Chattanooga Festival Fun

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Spring has sprung and with it come all the festivals! Chattanooga is coming alive with festival activities for late spring and summer.

Chattanooga Festivals

Chattanooga is an event town. We love and embrace them all, no matter how weird they may be. With such beautiful spaces to spread out and put on a good concert or rally around something like bluegrass or bacon (yep, read ahead…), Chattanooga has something for just about every kind of enthusiast.

Check out all of the spring and summer festival options below! 

Bug-a-Paluza 2023

April 15-16

Camp Jordan Park, East Ridge TN

Begun in 1999, Bug-a-Palüza has grown from a handful of enthusiasts spending a Sunday afternoon in the dealership parking lot to one of the largest annual VW events in the region.

Since 2008, Bug-a-Palüza has donated over $150,000 to the Ronald McDonald House, which goes to help local families of critically ill and injured children. Consider helping them even more by making a donation today!


Walnut Street Bridge Festival

April 16

First Horizon Pavilion, downtown Chattanooga

An essential part of Chattanooga’s creative capital, 4 Bridges Arts Festival (4BAF) will return to a live event this year! The 4 Bridges Arts Festival has cultivated and inspired an appreciation for the visual arts by creating opportunities for exchange between working artists and the public. The highly-anticipated, 4BAF is a juried art show that attracts visual artists from across the country and was ranked in the top 20 fine art festivals in the country. The festival showcases the distinctive talents of 140 artists and offers $20,000+ in cash awards.


4 Bridges Art Festival

April 21-23

Time to celebrate spring and mingle with your local community at the Walnut Street Bridge Festival. This is our first annual coming together with the local communities of Chattanooga TN for some:

shopping at local business vendors,
great food,
interactive children activities,
music by local artists
and much more
Come out with family and friends to one of the world’s longest pedestrian bridges in the US for some awesome fun and memories.

This event takes place on the Walnut Street Bridge right over the Tennessee River. So, put on your walking shoes and enjoy the day. Free entry. You may have to pay to park downtown or at Coolidge Par, but all are welcome.


Sweet Tea and Sunshine Festival

April 23

Greenway Park and Pavilion, Cleveland, TN

Enjoy over 150 vendors, games, pony rides, petting zoo, food trucks, inflatables, trackless train rides, entertainment on stage and more! Poppea’s Children’s Boutique will be hosting a beauty pageant for kids. Call 423.479.6116 for more info!

FREE ADMISSION! FREE PARKING! Rain or shine!


National Cornbread Festival

April 29-30

South Pittsburg, TN

Play games, ride carnival rides, and enjoy wandering through the booths that line the streets of historic South Pittsburg. Enjoy cornbread, handmade arts and crafts. Taste Southern, artisan treats like honey, fudge, and rock candies. The festival is packed with great family fun – including a Kid’s Corner with games, face painting, and inflatables!


Chattanooga Market Opening Weekend

April 29-30

First Horizon Pavilion, downtown Chattanooga

At Chattanooga Market, it’s either grown, baked, sewn or made by vendors as it’s a producer only market. Admission is always free and check the other Chattanooga market locations around town.

And even better — most weeks are themed — from peaches to tomatoes and strawberries! Enjoy some homegrown and homemade goodies right in the middle of the city every Sunday.


Chattanooga Bacon Festival

May 6-7

Camp Jordan

Join us for the Chattanooga Bacon Festival at Camp Jordan! Shop over 150 vendors, food trucks, inflatables, petting zoo, pony rides, trackless train rides, entertainment on stage, and more!

FREE PARKING! FREE ADMISSION!


Southern Blooms Festival

May 6-7 and 13-14

Rock City, Lookout Mountain, GA

Come “see” Rock City in all of its spring glory! Meet members of the horticulture team and be a part of planting the gardens. Kids of all ages can enjoy educational make-and-take activities and learn what it takes to make a garden grow!


Tennessee Strawberry Festival

May 8-13

Dayton, TN

We have something fun for everyone! Pageant, parade, carnival, and more! Check the schedule to get more details on your favorite part of the Strawberry Festival.


JFest

May 20

4501 Amnicola Highway, Chattanooga TN

JFest serves two main purposes: to provide wholesome entertainment for the whole family and to evangelize those seeking hope.


1890 Days Jamboree

May 26-27

Historic Downtown Ringgold GA

This small town street festival has been taking place for over 40 years. The event features food, arts, and crafts vendors, live music on multiple stages, a parade, classic car show, and a fireworks display Saturday night. Admission is FREE and all events are family friendly.


Nightfall

Each Friday starting May 26-September 1 (summer plans are still in progress)

Miller Plaza, Downtown Chattanooga

Nightfall is typically a free concert series held outdoors at Miller Plaza, rain or shine. Headlining acts begin at 8pm with local opening acts starting at 7pm. Last summer was virtual, but still showcased some great local talent. We can’t wait to hear what they have planned for this year!


Little Owl Festival

May 27

Audubon Acres

The Little Owl Wildlife Festival is fun for all at Chattanooga’s oldest wildlife sanctuary! The event will feature guided nature hikes, art activities for kids, wildlife and demonstrations, and much more. Check back soon for updated information.


Riverbend Festival

June 2-4

Chattanooga Riverfront

A new Riverbend experience with loads of live music on various stages. Don’t forget the festival food!


Bluegrass Festival

June 2-4

Coke Ovens Park, Dunlap, TN

Over 3 decades of bluegrass at the historic Coke Ovens Park!


National Day of Caves and Karst

June 6

Ruby Falls, Lookout Mountain, GA

Ruby Falls celebrates National Day of Caves and Karst! Visit Ruby Falls during this annual event and take part in educational activities, meet special guests, and take home a complimentary keepsake. These activities are included in regular admission and increase awareness of the important role that caves and karst play in our lives and environment.


Chattanooga Margarita Festival

August 5

First Horizon Pavilion

20 of the best restaurants in the city will bring their A game and best margarita recipe for you to try. Enjoy live entertainment by local DJs, give all your friends FOMO on Instagram and Facebook at our Margarita Fest photo booth and enjoy some of Chattanooga’s tastiest food vendors. Not sure if you like your margs salted, shaken, stirred or frozen? Try them all and discover your favorite.


Chattanooga Art Fest

September 9-10

Chattanooga Green, next to Tennessee Aquarium

Splash Festivals is thrilled to announce
that we are cruising back to Tennessee – but for Labor Day weekend (September 2 & 3)! And, this time, we are going to spread out on the Chattanooga Green, which is the beautiful space next to the Aquarium and across from the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga! This area is where visitors and neighbors love to congregate, and we know that the Chattanooga Art Fest will be the place to be!


Moon River Festival

September 9-10

Coolidge Park, downtown Chattanooga

Chattanooga’s newest music festival, hosted by Drew and Ellie Holcomb. The festival boasts top notch acts in the scenic Coolidge Park. It’s a family friendly activity with kids stations as well! Tickets will be available soon!


Chattanooga Taco Festival

September 23-24

Camp Jordan, East Ridge TN

Join us for the Chattanooga Taco Festival with over 150 vendors, food trucks, petting zoo, pony rides, inflatables, trackless train rides, entertainment, TACOS and much more! FREE ADMISSION! FREE PARKING!


Tennessee Whiskey Festival

September 30

First Horizon Pavilion

The Tennessee Whiskey Festival was created from a passion for showcasing our state’s craft spirits and the people who produce them. It’s the perfect opportunity to sample the best whiskey offered here in Tennessee.  This year – we will also showcase craft distilled products from other regions, so plan on tasting and comparing some of the best!

The 8th Annual Tennessee Whiskey Festival will take place in Chattanooga at the First Tennessee Pavillion in downtown Chattanooga on Saturday, September 30, 2023.

We invite everyone worldwide to join us as we gather and celebrate craft distilling in Tennessee.


3 Sisters Festival

October 6 and 7

Ross’s Landing

Enjoy a free music festival full of bluegrass, riverfront views, and food trucks! Sponsored by Fletcher Bright Realty, 3 Sisters Festival is a Chattanooga favorite and easily one of my favorites!

Which event(s) are you looking forward to the most? Did we miss one? Share with us in the comments!