Enjoy activities like a community paddle down the Tennessee River. | Photo by Tom and Pat Cory via Chattanooga Tourism Co.
The Chattanooga Parks & Outdoors Department and Outdoor Chattanooga are throwing an end-of-summer riverside celebration on Friday, Aug. 23 + Saturday, Aug. 24. The second annual Chatt Town Cool Down will feature high-energy outdoor activities, action sports, music, and food.
The best part? All of the events are free of charge + family-friendly, so everyone can join in on the fun.
While you can check out the full schedule online, here are our can’t-miss events for the weekend:
Friday
Splash Down Kick off the celebrations with ChattSkates at 6 p.m. to bike, skateboard, or rollerskate your way into the Tennessee River. Bonus: You can watch and participate in the foam dance party at the same time.
Black Women Paddle This event is in celebration of H2O Life’s Women on the Water program, those 18+ are welcome to celebrate and join in the paddle starting at 6 p.m. at Ross’s Landing. Limited equipment is available, register to join.
Lookout Wild Films Bring your blankets to wrap up the evening watching short films under the stars — screenings start at 9 p.m.
Saturday
Paddle Parade Join fellow kayakers, canoers, and stand-up paddleboarders at 10 a.m. for a 5.4-mile paddle down the Tennessee River (from Rivermont Park to Coolidge Park). Wear a costume and decorate your watercraft for a chance to win the costume contest. Pro tip:If you go to any event, it should be this one.
Saturday has some great ongoing activities from 12 to 4 p.m. We recommend taking a trip down the foam slide, joining in on the bike rodeo, making your way up the Walnut Bridge climbing wall, and checking out the live animal demonstrations.
Bonus: Chatt Town Cool Down isn’t the only fun happening on the riverfront this weekend. Make sure to check out Riverfront Nights on Friday evening for live music + the River Market at the Tennessee Aquarium on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Jazz Futures | Thursday, Aug. 22 | 8-10 p.m. | Songbirds | Free+ | Take the stage or sit back and enjoy the sounds of local talent at this jazz open jam session.
Friday, Aug. 23
Tatsuya Nakatani | Friday, Aug. 23 | 7:30-10 p.m. | Barking Legs Theater | $15 | See this percussionist known for creating the Nakatani Gong Orchestra perform in Chattanooga for the first time in 10 years.
Saturday, Aug. 24
Urban Birding Workshop | Saturday, Aug. 24 | 9-11 a.m. | Stove Works | Free, RSVP | Take a walk around the neighborhood to learn about the birds you share a home with — bring your own binoculars.
Jewelry-Making Demo | Saturday, Aug. 24 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | River Gallery | Free | Join Nola Smodic to get an up-close look at how she creates jewelry.
Sensory-Friendly Studio | Saturday, Aug. 24 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Hunter Museum of American Art | $16-$20 | Participate in a low-sensory mixed media art class taught by local artist Ally Manno.
Sunday, Aug. 25
Chattanooga Medicinal Mushrooms Summit | Sunday, Aug. 25 | 12-7 p.m. | Crabtree Farms | $95 | Enjoy a full day of workshops exploring the medicinal properties of mushrooms.
The public is invited to join the Chattanooga Design Studio for A Unifying Vision for Montague Park plan update on Wednesday, Aug. 28. Head to the Outdoor Chattanooga Center from 6 to 7:30 p.m. to discuss the plans and provide feedback. Get a refresher.
Biz
After 24 years at its location on Market Street, St. John’s Restaurant + Meeting Place announced that it will be moving locations. Details about the new location and opening date will be shared at a later date, and patrons can dine at its current location until Saturday, Sept. 14.
Tech
The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office has released its first public mobile app + online Crime Data Dashboard. The app can be downloaded for free and features real-time alerts, access to press releases, and links to resources and services. Navigate the dashboard.
Pets
Meet your new furry friend at the Adoption Carnival on Saturday, Aug. 24 at the East Ridge Community Center. The event, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., will feature free onsite dog adoptions + carnival games for the whole family to enjoy. (The. Pulse)
Community
The Chattanooga Green will turn into a “beach” for an end-of-summer movie night on Friday, Aug. 30. The Chattanooga Parks & Outdoors Department will bring in sand, beach games, and umbrellas for everyone to enjoy along with other activities + a free screening of “Luca.”
Cause
The McKamey Animal Center (MAC) is currently in the process of rescuing “dozens upon dozens” of rabbits from an area residence. MAC is in need of donations and loving homes for some of the rabbits that will be in its care. Stay up to date with the rescue via Facebook.
Health
Did you hear that? Most hearing aids have one processor. These bad boys have two. They process speech and noise separately, so speech gets clearer and crisper. No wonder 385,000+ customers love them.*
Eat
Looking to dine out this weekend? According to OpenTable, top-loved restaurants this month include Honey Seed for food and State of Confusion for ambience.*
Be the Change Youth Initiative is one of the nonprofits that have received funding. | Photo by Brooke Bragger Photography via @bethechangeyi
The City of Red Bank has allocated $50,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to be awarded to eight local nonprofits. The organizations were chosen through the city’s recently established Nonprofit Citizens’ Advisory Board.
The funds are part of the allocated ARPA Federal COVID-19 relief dollars, and the nonprofits chosen were highlighted for their work helping residents during the pandemic.
“What better use of this small portion of our city’s allocated Federal COVID-19 relief dollars than to help our local nonprofits continue their critical assistance to the people of Red Bank,” said Red Bank Mayor Hollie Berry.
Meet the recipients:
Be the Change Youth Initiative | $10,000
Downside Up, Inc. | $10,000
Chambliss Center for Children | $5,000
McKamey Animal Center | $5,000
Northside Neighborhood House | $5,000
PORCH, Inc. | $5,000
The Learning Gardens | $5,000
WaterWays | $5,000
The organizations will provide a report to the Red Bank Commission detailing how they utilize the funds to benefit the community — so stay tuned for an update.
In case you missed it, something sweet is coming soon to Ooltewah. Crispy Cones, a soft-serve ice cream business that made its appearance on “Shark Tank,” is opening a shop off of Old Lee Highway. Don’t worry, we’ll have to full scoop on an opening date in a future newsletter.
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