Gather on the Chattanooga Green and along the Tennessee River to listen to tunes. | Photo by Skye Blair Photography
Fall is coming, Chattanooga. With the first official day of the season less than a week away, we’ve rounded up the top festivals, events, and activities to help you make the most of it.
Festivals + fairs
3 Sisters Bluegrass Festival | Friday, Oct. 3-Saturday, Oct. 4 | Ross’s Landing | This free downtown music festival features both traditional and modern bluegrass acts.
Apple Festival | Sunday, Oct. 5 | First Horizon Pavilion | As the name suggests, it’s all about apples — from sweet treats to candles, lotions, and more.
Porchfest | Saturday, Oct. 11 | Highland Park | This is a neighborhood‑based festival where front porches become stages for live music.
Chattanooga Oktoberfest | Saturday, Oct. 11-Sunday, Oct. 12 | First Horizon Pavilion | Enjoy German‑inspired food, music, and brews at this free event — bonus points if you wear a costume.
Little Debbie Hamilton County Fair | Friday, Nov. 7-Sunday, Nov. 9 | McDonald Farm | This fair is fun for the whole family with delicious food, rides, lumberjack shows, live music, agricultural exhibits, and more.
John C. Campbell Folk School Fall Festival | Saturday, Oct. 4-Sunday, Oct. 5 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC | $10+ | Celebrate Appalachia at the 49th Annual Fall Festival with 230 craft vendors, 29 food vendors, music, dance, demos, and hands-on activities as the Folk School kicks off its 100th Anniversary.*
Monday was the start of Hispanic Heritage Month — a time to celebrate the cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. UTC is hosting a free, public celebration today at 5 p.m. on Chamberlain Field, featuring food, coffee from Buenos Días Coffee, and a live mariachi performance.
Civic
Have you seen one of these? The City of Chattanooga is warning residents about unofficial flyers from a private company claiming code violations. They may encourage homeowners to sell their property or hire them for repairs, butthese are not from the city. If you receive one, call 423-643-7307. (News Channel 9)
Concert
The Levitt Music Series is bringing free, family-friendly music to Ross’s Landing this Sunday, Sept. 21. Performances begin at 3 p.m. with Synamon Townsend, Carl Pemberton, and Reece The Truth. Dom Flemons will headline.
Sports
Hamilton County Schools have new safety protocols for all athletic events: students must have a school-issued ticket or be verified as a student to attend, and minors not enrolled at either school must be with a parent. All students will be screened with metal detectors, and bags must be clear or clutch-sized. (News Channel 9)
Try This
This weekend, kids can crawl through a cave — safely. Ruby Falls will have a cave simulator with 60+ feet of tunnels, available to guests this Friday, Sept. 19, and Saturday, Sept. 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. No additional ticket is needed.
Community
The public is invited to a free block party at the Glenwood Community Center this Saturday, Sept. 20 from 12 to 3 p.m. There will be live music, games, food trucks, and more. (Chattanoogan)
Finance
Ever imagine investing in an industry disruptor like Uber or Venmo in the early days? Well, this private company earned backing from some of their earliest investors. And until tomorrow at midnight, you can invest too.†‡*
’Tis the season for pumpkins — but this one’s on a whole other level. The Barn Nursery posted photos of a massive gourd, saying it’s twice the size of any pumpkin they’ve ever had on display. They even challenged followers to guess its weight.
So far, guesses have ranged from 300 pounds to a whopping 3,000 pounds. What do you think?
Check back with The Barn Nursery for the answer — or better yet, go see the colossal pumpkin for yourself between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. at 1801 E. 24th Street Place.
ASTR the Label’s scarf tie sleeveless sweater, newly added to Nordstrom. Look effortlessly put together as you go from morning meetings to after-work drinks in a top that perfectly transitions from summer to fall.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
795,523. That’s how many people attended the Wilson County – Tennessee State Fair this year, marking the second-highest turnout in the fair’s history.
Inside the Made in Tennessee building, fairgoers could place a pin on a map to mark their hometown. According to fair officials, there were pins in all 95 Tennessee counties, all 50 states, and 25 countries.
If you missed it this year, don’t worry — the countdown is already on for next year’s fair, set for Aug. 13–22.
‡This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving the ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public.
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