See Halloween decorations at the Chattanooga Zoo — like this larger-than-life skeleton. | Photo provided by Chattanooga Zoo
We’re gearing up for Halloween time in the Scenic City, so get ready to trick-or-treat yourself at these 14 local events.
🍬 Family-friendly outings
Boo in the Zoo
Head to the Chattanooga Zoo on select nights for a celebration featuring candy, not-so-scary decorations, costume shows, a bounce house, and a scavenger hunt. Ticket must be purchased online.
Odd Hallows Eve
Head to Oddstory Brewing Co. for three days of ghoulish fun. The annual Halloween Bash returns with a costume contest and live music on Friday, Oct. 25, the pet costume contest will be on Saturday, Oct. 26 + check out a vendors market on Sunday, Oct. 27. All events are free entry and for all ages.
Haunted Market
Bring the family to the Chattanooga Market on Sunday, Oct. 27 for trick or treating + a costume parade at 1:30 p.m. for the kiddos and adults.
The Chamber of Secrets has opened at this downtown bar.
Harry Potter Pop-Up
Head to Unknown Caller Bar now through Sunday, Nov. 3 to enter into the magical world of “Harry Potter.” Check out the decorations, a themed cocktail and mocktail menu + puzzles and games. Entry to the pop-up is free, no tickets are required. Pro tip: Bring a group and order the “Espresso Patronum” tower.
Bitter Halloween Block Party They say there’s a haunting on Houston Street— head to a block party outside The Bitter Alibi on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 5 p.m. for dancing and music by Shoey. There’s a $10 cover beginning at 7 p.m.
Gravedigger’s Ball
Local radio station Hits 96 will host its annual event on Saturday, Oct. 26 at Barrelhouse Ballroom. Get ready to dance the night away + make sure to come in your best costumes for a chance to win prizes. Tickets start at $15.
Conservation Meet Up | Monday, Oct. 21 | 6-8 p.m. | Five Wits Brewing Co. | Free+ | Join folks who are passionate about preservation and sustainability for networking, education, and community engagement.
Tuesday, Oct. 22
Jazz Futures | Tuesday, Oct. 22 | 8-10 p.m. | Songbirds | Donation | Jazz enthusiasts can enjoy a performance + immersive educational opportunities — all ages and skill levels are welcome.
Wednesday, Oct. 23
Noontunes | Wednesday, Oct. 23 | 12-1 p.m. | Miller Park | Free+ | Spend your lunch break in the park while enjoying food, games, and a performance by the Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts Choir.
Thursday, Oct. 24
Frights and Pints | Thursday, Oct. 24 | 6-9 p.m. | Chattanooga Zoo | $35+ | Head to the zoo in your Halloween costume to enjoy brews and wine, live performances, trick-or-treat stations, and a dance floor — this event is 21+.
Friday, Oct. 25
Disco Masquerade Ball | Friday, Oct. 25 | 8 p.m.-1 a.m. | The Hotel Chalet at The Choo Choo | $85 | Dress in your elegant disco attire + masks to enjoy music spun by a DJ, live entertainment, an open bar, and food stations by Elsie’s Daughter.
See what everyone else is talking about — “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” (playing at the Memorial Auditorium) has 1,600+ reviews on Ticketmaster. | Photos by Matthew Murphy | Photos by Matthew Murphy
Get excited, Nooga: “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” opens tomorrow.
Chattanooga bus riders will soon be able to pay fares on their mobile devices. CARTA is set to launch its mobile ticketing system in November, allowing riders to purchase tickets through an app. Riders who wish to pay with cash or coins may continue to do so. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
Community
Get those cosplay outfits ready, Chattanooga Comic Con returns Saturday, Oct. 26 + Sunday, Oct. 27 to the Chattanooga Convention Center. Peruse comic books and vendors, see panels and celebrity guests, and participate in cosplay contests. Get your tickets.
Arts
Applications for ArtsBuild’s Equity Grants for Individual Artists are open now through Wednesday, Oct. 30. The grants are for artists in Hamilton County who are living with disabilities, and applicants may apply for up to $10,000.
Eat
Local publication Food as a Verb is partnering with Little Coyote to host an ongoing Farm to Table Speaker Series. Regional + national guests will be invited to speak at the St. Elmo restaurant. The first event will be on Thursday, Nov. 14 featuring author Brooks Lamb. Reserve your free spot.
Sports
In case you missed it, tickets are now on sale for the 2025 Chattanooga Red Wolves season. Pro tip: Fans can take advantage of early-bird pricing until Friday, Nov. 8, just fill out the interest form.
Seasonal
The Caverns in nearby Grundy County will offer lantern-guided cave tours for Halloween, starting Friday, Oct. 25. You’ll hear about eerie local lore + explore cave chambers that aren’t part of the regular tours. Bonus: Check out the underground shows you can see while you’re there.
Plan Ahead
Mark your calendars, Chattanooga’s beloved tradition Reindeer on the Riverfront + Lighted Boat Parade will return to the Chattanooga Green on Friday, Nov. 29. Expect fireworks, live reindeer, a visit from Santa Claus, music, and more festive fun.
Tech
Scammers’ tactics are increasingly sophisticated — OmniWatch offers a groundbreaking layer of identity protection (think: 24/7 monitoring, full-scale identity restoration, and up to $25,000 in scam insurance).*
Category
Seasonal
🧶 The weather you’ve been yarning for
Festive sweaters are already on the shelves. | Photo provided by Catalogue Collection
It’s time to break out your favorite sweater. This week, temperatures in Chattanooga can dip into the mid-40s — and according to The Weather Channel, that’s below the threshold for “sweater weather” in Tennessee.
It’s going to warm up over the next few days, but we know it’s only a matter of time before we have sweater weather every day. If this puts you in the mood to crank seasonal tunes or chat about fall fun with your friends, you’re going to need a cozy sweater to keep yourself warm.
We recommend checking out local shops like Catalogue Collection for your new favorites, or you can peruse vintage or resale shops to score a deal on a previously loved sweater.
If you guessed 52 hand-carved wooden animals are part of the Coolidge Park Carousel in our recent quiz, you were among the 18.6% of our readers who guessed correctly. Read more about how the carousel made its way to Chattanooga.
