Authored By Staff Report
After months of work at $10.6 million in public and private investment, Miller Park will reopen on Sept. 14 with a day of festivities, including an array of musical acts and other performing artists. “The city and partners have created an incredible space for our community,” Mayor Berke said. “I am excited to see how Miller Park will be a new gathering place for our creators in the Innovation District and bring about an additional sense of community for all Chattanoogans.” The Power Players featuring Willie Kitchens, Amber Carrington, a semifinalist on “The Voice,” and Voices of The Creative Underground, Ogya World Music Band, and Hive Theory will headline Friday night festivities at the grand opening of the newly renovated downtown park. The daylong event will begin at 11 a.m. with a ribbon cutting and remarks from Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke, EPB President and CEO David Wade, River City Company President Kim White, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee President and CEO Dr. J.D. Hickey, followed by music from Carlos Colon & His Tropical Swing Band and Hip Hop CHA on the EPB Community Stage. Events and entertainment will pick up again at 6 p.m. with performances on the EPB Community Stage and Miller Plaza, including an evening market with local vendors in Waterhouse Pavilion. Road closures along E. 10th St. and E. Martin Luther King Blvd. from Market St. to Georgia Ave. will begin at 5 p.m. Full schedule:
- 11 a.m.: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
- 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: Carlos Colon & His Tropical Swing Band
- 12:45-2 p.m.: Hip Hop CHA
- 2-6 p.m.: Park open
- 6-6:10 p.m.: Mayor Andy Berke remarks (EPB Community Stage)
- 6 p.m.-8 p.m.: Miller Plaza Market opens
- 6:15 p.m.: Hive Theory (EPB Community Stage)
- 7:15 p.m.: Ogya World Music Band (Miller Plaza Stage)
- 8:30-10 p.m.: The Power Players feat. Voices of The Creative Underground, Willie Kitchens, Amber Carrington and more (EPB Community Stage)
In addition to the concerts, the opening will also feature a variety of performance artists — Dollies of Fire Troupe, Veridian Bellydance of Movement Arts Collective, The Jugglers Assembly, aerialists and an interactive LED light installation by The Enterprise Center and CHA Art/Dev. On Saturday, Sept. 15, Public Art Chattanooga will hold its final input session for the CHA Creates public art plan at Miller Park from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
