Weekend’s events include Fire up the Fields, Chattanooga Motorcar Festival, Oktoberfest
Watch a massive wood sculpture be set aflame and burn to the ground at Fire up the Fields or partake in a celebration of German culture at Chattanooga Oktoberfest, both happening this weekend. There’s also plenty of opportunities to enjoy the cooler weather with outdoor activities and festivals. For more seasonal events, check out this year’s Chattanooga Times Free Press fall festival guide. Otherwise, here’s this weekend’s chronology.
ARTS
› Photographic Society of Chattanooga continues its fall/holiday show at the Gallery at Blackwell, 71 Eastgate Loop. Society members will have their work displayed, and prints will be available for purchase. Gallery hours are 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. MondayFriday. The show will conclude Jan. 5. Learn more at chattanoogaphoto.org. › Mountain Arts Guild continues its exhibition “Things of the Heart” in the Exum Gallery at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 305 W. Seventh St. The exhibition features paintings and ceramics created by local senior artists. The exhibition will run through Oct. 29. Gallery hours are 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, closed Saturday and 8 a.m.-noon Sunday. Learn more at stpaulschatt.org. › Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 North Terrace, continues its exhibition “Vocabulary,” featuring the work of 27 local and national artists. The works featured in the exhibition use different vocabularies and dialogues in different artistic mediums to engage with viewers and other artists. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. The exhibition will run through Nov. 30. Learn more at jewishchattanooga.com.
› Institute of Contemporary Art Chattanooga continues its exhibition “When the World’s On Fire” by artist Kevin McNamee-Tweed at the UTC Fine Arts Center, 752 Vine St. The exhibition features more than 40 new ceramic paintings and other works by McNameeTweed. The exhibition will run through Oct. 21. The gallery is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. MondayFriday and noon-4 p.m. Saturday. Learn more at icachatt.org.
› In-Town Gallery, 26A Frazier Ave., continues its exhibition “After Dark: Illuminating Chattanooga” featuring the works of Anh Bao TranLe, a Chattanooga-based photographer. Tran-Le’s photography for the exhibition showcases the architecture, structures and waterways of the city in the light of nighttime. The exhibition will run through Oct. 31. Gallery hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m. MondaySaturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Learn more at intowngallery.com.
› Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View, will host a “Gilded Inspired Fashion” event from 6-7 p.m. Thursday. The event, inspired by the current exhibition “Gilded: Contemporary Artists Explore Value and Worth,” will be a fashion show featuring local models of color styled by Chery Jordan and a conversation about the themes in the exhibit. $20 regular admission applies; children 17 and under get in free. Learn more at huntermuseum.org.
MUSIC
› Songbirds, 35 Station St., will have three shows going into the weekend. At 7 p.m. Wednesday, Emily Wolfe with Brayden
Guerrette will perform; tickets cost $15 in advance or $18 the day of show. At 7 p.m. Thursday, Scott Mulvahill with Zach Heckendorf will perform; tickets cost $18 in advance or $20 the day of show. At 7 p.m. Sunday, Cody Canada and the Departed will perform; tickets cost $20 in advance or $25 the day of show. Learn more at songbirdsfoundation.org.
› Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors will present a free, outdoor performance as part of its Fireside Concert Series at 7 p.m. Thursday at Greenway Farm, 3008 Hamill Road. This week’s concert will feature a performance by Patrick Dugan and the Back Porch Pickers. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs, marshmallow roasting sticks and dancing shoes. Learn more on Parks and Outdoors’ Facebook page or eventbrite.com.
› McLemore, 32 Clubhouse Lane, Rising Fawn, Ga., will conclude its 2023 Songwriter Series with a performance by Marc Broussard at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Broussard’s music is described as an “infectious mix of rock, blues, R&B and funk-pop.” Tickets cost $55. Learn more at themclemore.com.
› Barrelhouse Ballroom, 1501 Long St., will have multiple shows through the weekend. At 9 p.m. Thursday, Peachtree Entertainment will present Colin Stough with Austin Williams; tickets cost $20 in advance or $25 the day of show. At 8 p.m. Friday, Paul Childers will honor Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimi Hendrix and more; tickets cost $10 in advance or $15 the day of show. At 9 p.m. Saturday, The Afternooners and Three Star Revival will perform; tickets cost $12 in advance or $15 the day of show. At 8 p.m. Tuesday, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram will perform; tickets cost $30 in advance or $35 the day of show. Learn more at barrelhouseballroom.com.
OUT & ABOUT
› Dread Hollow, 321 Browns Ferry Road, will be open through the month of October. Featured haunted experiences include Camp Dread, the Cerberus Society and Grimsby’s Slaughterhouse. There will be escape room experiences for a separate cost. Dread Hollow will be open 8-10 p.m. Thursdays, 8-11 p.m. Fridays, 7-11 p.m. Saturdays and 7-10 p.m. Sundays and will be open from 8-10 p.m. Halloween night. General admission tickets cost $25, and escape room tickets cost $15. Parental discretion is advised for children under the age of 12. Learn more at dreadhollow.com.
› Chattanooga Motorcar Festival returns to the city at 8 a.m. Friday and will go through Sunday. The festival will feature a variety of activities, including classic car showcases, live music performances, auctions and grand prix races. Most of the festivities will be centered around the West Village; races will take place at The Bend, and auctions will take place at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Tickets cost $44-$120. Find a complete schedule and more information at chattanoogamotorcar.com.
› River City Co. will host a Noontunes concert and market from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday from Aquarium Way to High Point Climbing Gym on Broad Street. The free, public event will feature live music by Bindy, artist vendors and food trucks. This week’s event is the Good Luck Market featuring tarot readings and good luck charms from vendors to even the odds on Friday the 13th. Learn more at rivercity company.com/noontunes.
› Chattanooga Brewing Co. will host its annual dog costume contest and Humane Educational Society fundraiser/ adoption event at 6 p.m. Friday at the brewing company, 1804 Chestnut St. Prizes will be given out to the best dressed dogs, and the Humane Educational Society will have adoptable dogs and information about fostering. The society will be accepting donations, and a portion of all sales will benefit the society. Learn more on Chattanooga Brewing Co.’s Facebook page. › Hamilton County Parks and Recreation will host a Haunted Trail from 6-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Enterprise South Nature Park, 190 Still Hollow Loop. This event includes haunted trails, a trick-or-treat trail, hayrides, face painting, children’s activities and more. Admission costs $12 for those 13 and older and $7 for children 4-12; children 3 and under get in free. Learn more at parks.hamiltontn.gov or on Parks and Recreation’s Facebook page.
› Cloudland Canyon State Park, 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road, Rising Fawn, Ga., will offer rangerled tours into Sitton’s Cave starting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. The two- to 2 1/2-hour long tours will have attendees crawling in mud, scrambling over rocks, encountering underground creatures and possibly wading through a subterranean stream to explore the cave environment. Attendees must register for the tour by calling the park office at 706-657-4050. Admission costs $45 per person. Learn more at gastateparks.org. ›
Chattanooga State Community College
will host its eighth annual Latin Festival from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the college, 4501 Amnicola Highway. The free festival will be a celebration of Latin culture featuring performances, activities and food trucks. The college and its community partners will provide activities and resources to help families in their educational journey. For more information, contact Libby Jenno at libby.jenno@ chattanoogastate.edu.
› Reflection Riding will host the Chattanooga Pollinator Festival from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at its campus, 400 Garden Road. The event will celebrate native pollinators and the plants they depend on, and it will feature arts and crafts, local plant and pollinator experts, children’s activities, greenhouse tours and a native plant sale. Admission is free. Learn more at reflectionriding.org.
› New Salem Community Improvement Club Inc. will host the New Salem Mountain Festival from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday at 12477 Highway 136, Rising Fawn, Ga. Join the New Salem community for this outdoor seasonal event featuring about 100 artists and crafters exhibiting paintings, pottery, wood turning, iron works, jewelry, candles and much more. There will also be a free petting zoo, tractor-driven wagon rides, a variety of foods, entertainment and an indoor exhibition featuring specially selected work from each exhibitor. The festival is rain or shine. Admission is $8 for those 12 and older and free for those 11 and under; parking is free. Proceeds benefit the New Salem Community Improvement Club and New Salem Fire and Rescue. Learn more at newsalemmountainfestival. com.
› Chattanooga Oktoberfest returns for its 22nd year from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday at First Horizon Pavilion, 1801 Reggie White Blvd. The event will give attendees opportunities to sample a variety of beer and food and watch live performances. Vendors with the Chattanooga Market, the event’s host, will be part of the festivities on both days of the celebration. The event is card only; no cash will be accepted. Learn more at chattanoogaoktoberfest. com. › Chattanooga VegFest will be from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Coolidge Park, 150 River St. The event will feature a plethora of plantbased, health-focused vendors selling wellness, beauty, culinary and other products. There will be a live DJ and family-friendly activities. The festival will share the park with the Between the Bridge Festival and 7 Bridges Marathon. Learn more at chattanoogavegfest.com. › Association for Visual Arts will host its annual Between the Bridges Festival from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Coolidge Park, 150 River St. This arts festival features about 40 local artists and live music. There will be a special Potters Alley section of the festival put on by Scenic City Clay Arts. The festival will share the park with the Chattanooga VegFest and 7 Bridges Marathon. Learn more at avarts.org. ›
Fiddlin’ Fest will be from noon-6 p.m. Saturday along Broad Street in downtown Rome, Georgia. The event will be a day filled with live bluegrass music on two stages, arts and craft vendors, food vendors, children’s activities and a car show. There will also be pony rides, sidewalk sales and a fish fry. Learn more at downtownromega.us/ events. › Sculpture Fields
at Montague Park will host Fire up the Fields at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Sculpture Fields, 1888 Polk St. The event will feature live music, drink and food vendors and will culminate in “The Burn,” in which a monumental wood sculpture is set on fire. The event is free to the public, and VIP tickets are available for $75, including access to a VIP area and parking, hors d’oeuvres, two drinks, private gallery/restroom access and an exclusive walking tour. Learn more at sculpturefields.org.
› Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors will present two movies in parks around the city this weekend. At 6 p.m. Saturday at Brainerd Park, 1010 N. Moore Road, the screened movie will be “The Little Mermaid,” the live-action remake of the animated Disney classic. There will be games and food before the movie starts at dusk; attendees should bring chairs and blankets. At 5 p.m. Saturday at Miller Park, 928 Market St., there will be food trucks, music, a 40-foot inflatable maze and more followed by a screening of “Boo! A Madea Halloween” at dusk; attendees should bring chairs and blankets. Learn more on Parks and Outdoors’ Facebook page.
› 7 Bridges Marathon will begin at 7 a.m. Sunday at Coolidge Park, 150 River St. The event will feature multiple races, including a full marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K and family fun run, to accommodate a variety of runners. Races will begin at Coolidge Park near the Blue Rhino statue and the Chattanooga Theatre Centre. There will be a live DJ, event shirts, medals, food and more. The marathon will share the park with the Chattanooga VegFest and Between the Bridges Festival. Registration costs $25-$135. Learn more at sevenbridges marathon.com.
› Collegedale/ Ooltewah VFW Post 1697 will host its Fall Flea Market from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday at Southern Adventist University, 4881 Taylor Circle. Vendors will be able to set up at 6 a.m. on a firstcome, first-served basis. The rain or shine event will take place in the parking lots of Talge and Ackerman halls at the university. Learn more on Post 1697’s Facebook page or by contacting info@vfw1697. org or 423-314-4446.
› Jewish Cultural Center will begin its 16th annual Chattanooga Jewish Film Series virtually at noon Sunday. The series will continue for five weeks through Nov. 17. The first week’s screening will be “Farewell Mr. Haffmann” about a jeweler who arranges for his family to escape occupied Paris in 1941 only to have his own attempts at escape thwarted. The film will screen virtually from noon Sunday to noon Friday and inperson at 7 p.m. Monday at the cultural center, 5461 North Terrace. Walk-ins for in-person screenings are available and encouraged; virtual screenings must be paid in advance. Admission costs $12. Learn more at jewishchattanooga.com. ›
City of Chattanooga will host its inaugural Hispanic Heritage Festival from 4-9 p.m. Sunday at Miller Park, 928 Market St. The festival will showcase Hispanic culture through food, music, dance and art. There will be a screening of the animated film “Encanto” at the park after dusk. For more information, contact ece@chattanooga.gov. ›
Crestwood Garden Club will host its first Garden Fest plant sale from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday at the East Ridge Community Center, 1517 Tombras Ave. The event will feature indoor and outdoor plants, floral arrangements, wreaths, garden supplies and gifts for sale. The garden club is a member of the Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs Inc. For more information, contact Maggi Burns at Maggitfgc@epbfi.com.
THEATER
› Ripple Productions will conclude its run of “Circuit Rider’s Wife” with performances at 7:30 p.m. ThursdaySaturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Ripple Theater, 3264 Brainerd Road. The play is a musical comedy about love, forgiveness and understanding in the Appalachian Mountains. Tickets cost $22. Learn more on Ripple’s Facebook page or eventbrite.com.
› Scenic City Shakespeare will present a production of “The Winter’s Tale” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Greenway Farm, 3008 Hamill Road. The performance is free to attend, but reservations are required. Learn more at sceniccityshakespeare.org.