The event + the numbers

• Participants will swim 2.4 miles down the Tennessee River, bike a 116-mile course into Northern Georgia + run 26.2 miles through downtown Chattanooga.
• Over 1,700 athletes representing 49 US states + 22 countries are registered to participate.
• The athletes’ ages range from 18 to 81.

Event schedule

• Today, Sept. 21 | 12-5 p.m. | Ironman Athlete check-in
• Friday, Sept. 22 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Ironman Athlete check-in
• Friday, Sept. 22 | 6-7 p.m. | Opening ceremony
• Saturday, Sept. 23 | 9 a.m. | Ironkids Chattanooga Fun Run
• Sunday, Sept. 24 | 7:30 a.m. | Ironman Chattanooga
• Sunday, Sept. 24 | 10 p.m.-1 a.m. | Finisher party
• Monday, Sept. 25 | 9:30 a.m. | Awards ceremony

Where to watch

Traffic + closures

Avoid the crowds

• Chattanooga Bacon & Barrel Festival | Thursday, Sept. 21 | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | First Horizon Pavilion, 1826 Reggie White Blvd., Chattanooga | $44-$55 | Sample signature bacon-themed dishes and 15 types of whiskey + enjoy live music and other drink offerings.

• Noontunes | Friday, Sept. 22 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Broad Street (Aquarium Way-High Point Climbing Gym), Chattanooga | Free+ | Head to this lunchtime series for a plant and seed swap + listen to live music by Karen Collins ft. Thomas Bumpass.
• Campfire Concert Series | Friday, Sept. 22 | 6-10 p.m. | Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center, 400 Garden Rd., Chattanooga | $0-$35 | Enjoy an outdoor concert by Bluesfrog & The Georgia Rhythm Crickets around a warm campfire with s’mores and drinks.
• Torchlight Gala | Friday, Sept. 22 | 7-10 p.m. | The Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View Ave., Chattanooga | $80-$105 | Spend an evening enjoying hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment, and a silent auction.

• 2023 Cannabis Music Festival | Saturday, Sept. 23 | 11 a.m.-10 p.m. | Coolidge Park, 150 River St., Chattanooga | Free+ | Try various food + CBD products from local and regional. vendors while enjoying live music.
• Ana Katarina Jewelry Trunk Show | Saturday, Sept. 23-Sunday, Sept. 24 | Times vary | Gallery1401, 1478 Market St., Chattanooga | Free | As a war correspondent in the Middle East and Europe, celebrity jewelry designer Ana Katarina’s work, travels + experiences have led her to create jewelry that transcends cultural boundaries.*

• Makers Market | Sunday, Sept. 24 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | First Horizon Pavilion, 1826 Reggie White Blvd., Chattanooga | Free+ | Celebrate local artists in the community with a special live painting + vendors “making” various crafts right at their booths.

• Chattanooga Motorcar Festival | Friday, Oct. 13-Sunday, Oct. 15 | Times vary | West Village Chattanooga, 801 Pine St., Chattanooga | $44-$120 | Choose from five ticketing options and experience the thrill of classic cars, cutting-edge designs, and high-octane excitement at the fourth annual Chattanooga’s annual Motorcar Festival.*

• Chattanooga officials plan to conduct an equity study at UTC. The study will be led by the university’s professor of public policy Marcus Mauldin to find “existing disparities in the city and provide recommendations for closing socioeconomic gaps.” (Chattanooga Times Free Press)

• The Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors Department will close the Stringers Ridge Spears Avenue Trailhead tonight after sunset + all day Friday, Sept. 22 to restripe the parking lot. The park will remain open with access to other trailheads while work is being done.

• Booker T. Washington State Park (5801 Champion Rd.) recently opened a new trail that is designed to be more ADA accessible. The quarter-mile trail has a smooth terrain, aiding those who use wheelchairs or experience other mobility handicaps. (NewsChannel 9)

• Nolan Elementary School in Signal Mountain was recently named a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School. The school was one of six to be recognized in Tennessee for its academic progress in “closing achievement gaps among student groups on assessments.”(Chattanooga Times Free Press)

• See Rock City Inc. recently received the Stars of the Industry Purple Iris Tourism Property of the Year and Community Service awards. The awards granted by HospitalityTN honor the beloved landmark organization for its stewardship + local partnerships and outreach.

• ArtsBuild has selected the 22 local artists who will form the organization’s inaugural Periscope Chattanooga: Artist Entrepreneur Training cohort. The artists will spend six months learning how to turn their respective mediums into a small business. Meet the participants.

• Want to be the best version of yourself? We’ll let you in on a secret: It starts taking care of yourself. In recognition of National Self-Care Awareness Month, we’re sharing six local ways to practice self-care this September. And ICYMI, this was part of our second edition of NOOGA Wellness. See the latest edition.*