Plus, Reflection Riding's Native Plant Nursery reopens this weekend.
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Today’s Forecast

80º | 6% chance of precipitation

Sunrise 7:55 a.m. | Sunset 7:46 p.m.


Let’s keep it clean, litter-ally

A serene river winds through a valley surrounded by lush, green mountains under a soft sunset sky. The water reflects the pastel hues of the setting sun, while scattered clouds add depth to the scene. The riverbanks are lined with trees, shrubs, and rocky terrain, creating a peaceful natural landscape.
Tennessee sure is pretty, let’s help keep it that way. | Photo by @tnvacation via Chattanooga Tourism Co.
March marks Keep Tennessee Beautiful Month, and TDOT’s Nobody Trashes Tennessee campaign is encouraging residents to get outside to help clean litter from our roadways.

Let’s keep it real, the litter problem can’t be solved overnight, but everyone can do their part to work toward a solution. Here are some ways you can participate.

Join an existing cleanup event
Keep Tennessee Beautiful affiliates are hosting a variety of cleanup events across the state. Locally, folks can join the East Main Street Cleanup on Sunday, March 30 + the Keep Soddy-Daisy Beautiful Cleanup Challenge from Monday, April 21 through Sunday, April 27.

Host a cleanup event
Residents and organizations are encouraged to coordinate their own community cleanup. Check out these tips to plan + organize an event in your neighborhood.

If you see litter, pick it up
Even if you’re not participating in a cleanup event, if you come across litter, pick it up — every little bit helps.

As a bonus, all residents participating in prevention efforts can receive rewards through Nobody Trashes Tennessee’s Trash Masters Rewards program.

Asked

At any given time, how many pieces of litter are found on Tennessee roadways?

A. 55 million
B. 67 million
C. 74 million
D. 88 million
Let's talk trash

Events

Wednesday, March 12

Outdoor Recreation Career and Volunteer Fair | 4-7 p.m. | Outdoor Chattanooga | Free | Learn more about opportunities to work or volunteer in local outdoor + recreational fields.

Thursday, March 13

Art Health & Climate Justice | 6-7 p.m. | Hunter Museum of American Art | Free | See a performance by local dancers that will explore the intersection of art, health, and how we connect with our landscape.

Friday, March 14

“Love and Grief: Find Me There” | 6-9 p.m. | The Historic | $75+ | In honor of its 10th anniversary, Welcome Home of Chattanooga will host contemporary poet Sara Rian for an evening of poetry and discussion.

Brass Against | 7-9 p.m. | Songbirds | $22+ | See a performance by this band known for their fusion of heavy rock and powerful vocals.

Saturday, March 15

Coffee & Cocoa Festival | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | The Colonade Catoosa County Civic Center, Ringgold, GA | Free+ | Bring the family for a day of fun trying out coffee, cocoa, and food trucks + listening to music while shopping from vendors.

Shamrocks and Shenanigans | 12 p.m. | Station Street | Free+ | Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a all-day, family-friendly block party that features a market, live entertainment, games for the kiddos, a cornhole tournament, pub crawl + more.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Announced

The 2025 Riverfront Nights schedule just dropped. The free summer concert series will return to Ross’s Landing every Saturday from May 31-Aug. 30. Notably, the festival has extended its hours from 4 to 10 p.m. + Riverfront Parkway (between Chestnut Street and Power Alley) will be closed to traffic.

Traffic

The Douglas and Oak Streets’ intersection will be closed until further notice for construction on UTC’s Fletcher Hall expansion project. ADA-accessible paths have been adjusted + detour routes will be posted. (University of Tennessee Chattanooga)

Network

Local businesses are invited to connect, showcase their products, and explore new opportunities at the upcoming East Ridge Business Expo. Get your tickets to attend the event on Thursday, April 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the East Ridge Community Center.

Arts

Arts Week — an annual celebration hosted by ArtsBuild that spotlights our local arts scene — returns from Monday, April 21 to Saturday, April 26. Local arts groups can participate in the festivities by submitting an event to the community-wide calendar. Stay tuned for the full schedule.

Cause

Tickets are on sale now for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga’s annual Women Build Brunch on Friday, April 25. The fundraiser supports the construction of the organization’s 30th Women Build home. Bonus: Meet this year’s homeowner.

Try This

Dread Hollow’s Scream Break experience will open for one night only on Saturday, March 22. Thrill-seekers can experience the haunted house, three horror-themed escape rooms, and a “Behind the Screams” lights-on tour led by the creators of the haunt.

Drink

In honor of Women’s History Month, Fifty Fifty Wine and Martini Bar is hosting its Women and Wine event on Tuesday, March 25. The evening will celebrate women-owned wineries, featuring six wines and three gourmet food pairings. Get your tickets — seating is limited.

Small Biz

Own a small business in town? Let us highlight you in our Small Business Week coverage, from Sunday, May 4 to Saturday, May 10. Plus, you can offer a deal, a limited menu item, or host a special event for our readers to enjoy. Join us by filling out this form by Sunday, March 16.

Job

Do you have a passion for all things Northern Virginia, a knack for storytelling, and a drive to engage readers? We’re hiring a creative and dynamic Newsletter Editor to join our team at NOVAtoday and craft daily, hyper-local content. We’ve got the perks just for you: competitive salary, 401K with company match of 4%, and so much more. Apply now.

Try This

Looking to build your dream team? Connect with incredible local talent right here in your community. Post your job listing with us today — the first one is free — and find the perfect fit for your team in no time.

Outdoors

🌱 Shop native plants

A plant nursery with multiple raised beds containing small potted plants, each labeled with white tags. The beds are covered with black hoop structures, and there are informational signs clipped to pipes above them displaying plant details and pricing. The ground is covered with small gravel. Several people are browsing and selecting plants. In the foreground, a woman wearing a maroon jacket and khaki pants is crouching while holding a box of potted plants in one arm and reaching for another plant with her free hand. Another woman in a navy blue jacket and jeans stands behind her, looking at a plant label. More people are visible in the background near a wooded area and a pond. Parked cars are visible further back.
Staff members can help you pick the perfect plants for your outdoor space. | Photo provided by Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center
This weekend, Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center’s Native Plant Nursery will reopen to the public, offering nearly 100 plant species to beautify your outdoor spaces.

Beginning Saturday, March 15, the nursery will be open Thursdays-Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pro tip: If you’ve never checked out the nursery before, follow the signage beyond the Welcome Center and past the main field to get there.

Upon arrival, you’ll see tons of plants to choose from — from spring blooms to late-season perennials. Check out the full plant list to see:
  • Plant species and availability
  • The amount of sun + water each species needs
  • When the plants will bloom + what color the blooms will be
  • What types of wildlife each plant attracts
Why plant native species? These plants are suited to the Chattanooga region and provide vital habitat + ecosystem services for wildlife, including pollinators, which helps preserve the area’s biodiversity.

The Buy

A pair of buttery soft joggers. They’re available in 16 different colors, including posh pastels like pink sude and mint green that are perfect for spring.
More worth The Buy

The Wrap

NOOGAtoday | Kristen Templeton wrap
If you’re hosting a St. Patrick’s Day celebration at home, Pruett’s Market has a selection of specialty Irish cheeses for your charcuterie boards. The sage cheddar is my personal favorite.

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