Fall is coming, Chattanooga. With the first official day of the season less than a week away, we’ve rounded up the top festivals, events, and activities to help you make the most of it.
Festivals + fairs
Bacon & Barrel Festival | Sept. 26 | First Horizon Pavilion
Guests 21+ can enjoy bacon-themed dishes and 12 whiskey samples from local restaurants.
3 Sisters Bluegrass Festival | Oct. 3-4 | Ross’s Landing
This free downtown music festival features both traditional and modern bluegrass acts.
Apple Festival | Oct. 5 | First Horizon Pavilion
As the name suggests, it’s all about apples — from sweet treats to candles, lotions, and more.
Porchfest | Oct. 11 | Highland Park
This is a neighborhood‑based festival where front porches become stages for live music.
Chattanooga Oktoberfest | Oct. 11-12 | First Horizon Pavilion
Enjoy German‑inspired food, music, and brews at this free event — bonus points if you wear a costume.
Little Debbie Hamilton County Fair | Nov. 7-9 | McDonald Farm
This fair is fun for the whole family with delicious food, rides, lumberjack shows, live music, agricultural exhibits, and more.
Halloween events
Enchanted Pumpkin Patch | Sept. 26-Oct. 31 | Rock City
The beloved Chattanooga attraction will transform into a glowing autumn wonderland with towering pumpkins, spooky décor, and festive fun for the family.
Lantern Tour: Ghost Walk Edition | Select nights through Oct. 31 | Ruby Falls
With nothing but lanterns to light your way, walk through the eerie underground passageways while listening to ghost stories and Chattanooga legends.
Boo in the Zoo | Select weekends in October | Chattanooga Zoo
Families can enjoy trick-or-treat stations, costume contests, bounce houses, character meet-and-greets, and plenty of Halloween fun with animals.
ODDtober | Oct. 1-31 | Tennessee Aquarium
Celebrate the strange and fascinating side of nature with eerie animal programs, underwater pumpkin carving, and fun surprises all month long.
Monster Bash | Oct. 10-11 | Creative Discovery Museum
Get ready for kid-friendly Halloween fun with costumes, critters, a pumpkin toss, s’mores, and a spooky scavenger hunt.
Haunted Market | Oct. 26 | First Horizon Pavilion
Families can trick-or-treat and participate in a costume parade at the Chattanooga Market.
The Scenic City really shows off for the fall.
Photo by @zippydj
Fall foliage views
Scenic drive or hike | Oct. 27-Nov. 3 (peak leaf color window)
Check out our lists of Chattanooga’s best scenic drives and hiking trails to get the best views of fall foliage.
Fall foliage river cruise | Sept. 2-Nov. 16 | Southern Belle
This classic Chattanooga riverboat offers three-hour fall foliage cruises of the Tennessee River Gorge.
Fall train rides | Now through Nov. 28 | Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
Glide through Tennessee’s fall colors on a cozy train ride. Pro tip: The Hiwassee Loop, which leaves from Delano, TN (about a one-hour drive from Chattanooga), is considered one of the best routes for peak fall foliage.
