MainX24 back for another 24 hours of festivities
Festival adds fire works, tour of homes this year
MainX24, a one-of-a-kind street festival that began as a grass-roots effort, returns for its 11th year on Saturday, Dec. 2.
This 24-hour block party stretches along East and West Main streets in Chattanooga’s burgeoning Southside neighborhood. From 8 a.m. Saturday through Sunday morning there will be street buskers, concerts, a Christmas parade, tastings, Big Wheel race for adults, woodland creature petting zoo for kids and food and drink specials in Southside bars and restaurants.
The purpose of the street fair is to draw awareness to the revitalization of this urban neighborhood and celebrate that change. Existing Main Street businesses, organizations and individuals (neighbors) partner to plan events of their choosing. The outdoor party is free to all, but some individual activities will require tickets/ fees.
More than 100 events are scheduled on Saturday, beginning with the annual pancake breakfast in Fire Hall 1. Organist Buddy Shirk says he will entertain breakfast guests with holiday tunes at the fire hall before playing for the Main Street Parade and Mutt Strutt at 10:30 a.m.
The festival will continue with performers in the streets, music in the air, poetry, caroling, music, dancing, afternoon Nerf and Human Foosball bat-tles, food and fun for all ages leading up to the new GreenTech Homes fireworks show at 7 p.m. MainX24 publicist Kelly Allen says the best views of those sparklers will be along Station Street adjacent to the Chattanooga Choo Choo.
For a complete list of events www.mainx24.com.
MAIN X 24 EVENT
8:30-11 a.m. Pancake Breakfast, Fire Hall 1, 218 E. Main St., $5 donation gets all the pancakes you can eat plus a drink, benefits Forgotten Child Fund. Donation
of a new, unwrapped toy or a child’s jacket is requested.
9 a.m. Improv Around the Clock, Improv Chattanooga, 1800 Rossville Ave. Free 30-minute improv comedy shows presented every two hours.
9 a.m.-7 p.m. South for the Winter Vendor Market, Center MedSpa, 320 E. Main St. Shop local vendors in parking lot.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tours, Tunes & Toddies, Songbirds Guitar Museum, 35 Station St. Free tours, live music on the balcony, food and drinks sold.
10:30 a.m. Mutt Strutt and MainX24 Parade, lineup at corner of Jefferson Street and
Rossville Avenue. Pet owners ages 12 and older invited to bring their leashed dogs and walk with group in Main Street Parade. Parade will depart from lineup intersection, up Jefferson to Main, turn left and head to intersection of Main and Williams streets. Dog walkers must bring waste bags and pick up after their pets; dogs must not be skittish in crowds with sirens/ horns blowing.
11 a.m. Star Line Books Story Hour, 1467 Market St., free.
11:30 a.m. World Heavy Weight Chili Championship, OCI, 326 E. Main St., $8 all you can eat chili, $2 beer, $5 Bloody Marys, 20 teams compete in benefit for
GreenSpaces.
Noon. Sidewalk stages featuring street performers.
1-4 p.m. Adult Big Wheel Race, Chattanooga Choo Choo, 1400 Market St.
1-4 p.m. Human Foosball Tournament, Kyle House Fitness, 525 W. Main St. Each team required to have five members, each team competes for 15 minutes and winner advances to next competitor in bracket.
1:30-2:30 p.m. Muse on Main, Dance Tonight Chattanooga, 46 E. Main St. Adults enact 10-minute plays written by area children.
2 p.m. Family Carnival and Pictures with Santa, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 1201 E. Main St. Bring nonperishable food item to donate and get picture with Santa (one item per child).
3-6 p.m. Razzle Dazzle Sideshow Spectacular, Granfalloon, 400 E. Main St., $10. Family-friendly sideshow acts including belly dance, acrobatics and fire show.
4-5 p.m. All Ages Hypnosis Show, The Comedy Catch, 1400 Market St., $5. Hypnotist Gary Conrad also performs at 7:30 and 10 p.m., $17.
6-7:30 p.m. Caroling, depart from Hart Gallery parking lot, 110 E. Main St.
7 p.m. Fireworks show.
8 p.m.-3 a.m. TMD Presents: Smokehouse 2, The Crash Pad, 29 Johnson St., $5. Must be 21 or older to attend hip-hop dance party with visual projections, art installations, goodies, pop-up shop and more.
11:30 p.m. The Queens Present: Twisted Holidays Drag Show, Revelry Room, 41 Station St., $12.
Midnight- 6 a.m. Escape-athon, Escape Experience Chattanooga, 1800 Rossville Ave., discount offered on $28.50 admission. Guests given two hours to complete three escape rooms. Reservations required: 423-551-3306.