Winter Events in Chattanooga

In addition to the Holiday Trail of Lights, winter in Chattanooga features an array of festivals, holiday events, Santa sightings, shopping, live music, and entertainment scattered throughout the city.

Nov
01

EPB's Holiday Windows

Nov
01

Twinkling Snowflakes Along the Scenic Walnut Street Bridge

Twinkling Snowflakes Along the Scenic Walnut Street Bridge

Nov 1st 23

Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge

Nov
01

Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland

Nov 1st 23

Chattanooga Choo Choo

Nov
04

Tangled Tinsel Holiday Market

Tangled Tinsel Holiday Market

Nov 4th 23

Bradley Square Mall

Nov
11

Christkindlmarkt

Christkindlmarkt

Nov 11th 23

The Commons

Nov
11

Holiday on Hamill

Holiday on Hamill

Nov 11th 23

Outside Area

Nov
16

Asian Lantern Festival

Asian Lantern Festival

Nov 16th 23

Chattanooga Zoo

Nov
17

Christmas Special Dinner Train

Christmas Special Dinner Train

Nov 17th 23

Tennessee Valley Railroad

Nov
17

Enchanted Garden of Lights

Enchanted Garden of Lights

Nov 17th 23

Rock City Gardens

Nov
18

Chattanooga Christmas Village Holiday Market

Nov
18

Christkindlmarkt

Christkindlmarkt

Nov 18th 23

Mountain Arts Community Center (MACC)

Nov
23

Thanksgiving at Bridgeman's

Thanksgiving at Bridgeman's

Nov 23rd 23

Bridgeman's Chophouse

Nov
24

Reindeer on the Riverfront & Lighted Boat Parade

Dec
01

Christmas Carol Dinner Cruises

Christmas Carol Dinner Cruises

Dec 1st 23

Southern Belle Riverboat

Dec
01

Richard Lloyd Group of Television

Dec
02

'Tis the Season Lunch Cruises

'Tis the Season Lunch Cruises

Dec 2nd 23

Southern Belle Riverboat

Dec
02

Holiday Market

Holiday Market

Dec 2nd 23

Chattanooga Convention Center

Dec
02

MainX24 24-Hour Festival

MainX24 24-Hour Festival

Dec 2nd 23

Southside District

Dec
02

Messiah

Messiah

Dec 2nd 23

First Presbyterian Church

Dec
03

Lodge Cast Iron Cook-Off at Holiday Market

Lodge Cast Iron Cook-Off at Holiday Market

Dec 3rd 23

Chattanooga Convention Center

Dec
03

Messiah

Messiah

Dec 3rd 23

First Presbyterian Church

Dec
08

Holiday Jubilee at The Read House

Holiday Jubilee at The Read House

Dec 8th 23

The Read House

Chattanooga Holiday Event Roundup

Some of the events listed below might be duplicates of events featured above.

Memories & Inspiration: The Kerry and C. Betty Davis Collection of African American Art/Hunter Museum of American Art  

$ | On view Sept. 30-Jan. 8, 2023   

Kerry and Betty Davis began gathering a wide variety of works by African American artists; today, their collection presents nearly 100 years of art, amassed over 35 years. The exhibition Memories & Inspiration: The Kerry and C. Betty Davis Collection of African American Art presents 67 selected works from this astonishing collection, including works by Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Sam Gilliam, Loïs Mailou Jones, Jacob Lawrence, Gordon Parks, and Alma Thomas. Through strikingly diverse media and styles, these artworks respond to historical narratives and make bold creative statements that helped shape 20th-century American art.  

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.  

Winter Wonderland/Chattanooga Choo Choo   

FREE/$ | Nov.-Jan.   

Enter the Chattanooga Choo Choo’s festive lobby to see one of the city’s tallest Christmas trees at 28 feet and enjoy the lights and cheer throughout the property create a magical wonderland complete with ice skating at Ice on the Landing, holiday music, Station Street activities, special holiday treats at restaurants, photos with Santa, and more.  

EPB’s Holiday Windows/EPB   

FREE | Nov.-Jan. / 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. 

Twinkling Snowflakes Along the Scenic Walnut Street Bridge/Downtown Chattanooga  

FREE | Nov.-Jan. / 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. 

Throwback Thursday/Hunter Museum of American Art  

$ | Nov. 2 / 4-8 pm  

Enjoy free admission to the permanent collection and $5 general admission to the current exhibition Memories & Inspiration.  

Head of the Hooch Rowing Regatta/Downtown Riverfront  

FREE | Nov. 5-6 / Times Vary  

Watch 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. The Head of the Hooch regatta is a 3.1-mile course down the Tennessee River, passing by Chattanooga’s Riverfront and Bluff View Districts.   

Spectrum/Hunter Museum of American Art   

$ | Nov. 10 & 11 / Times Vary  

The Hunter’s largest annual fundraiser, Spectrum, is one of Chattanooga’s premier cultural events. Presented for over 20 years by First Horizon, Spectrum is a two-evening event with a silent auction cocktail party on Thursday evening and a black-tie seated dinner gala with a live auction on Saturday.  

Asian Lantern Festival/Chattanooga Zoo  

$ | Nov. 10-Jan. 15 

A spectacular celebration of art, culture, and the beauty of traditional Asian lantern festivals, this will be the most unique holiday light display in the Chattanooga area. The festival will feature more than 38 illuminated lantern displays throughout the Zoo. Lanterns will feature guests’ favorite zoo animals, traditional Asian lanterns, and natural elements. Movement and interactive displays will ensure a captivating experience for guests of all ages. 

If These Walls Could Talk…An Immersive Experience/Coosa Mills  

$ | Nov. 11-13, 18-20 / 7:30 pm   

An abandoned textile mill comes to life with music, dance, installation art, aerials, projection lighting, and craft cocktails. The Pop-Up Project offers an experience for art lovers and adventure seekers to explore as a story drawn from the history of the mill reveals itself over the course of the evening.  

Sunday Studio with Memories & Inspiration/Hunter Museum of American Art   

$ | Nov. 13 / 2-4 pm   

Enjoy drop-in art experiences for kids and families, making your own work inspired by works of art in the Hunter’s special exhibition Memories & Inspiration. Family programming is generously sponsored by The Mark Hite Team.  

NOOGALIGHTS AT CHESTER FROST PARK  

Nov. 14-Dec. 31 

Experience Chattanooga’s drive-thru holiday lighting spectacular! NoogaLights is one of Chattanooga’s newest holiday lighting events that can be enjoyed by all ages. This magical event is a world-class holiday lights experienced from the comfort of your vehicle. The 1.5-mile route will be lined with handcrafted displays and thousands of lights illuminating the holiday season!  

Hair Peace: A Celebration of Black Hair/Hunter Museum of American Art   

$ | Nov. 17 / 6-8 pm   

Inspired by the imagery of Memories and Inspiration, Hair Peace is an original multi-arts runway show presented by Demetrius Seay along with a group of local African American models, artists, performers, and hair and makeup professionals. The performance will include hair, nail, and clothing designs as well as six original couture gowns designed by Romey Roe and jewelry by designer Deshonte Jackson. Regular admission applies; members and youth 17 and under are free.  

Enchanted Garden of Lights/Rock City Gardens  

$ | Nov. 18-Jan. 1 / 6-9 pm (closed Christmas Eve night)  

Journey through the newly enhanced Arctic Kingdom with lights reminiscent of the aurora borealis and meet Jack Frost or Inara the Ice Queen. The Magic Forest takes you through the center of a 43-foot tree and into a 40-foot-long archway tunnel past enchanting holiday light displays. Visit Santa in his workshop where he’s creating the Naughty and Nice list! Hear holiday music at Rocky’s Tree Farm Stage with local musicians playing a diverse lineup ranging from contemporary jazz to country to R&B. Be sure to book your Dinner with Santa that includes a traditional holiday meal, one-on-one visit from Santa and friends, and VIP admission to the Enchanted Garden of Lights.

MAGIC OF LIGHTS ILLUMINATES THE SUMMIT OF SOFTBALL COMPLEX 

Nov. 18-Jan. 1 

This holiday season will be brighter, bolder, and more colorful as the City of Chattanooga’s Summit of Softball Complex is transformed into a vibrant drive-through, holiday-themed light display! From the inside, the comfort of your own vehicle, enjoy the tour’s brand-new displays, including the 32 feet tall, animated Mattel’s Waving Christmas Barbie®, life-sized dinosaurs celebrating the season, BIGFOOT® Monster Trucks, and more. Created with over two million sparkling lights, Magic of Lights is a nostalgic and festive experience for guests of all ages. 

Ice on the Landing/Chattanooga Choo Choo  

$ | Nov. 18-Jan. 28 / Times Vary  

The much-anticipated temporary outdoor ice rink has moved to the Chattanooga Choo Choo Gardens. Schedule includes general skating time, special themes, appearances by Santa, and a rotating schedule to benefit local not-for-profits. 

North Pole Limited Adventures/Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum  

$ | Nov. 18-Dec. 28 / Times vary per date  

Enjoy a trip to the “North Pole” pulled by a locomotive with refreshments, storytelling, caroling, and more! During the return ride, Santa makes his way through the train cars to greet every child and presents a keepsake item to all the children. Dates have multiple times - check website for schedule. These trips sell out so book early.  

Christmas Special Dinner Train/Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum  

$ | Nov. 18-20, 26-27 and Dec. 2-4, 9-10, 16-18, 21, 23, 27-29 / 6:45-8:45 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.  

Thanksgiving On The River/Chattanooga Riverboat Co.’s Southern Belle  

$ | Nov. 24 / 11 am & 3 pm  

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. 25 / 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.  

Discover The Wonder of Nature on An Unforgettable Adventure This Holiday Season/Ruby Falls   

$ | Nov. 25-Dec. 24 / Times Vary 

Experience the famous thundering waterfall deep within Lookout Mountain and enjoy classic holiday decorations on the picturesque Village Plaza with magical views of the Cumberland Plateau and twinkling nighttime city lights. Stop by to visit Santa and have a professional photo taken on Saturdays and Sundays, Nov. 26 through Dec.  18. Stay for a casual meal, local craft beer, and holiday treats by the café’s cozy stone fireplace in historic Ruby Falls Castle, built-in 1929. Write your Christmas wish on an ornament and add it to the Forest of Wishes, where thousands of heartfelt holiday aspirations create a colorful display of hope, dreams, and good cheer. Discover one-of-a-kind gifts and delightful Christmas keepsakes at the Village Gift Shop. Savor the holiday season together at Ruby Falls surrounded by the beauty of nature.  

Gingerbread Workshops/Creative Discovery Museum  

$ | Nov. 25-Dec. / Times vary per day  

Kick off the holiday season with this sweet tradition. The whole family will enjoy creating sweet and sticky houses from gingerbread, icing, candy, and other sugary confections. The workshop includes hot chocolate, cookies, pre-built houses, icing, candy, and holiday music. Reservations are required in advance.  

Artful Yoga with Suzanne Sabourin/Hunter Museum of American Art   

$ | Nov. 27 / 1:30-3 pm   

Enjoy an art-inspired yoga practice with instructor Suzanne Sabourin. Artful Yoga is an ongoing series connecting art from the Hunter Museum with yoga taught by local and visiting instructors. Your $5 donation supports the Hunter Museum’s educational programs. All levels of yoga experience are welcome.  

Throwback Thursday/Hunter Museum of American Art  

$ | Dec. 1 / 4-8 pm  

Enjoy free admission to the permanent collection and $5 general admission to the current exhibition Memories & Inspiration. 

Teen Night: Battle of the Bands/Hunter Museum of American Art  

$ | Dec. 1 / 6-8 pm  

Enjoy live music and friendly competition during this teen-only Battle of the Bands. All musical acts and dances will be performed by local middle and high school students competing for bragging rights and prizes. Free and open to all guests and participants.  

TSSAA Blue Cross Bowl/Finley Stadium   

$ | Dec. 1-3 / Times Vary   

Chattanooga will host the TSSAA Tennessee High School Football Championship games at Finley Stadium, home of the UTC Mocs Football.  

PJs with Santa/Creative Discovery Museum  

$ | Dec. 2-3 / 6-8 pm  

Enjoy Creative Discovery Museum in your PJs for a fun, festive, family-friendly night with holiday activities, a meet and greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a child-friendly, light dinner.  

Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!)/Chattanooga Theatre Centre  

$ | Dec. 2-17 / Times Vary   

What begins as another annual production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL soon devolves into a slightly irreverent look at all our beloved holiday classics, including favorites like It’s a Wonderful Life, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and more. Add in topical references as three actors set out to perform every Christmas story ever told in this racy, madcap romp through the holiday season. (Appropriate for ages 13 and up)  

MainX24 24-Hour Festival/Southside District  

FREE/$ | Dec. 3 / 12 am-12 pm  

Celebrate Main Street and the Southside District for a 24-hour long festival held on the first Saturday of 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.  

Santa’s Hiwassee Holiday Train/Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum  

$ | Dec. 3-4, 10-11, 17-18/Times Vary  

The Hiwassee Holiday Train is a round-trip one-hour and 15-minute ride along the beautiful Hiwassee River Gorge featuring writing letters to Santa, gingerbread cookies, and chocolate milk.  

Cloudland Canyon 50 Mile-50k-Half Marathon/Cloudland Canyon   

$ | Dec. 3-4 / 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!  

Chattanooga Holiday Market/Chattanooga Convention Center  

FREE | Dec. 3-4, 10-11, & 17-18/Times vary  

As part of the Chattanooga Market, this market offers a special holiday theme with live music, caroling, festivities, and more than 200 vendors providing a great assortment of unique, locally hand-made items, holiday décor, and artisan foods for all those holiday gifts.  

Vision + Verse: Ripples of Memories & Inspiration/Hunter Museum of American Art  

FREE | Dec. 8 / 6-7 pm  

Local Black poets, dancers, and actors will be in dialogue about their own creative responses to pieces in Memories & Inspiration and the way their responses ripple into one another. Free and open to all.  

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical/Chattanooga Theatre Centre  

$ | Dec. 9-18 / Times Vary   

In this buoyant musical adaptation of the funny and touching holiday classic, the Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. So, when they crash Sunday school and demand parts in the Christmas pageant, the whole town panics. There’s not supposed to be biting or cigar-smoking in Bethlehem, and while these kids have never even heard the Christmas story, they definitely have rewrites. Soon everyone is calling for reluctant director Grace Bradley to cancel the whole thing. It’s up to the Bradleys and the Reverend to help their community see the Christmas story—and the Herdman kids—through new eyes. (Appropriate for all ages)  

Preschool Adventure/Creative Discovery Museum 

$ | Dec. 10 / 10 am-12 pm  

Preschool Adventure: Snow Much Fun is a great way for our youngest visitors to explore wintertime. Hands-on activities designed to engage the senses, spark imagination, and spur creativity will be available. Activities include playing with our trains and tracks in the snowy village, painting with ice cubes of different colors to create a cool winter scene to take home, playing a mitten matching game or decorating hat cutouts that you can stamp, color, or add stickers to , putting shapes together to make special snowflakes, exploring pretend snow at our Snowy Sensory Table, and more.  

Lodge Cast Iron Bake-Off/Chattanooga Holiday Market  

FREE | Dec. 11 / 2-4 pm  

The annual Lodge Cast Iron Bake-Off features our city’s most prominent and rising chefs. It’s a chance to watch live as they create culinary delights for a panel of judges. 

Sunday Studio: Mini Maker Market  

FREE | Dec. 11 / 2-4 pm  

Designed with our younger guests in mind, drop in to make fun crafts and gifts to share for the holidays or decorate your home. Each guest can make one item at each station. Regular admission applies; members and youth 17 & under are free. Admission to this program is also free with a Chattanooga Public Library card if you’re attending with children. Family programming is generously sponsored by The Mark Hite Team.  

Create and Sip: Craft Workshop  

FREE | Dec. 15 / 6-8 pm  

Experiment with and create a variety of craft projects (perfect for gifting to others – or yourself!) while enjoying a drink. The workshop is $25 ($20/members) and includes all studio materials and a glass of wine or a non-alcoholic beverage. Local artists will be onsite selling artistic gifts for purchase as well. Register with a friend or make new ones at the workshop! Spaces are limited, so please pre-register at huntermuseum.org.  

Lookout Mountain 50 Miler, 18 Miler & 10K Trail Race  

$ | Dec. 17 / 7:30 am  

The Lookout Mountain trail races begin high atop the mountain and offer a variety of challenging climbs, highly runnable sections, and moderate descents on predominantly single-track trails with the best views around. No matter which race you compete in, this will be an exciting challenge.  

Winter Camp/Creative Discovery Museum  

$ | Dec. 19-Jan. 3  

CDM is excited to offer a winter camp for children! Winter Camp is a child-centered camp where the goal is for everyone to have a great experience. Our staff is unsurpassed in providing a fun, quality experience for our campers. They have extensive experience working with campers in a variety of Museum programs. Parents can feel secure going to work and knowing their children are safe and   
happily enjoying their winter break at the Museum!  

Holiday Christmas Lights Train/Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum  

$ | Dec. 26-Jan. 8/Times Vary  

The Holiday Lights Train Ride is a festive way to enjoy the holiday season starting after Christmas Day. The train ride takes you through a variety of light displays, while enjoying holiday music, hot cocoa, and family fun activities.  

Discover Day/Ruby Falls  

$ | Dec. 30 / Times Vary 

Celebrate the 94th anniversary of the discovery at Ruby Falls! The first 94 guests to arrive at Ruby Falls will receive the original $2 admission rate, a keepsake postcard and discover some lesser-known facts and legends about the cavern as we commemorate the incredible journey of Leo Lambert.  

Cheers to the New Year/Creative Discovery Museum  

$ | Dec. 30 / 6-8 pm  

Ring in the New Year at the only New Year's party in town designed specifically for children and families! Families will have fun creating New Year's clocks at Creation Station, making noise makers in the Make It workshop, painting fireworks with forks in the Art Studio, and helping Father Time countdown to the New Year, complete with bubble wrap fireworks and apple juice toast. Join us as we say goodbye to 2022 and hello to 2023!  

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.  

Ice on the Landing’s Special Late Skate New Year's Eve Party/Chattanooga Choo Choo  

$ | Dec. 31 / 11 pm-1 am     

Ice on the Landing is the perfect place for the family to ring in the New Year. Enjoy fun music, skating, and a sparkling cider toast at midnight. This event does require a separate ticket.  

New Year’s Dinner Train/Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum   

$ | Dec. 31 / 7-9 pm     

Join the Tennessee Valley Railroad for a special Dinner Train excursion on New Year’s Eve. The trip includes a four-course dining experience usually on board a restored 1924 dining car and departs from Grand Junction Station. 

New Year’s Nightmare/Dread Hollow   

$ | Dec. 31 & Jan. 7 / Times Vary   

Scream in the New Year at Chattanooga's Favorite Haunted Attraction! This special edition haunt is open for two nights only and will be sure to be a terrifyingly great time. Not recommended for children under 12.   

Throwback Thursday/Hunter Museum of American Art  

$ | Jan. 5 / 4-8 pm  

Enjoy free admission to the permanent collection and $5 general admission to the current exhibition Memories & Inspiration. 

Body Casting and Painted Mannequin Display/Hunter Museum of American Art  

$ | Jan. 5 / 4:30-8 pm  

The Hunter’s lobby will be filled with mannequins painted by local artists to celebrate the emotions of humankind. Live body casting demonstrations by artist Ali Waller will take place at 4:30, 5:30, and 6:30. Free and open to all as a part of our Throwback Thursday evening.  

Sunday Studio/Hunter Museum of American Art  

$ | Jan. 8 / 2-4 pm  

Enjoy drop-in art experiences for kids and families and make your own work inspired by art in the Hunter’s permanent collection. Regular admission applies; members and youth 17 & under are free. Admission to this program is also free with a Chattanooga Public Library card if you’re attending with children. Family programming is generously sponsored by The Mark Hite Team.  

Drag into the New Year/Hunter Museum of American Art 

$ | Jan. 12 / 7-9 pm  

The Hunter is partnering with Chattanooga drag queen Hormona Lisa to present a unique museum-inspired drag show. Regular admission applies.  

Artful Yoga with Michael Weger/Hunter Museum of American Art  

$ | Jan. 15 / 1:30-3 pm  

Enjoy an art-inspired yoga practice with instructor Michael Weger. Artful Yoga is an ongoing series connecting art from the Hunter Museum with yoga taught by local and visiting instructors. Your $5 donation supports the Hunter Museum’s educational programs. All levels of yoga experience are welcome.  

Art + Issues: Reproductive Rights/Hunter Museum of American Art  

$ | Jan. 19 / 6-7 pm 

The Chattanooga Health Advocacy Team will explore the work of Amy Pleasant in a community and audience-driven discussion about body autonomy and reproductive rights. Free and open to all.  

Beauford Delaney and Nellie Mae Rowe Exhibition Opening/Hunter Museum of American Art  

$ | Jan. 26 / 6-8 pm 

Be among the first to see our special exhibitions Beauford Delaney’s Metamorphosis into Freedom and Really Free: The Radical Art of Nellie Mae Rowe at the opening celebration. Regular admission applies; members and youth 17 & under are free.  

Throwback Thursday/Hunter Museum of American Art  

$ | Feb. 2 / 4-8 pm  

Enjoy free admission to the permanent collection and $5 general admission to the current exhibition Memories & Inspiration. 

Teen Night: Teen Exhibit Opening/Hunter Museum of American Art  

$ | Feb. 2 / 6-7:30 pm 

A night created by our teen council for local teens to make art, celebrate the art selected for the teen exhibit, and learn more about the Hunter’s special exhibitions. Regular admission applies; members and youth 17 & under are free.  

Dancing from the Photograph/Hunter Museum of American Art  

$ | Feb. 9 / 6-8 pm 

Inspired by the special exhibition Beauford Delaney’s Metamorphosis into Freedom, the dance photography of Christopher Shaw comes to life as the Pop-Up Project dancers in his photographs present a live performance. Free and open to all.  

Sunday Studio/Hunter Museum of American Art  

$ | Feb. 12 / 2-4 pm 

Enjoy drop-in art experiences for kids and families and make your own work inspired by art in the Hunter’s special exhibitions Beauford Delaney’s Metamorphosis into Freedom and Really Free: The Radical Art of Nellie Mae Rowe. Regular admission applies; members and youth 17 & under are free. Admission to this program is also free with a Chattanooga Public Library card if you’re attending with children. Family programming is generously sponsored by The Mark Hite Team.  

Beauford Delaney’s Metamorphosis into Freedom/Hunter Museum of American Art  

$ | On view Jan. 27-May 1, 2023   

Beauford Delaney’s Metamorphosis into Freedom examines the career evolution of modern painter Beauford Delaney as influenced by the places where he lived—Knoxville, TN, New York City, and Paris. It also explores the deep friendship between the artist and writer James Baldwin and how their ongoing intellectual exchange shaped one another’s creative output and worldview. The works in the exhibition range from portraits to intense abstractions, as Delaney moved from being part of the Harlem Renaissance to embracing the tenets of Abstract Expressionism. Included in the exhibition are works by Joseph Delaney, Beauford’s younger brother and a noted painter in his own right. Beauford Delaney’s Metamorphosis into Freedom is organized by the Knoxville Museum of Art, which owns the largest and most comprehensive public collection of Beauford Delaney’s art.  

Really Free: The Radical Art of Nellie Mae Rowe/Hunter Museum of American Art  

$ | On view Jan. 27-May 1, 2023  

Really Free is the first major presentation of Nellie Mae Rowe’s works in more than 20 years and the first-ever exhibition to consider Rowe’s practice as a radical act of self-expression and liberation in the post-civil rights-era South. This vivid exhibition chronicles the life and work of Nellie Mae Rowe through her imaginative works on paper, sculptures made from found and experimental materials, and an artful examination of her “Playhouse” – the striking environment Rowe created in her home and yard on a busy thoroughfare just outside of Atlanta. Really Free features the colorful, and at times simple, sketches Rowe made on found materials and explores themes in Rowe’s work, such as depictions of women, her childhood, images of her garden, and her experimentation with materials, including recycling cast-offs to make handmade dolls. The exhibition concludes with a focus on her career breakthrough and ruminations on death and the afterlife.