Winter: January - February
Missionary Ridge Local Train Trips/Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
$ | Jan.-Dec. / Times Vary
The 90-minute train trip begins at Grand Junction Station and takes you through the Tennessee Valley, over four bridges, through a pre-Civil War tunnel, to East Junction, where the locomotive rotating turn station is, and back. tvrail.com
The Lookout Wild Film Festival/The Walker Theatre
$ | Jan. 11-14, 2024 / Times Vary
The Lookout Wild Film Festival brings the best outdoor adventure and conservation films from around the world! Experience compelling on-screen stories that celebrate wild places and the people they inspire alongside hundreds of other adventure enthusiasts from around the Southeast. lookoutfilmfestival.org
Tennessee Songwriters Week
FREE/$ | Jan. 21-Feb. 3, Feb. 18-24 / Times Vary
Experience Tennessee Songwriters Week by celebrating the craft of songwriting at live performances across the state while supporting local music venues and helping pave the way for future artists to come.
tnvacation.com/songwriters-week
Valentine’s Dinner Train/Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
$ | Feb. 10-14 / Times Vary
The evening includes a train ride through the Tennessee Valley aboard a vintage rail car and a 4-course dinner. Reservations recommended. tvrail.com
Romance at Ruby/Ruby Falls
$ | Feb. 9-11 & 14 / Times Vary
Learn more about the love story of Leo Lambert, who discovered the waterfall and then named it after his wife, Ruby. The adventure includes a cave and waterfall tour, a souvenir photo, gift, and stories of legendary love matches. rubyfalls.com
Valentine’s Dinner Cruise/Chattanooga Riverboat Co.’s Southern Belle
$ | Feb. 11-12 & 14 / Times Vary
Celebrate Valentine’s Day on a Chattanooga Cruise! This 2-hour cruise includes a buffet-style meal, and full bar, DJ, pilothouse tour, a toast of champagne, and 2 keepsake glasses. chattanoogariverboat.com
Valentine's at Lover’s Leap/RockCity Gardens
$ | Feb. 12-14 / 8:30 am-5 pm
Share your heart this Valentine’s Day and enjoy spectacular views with that special someone from Lover’s Leap. Guests will receive a souvenir photo, specialty fudge, and sparkling wine or cider. seerockcity.com
Antiques Show & Sale/Read House Hotel
$ | Feb. 16-18 / 10 am-5 pm
The Antique Show & Sale features more than 30 exhibitors offering a wide variety of antique items for sale, an appraisal fair, and much more. Preview Party option at an additional cost. The event is held at Stratton Hall and benefits the Houston Museum. thehoustonmuseum.org
Spring: March - May
Million Steps in March/Ruby Falls
$ | March 1-31 / 8 am-8 pm
Get active walking the cavern trail to the thundering underground waterfall and help support the mission of the American Heart Association Go Red for Women in a big way! Participants can stop by our healthy selfie station and take home a complimentary heart-healthy recipe card. rubyfalls.com
Erlanger Chattanooga Marathon Race Weekend /Downtown Chattanooga
FREE/$ | March 1-3 / Times Vary
In its 7th year, the Erlanger Chattanooga Marathon weekend will feature a marathon, half marathon, team relay, 5K, and a kid's fun run, along with daily events to maximize a weekend full of energy and excitement while supporting the Erlanger Health System! chattanoogamarathon.com
Hunter Underground/Hunter Museum of American Art
$ | March 1 / 8-11 pm
The museum is converted into a nightclub for a one-of-a-kind cocktail party. The annual fundraiser offers an exciting evening of art-focused fun, music and dancing, an open bar, great food, a silent auction, and the famous Smash & Grab gallery. Must be 21 or up. huntermuseum.org
AmuseUm/Creative Discovery Museum
$ | March 2 / 7-10 pm
Journey back in time and join us at AmuseUm ‘24: 1995 (CDM's Version) – a chance to relive the magic of the 90s and celebrate CDM's inception year! Step into the world of boy bands and revolutionary tech innovations and indulge in entertainment, flavors of the 90s, and exciting surprises! Embrace the spirit as you rock to the beats in your favorite 90s attire. cdmfun.org/amuseum
Chattanooga Football Club/Finley Stadium
$ | March-Oct. / Times Vary
The Chattanooga Football Clubs, playing in the National Independent Soccer Association, season is back along with the return of the CFC Women’s team. Join the local CFC fans, better known as the Chattahooligans, and cheer on the CFC Men’s and Women's teams! chattanoogafc.com
Spring Break Safari
FREE/$ | March 8-April 7 / Times Vary
During Spring Break Safari, the city transforms into a place where kids rule, and adventure is everywhere! Participating attractions offer kids hands-on activities, including scavenger hunts and unique experiences that turn kids into Cave Explorers, RockQuest Adventurers, Zookeepers, Conductors, and more. VisitChattanooga.com/spring
Battleground Explosion Volleyball Tournament/Chattanooga Convention Center
$ | March 16-17 / Times Vary
With room for 200 teams, this explosive tournament will bring athletes ages 12-18 to the ultimate volleyball battleground. Cheer on your favorite teams as they compete in the best out of three matches over two days in the scenic city. phoenixrisingvb.com/battlegroundexplosion
Chattanooga Red Wolves/CHI Memorial Stadium
$ | March-Oct. / Times Vary
Cheer on Chattanooga’s newest professional sports team, the Chattanooga Red Wolves Soccer Club, a founding member of USL League One, compete at their brand-new stadium. chattanoogaredwolves-sc.com
SIPTN Wine Festival/First Tennessee Pavilion
FREE/$ | March 23 / 12-6 pm
Taste through over 200 wines produced right here in Tennessee, utilizing some of the freshest fruit in the South. Sip TN is made up entirely of Tennessee Wineries, come sip, savor, and purchase bottles of your favorite wines. Stroll and shop with local artisans and vendors, enjoy food trucks and enjoy live music! chattanoogamarket.com/events/siptn-wine-festival
Chattanooga Lookouts/AT&T Field
$ | April-Sept. / Times Vary
The Chattanooga Lookouts, a Minor League Baseball team of the Double-A South and the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, welcome you to AT&T Field this season. Join in as we cheer on our team with Looie the Lookout and all of Chattanooga! lookouts.com
Hug-a-Bunny Days/Chattanooga Zoo
$ | March 29-30 / 9 am-5 pm
Hug-A-Bunny, at the Chattanooga Zoo, is a family-friendly event celebrating the arrival of spring. Zoo visitors are welcome to enjoy springtime crafts and games, like the golden egg hunt, while many zoo animals will enjoy special seasonal enrichment activities. Event admission also includes up-close rabbit encounters, candy stations, photos with the Easter Bunny and other special activities. chattzoo.org/events/hug-a-bunny
Chattanooga Burger Week
$ | April 15-21 / Times & Locations Vary
In this city-wide event, burger lovers will have the opportunity to eat their way through the Scenic City with $7 burger deals at participating restaurants, challenge their taste buds, and connect and share their experiences on social, all while being entered to win prizes. chattanoogaburgerweek.com
4 Bridges Arts Festival/First Tennessee Pavilion
$ | April 19-21 / 10 am-5 pm
This two-day, nationally ranked arts festival draws more than 12,000 people annually. It features exceptional visual and fine art from local and regional artists, a creative kids area, live music, and great local food. 4BridgesArtsFestival.org
Day Out With Thomas/Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
Starting at $27.85 | April 20-12, 27-28 / 9 am - 6 pm
Returning in the Spring of 2024. Ride with Thomas and enjoy a day of fun-filled Thomas & Friends™ themed activities! Meet trains, enjoy crafts, storytelling, train play tables, coloring, temporary tattoos, and more! Reservations recommended. tvrail.com
Battle Below the Clouds/Ruby Falls
$ | April 20 / 6 am
Amateur grillers and smokers compete for bragging rights as Chattanooga's best backyard cooks at the 7th annual Ruby Falls Battle Below the Clouds BBQ cook-off. Independent judges select the Best Pulled Pork, Best Ribs, and Grand Champion. Enjoy live bluegrass music, kid activities, BBQ, and door prize drawings. rubyfalls.com
Chattanooga River Market/Tennessee Aquarium Plaza
FREE | Saturdays, April 27-Oct. / 10 am-5 pm
Chattanooga River Market features handcrafted items from local and regional artisans showcasing their talents through jewelry, woodwork, and more. chattanoogamarket.com
Scenic City Cup/Camp Jordan
$ | April 27-28 / Times Vary
Presented by Scenic City LOC, the Scenic City Cup offers soccer clubs from all over a competitive tournament for boys and girls in U9-U19 divisions. soccer.sincsports.com
Chattanooga Market/First Tennessee Pavilion
FREE | Sundays, April 28-Nov. 19 / 10 am-5 pm
The weekly open-air producer-only market features local food artisans and farms, fresh produce, meat, and cheese, live plants, local arts and crafts, food trucks, and much more. chattanoogamarket.com
Gran Fondo Hincapie Chattanooga/Bessie Smith Cultural Center
$ | May 3-4 / 8 am
Gran Fondo Hincapie-Chattanooga welcomes cyclists of all skill levels for a weekend of riding and celebrating all things cycling. This race weekend includes a family festival, an expo, an after-party, and more. hincapie.com/granfondo/chattanooga
Jfest/Tennessee Riverpark
$ | May 18 / 11 am
Jfest is the Tennessee Valley's largest Christian music festival, and a wonderful experience for families with plenty of music, fun and fireworks. jfest.com
Spirits in the Wild/Chattanooga Zoo
$ | May 18 / 6-10 pm
Enjoy an evening of taking a variety of spirits while sampling great food from some of Chattanooga’s best local restaurants, live entertainment, and support the Chattanooga Zoo. chattzoo.org
IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga Triathlon/Downtown Riverfront
FREE/$ | May 19 / 6:30 am
The IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga triathlon leads nearly 3,000 athletes on a 1.2-mile swim in the Tennessee River, 56-mile bike ride, and 13.1-mile run. Transitions and finishes are at Ross’s Landing on the downtown riverfront. ironman.com/chattanooga70.3
Summer: June - August
Hiwassee Loop Train Trips-3.5 Hours/Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
$ | May-Sept. / Times Vary
This 3.5-hour trip takes you to the top of the famous "Hiwassee Loop" where the tracks cross over themselves as they corkscrew up the mountain near Farner, TN and includes snacks/drinks available for purchase. tvrail.com
Nightfall Concert Series/Miller Park
FREE | Fridays, May 26-Sept. 1 / 7 pm
Chattanooga’s Nightfall Concert Series is held each Friday night through the summer in Miller Park, showcasing local musicians, artisans, food, and free entertainment for the whole family. nightfallchattanooga.com
National Day of Caves and Karst/Ruby Falls
$ | June 6 / 9 am-7 pm
Along with the National Caves Association, Ruby Falls celebrates National Day of Caves and Karst! Visit Ruby Falls during this annual event and take part in educational activities, meet special guests, and take home a complimentary keepsake. This special day celebrates the important role caves and karst play in our lives and environment. rubyfalls.com
Make Music Day Chattanooga
FREE | June 21 / 9 am-8 pm
Starting in France in 1982, MMD has grown to 700 cities in 120 countries and celebrates music by showcasing a city’s local talent on June 21, the longest day of the year. Make Music Chattanooga is a city-wide celebration of music. Join us in creating and celebrating music freely. concerthopper.com/makemusiccha
Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon/Downtown Riverfront
$ | June 23 / 6:45 am
The now 40-year-old triathlon takes place in the heart of downtown Chattanooga and offers athletes a fast, down-river swim, a spectator-friendly, two-loop bike course, and a scenic run along the Tennessee Riverwalk. It is a summer race not to be missed! Trisignup.com/chattanoogawaterfronttriathlon
US Adult Soccer Fest/Camp Jordan
$ | July 10-14 / Times Vary
Adult Soccer Fest offers competitive opportunities for players of all ages and abilities to get back on the field. A week built around soccer, food, and beer; this is the largest sanctioned adult soccer event in the United States. adultsoccerfest.com
Alliance Fastpitch Open Nationals
$ | July 21-28 / Times Vary
The Alliance Fastpitch is bringing you a championship experience that is all about the players. Chattanooga has been hosting fastpitch National Championships for over 40 years and is ready to crown the 8U-18U champions. thealliancefastpitch.com
Margarita Festival/First Horizon Pavilion
$ | Aug. 10 / 6-9 pm
The Margarita Festival invites 20+ local restaurants to whip up their best margarita recipe for you to try and help crown the best margarita in Chattanooga. Work your way through your sample passport that includes many mini margaritas, enjoy live entertainment by local DJs, a photobooth and tasty food vendors. chattanoogafestivals.com/chattmarg
Fall: September - October
Lantern Tour: Ghost Walk Edition/Ruby Falls
$ | Select nights, Sept.-Oct. / Times Vary
On this special edition Lantern Tour, hear ghostly tales from Ruby Falls’ 94-year history and eerie Chattanooga legends, and visit the sites of peculiar encounters, as you journey through the cavern lit only by hand-held lanterns. rubyfalls.com
Hyperflite Skyhoundz World Canine Disc Championship/Coolidge Park
FREE | Sept. 14-15 / 9 am-6 pm
More than 120 teams of the most talented canine athletes take to the skies to compete in the World Championship. This is the premier event in canine sports featuring top teams from around the world competing in a menu of disciplines designed to showcase the talents of these amazing canine athletes. skyhoundz.com
IRONMAN Chattanooga/Downtown Riverfront
FREE/$ | Sept 29 / Times Vary
The IRONMAN Chattanooga, one of 11 total races in the IRONMAN® U.S. Series, leads athletes through a 2.4-mile swim in the Tennessee River, a 112-mile bike through the valley, and 26.2-mile run on a course that utilizes a variety of Chattanooga's scenic areas. ironman.com/im-chattanooga
ChattaBOOga!
$ | October / Times Vary
In October, Chattanooga transforms into ChattaBOOga! The fun and frights to be had are not of the typical haunted city. From terrifying ghost tours to milk trick-or treating, ChattaBOOGA! offers thrilling, chilling adventures you can’t experience anywhere else. VisitChattanooga.com/fall
Fall Foliage Sightseeing Cruises/Chattanooga Riverboat Co.’s Southern Belle
$ | Oct.-Nov. / Times Vary
Cruise the Grand Canyon of the Tennessee River and see one of nature’s most brilliant displays of color. This three-hour cruise includes live entertainment, live narration of the historical sites along the river, Pilot House tours, buffet lunch, and free bingo with prizes. chattanoogariverboat.com
3 Sisters Bluegrass Festival/Downtown Riverfront
FREE | Oct. 4-5 / 6-10 pm
Combining both traditional and contemporary bluegrass, this annual festival appeals to a wide age range and has featured some of the biggest names in bluegrass. 3sistersbluegrass.com
Cycle Sequatchie Century & 3 Mtn Challenge/Sequatchie Valley
$ | Oct. 5 / 7:30 am
With over 100 miles of scenic rolling farm road explorations, this challenge is a cyclist’s dream. Participants can choose their own adventure with 19 different route combinations and enjoy a finishing celebration with a farm-to-table lunch, local craft beer, an outdoor expo, and more. cyclesequatchie.com
Swim the Suck 10 Mile Open Swim/Tennessee River Gorge
$ | Oct. 5 / Times Vary
Swim the Suck is a 10-mile downstream open-water swimming race starting at the Suck Creek Boat Launch and finishing at the Tennessee River Gardens with a post-swim awards party. swimthesuck.org
Wine Over Water/Walnut Street Bridge
$ | Oct. 11-12 / 5-8 pm
This much-loved annual event showcases 200 wine varieties, delicious local food, and three stages of music – all taking place on the beautiful Walnut Street Bridge overlooking the Tennessee River. preservechattanooga.com/wineoverwater
Triple Crown Bouldering Series/Stone Fort Bouldering
$ | Oct. 19 / 7 am-8 pm
The Triple Crown Series provides a tremendous opportunity to promote the sport of bouldering, which has quickly become the focus of the ever-growing climbing community. Enjoy shoe demos, bouldering competition, live music, and delicious food. triplecrownbouldering.org
TSSAA Girls’ Soccer State Championship/CHI Memorial Stadium
$ | Oct. 23-26 / Times Vary
The High School Girls' State Soccer Championships are back in Chattanooga again! Bracket games will occur at various high schools throughout the city, with the championship games to be played at the home of the Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, CHI Memorial Stadium. tssaasports.com
ChattaJack31 Paddleboard/Kayak Race/Tennessee River Gorge
$ | Oct. 26 / 8:30 am
This paddleboard/kayak race is like no other! The ChattaJack31 takes athletes 31 miles through the scenic Tennessee River Gorge and celebrates the effort in the pursuit of distance endurance. chattajack.com
Winter/Holidays: November - December
Holiday Trail of Lights
$ | Nov.-Jan. / Times Vary
The Holiday Trail of Lights features eight major points of interest which include millions of twinkling lights at Chattanooga’s top holiday attractions. Enjoy a varied array of festivals, holiday events, delicious holiday meals, Santa sightings, shopping, and live music and entertainment scattered throughout the city. VisitChattanooga.com/winter
EPB’s Holiday Windows/EPB
FREE | Nov.-Jan. 1 / Open 24/7
EPB's Holiday Windows celebration continues a tradition that dates back to the World War II era. View the displays in the windows on the Broad and Market Street sides of EPB’s downtown headquarters building at 10 W. M.L. King Blvd. epb.com
Twinkling Snowflakes Along the Scenic Walnut Street Bridge/Downtown Chattanooga
FREE | Nov. 1-Jan. 31 / Open 24/7
View the thousands of twinkling lights in snowflake form along the Walnut Street Bridge, one of the longest pedestrian-only bridges in the world at 2,370 feet. chattanooga.gov/parks/downtown-river-parks
Christmas Special Dinner Train/Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
$ | Nov. 8-Dec. 23, weekends / 6:45 pm
Enjoy this special 4-course holiday dinner aboard a restored 1924 dining car. The excursion departs from Grand Junction Station and travels through areas of Chattanooga. tvrail.com
Head of the Hooch Rowing Regatta/Downtown Riverfront
FREE | Nov. 2-3 / Times Vary
Head of the Hooch, running a 3.1-mile course down the Tennessee River, is one of the largest regattas in the U.S., hosting more than 5,100 competitors ages 14-89 representing 29 states and countries from Chattanooga’s riverfront. headofthehooch.org
Thanksgiving on the River/Southern Belle Riverboat
$ | Nov. 16 & 21 / Times Vary
Enjoy Thanksgiving dinner on the Grand Chandelier deck overlooking the Tennessee River with live music and a buffet-style dinner complete with all the classic trimmings. After dinner, board the Southern Belle Riverboat for a one-hour sightseeing cruise.
Reindeer on the Riverfront & Lighted Boat Parade/Chattanooga Green
FREE | Nov. 29 / 4-8 pm
Holiday joy will fill downtown with live reindeer, Santa Claus, fire pits, face painting, holiday tunes, and more, all while enjoying the Lighted Boat Parade and fireworks. rivercitycompany.com
TSSAA Blue Cross Bowl/Finley Stadium
$ | Dec. 5-7 / Times Vary
Chattanooga will host the TSSAA Tennessee High School Football Championship games at Finley Stadium, home of the UTC Mocs Football. visitchattanooga.com/football
MainX24 24-Hour Festival/Southside District
FREE/$ | Dec. 7 / 12 am-12 pm
Celebrate Main Street and the Southside District for a 24-hour long festival held the first Saturday each December. The packed entertainment schedule includes fashion shows, parades, parties, live music, Big Wheel contest, chili cook-off, an ice-skating rink, and so much more. mainx24.com
Cloudland Canyon 50 Mile-50k-Half Marathon/Cloudland Canyon
$ | Dec. 7-8 / Times Vary
Run Bum presents its annual trail run in one of the most beautiful places to run on the East Coast. This canyon run is not the easiest race, but the views make it all worth it! ultrasignup.com/register
Discover Day/Ruby Falls
$ | Dec. 30 / Times Vary
Celebrate the 96th anniversary of the discovery at Ruby Falls! On December 30th, a select number of guests will receive the original $2 admission rate as we commemorate the incredible journey of Leo Lambert leading to the discovery of Ruby Falls. rubyfalls.com
New Year’s on the River/Chattanooga Riverboat Co.’s Southern Belle
$ | Dec. 31 / 9 pm-12 am
Ring in the New Year with great food, live entertainment, DJ, dancing, toasts, Pilot House tours, and more. Must be 21 or older and have a valid ID. Reservations can be booked online or by phone. chattanoogariverboat.com
