Explore the Arctic Kingdom display at Rock City Gardens. | Photo provided by See Rock City, Inc.
We may not get a white Christmas here in the Scenic City, but if one thing’s for sure, it’s going to be a bright one. Check out these neighborhoods, local businesses, and parks that are bringing extravagant displays of holiday lights to Chattanooga.
Enchanted Garden of Lights Walk through this winter wonderland featuring over one million LED lights every night now through Saturday, Jan. 4.
Scenic City Lights This drive-up show features thousands of LED lights + has a given radio station for an immersive holiday experience.
Christmas Lights on Jason Drive Pile in your car to see this neighborhood’s impressive lights displays — lights come on at 5:30 p.m. and turn off at 10:30 p.m.
Meadow Stream Lights Take a trip to this neighborhood in nearby Ooltewah for a holiday lights show tuned to music that features over 20,000-pixel lights.
Lunch & Learn | 12-1:30 p.m. | UTC Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship | Free, RSVP | Learn practical approaches for controlling costs without sacrificing growth with HHM’s Blake Kinder.
Wednesday, Dec. 11
Sharon Schwab | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Barking Legs Theater | $10 | See this vocalist perform with the David Schwab Quartet for an evening of jazz + holiday music.
Thursday, Dec. 12
Coffee Walk | 6:30-9 a.m. | Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center | $13+ | Enjoy an early morning, guided walk with the center’s senior naturalist.
Friday, Dec. 13
Candlelight: Christmas Special | Times vary | First Cumberland Presbyterian Church | $35+ | Listen to holiday music from works like “The Nutcracker,” performed under the glow of candlelight.
Saturday, Dec. 14
Tree Planting Event | Saturday, Dec. 14 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Tatum Park | Free, RSVP | Join the Nooga Night Rotary Club to plant trees in the Highland Park + Orchard Knob neighborhoods — dress accordingly.
Meet The Flats: Nooga’s newest luxe apartment community
Presented by The Flats at Southside Gardens
Just imagine sipping coffee + walking to the Tennessee Riverwalk on a weekend morning. | Photos provided by The Flats at Southside Gardens
The best gift this holiday season? A stunning new space to call your own.
Enter:The Flats at Southside Gardens — a community of brand-new, thoughtfully designed one-bedroom apartments filled with upscale finishes and lifestyle amenities.
Here’s what you’ll love about this sparkling space:
Brand-new everything: Including stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and soaking tubs.
Natural light galore: Oversized windows with stunning mountain views.
Outdoor spaces: Large private balconies, perfect for sipping + unwinding.
Convenience built-in: In-home washer and dryer, onsite storage, and gated parking.
Prime location: Just a couple of blocks from the new stadium site in the works, with easy access to the Riverwalk, dining, and shopping in South Broad, Downtown, and Southside.
The community is also fully pet-friendly, with secure access control for peace of mind.
Psst…Take advantage of The Flats’ limited-time special offer and get $1,000 off your first month’s rent before the end of the year. Now that’s what we call holiday magic.
The Plan Hamilton County review has been deferred to Monday, Jan. 13, following community feedback + evaluation. Folks can still review the updated documents and share their feedback online before officials present the findings to the Planning Commission.
Try This
You’ve heard of green eggs and ham, but what about pancakes? This Saturday, Dec. 14 at 10 a.m., you can grab your tickets for Pancakes with the Grump at Ice on the Landing, featuring ice skating, breakfast, a live performance, and photo opportunities.
Cause
Peace Corps will host a free application workshop at the Chattanooga Public Library’s downtown branch on Monday, Dec. 16. From 3 to 4:30 p.m., you can stop by the fourth-floor event space to learn more about volunteer opportunities + the online application process.
Edu
All K-12th grade Hamilton County students are invited to enter SoLit’s Young Southern Student Writers Contest. Original entries in poetry + prose will be accepted until Wednesday, Jan. 15. The winners will be recognized with medals, an award ceremony, and an online publication.
Arts
HART Gallery will host an art show featuring the works by local artist John Coniglio on Friday, Dec. 13. Swing by the gallery beginning at 6 p.m. for light refreshments and to see “Steam in the Valley,” which highlights the world of trains + their history in Chattanooga.
Health
Expecting in 2025? Tennova Healthcare in nearby Cleveland made US News & World Report’s “2025 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.” Hospitals were evaluated based on their performance in areas like newborn complication rates and transparency regarding racial disparities.
History
Talk about historical — check out the finalists for our NOOGAtoday historical markers contest. Vote for your favorite historic location by tomorrow, Dec. 11 + be sure to read our newsletter on Friday, Dec. 13 to see which location our readers determined should get the recognition it deserves.
Finance
New year, new wheels? Now through Tuesday, Dec. 31, TVFCU is offering auto loans at 4.99% APR on new vehicles and no payment for the first 90 days. Click to learn more + snag this deal.*
Plan Ahead
There are only a few weeks left in 2024. Use the remainder of your end-of-year budget + get your business in front of thousands. For a limited time, take 25% off ads in our self-service ad portal when you use promo code 2025 at checkout.
Category
Arts
Get your start in local art
Get hands-on experience working for local art organizations like Signal Center’s HART Gallery. | Photo by NOOGAtoday
Calling all college students + recent graduates. If you’re interested in pursuing a career in arts and culture, ArtsBuild’s Opportunity Fellows program is now open for applications.
The program is a 10-week paid work experience that pairs you with a local arts organization from February through April. Think: Working with folks from River City Co., HART Gallery, Chattanooga Tourism Co., and the City of Chattanooga’s Office of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy.
During the program, fellows will also be trained in professional development, networking, and community engagement experiences + will develop a summary report of their experiences.
Interested in applying?Submit your application online by Thursday, Jan. 16 at 5 p.m. — early applications are encouraged. Pro tip: You can scroll through each organization’s work plan for fellows to see which opportunity is right for you.
The Buy
The Buy
A meaningful gift that will surprise and delight: a hidden photo bracelet. Customize with the photo of your choice — the gift recipient can hold it up close to their eyes to see it, or project it on the wall with their phone’s flashlight.
I’m still buzzing from all the MAINx24 excitement from this past weekend. I’m so glad we got to enjoy this year’s parade without any rain + consider this my plea for Oddstory Brewing Co. to make the gochujang fries a permanent menu item.
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