Events in the Scenic City for June 2021 involve great causes, great music, and the great outdoors. Here’s what to put on your calendar:
Intro to Bouldering
Sundays and Wednesdays
Bouldering is a form of free-climbing done on a rock face without a rope or harness. To get started in the sport, all you need is a pair of climbing shoes, a bag of chalk, and a crash pad – plus a few lessons on how to fall with intention. As you move along the rock, the goal is to solve the “problem,” conquering a route in a way that may require you to crimp or toe-hook across or up the face of the boulder. High Point Climbing and Fitness offers courses in bouldering technique on Sundays in June from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and Wednesdays in June from 7 to 8:30 p.m. You’ll learn about correct body positioning; hand-hold and foot-hold terminology; and skills like the heel-hook, the dyno, and the deadpoint. The price of the class includes an all-day pass to the climbing gym.
Rapid Learning: Intro to White Water Kayaking Skills
June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Every Wednesday this summer, Outdoor Chattanooga instructors will teach both beginner and “seasoned” kayakers how to stay safe and have fun enjoying class III whitewater. Located at Chester Frost Park at the first boat ramp as you reach the far end of the swimming beach, sessions are held from 6 to 7 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. Once you’ve shown you’ve mastered basic self rescue, paddle strokes, and maneuvering of the kayak, you’ll be eligible for instructional trips on the river, which are hosted on Sundays.
Chattanooga Nightfall
June 4, 11, 18, 25
Every Friday night from early June to mid-September, Chattanooga Presents! hosts a free evening of outdoor music dedicated to national, international, and local artists at Miller Plaza and Miller Park. Nightfall has been a Chattanooga tradition since 1988, and in its first four years its stage was home to artists like John Prine, Bela Fleck, and Karla Bonoff. June 2021 at Nightfall is dedicated specifically to Chattanooga artists, so this is your month to support local talent. On June 4, Nightfall will open with Road to Nightfall finalists William Casey, Fantastic Confabulation, and Off The Left. You’ll also find yard games, artist displays, and concessions.
Sip TN Chattanooga Wine Fest
June 5
Hosted by Tennessee Wines, this event at First Horizon Pavilion is a showcase offering a taste of more than 200 wines produced in Tennessee. Wineries represented will include Natchez Hills Vineyard & Winery, Beachaven Vineyards & Winery, Honey Tree Meadery, Trazo Mead, Beans Creek Winery, and Tennessee Cider Co. You’ll also find artisans and food trucks on-site, plus vendors such as Simply Southern Bakery, High Road Soap, That Elderberry Lady, The Tilted Tulip, Billy Joe’s Cookies, and Cheiman Tea. General admission tickets include tastings, a wine bag, and Tennessee Wine wine glasses. Proceeds from the event will benefit Tennessee Agriculture and Small Businesses.
Bubbles of Fun Run
June 12
A 5K, 10K, and 1-mile fun run benefiting the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer, this event will begin at Camp Jordan at 8 a.m. By participating, you’ll support an organization that enhances area patients’ quality of life with interventions in four different divisions:
- Psycho-Oncology, which focuses on the social, emotional, and educational needs of the pediatric patient and his/her family through mental health therapy, art and music therapy, occupational therapy, and other services
- Industrial Arts Therapy, which trains patients in making objects out of wood or metal using tools, in small engine repair, and in the basics of home repair and craftsmanship
- Diversionary Therapy, which offers recreational and leisure activities to families facing pediatric cancer
- Healthy Lifestyle Education, which addresses four risk factors that contribute to adult diagnoses: tobacco use, nutrition, sun exposure, and exercise
When you register for the Bubbles of Fun Run, you’ll be given the option for creating a personalized fundraising website for sharing on social media so friends and family can support your goals. Runners, joggers, and walkers are encouraged to blow bubbles along the course for added fun.
Record Store Day
June 12
Five Chattanooga vinyl shops will participate in this celebration of record store culture with two drop dates for special vinyl releases this summer, the first being on June 12. Yellow Racket Records, Inherent Records, For the Record, and McKay’s will offer Limited Edition Collectible Vinyl released specifically for the occasion. This year’s releases will include The Allman Brothers Band, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Bob Dylan, The Doors, Shaun Cassidy, Ariana Grande, Aretha Franklin, King’s X, The Monkees, Joni Mitchell, John Prine, The Police, Pearl Jam, Sublime, Pete Yorn, and more. Check with each shop for details on which albums will be available specifically at that location. For a complete list of Record Store Day releases, click here.
WanderLinger Music, Art, and Beer Festival
June 18-20
Hosted by one of Chattanooga’s best-known breweries in a 110-year-old building on the Southside, this festival consists of three days of music by 30 local acts that have played on the WanderLinger stage over the last two and a half years. Artists will include Opposite Box, Behold the Brave, Killa Keyz, Emily Kate Boyd, Jake Lemons, The White Foley Band, and The Afternooners. The weekend will also include performance art, art vendors, and a drag show on Saturday night.
Rescues on the Runway
June 26
Hosted by the Humane Educational Society, this is the only June event in Chattanooga that combines cocktail hour with the chance to meet adorable puppies and kittens up for adoption. After enjoying complimentary beer, wine, cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres, you’ll be served a three-course meal that ends with a dessert of decadent chocolate torte or New York Cheesecake. The runway show will feature former shelter pets that have found their forever homes and a few animals currently up for adoption. For those wanting to contribute to the cause without bringing home a new furry friend, the evening will close with a live auction. Tickets are available for both the live event at the Chattanooga Convention Center and a virtual option, which includes a to-go meal.
