There’s plenty of events around the Scenic City in July to help you beat the heat and enjoy what Chattanooga has to offer – here are some great ones to add to your calendar.
Throwback Thursday
July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
The Hunter Museum of American Art celebrates the art of music and dance while revealing classical and contemporary interpretations to the themes in its special exhibition Power, Passion & Pose: Photographs by Ken Browar and Deborah Ory. Offered each Thursday night this month, events include a hip hop dance performance by local performers KG, Fyrefli, Kima, tryezz, and konstruct (July 8); a modern ballet-meets-Afro-Latinx dance by Monica Ellison and Mariadela Belle Alvarez (July 15); classical soul music by singer Kimmie J Soul (July 22); and poetry Erika Roberts accompanied by dancer Chiara Beck (July 29). Performances begin at 6:00 p.m.
Trails to Ales
July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
A weekly group trail run hosted by Wild Trails, Trails to Ales meets at The Tap House in St. Elmo each Thursday night at 6:00 p.m. Using an app called ViewRanger for safety and confidence, runners start the first Thursday of each month with a five-mile run at Glen Falls Loop. Each week, Trails to Ales runs get progressively more difficult, with the King of Lookout Mountain Run to Point Part (second Thursdays), the 9-mile Little Mama (third Thursdays), and Mountain Beautiful (fourth Thursdays). Each run has a shorter option available on ViewRanger, and no one is required to complete the entire distance. The Tap House offers participants $1 off each pint.
Lookout Wild Film Festival
July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Specializing in outdoor adventure and conservation films, this festival is in its eighth year of “celebrating wild places and the people they inspire.” Instead of the traditional 15-hour format, this year’s Lookout Wild Film Festival will be hosted in 15 one-hour sessions immediately after Nightfall at Miller Park each week. The 2021 selection of films include Blood on the Crack, Beevangelist, Mount Logan, Tadpoles, River Looters, and Delta of Spirit. Showings begin at 9:30 p.m.
Summer Music Weekends
July 2-11, 17-18, 24-25, 31
Modern folk country music meets bluegrass with live music this month at Rock City on Lookout Mountain. Every Friday through Sunday, you’ll hear from Matt Downer – Old Time Traveler, who sings vintage southern vocals and plays the banjo, guitar, and fiddle. Highbeams, Amber Carrington, and Tarryn Aimee Smith will perform on the Café 7 Stage. Smith’s song “Expecting Good Things” was nominated for a Grammy Award. The Rock City Birds of Prey raptor show will also be available by reservation in the Critter Classroom. This show is offered in conjunction with Wings To Soar, a non-profit that provides care for birds of prey that cannot be released back into the wild.
Bobby Stone Film Series
July 6, 9-11, 13, 16-17, 20, 24-25
A century ago, the Tivoli Theater served as a regal backdrop for viewing moving pictures in Chattanooga. This summer, West Village celebrates that legacy with the Bobby Stone Film Series at the Tivoli Theater Soldiers and Sailors Auditorium. Film showings will include Toy Story, Being John Malkovich, Big, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, There Will Be Blood, The Little Mermaid, Boogie Nights, Get On Up, How to Train Your Dragon, Casablanca, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Chattanooga Lookouts Home Games
July 6-11, 20-25
The Chattanooga Lookouts take on the Tennessee Smokies (July 6-11) and Birmingham Barons (July 20-25) for home games this month at AT&T Field. July 6 and 20 are Food City Tuesday, which means you’ll receive Buy One Get One Free General Admission (limit 4) when you show your Food City ValuCard. Superhero Night is July 23, so bring a camera to catch your little ones meeting their favorite caped and masked crusaders. Post-game fireworks will be on July 9.
Chattanooga Football Club vs. Appalachian Football Club
July 7
Join the Chattahooligan super fans at Finley Stadium to cheer on the Chattanooga Football Club in a match against Appalachian Football Club at 7:30 p.m. Before the game, stop by Southside Social, which is within walking distance from the stadium, to try your hand at a few friendly games over burgers and beer. Southside Social is part restaurant, part boutique bowling alley, part indoor/outdoor game room (think skee-ball, shuffleboard, bocce ball, horseshoes, and billiards). Chattanooga FC first joined the National Premier Soccer League in 2009. This spring, the team stars in a documentary series on WTCI-TV titled “No Matter What: The Rise of Chattanooga FC.” Produced by local production company SuperChief, the series follows the squad through their first season in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA).
Ramen Cooking Class
July 8
Join Chef Ted Marris at The Sweet and Savory Classroom in downtown Chattanooga for a hands-on lesson in making traditional ramen, starting with alkaline noodles from scratch. Next, you’ll stay true to the dish’s Asian heritage by prepping sweet soy chicken and marinated soft boiled eggs. This is an in-person class at The Sweet and Savory Classroom at 45 E. Main Street, Suite 112, in the SOHO Building. “Chef Ted” has a specialty of his own, in addition to prepping Asian-themed meals: food puns.
SUP Yoga + Mindful Meditation
July 18
Paddle to a peaceful spot on Chickamauga Lake for a class with a certified yoga teacher atop a paddleboard. Hosted by Sunshine’s Adventures, the event focuses on stability and offers a parallel to the adaptation and balance we need as we encounter challenges in life. You’ll experience a quick lesson on how to paddle, a 60-minute yoga session on the water, and a floating savasana and mindful meditation.
Q’n Brew at the Zoo
July 24
An annual barbecue and beer tasting event at the Chattanooga Zoo, Q’n Brew is the zoo’s most relaxed, family-friendly fundraiser of the year. Here, you can hear live music, cheer on a tortoise race, play yard games, and try out an airbrush tattoo. Vendors will offer barbecue plates for purchase, and prices will vary by vendor. The event begins at 6:00 p.m., and tickets must be reserved ahead of time online.