In a city like Chattanooga, there’s always something to do. It can get a little overwhelming, not to mention expensive, trying to find family-friendly activities.
But don’t fret! I’ve got the next five weeks covered with these free (or fairly cheap) family fun days in and around the Scenic City.
Celebrate 100 years of Moon Pies at the opening of the Chattanooga Market
Did you know Moon Pies were invented right here in Chattanooga? Known as “the working man’s lunch” they were a cheap and filling treat, sold for just a nickel. The marshmallowy treat is celebrating its 100th birthday on the opening weekend of the Chattanooga Market, with prizes and free samples to mark the occasion. If you’ve never been to the Chattanooga Market, it is an absolute MUST. Every Sunday the First Tennessee Pavilion is transformed into a bustling shopping plaza with rows of vendors selling everything from locally grown fruits and vegetables to handcrafted art from local artisans. Once you’ve perused all the booths, grab lunch from one of the food trucks and find a seat around the stage to enjoy live music. It is the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Chattanooga Market
April 29th-30th, 2017
First Tennessee Pavilion
1826 Reggie White Blvd
Chattanooga, TN 37408
Commemorate Mexico’s Victory over the French with Hits 96’s annual Cinco de Mayo bash, The Running of the Chihuahuas
Get into the Cinco de Mayo spirit at The 10th Annual Running of the Chihuahuas. Even though technically it falls on Seis de Mayo, this year promises to be the most exciting celebration yet! The First Tennessee Pavilion is transformed into a mini-racetrack, where more than 100 chihuahuas will compete for fame, glory, and a small plaque. But there’s more than just adorable pups at this shin-dig. There will be food trucks, and live music provided by Aaron Carter, AJR, Maggie Lindemann, Daniel Skye and Symon. The festivities begin at 2pm, with the first race at 5pm.
Running of the Chihuahuas
May 6th, 2017
First Tennessee Pavilion
1826 Reggie White Blvd
Chattanooga, TN 37408
Looking to beat the creeping heat of summer? Just wait for Nightfall.
Every Friday evening from May-August Nightfall takes over Miller Plaza and the surrounding blocks. The outdoor concert has been a fixture of the downtown music scene for over 30 years, rain or shine the show will go on! Market Street is shut down for motorcycle parking while the adjacent MLK Boulevard is lined with food trucks and vendors. Finding parking can be tricky, but not impossible. Bring along leashed dogs and untether the kids, the concerts are relaxed, family friendly, and frankly a lot of fun. On May 12th enjoy music from The Power Players whose style is a blues/funk/soul mashup and The Suffers, who describe their sound as “Gulf Coast Soul.” The concert is absolutely free, with plenty of seating and speakers surrounding the plaza ensuring every seat is the best seat in the house.
Nightfall
May 12th
Miller Plaza
850 Market St
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Cheer like a Chattahooligan at a Chattanooga Football Club
Grab a cowbell and join the rabid fans of the Chattanooga Football Club. The self-proclaimed Chattahooligans are almost as entertaining to watch as the match itself. The game starts at 7:30pm, but if you show up a little early you can watch the March to the Match as the Chattahooligans parade through the stadium to their own cheering section. They unabashedly support their team with catchy cheers and contagious enthusiasm. A word to the wise, I wouldn’t use the “s” word in the stadium unless you want a long lecture about the proper worldwide accepted term for the sport. This is not soccer. This is Chattanooga Football. Watch the Chattanooga Football Club nail the Birmingham Hammers May 20th. Get tickets online for $10, or at the gate for $15.
Chattanooga Football Club
May 20th, 2017
Finley Stadium
1826 Carter St.
Chattanooga, TN 37408
Step into the weird and wonderful world of Howard Finster, at Finster Fest
Celebrate the folk art scene at Paradise Garden’s annual Finster Fest. The festival is named for Reverend Howard Finster whose self-taught, otherworldly, pop/folk style won him acclaim in the art community. In 1961, before he found commercial success, Finster felt “compelled” to convert his backyard into a roadside attraction he named Paradise Garden. For decades Finster transformed trash into shimmering mosaic walkways, religious monuments, and towering sculptures filling the three-acre garden. Finster Fest celebrates the spirit of Howard Finster, who believed anyone could be an artist and anything could be transformed into art. Tickets to the festival are only $5.
Finster Fest
May 27th-28th
Paradise Garden
200 N Lewis St.
Summerville, Georgia 30747
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