Downtown Chattanooga
Enjoy a variety of fun during one of Chattanooga’s many downtown festivals and events. All the downtown activities are connected via a free, electric shuttle.
- Nightfall Concert Series/Fridays, Now–Sept. 25 (FREE): Held in Miller Plaza, this series brings around 2,500 people downtown every Friday night for a free concert featuring international, national and regional talent. Enjoy food and beverages along with music genres including rock, blues, jazz, reggae, zydeco, funk, bluegrass and folk. www.downtownchattanooga.org
- Riverfront Nights Music Series/Now-Sept. 26, dates vary (FREE): This Free Saturday night music series is held on a floating barge downtown on Chattanooga’s new riverfront. Enjoy food, drinks and great music every week. Free and fee-based boat parking is also available. www.RiverfrontNights.com.
- Chattanooga Market: Sundays, April 26-Dec. 6/11 am- 4 pm (FREE): The Chattanooga Market is a weekly, open-air market where you will find fresh bread from local bakeries, just picked produce (tax free), live music, artists and artisans selling things they have made in the Chattanooga area. Held downtown at First Tennessee Pavilion. www.chattanoogamarket.com
- Swingfest at Coolidge Park/Sept. 5 (FREE): Kick off the Labor Day weekend with three, big-band orchestras playing swing and jazz music while you swing dance under the stars. A dance floor is provided, and food and drink concessions are available at this free event. www.downtownchattanooga.org
- Downtown Gallery Hop: Sept. 12/2-9 pm (FREE): View and purchase some of the most fabulous, offbeat and intriguing art in Chattanooga’s downtown galleries and artist studios while artists explain the materials, inspirations and methodologies that influence their art. www.downtownchattanooga.org
- Culture Fest at First TN Pavilion: Sept. 27/11 am-5 pm (FREE): This one-day, family-friendly festival celebrates Chattanooga’s rich, cultural diversity through music, dance, food, storytelling, children’s activities and fine arts. www.culturefest.org
- Wine Over Water: Sept. 26/5-8 pm ($): Patrons of this event will be treated to wine, hors d’oeuvres, and live music across the historic Walnut Street Bridge. Proceeds benefit the preservation of historical properties in Chattanooga. www.wineoverwater.org
- Krystal Square Off World Championship: Sept. 27 (FREE):The biggest and best competitive eating event of the year will feature one of the biggest and best bands to ever come out of the South as Krystal announced today that The Marshall Tucker Band will kick off this year's festivities at the Krystal Square Off V World Hamburger Eating Championship. www.krystalsquareoff.com
- Tennessee Aquarium’s Thrills, Gills & Chills/Daily in Oct. ($): Learn about the chilling aspects of the predator/prey relationships by uncovering the real facts about the Aquarium’s most notorious animals, such as moray eels, piranha, alligators, sharks and even penguins. Special costumed divers and gallery programs focus on the myths and mysteries of some of the most feared animals on earth. www.tennesseeaquarium.com
- Southern Belle Riverboat’s “Fall Color Cruise” & “Fall Leaf Cruises /Oct.-Nov. ($): Fall Cruises sail into the Tennessee River Gorge, where you can see nature’s brilliant canvas of fall colors. Cruises include food, entertainment, commentary and more. www.chattanoogariverboat.com
- The Three Sisters Music Festival/Oct. 2-3: Enjoy this Bluegrass festival on the Chattanooga’s newly revitalized Riverfront, featuring performances from top bands like The Greencards, The Dismembered Tennesseans and many more. Beer, food & non-alcoholic drinks available. www.downtownchattanooga.org
- Chattanooga’s Renaissance Oktoberfest/Oct. 24, 11 am-7 pm (FREE): Celebrate the South’s Renaissance city with food, beverages, art, entertainment, a parade and children’s activities throughout the North Shore District, Bluff View Art District and more. www.chattanoogarenaissance.com
- Head of the Hooch Rowing Regatta/Nov. 7-8 (FREE): The Hooch is the second largest rowing regatta in the America, after Head of the Charles. From Chattanooga’s dynamic riverfront, watch over 1,500 rowers (including the US Men’s National Olympic Rowing Team) compete on the challenging course. www.headofthehooch.org
Want to see more? View our complete Chattanooga Events calendar.