LookoutChatt
Your Weekly Guide to Chattanooga
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The bluegrass world lands in Chattanooga this weekend. IBMA Bluegrass Live! brings Leftover Salmon, Sierra Ferrell, Michael Cleveland & Friends, Della Mae, and more to downtown Chattanooga Friday and Saturday, while Miller Park fills with free pickin' all day Saturday.
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But that's just the centerpiece. Friday brings Camp Fear, Boo in the Zoo, comedy, Rocky Horror, a special Chattanooga Whiskey release, and late-night bluegrass. Saturday has Pickin' in the Park, Between the Bridges, Fire Up the Fields, and another full night of IBMA. Sunday slows things down just a little with Chattanooga Bluegrass at the Market, Jazz Fest, puppy brunch, and Chattanooga FC hosting an Eastern Conference playoff semifinal at Finley Stadium.
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A lot of this weekend is free. It's a lot. Pick your spots. Here's everything worth doing. 👇
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Please check each event's link for the latest times, ticket availability, and details before heading out.
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🗓️ Running More Than One Day
Three Things You Can Fit In Around Everything Else
🦁 Boo in the Zoo. Trick-or-treating throughout the Chattanooga Zoo, character meet and greets, costumes, a bounce house, candy, and family-friendly Halloween fun. Tickets are sold online only with timed entry, so book ahead.
Fri 10/23 & Sat 10/24 · 4:00–8:00 PM
📍 Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N Holtzclaw Ave
💰 $11.95 members · $17.95 ages 3–12 · $20.95 adults · ages 2 & under free with reservation
🎨 Between the Bridges. More than 50 local visual artists fill Coolidge Park for the Association for Visual Arts' annual fall festival, including a pottery area.
Sat 10/24 · 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Sun 10/25 · 12:00–5:00 PM
📍 Coolidge Park, 150 River St, Northshore
💰 FREE
🎻 IBMA World of Bluegrass. Chattanooga becomes bluegrass central this week, with showcases, musicians, industry events, and public festival programming happening around downtown.
Friday & Saturday
📍 Downtown Chattanooga / Convention Center area
💰 Many public events are FREE
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⭐ The Big One
IBMA Bluegrass Live!
The International Bluegrass Music Association's festival takes over downtown Chattanooga for two nights. The lineup includes Leftover Salmon, Sierra Ferrell, Michael Cleveland & Friends, Della Mae, Jason Carter Band, Lonesome River Band, and more.
🕐 Friday, Oct. 23 & Saturday, Oct. 24
📍 Downtown Chattanooga / The Signal and participating venues
🎻 Free daytime programming + ticketed evening shows
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🥃 Bad Chattanoogan Release Day
Chattanooga Whiskey releases Bad Chattanoogan, a new Tennessee whiskey inspired by music from local rock band Dollars Family. The release includes maple-record tastings, displays, specialty cocktails, and a Dollars Family record store pop-up.
🕐 Release begins 11:00 AM
🍸 Happy Hours: 11:00 AM–1:00 PM & 4:00–6:00 PM
📍 Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery
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🏕️ Drink & Discover: Camp Fear
The Creative Discovery Museum turns into summer camp for adults after hours, with drinks, games, puzzles, and a mystery inspired by classic '80s camp adventures. Ages 21+.
🕐 7:00–10:00 PM
📍 Creative Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut St
💰 $40 general · $30 CDM members · $35 zero-proof
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🎤 “Big Irish” Jay Hollingsworth
Stand-up at The Comedy Catch inside the Chattanooga Choo Choo. He performs again Saturday.
🕐 7:00 PM & 9:15 PM
📍 The Comedy Catch, 29 Station St
💰 $22.75–$28
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🎭 Rocky Horror Picture Show
Seed Theatre brings its annual live theatrical production of the cult classic to Barking Legs. Audience-participation props are included.
🕐 7:00–10:00 PM
📍 Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Ave
💰 $35
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💃 Chattin Latin: Above the City
A Meet & Greet at Stratus Rooftop Lounge with extra time for mingling, getting to know each other, and building new connections.
🕐 8:30 PM
📍 Stratus Rooftop Lounge
💰 FREE
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🎬 Shortflix N' Chill 3: Shortflix That Kill
Halloween-themed short films at Wanderlinger Brewing, with good food, costumes, and creepy vibes.
🕐 8:00 PM
📍 Wanderlinger Brewing
💰 $5
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🪕 IBMA Bluegrass Live!: Friday
Friday night's festival lineup includes Michael Cleveland & Friends and Leftover Salmon as World of Bluegrass takes over downtown Chattanooga.
📍 Downtown Chattanooga / The Signal
💰 Ticketed evening performances
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🪕 IBMA Late Night: Jason Carter Band
The picking keeps going long after the main festival shows wrap. Jason Carter Band takes over Barrelhouse Ballroom for Friday night's official late-night set.
🕐 Doors 10:30 PM · Show 11:00 PM
📍 Barrelhouse Ballroom, 1501 Long St
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🎻 Pickin' in the Park
A free day of bluegrass takes over Miller Park and Miller Plaza, with local and national musicians, food, vendors, and festival programming throughout the day.
🕐 10:00 AM–9:00 PM
📍 Miller Park & Miller Plaza
💰 FREE
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🍺 TailGateFest Oktober Days
TailGate Brewery keeps Oktoberfest season alive with an Oaked Lager Projekt firkin tapping, Fest Quest, games, seasonal beer, brats, pretzels, festive pizzas, and more.
🗓️ Friday–Sunday, Oct. 23–25
📍 TailGate Brewery Chattanooga
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🔥 Fire Up the Fields
Sculpture Fields comes alive with local music, food trucks, drinks, and one seriously dramatic finale: artist Andrew Nigh's giant sculpture goes up in flames. Rain or shine, wind permitting.
🕐 3:30–11:00 PM
📍 Sculpture Fields at Montague Park, 1800 Polk St
💰 Ticketed · kids under 12 FREE
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🪕 IBMA Bluegrass Live!: Saturday
Saturday's festival lineup includes Della Mae and Sierra Ferrell, plus more performances throughout downtown.
📍 Downtown Chattanooga / The Signal
💰 Ticketed evening performances
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🪕 IBMA Late Night: Lonesome River Band
Barrelhouse Ballroom hosts the second official IBMA late-night show Saturday night.
🕐 Doors 10:30 PM · Show 11:00 PM
📍 Barrelhouse Ballroom, 1501 Long St
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🪕 Chattanooga Bluegrass at the Market
Keep the bluegrass weekend going at the Chattanooga Market with live regional acts, including Redbud Bluegrass Band, plus local food, produce, and makers.
🕐 11:00 AM–4:00 PM
📍 First Horizon Pavilion, 1801 Reggie White Blvd
💰 FREE
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🎷 Chattanooga Jazz Fest
The free jazz festival at Choo Choo Gardens features local artists throughout the day, including the UTC Jazz Band and Monday Night Big Band.
🕐 11:00 AM–7:00 PM
📍 Choo Choo Gardens, 1400 Market St
💰 FREE
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🐾 Wag O Ween Puppy Brunch
Brunch for humans and pups with adoptable rescue dogs, puppy playtime, photo opportunities, specials, and a silent auction benefiting HES.
🕐 11:00 AM–3:00 PM
📍 Scottie's on the River
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⚽ Chattanooga FC: Eastern Conference Semifinal
Chattanooga FC hosts CT United FC in the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference Semifinals at Finley Stadium. Wear your CFC blue.
🕐 5:00 PM kickoff
📍 Finley Stadium, Southside
💰 Tickets on sale now
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🎃 D4 Booking Presents: Halloween Costume Bday Bash
A mixed-genre Halloween show with DJs and bands, costume contest, music, free chili, birthday cake, art, crafts, and more. Ages 18+.
🕐 8:00 PM
📍 JJ's Bohemia
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👻 Haunted season is still going. Dread Hollow runs Thursday through Sunday nights through Nov. 1, with haunted houses and horror escape rooms.
→ Dread Hollow
🏈 Mocs on the road. Chattanooga plays Western Carolina Saturday. The next home game is Oct. 31 against VMI.
→ GoMocs
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Family in town for fall? 🧳
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🚂 Chattanooga Derailed: Trolley Tour + Train Ride
A vintage trolley ride through downtown plus a trip on the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum's Missionary Ridge Local. Turntable demo, restoration shop, the whole thing.
Check it out →
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🍴 Southside Food Tour with Lunch
Three hours, six stops, one very full stomach. A guided walking tour through Chattanooga's Southside with tastings at local restaurants and lunch.
Check it out →
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⚓ Private Electric Boat Rental on the Tennessee River
Skipper your own quiet electric boat down the Tennessee River. Cruise past Ross's Landing, under the Walnut Street Bridge, and along the Riverwalk at your own pace.
Check it out →
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Booking through these links may support LookoutChatt at no additional cost to you.
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Enjoy your weekend, Chattanooga. If you end up at IBMA, Fire Up the Fields, or the CFC playoff game, hit reply and tell us how it was.
See you next Thursday,
The Lookout team
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