CHOOSE CHATT™ BLOG

Things to Do in Chattanooga: May

Embrace spring in the Scenic City with events celebrating local food and drink, the great outdoors, and Memorial Day. Keep reading for our guide to May fun!

May 5

Head to the First Horizon Pavilion from 6 until 8:30 p.m. for this family-friendly fundraiser benefiting the Chambliss Center for Children. Parents can enjoy an evening of festivities – including dinner and a silent auction – while kids participate in activities like arts and crafts, a baby animal petting station, inflatables, and more; all children in attendance will also receive a Peter Rabbit coloring book to take home.

Flowers in front of See Rock City barn

May 6-7, 13-14

Rock City’s flower festival and gardening event, the Southern Blooms Festival promises fun for the whole family. Discover a living sculpture, watch the kids create their own works of art, and purchase a plant to start a little enchantment in your own backyard. There will also be specialty spring treats from food and retail locations around the garden! Timed-entry reservations are recommended.

May 6

Gran Fondo Hincapie is back for another year of cycling and festivities. The big race begins in downtown Chattanooga before taking cyclists on an ascent up Sequatchie Mountain. The high-end experience includes everything from celebrity cyclists to catered food at rest stops. Don’t miss the 2023 Family Festival & Expo from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center!

Hot dog wrapped in bacon

May 6-7

For all the bacon lovers out there, this free festival, located at Camp Jordan in East Ridge, is for you! Shop more than 150 vendors while also enjoying food trucks, live entertainment, a petting zoo, inflatables, trackless train rides, and more.

May 13

Adventure is waiting at the eighth annual Hike Bike Brew Beer Festival at Lula Lake. At this premier beer festival, attendees can hike or bike the “Beer Path loop” leading to the famous Lula Lake and Lula Falls. Check-in is at 1 p.m., and a meadow party with live music and snacks will follow at 3 p.m. All ticket proceeds will go toward Lula Lake’s trail work and conservation efforts.

Artist singing at McLemore Singer Songwriter

May 18

Kicking off McLemore’s third annual Songwriters Series are Nashville’s Patrick Davis and Lauren Jenkins Davis. No strangers to the music industry, Patrick has released 10 albums of his own work, and Lauren has been a touring artist since she was 15 years old. The couple were actually married in a ceremony at McLemore last fall! Their May 18 performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $55.

May 20

Enjoy an evening with the Chattanooga Zoo at Spirits in the Wild. This event features cocktails, live entertainment, and delicious food from some of the Scenic City’s best local restaurants. Proceeds support the Chattanooga Zoo and its animals.

IronMan 70.3

May 21

The 2023 IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga is the perfect opportunity to train for the September IRONMAN or compete at one of the sport’s most welcoming race sites. It begins with a point-to-point swim, transitions into a bike course, and then ends with a two-loop run. The race offers qualifying slots for the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Lahti, Finland.

May 23-28

The final show in The Tivoli Theatre Foundation’s 2022-2023 Broadway at the Memorial Auditorium season, Dear Evan Hansen is running eight performances from May 23 through 28. This contemporary musical has won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album and features popular songs including “Waving Through a Window,” “Sincerely, Me,” and “You Will Be Found.”

Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices

May 27

Celebrating craft beer is the Chattanooga Beer Fest at the First Horizon Pavilion. From noon until 3 p.m., patrons can sample a curated selection of beers and spirits for one ticketed price. Plus, every ticketed participant will receive a collector tasting glass! Dining and shopping opportunities will also be available at the 21+ only event.

May 28

A Chattanooga Market favorite, the annual Street Food Festival boasts the very best food trucks Chattanooga has to offer. Foodies can enjoy an assortment of foods ranging from tacos and empanadas to pizza, kabobs, and donuts. Even healthy options like salads and juices will be on the menu for the whole family to enjoy! Everything takes place at the First Horizon Pavilion from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

May 29

A true Memorial Day commemoration, this free celebration, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., includes a salute to the flag and veterans, the national anthem, picnic food for purchase, a children’s play area, local musical entertainment, and more at McCoy Farm & Gardens.

May 29

Our area’s oldest active competitive road race, the Chattanooga Chase is a Memorial Day tradition for many. Join the 56th running of the Chattanooga Chase for the 8K race and Extra Mile for Siskin one-mile race through the scenic Riverview neighborhood. The top 25 male and female finishers will earn a special edition Chattanooga Chase t-shirt. 

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