Purple Madness: A Tribute to Prince + Le Gato

Saturday, May 23  •  6:00 to 10:00 PM  •  Ross's Landing  •  FREE

If you're only doing one thing this weekend, make it this. The 19th season of TVFCU Riverfront Nights launches Saturday with Purple Madness, one of the best Prince tribute acts on the circuit. Local favorites Le Gato open the evening. It's free. It's on the river. It's Chattanooga at its best. Grab a lawn chair, a food truck dinner, and get there early.

Riverfront Nights runs every Saturday through September 5. The full summer lineup is at the bottom of this email.

🧚 Fairy & Folk Festival

Chattanooga Audubon's Fairy and Folk Festival

📅 Sat, May 23, 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM
📍 Audubon Acres, 900 N. Sanctuary Road

Perfect for the family, or honestly just anyone who loves a whimsical outdoor morning. The Chattanooga Audubon Society returns with its annual festival in one of the prettiest natural spaces in the city. Live folk music, fairy-themed activities, and woodland trails. Pack a snack, wear your wings (or don't, we won't judge).

🍌 Banana Pudding Festival

A real festival, devoted entirely to pudding

📅 Sat, May 23, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
📍 Collegedale Commons, 4950 Swinyar Dr
FREE ADMISSION

This is real and we are fully here for it. The Banana Pudding Festival brings a pudding contest, food trucks, vendors, live music, and kids' activities to Collegedale. Free to attend. This is the kind of thing you tell someone about and they don't believe you until they're eating their third bowl.

🎤 Lookout Comedy Competition

2nd Annual Lookout Comedy Competition

📅 Fri & Sat, May 22 & 23, 7 PM + 9:15 PM
📅 Sun, May 24, 6 PM
📍 The Comedy Catch, 29 Station St.

Comedians from across the country are competing for cash prizes and bragging rights at one of Chattanooga's best comedy venues. Three nights, multiple showcases, new voices you haven't heard yet. Tickets available at The Comedy Catch.

🦈 Aquarium After-Hours: Summerween

Tennessee Aquarium Nightlife: Summerween

📅 Fri, May 22, 6:00 to 9:00 PM
📍 Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St.
21+ ONLY

Sharks. Cocktails. Spooky-summer vibes at the Aquarium after hours. The Nightlife series returns for another themed evening, this one a mashup of summer and Halloween energy because why not.

🍲 New in Chattanooga: Torikaya

Downtown's newest restaurant, open since May 12

📍 1120 Houston St., Warehouse Row
🍽 Lunch & dinner, full bar

We've been hearing great things. Torikaya brings chef-driven Japanese cuisine, yakitori, sushi, ramen, and shareable plates, to the Warehouse Row neighborhood. Chef Erik Cielo is running the kitchen. This one has staying power.

🌮 Street Food Festival at the Chattanooga Market

The Sunday market, street food edition

📅 Sun, May 24, 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
📍 First Horizon Pavilion

Cap the weekend with the Sunday market's Street Food Festival edition. Food trucks, street eats, live music from New Grass Express, and arts and craft vendors. The Chattanooga Market is always a good Sunday call.

🚴 Sunset Skate

A low-key community session on wheels

📅 Sun, May 24, 6:00 PM
📍 Chatt Town Skate Park

End the weekend on wheels. Chatt Town Skate Park's Sunset Skate is a low-key community session. Bring your board, meet your people, catch some golden hour.

📅 Coming Up Soon

May 28   Chicago, The Band  •  Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium

June 6   Riverfront Nights: Rock the 90s  •  Ross's Landing (FREE)

July 4   Riverfront Nights: Johnny Folsom 4, a Johnny Cash Tribute  •  Ross's Landing (FREE)

That's your weekend, Chattanooga. Pick one thing. Pick five things. Just don't spend it inside.

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