School is back in session, the sunset arrives earlier each night, and there is the slightest hint of a chill in the air—summer is drawing to a close in Chattanooga. With the arrival of Fall in the Scenic City, though, the fun is just beginning. Chattanooga’s vibrant foliage and plethora of fall activities should put it at the top of your list of places to visit as we dive into a new season. Here are some of our favorite festivals, attractions, and all-around great places to enjoy the autumnal scenery on your trip to Chattanooga this fall.
Food and Drink
Bacon & Barrel | Food & Whiskey Festival
$61.32 - $103.66 | Sept 26 | 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM | First Horizon Pavilion
Let’s get hog-wild as we bring together bacon-loving local restaurants and barrel-aged spirits from around the world to savor an evening of southern indulgence. Your Bacon & Barrel ticket includes unlimited samples of signature bacon-themed dishes and 12 whiskey samples, plus live music, fun photo opps, and more. Beer, wine, and full sized cocktails will be available for purchase at the bar. Go VIP for unlimited access! This event supports Chattanooga Market, so every sip counts.
This event is strictly 21+. Please travel responsibly and designate a driver.
Crabtree Farms: Field to Feast October Dinner
$225 individual ticket or $1500 for a table of 6 | Oct. 3 | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Crabtree Farms
Join us for an intimate gathering celebrating seasonal food, the people who grow it, and the community it nourishes.
In 2026, Crabtree Farms is evolving our beloved 100 Dinner Series into Field to Feast, a reimagined community series that brings guests even closer to the heart of the farm. Each gathering takes on its own seasonal form, whether a dinner, a brunch, or another shared table experience, but the spirit remains the same: thoughtfully prepared food, meaningful storytelling, and a deeper connection to Crabtree Farms.
Throughout the series, each Field to Feast shines a light on a different team or program at the farm, from the people growing our food to the educators and organizers expanding opportunity across our community.
Wine Over Water
$95 | Oct. 10 | 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM | Renaissance Park
Celebrate 31 years of Chattanooga’s iconic Wine Over Water tradition, presented by Food City.
Join us in Renaissance Park along the Tennessee River! Experience a vibrant afternoon enjoying wines from around the world in a beautiful outdoor setting. Wine Over Water partners with industry professionals to offer a broad range selections, from wines available in your local grocery-store to premium winery labels.
Something new for 2026: Individual charcuterie boxes curated by Chattanooga’s Bleu Fox Cheese Shop are included with each ticket!
Chattanooga Oktoberfest
Free + | Oct. 17 - 18 | First Horizon Pavilion
This free German-themed festival held at the Tennessee Pavilion is Chattanooga’s oldest and largest Oktoberfest celebration. The weekend-long event features more than 100 local and seasonal brews, as well as authentic German foods. You can practice your polka dancing to the sounds of local oompah bands and see who will win the coveted title of Mr. and Miss Oktoberfest. Beer aside, this event offers fun and games for the whole family.
Music
3 Sisters Bluegrass Festival
Free | Oct 2 - 3 | Ross's Landing
Happening on Chattanooga's Riverfront each October, this annual celebration of all things Bluegrass should definitely be on your calendar! 3 Sisters combines both traditional and contemporary bluegrass to appeal to a wide range of audiences.
Bats, Beer, and Bluegrass
$65 - $100 | Oct 17 | Fricks Cave Preserve
Set against the scenic backdrop of Frick’s Cave Preserve in Chickamauga, Georgia, Bats, Beer, & Bluegrass brings together live bluegrass music, locally brewed beer, and a BBA-style dinner for a one-of-a-kind evening.
Enjoy performances by Randy Steele and the High Cold Wind and New Grass Express while supporting the Southeastern Cave Conservancy, Inc. (SCCi). As dusk falls, watch endangered gray bats emerge from Frick’s Cave—a memorable sight that highlights the importance of SCCi’s conservation work. Proceeds from the event support SCCi’s mission to protect caves and karst landscapes across the Southeast.
World of Bluegrass Music Festival: Bluegrass Live! & Pickin' in the Park
Free - $$ | Oct 23 - 24 | Chattanooga Convention Center, Southside Music Venues, & Miller Park
Get ready for a weekend of bluegrass in Chattanooga with IBMA Bluegrass Live!® and Pickin’ in the Park. Returning Oct. 23–24, IBMA Bluegrass Live! offers a more intimate, rain-or-shine festival experience at venues including the Chattanooga Convention Center, The Signal and Barrelhouse Ballroom, with performances and bluegrass gatherings throughout downtown. Bluegrass Live! is a ticketed event, with General Admission and VIP Weekend Passes available for purchase.
On Saturday, Oct. 24, head to Miller Park for Pickin’ in the Park, the festival’s free outdoor celebration. Enjoy performances from college bands, Kids on Bluegrass participants and local artists, plus arts and crafts vendors, food and plenty of space to relax and enjoy the music. Pickin’ in the Park is free and open to the public, with no tickets required.
Whether you’re a longtime bluegrass fan or new to the genre, it’s the perfect weekend to experience Chattanooga’s bluegrass scene.
Festivals and Markets
Fall Festival at the Chattanooga Market
Free+ | Sept 27 | 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM | First Horizon Pavilion
Fall is in the air at the Chattanooga Market! Join us for Fall Festival, a Sunday filled with crisp flavors, cozy finds, and all the autumn vibes you’ve been waiting for.
Shop apples, cider, pumpkins, and seasonal produce alongside locally made foods, handmade goods, and fresh flowers. Wander the Market with a warm drink in hand, enjoy live music, and soak up the sights, smells, and colors of the season. It’s everything you love about a regular Market day — just with a little extra fall magic.
48th Annual Ketner's Mill Fair
$8 (cash only) | Kids 12 & under: Free! | Oct 3 - 4 | Ketner's Mill
Join us for a weekend of arts, crafts, food, and family fun at the 2026 Ketner’s Mill Fair on Saturday, October 3rd: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM EST and Sunday, October 4th: 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM EST!
Enjoy handmade arts and crafts, live music, and plenty of delicious Southern-style food and drinks, including a craft beer bar. Take in the scenery on a wagon ride through the countryside, then explore the region’s rich heritage with paintings, pottery, woodworking, and more. Don’t miss a tour of the historic Ketner’s Mill, or stop by the petting zoo and artisan demonstrations.
The Chattanooga Vintage Market
Free+ | Oct 18 | 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Coolidge Park
The Chattanooga Vintage Market is back for our 10th event at Coolidge Park!!! Over 50 of Chattanoogas best vintage clothing, jewelry, art, and handmade goods vendors. Food trucks, coffee, matcha, baked goods, and so much more for anyone of any age or style to enjoy at the CVM.
Countless curated vintage clothing racks and affordable $5 & $10 vintage piles. A big treasure hunt hiding that one piece that you need, or didn’t know you needed.
Shopping at the Chattanooga Vintage Market contributes to small business, local artists, independent makers, and people who make the Chattanooga community so great!
Between the Bridges Arts Festival
Free+ | Oct 24 - 25 | 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Coolidge Park
Join us for an incredible weekend of local art, community, and thousands of visitors in downtown and Northshore Chattanooga. Over 60 artists will share and sell their work in Coolidge Park at our 6th annual Between The Bridges festival. This year's festival weekend -- October 24 & 25 -- is expected to bring large crowds, as we share the weekend with the 7 Bridges Marathon (our weekend neighbors in Coolidge Park!), IBMA, and Chattanooga Jazz Fest. We're excited to welcome our usual Potters Alley artists courtesy of Scenic City Clay Arts, as well as community partners H*Art Gallery, SPLASH Youth Arts Work, and the Chattanooga Photographic Society. Don't miss a fun, free day out on Chattanooga's Northshore!
Family Friendly
ChattaBOOga!
In October, Chattanooga transforms into ChattaBOOga! The fun and frights to be had are not of the typical haunted city.
For the bravest of souls looking to be scared white as a ghost, test your nerves with an intense haunted experience crawling with terrifying creatures, chilling ghost tours of Chattanooga’s most haunted spots or a race against time to stop a runaway train at an escape room.
For more mild experiences, gather the family to enjoy trick-or-treating at the zoo or an aquarium visit on weird creatures with abilities and behaviors that seem stranger than any legend or myth.
Go on a Train Ride!
Whether you opt for a family-friendly ride on the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum's Rail's, Wizards, & Spells train ride pairs well with their Spells & Potions Special-Tea or opt for a longer route like the Copperhill Special to indulge in the fall colors, a ride on the local rails is a great way to experience fall in Chattanooga!
Visit a Pumpkin Patch
Lucky for you, there are six pumpkin patches near the Scenic City, each offering its own brand of fall fun.
Over in Ooltewah, Smith-Perry Berries Farm kicks off Pumpkin Season on September 26, with pumpkins available all the way through Halloween.
Head up to Flat Top Mountain Farm’s Fall Festival (September 18 – November 1) for pumpkins, scenic views, and an impressive lineup of activities. This 201-year-old family farm features local vendors, hayrides, two corn mazes, food trucks, U-Pick flowers, pony rides, and face painting.
If variety is your thing, Ocoee Valley Farms (September 26 - November 1) delivers with more than 80 pumpkin varieties in every color, size, and shape—including some perfect for baking pumpkin pie. After your pumpkin hunt, refuel with Southern comfort food before tackling hayrides, corn mazes, and barnyard fun.
For a nostalgic, all-ages adventure, Guthrie Pumpkin Farm (September 26 - November 1) has long been a local favorite. Opening on September 27, this farm offers a corn maze, wagon rides, an animal petting barn, super slides, tricycle races, a giant bounce pad, see saws, and more. It’s a true fall festival experience packed with family-friendly activities.
Finally, don’t miss Mayfield Farm Park’s Fall Festival (September 26 – November 8), where 40 acres of fun await. Alongside endless pumpkins, you’ll find a corn maze, Silo Light Show, zip lines, U-Pick flowers, a cow train ride, mountain slides, kiddie slides, and a variety of food vendors.
No matter which pumpkin patch you choose this season, you’re guaranteed a festive day full of pumpkins, activities, and autumn charm.
Getting Outside
Guild Hardy Trail
Located just a few minutes from downtown, the Guild Hardy trail is a converted railroad that stretches for about five miles on Lookout Mountain. The wide gradual path is perfect for a gentle stroll on a fall afternoon, and its four access points provide flexibility for time and distance. With its smooth gravel, you can look up at the beautiful foliage all you want without the worry of rocks or roots. Along the trail, you’ll pass Civil War relics, historic sites such as Craven’s House, and you’ll even spot the famed Ruby Falls.
Prentice Cooper State Forest
Prentice Cooper is perfect for viewing the beautiful colors of fall because of its quiet remoteness and dense tree coverage. Visitors can enjoy the serenity of the many trails, or catch a spectacular view of the river gorge from the Snoopers Rock and Mullins Cove overlooks.
Foliage from the River
In fall, the Southern Belle Riverboat offers boat rides to view the changing leaves from the river. These cruises mean getting gorgeous and unique views of the fall foliage while relaxing on a luxurious watercraft.
Explore More Ways to Experience Fall Colors
Learn more about how you can experience fall colors in the Scenic City! See dazzling fall colors by land, water, and air, and sample some of the best handcrafted delights created from a bountiful harvest of our region at local restaurants and farmers' markets.
Looking for more ways to explore Fall in the Scenic City?
Stay up to date with our events calendar!
