As students, teachers and parents gear up for the back-to-school season, it seems that LaGrange has saved some of its best events to mark the end of summer. 

This weekend will kick off on Friday with a performance at Sweetland Amphitheater by Christian artist David Crowder. Crowder has sold over three million records and received several Grammy nominations, a Dove Award and numerous K-Love Fan Award Nominations. 

On Saturday night, Sweetland will host another concert — a duet performance by two accomplished musicians and performers, one of whom is Mavis Staples. Staples is a Rock and Roll and Blues Hall of Fame artist who has sung both as a solo artist and with her family’s band, The Staples Singers. Her album, “You Are Not Alone,” won best Americana album at the Grammy Awards in 2011. Singing with Staples will be R&B musician Anderson East. The gates will open at 7 p.m. for both of these performances, and tickets can be purchased on Sweetland Amphitheater’s website. 

Saturday evening will be an especially busy time in LaGrange because the annual Dancing for The Thread fundraiser will also begin at 7 p.m. at the Del’avant Event Center. This year, there are six pairs competing and some of them have been rehearsing every day for the past several months. 

Dancing for The Thread is the largest fundraiser for Friends of The Thread, an organization that focuses on community relations and maintenance of The Thread. Currently, they have raised about $50,000. Their goal for this event is to raise about $20,000 more so that they will meet their overall goal of $70,000. 

“Last year, we raised a lot of money the night of the event, and we are optimistic we will reach our goal this year,” said Natalie Hale, the executive director of Friends of The Thread. 

All of the tickets to this event have already been sold, but those who don’t have a ticket will still be able to watch the event through Facebook Live, LGTV or a tent at the Sweetland Amphitheater concert. This year, there is also a new, live online program that lets viewers see how close the Friends of The Thread are to meeting their overall fundraising goal. Voting will end shortly after the last group of dancers performs.