EVENT ROUNDUP
The Christmas season has kicked into high gear, with parades, tree lightings and other celebrations on the calendar this week.
PARADES, FESTIVITIES
› Cleveland, Tenn.: A Classic Christmas in Cleveland includes a tree lighting 6-8 p.m. Friday at the old post office, 155 Broad St. NW. The parade is at 6 p.m. Saturday from Bradley Central High School, 1000 S. Lee Highway, traveling north on Highway 11, east on Third Street, north on Ocoee Street, south on Broad Street, west on Inman Street and south on Highway 11 back to the high school.
› Collegedale: The Tractor Swing, featuring festively decorated tractors, is 5:30-9 p.m. Sunday at Collegedale Commons, 4950 Swinyar Drive. Children can play farm-themed games 6-8 p.m., and Emerald Butler and Fastgrass will perform holiday music 7-9 p.m. Santa will pose for photos 6-7 p.m. inside a life-size snow globe. Tasty Yum Yum will have concessions for sale. 423-468-1971
› Cowan, Tenn.: “An All-American Christmas” parade will start at 1 p.m. Saturday from the old Cookie’s Market, 415 W. Cumberland St., traveling through town to end at Cowan Elementary School, 501 E. Cumberland St. The Christmas Market at Monterey Station, 104 Monterey St., will be open 4-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.4 p.m. Saturday (all times are Central).
› Dalton, Ga.: Downtown Dalton Christmas parade is 6-8 p.m. Thursday with the theme “The Many Blessings of Christmas.” Route starts at the intersection of Jones and Waugh streets, then goes east on Waugh to Hamilton Street, south to Morris Street, west to Thornton Avenue, north to Crawford Street, then west to end at Harmon Field.
› Dayton, Tenn.:
Christmas at the Courthouse starts at 2 p.m. Saturday around the Rhea County Courthouse, 1475 Market St. Vendors, entertainers and Santa are part of the festivities. A horseand-carriage parade begins at 4 p.m. 423-775-9847.
› Jasper, Tenn.: The Christmas parade through downtown starts at 6 p.m. CST Saturday. marioncountychamber.com
› LaFayette, Ga.: The Christmas parade is at 6 p.m. Friday, starting at Ace Hardware, 512 S. Main St., and traveling north on Main through the square, then onto Margaret Street to the parking lot at the old LaFayette High School. After the parade, Santa stops at the gazebo at Joe Stock Memorial Park, 208-B N. Main St., for free photos. 706-639-1550.
› Lakesite: The Christmas tree lighting, at 6 p.m. Saturday at City Park, 9201 Rocky Point Road, includes an appearance by Santa Claus, refreshments, ornament making and other crafts. 423-842-2533
› Monteagle, Tenn.:
The Christmas parade, with a “Hard Candy Christmas” theme, is at 5 p.m. CST Saturday from the Monteagle VFW, 8134 Highway 41. Refreshments and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus follow at Harton Park on College Street.
› Red Bank: The Christmas Parade and Festival are 4-8 p.m. Friday. Craft and food vendors will be set up at Red Bank City Park, 3817 Redding Road. The parade starts at 6 p.m., traveling on Dayton Boulevard from East Leawood Avenue to Unaka Street. redbanktn.gov
› Ringgold, Ga.: Down Home Christmas events kick off with a parade on Nashville Street at 6 p.m. Friday. A Christmas Expo will be open 5-9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at Ringgold Depot, 155 Depot St., and the Ringgold Market Pavilion, 96 Depot St. Elsewhere in Ringgold, look for Santa in the Park, to make photos and share wish lists, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at Jack Mattox Park, 941 Pine Grove Road. Vendors will have merchandise for sale, and kids can take part in a candy cane hunt and make ornaments. cityofringgold ga.gov, catoosarec.com
› Soddy-Daisy: The Christmas parade kicks off at 2 p.m. Sunday, traveling north on Dayton Pike from Harrison Lane to Sequoyah Access Road. Included are floats, marching bands, dancers, decorated vehicles and an appearance by Santa Claus. soddy-daisy.org, vva942.com
› South Pittsburg, Tenn.: The city’s Christmas in the Burg celebration is Saturday, starting with Pancakes & PJs at 8:30 a.m. in the Princess Theatre, 215 S. Cedar Ave., followed by the Christmas parade at 10 a.m. through downtown, a business scavenger hunt at 11 a.m., Christmas movies starting at noon at Princess Theatre; carolers from noon to 6 p.m. at the Tower Stage and fountain; and lighting of the Christmas tree at Tower Stage at 7 p.m. (all times are Central). At the American Legion, 300 Elm Ave., the 12th Judicial Children’s Advocacy Center will have a Christmas Bazaar, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., that includes breakfast and photos with Santa; the cost of breakfast is $5-$10.
OUT & ABOUT
› Coats for Kids: This project benefiting the Forgotten Child Fund, the charity organization of Hamilton County Emergency Services, will be set up 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday in the parking lot at Hamilton Place, 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd. (signs will be posted). Representatives will be collecting new coats, hats and gloves for needy kids, plus financial donations for additional purchases. hamiltonplace. com
› BlueCross Bowl: The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association’s high school football championships take place Thursday through Saturday at Finley Stadium, 1826 Carter St. Games are scheduled at 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. daily. Tickets are $15 at the gate; on-site parking is $10. tssaasports.com/ football
› Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center, 400 Garden Road, hosts a Framework for the Future Walk-Through at noon Friday. This is a guided vision walk to
learn upcoming plans for the property. It’s free, but register. reflectionriding. org
› Santa’s arrival is scheduled Friday, with photo-ops from noon to 7 p.m., at Dalton Mall, 816 Walnut Square Blvd. in Dalton, Ga. He’ll be on duty daily (hours vary) through Christmas Eve. daltonmall.com
› PJs With Santa, a chance for children to share their wish lists, decorate cookies, create snow globes and make holiday cards, is 5:30-8 p.m. Friday at Creative Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut St. $20-$25. cdmfun.org
› Christmas Candlelight Tours of the antebellum Gordon Lee Mansion, 217 Cove Road in Chickamauga, Ga., are scheduled 6-8 p.m. the next two Fridays and Saturdays. The self-guided tours include period music and decorations, ginger cookies and hot apple cider. $1-$5. friendsofthegordonlee mansion.org
› The Comedy Catch, 29 Station St., welcomes J Bliss for shows at 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Friday and at 7:30 p.m Saturday. $17-$19. thecomedycatch.com
› Drive-Thru Christmas Lights will be open 6-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 6-9 p.m. Sundays in December (closed Christmas Day) at the Rhea County Fairgrounds, 290 Harold Robbins Lane in Evensville, Tenn. Cost is $10 per car. On Saturdays only, visitors may park to make photos with Santa and the Grinch, buy concessions and take a wagon ride ($1). Facebook.com/ Events
› MainX24 : This 24-hour festival on Main Street on Chattanooga’s Southside is powered by dozens of events, including a parade, chili cookoff, concerts and pop-up crafts. Festivities get underway at 8 a.m. Saturday. mainx24.com
› Wauhatchie Boulderfest, an open-to-all community climbing day, is 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at the Lookout Mountain Conservancy’s Wauhatchie Boulders, 1832 Old Wauhatchie Pike. Beginners are welcome. $20 suggested registration fee. lookoutmountain conservancy.org
› Book signing: Local author David Carroll signs copies of “Hello Chattanooga: Famous People Who Have Visited the Tennessee Valley” at two Food City locations Saturday: 11 a.m.-noon at 3801 Tennessee Ave. in St. Elmo; 1-2 p.m. at 531 Battlefield Parkway in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. chattanooga radiotv.com
› Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl, among bars on Chattanooga’s North
Shore, is 2-10 p.m. Saturday (check-in is 2-4 p.m.). The inaugural event includes drink specials, holiday music and an after-party. $18 includes souvenir shirt; $15 for groups. barcrawlusa.com/ chattanooga
› Holiday on Highway 58 includes an afternoon of children’s activities, food, crafts, personalized ornaments and a holiday painting and decorating station noon-5 p.m. Saturday at Craft House Studios, 5036 Highway 58. Facebook.com/Events
› Christmas Village: This vendor marketplace, scheduled 5-8 p.m. Saturday at Abba’s House, 508 Hixson Pike, will include local choirs and bands, children’s activities, photos with Santa, food trucks, free hot chocolate and door prizes. abbas house.com
› Holiday Market,
featuring local vendors, food, cocktails, cookie decorating, games for kids and a photo booth, is 11 a.m.7 p.m. Saturday at Bode Chattanooga, 730 Chestnut St. A visit by a Christmas elf is set for 1-3 p.m. Participants may donate canned goods to Chattanooga Area Food Bank for a free beer. Eventbrite.com
› Brew Lights, presented by Great Beer Events, is 6-9 p.m. Saturday at Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave. Ticketholders can enjoy kid-free access to the zoo’s holiday lights display, craft beer, local vendors, food trucks and holiday remixes played by DJ Santa. $40$45. chattzoo.org
› Holiday Market,
Chattanooga Market’s festive finale, is the next three weekends inside the Chattanooga Convention Center, 1 Carter Plaza. More than 200 arts, crafts and food vendors have goods available. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays. Free admission. chattanooga market.com
› Moravian Love Feast, a Christmas service of song, symbol and candlelight based on Moravian traditions, is 5:30-7 p.m. Sunday at First Christian Church Chattanooga, 650 McCallie Ave. The University of Tennessee Trombone Choir and other musicians will lead the carols. Masks are required. Facebook.com/ events
› Pet photos with Santa are scheduled 4-7 p.m. Monday at Hamilton Place, 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd., and Northgate Mall, 271 Northgate Mall
Drive. In Cleveland, Tenn., Monday is the final opportunity for pet photos with Santa at Bradley Square Mall, 200 Paul Huff Parkway. Pets are welcome all day.
› Mocs Night with Santa, when the big guy changes into a blue and gold suit, is 4-7 p.m. Tuesday at Hamilton Place, 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd. UTC mascot Scrappy also will be on hand. A session is scheduled the following week at Northgate Mall.