Enjoy a variety of fun during one of Chattanooga's downtown festivals and events, many surrounding the riverfront and one of the nations' top-rated aquariums. All the downtown activities are connected via a free, electric shuttle. Events in the Lookout Mountain and outlying areas are only 5-20 minutes from downtown Chattanooga.
Downtown Area
• Chattanooga Market: Sun, Now-Dec. 4 (FREE): Chattanooga Market is a weekly, open-air market offering fresh bread from local bakeries, just picked produce (tax free), live music, artists and artisans selling things they have made in the Chattanooga area. www.chattanoogamarket.com
• Culture Fest @ Chattanooga Market/Oct. 2 (FREE): A one-day, family-friendly festival celebrating Chattanooga's rich, cultural diversity through music, dance, food, storytelling, children's activities and fine arts. Held at First TN Pavilion. www.culturefest.org
• RiverRocks 10-day Outdoor Festival-100+ events, sports, music & fun/Sept. 30-Oct. 9 ($/FREE): Events include hot air balloon rides, Three Sisters Bluegrass Festival (Sept. 30), Wine Over Water wine & food festival (Oct. 1), kids events, film fest, live music, hiking, cycling, rock climbing, hang gliding, paddling, obstacle course races and more. www.riverrockschattanooga.com
• 10th Annual Oktoberfest @ the Chattanooga Market/Oct. 22-23 (FREE): Oktoberfest celebration held at First Tennessee Pavilion, featuring live German music, German foods, Bier Garten and plenty of entertainment for the whole family. The market will host over 30,000 people for this two-day event. www.chattanoogaoktoberfest.com
• Track 29 NEW music venue/Ongoing ($): Track 29 is the newest premiere entertainment venue to open in Chattanooga! Located on the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo campus, Track 29 is hosting national and local bands of diverse music genres to satisfy audiences across the region. Upcoming shows include Paper Diamond, Ghostland Observatory, Brett Dennen and Marc Broussard. Full schedule online at www.track29.co
Lookout Mountain & Outlying Areas
• Rock City Gardens' Enchanted MAiZE Maze/Now-Oct. 30 ($): 10-acres of fall fun including a labyrinth of twists and turns in an amazing cornfield maze, hayrides, playground, special 3D "Forest of Fear" and ghost stories next to the bonfire. www.enchantedmaze.com
• Rock City Gardens' Forest of Fear/Sept. 30-Oct. 30, Fri & Sat ($):You must choose...Unlike other haunts, the Forest of Fear features multiple pathways where every journey through these cursed woods and swamplands leads to a different experience. The cornfield of screams, the endless dark passages..where you end up is up to you. www.blowingscreamsfarm.com
• 6th Annual Rocktoberfest @ Rock City Gardens/Sat & Sun in Oct. ($): Rock City shares their German heritage with German live music, Bratwurst, Polish Sausage, Sauerkraut and a polka stage for the "chicken dance." Specialty beer will be on tap. www.seerockcity.com/rocktoberfest
• Prater's Mill Country Fair/Oct. 8-9 ($): Features an authentic, working gristmill at this old-fashioned country fair along with lots of family fun, arts, crafts, food, and entertainment in a breathtaking North Georgia setting. www.pratersmill.org
• Ketner's Mill Country Arts Fair/Oct. 15-16 ($): Annual fair featuring family fun, live music, living history, country cooking, fine crafts and canoeing. The fair was listed on Sunshine Artists Top 200 traditional crafts fairs nationally. www.ketnersmill.org
For all events, visit www.chattanoogafun.com/events/