LookoutChatt
Your Weekly Guide to Chattanooga
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Before the weekend guide, a quick pause. Friday marks 25 years since September 11, 2001. Wherever you are this weekend, take a moment for the people we lost and the first responders who ran toward it.
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West Texas six-piece Flatland Cavalry rolls into Memorial Auditorium Friday night on the Work of Heart Tour, the band behind seven number one Texas Country Radio singles, two straight ACM Group of the Year nominations, and a Yellowstone soundtrack credit. Corey Smith opens, doors are at 6:30, and this is the rare marquee country show downtown.
Friday's stacked outside the show too, a downtown history paddle on the river in the morning, a spoken word open mic at Lady Naps Winery, and Cody Landress-Gibson's album release party at Cherry Street Tavern. Saturday, Red Bank goes full zombie for its second annual Fun Run and Festival, East Brainerd cuts the ribbon on a new inclusive playground, Ooltewah's Cambridge Square throws its fall market, and Finley Stadium debuts Southside Nights with a Vols watch party. Sunday winds down with a wild cave tour thirty minutes from downtown, a live chef throwdown at the Market, and a penguin chick baby shower at the Aquarium.
Good weekend to be in Chattanooga. Here's everything worth doing. 👇
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🎖️ Running All Weekend
Chattanooga Zoo: Free for First Responders
In honor of the victims, survivors, and rescue workers of 9/11, the Zoo is waiving admission for all first responders this week, with a spouse or dependent getting half off too. Show a badge or paystub at the ticket booth, in person only.
🕐 Through Sunday, September 13
📍 Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N Holtzclaw Ave, Brainerd
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⭐ The Big One
Flatland Cavalry: Work of Heart Tour
The Lubbock, Texas outfit fronted by Cleto Cordero brings its Americana, fiddle forward brand of country to Memorial Auditorium, with a billion streams and songs synced into Yellowstone and Landman behind them. Corey Smith and Shelby Raye open the night.
🕐 Friday, September 11, doors 6:30 PM, show 7:30 PM
📍 Memorial Auditorium, 399 McCallie Ave, Downtown
💰 TICKETS REQUIRED
→ Tickets on Ticketmaster
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🚣 Silver Adventures: History by Kayak
Outdoor Chattanooga's resident historian leads a beginner-friendly morning paddle upstream past Maclellan Island, the Bluff View Arts District, Ross's Landing, and the historic bridges. All equipment provided, no experience needed.
🕐 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM
📍 Tennessee River, downtown launch
💰 Check registration for fee
→ Register
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🎒 Chattanooga Zoo Homeschool Days
Zoo-wide scavenger hunts, animal meet and greets, and education stations built for the homeschool community. Advance tickets only, no walk-up pricing, and zoo members get in free.
🕐 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM
📍 Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N Holtzclaw Ave, Brainerd
💰 $7/CHILD, $12/ADULT
→ Tickets & Details
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🎤 Rhyme Over Wine
Monthly spoken word open mic at Lady Naps Winery on Lee Highway. Show up with something to say or just to listen, both are welcome, and wine is available for purchase.
🕐 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
📍 Lady Naps Winery, 6940 Lee Highway, Ste 103
💰 FREE
→ More Info
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🎶 City Wide Karaoke Contest, Week One
Chattanooga just launched a multi-week karaoke contest across four venues, running through October 10 with finals at Dave and Buster's on October 15. This week's heat is at the W XYZ Bar inside the Aloft. Winners perform live at the Walk Run Pedal Jamz Festival on Halloween.
🕐 Friday evening
📍 W XYZ Bar at Aloft Chattanooga Hamilton Place, 2090 Hamilton Place Blvd
→ More Info
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🎸 Cody Landress-Gibson Album Release Show
The Chattanooga singer-songwriter releases his new record, Music To Get By On, with a hometown show at Cherry Street Tavern. Cody Bolden and The Roadhands and Dalton Mills open. Support local music while it's still this close to home.
🕐 Doors 8:00 PM, music at 9:00 PM
📍 Cherry Street Tavern, 719 Cherry St, Downtown
💰 $10
→ More Info
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🏮 Ruby Falls Lantern Tour
The regular after-hours cave and waterfall tour, guided only by handheld lanterns, small group, slow pace, extra time at the falls. About a mile round trip, a steady 60 degrees inside year round. Ages 10 and up. Sells out fast, book online.
🕐 Friday night, after hours, check ticketing for the exact time slot
📍 Ruby Falls, 1720 S Scenic Hwy, Lookout Mountain
💰 $42.95
→ Tickets & Details
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🏃 Nooga Hunger Walk Run
A family-friendly 5K or one-mile walk at First Horizon Pavilion, benefiting the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. Bring a non-perishable food donation even if you're not running, and there are food trucks and kids' activities on site.
🕐 5K at 8:30 AM, 1-mile walk at 8:45 AM
📍 First Horizon Pavilion, 1826 Reggie White Blvd
💰 FREE TO PARTICIPATE
→ Register
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🧟 2nd Annual Zombie Fun Run & Festival
Red Bank goes full undead. A festival with 30-plus vendors and food trucks kicks things off, then the fun run sends runners across the Godsey Ridge Trail while zombies give chase, and a G(rave) afterparty closes it out with a DJ and film screening.
🕐 Festival 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Fun Run 6:00 PM, afterparty 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM
📍 Red Bank Community Center, Tom Weathers Dr, Red Bank
→ More Info
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🌳 Grand Opening: Harvesting Inclusive Play
Years in the works, this $2 million, nearly 15,000 square foot playground opens as the largest universally inclusive play space in the region, exceeding standard ADA requirements across the whole site. Worth the drive whether or not you have kids.
🕐 Ribbon cutting at 10:00 AM
📍 Jack Benson Heritage Park, 1428 Jenkins Rd, East Brainerd
💰 FREE
→ More Info
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🍂 Fall Market at Cambridge Square
Ooltewah's Cambridge Square leans into the season with handcrafted goods, local makers, live music, and food trucks in an outdoor setting. Worth the drive east if you're in the mood for a browse.
🕐 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, please confirm start time closer to the day
📍 Cambridge Square, 9453 Bradmore Ln, Ooltewah
💰 FREE
→ More Info
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🏟️ TVFCU Southside Nights
Finley Stadium and Friends of the Festival launch a new tradition, a watch party for Tennessee versus Georgia Tech on the stadium's big screen, with a live set from The Essentials, food trucks, and yard games. Bring a blanket and stake your spot early.
🕐 Gates 5:00 PM, music at 6:00 PM, kickoff at 7:00 PM
📍 Finley Stadium, Southside
💰 FREE
→ More Info
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🎷 OBELISK at The Woodshop Listening Room
Chattanooga's own drum and bass duo brings SciCo Fusion and hard jazz to St. Elmo. Mostly standing room this time with a full beer garden if you'd rather have a table for dinner. Come early for the drink specials.
🕐 Doors 5:00 PM, show 6:00 PM
📍 The Woodshop Listening Room, 5500 St Elmo Ave
→ Tickets & Details
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🏕️ Try Caving! with Chattanooga Grotto Club
Two wild caves within thirty minutes of downtown. First stop is Cedar Ridge Crystal, kid friendly with beautiful formations. Second is a privately owned cave where a 750 foot walk leads to a 55 foot underground waterfall, wading through knee deep, 58 degree water the whole way. Ages 12 and up.
🕐 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
📍 Caves near downtown, address provided at registration
→ Register
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🐧 Penguin Baby Shower
Two new Gentoo Penguin chicks get their gender reveal and celebration, with penguin-themed activities and complimentary treats from Sunbelt Bakery. Naming rights go up for auction two days later.
🕐 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
📍 Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St, Downtown
💰 INCLUDED WITH ADMISSION
→ More Info
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🍽️ Chattanooga Top Chef
Five local chefs shop the Market for ingredients, get hit with a surprise item, and race the clock to impress the judges in front of the whole crowd. It's food as spectator sport, and it's the kind of thing that makes the Market feel like an event rather than an errand.
🕐 11:00 AM
📍 First Horizon Pavilion, 1801 Reggie White Blvd
💰 FREE TO WATCH
→ More Info
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🪕 Clay Street Unit at Songbirds
The Denver sextet blends bluegrass energy with heartfelt songwriting, somewhere between country, folk, and Americana, on their first trip through Chattanooga. Catch them now before the rooms get bigger.
🕐 7:00 PM
📍 Songbirds, 206 W Main St, Southside
→ Tickets & Details
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Have Family or Friends Visiting Chattanooga? 🧳
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🦇 Enjoyed the idea of Friday's history paddle? Take it further.
Nickajack Bat Cave Kayak Tour with Chattanooga Guided Adventures
An easy 3 mile guided paddle around Nickajack Lake, with osprey, blue heron, and river otters along the way, building to the main event at sunset, up to 100,000 endangered gray bats pouring out of the cave for their nightly hunt. Runs through early October, so this is one of the last chances this season.
Check it out →
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🏔️ Liked the sound of Sunday's cave tour but want something easier?
Raccoon Mountain Caverns: Crystal Palace Walking Tour
A 45 to 55 minute guided walk through the first quarter mile of the cave, with lit pathways, handrails, and no crawling required. See stalactites, soda straws, and a rare shield formation, and stay cool since it's a steady 58 degrees down there year round. Less than ten minutes from downtown.
Check it out →
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🍴 Skipping the food truck crowds this week?
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, plus a sit-down lunch to finish.
Check it out →
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Chattanooga FC clinches a playoff berth. The Boys in Blue came from behind to beat Huntsville 2 to 1 on Wednesday, locking up a spot in the postseason for the second year running. They close the regular season Sunday at Finley against Atlanta United 2.
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof opens at Barking Legs. Seed Theatre kicks off its fall season with the Tennessee Williams classic, directed by Mixy Mixon. Read more →
Nomia is having a moment. The Southside spot is drawing serious attention for its food and service. If you haven't been, add it to the list.
Sushi Nabe turns 30. Three decades of serving Japanese food in Chattanooga, a genuine local institution.
UTC marks Founder's Week. The university celebrates 140 years with campus events and community programming this week.
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Booking through these links may support LookoutChatt at no cost to you.
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Enjoy your weekend, Chattanooga. If you catch Flatland Cavalry Friday night, watch the chef battle Sunday morning, or run through Red Bank in zombie makeup, hit reply and tell us. We genuinely want to know.
See you next Thursday,
The Lookout team
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