performances by Memphis Symphony Orchestra; Tthe Dempseys; Leah Hocking from the Broadway cast of “All Shook Up”; Austin Miller, TV and Broadway star. Show also stars Elvis Presley via video, accompanied by live music on stage during some special segments of the show.

Aug. 17: Elvis Gospel Breakfast. 8:30-9:30 a.m. Elvis Presley Car Museum. Special brunch in Elvis Presley Car Museum with Elvis gospel music/videos on the drive-in theater movie screen. Tickets $33 per person. Call (800) 238-2000.