Fall is just around the corner, but before those leaves change colors, you’ll want to take advantage of these exciting events around the Scenic City. From outdoor movies and music festivals to barbecue and sporting competitions, there is no shortage of fun to be had this month. Here are just a few of Chattanooga’s can’t-miss September events!
Summer Music Weekends
Sept 3-6
Rock City
Catch the last of the Summer Music Weekends at Rock City Gardens over Labor Day weekend. You can enjoy live country and bluegrass performances by Matt Downer – Old Time Traveler (who’s proficient at the fiddle, banjo, and guitar), as well as Amber Carrington, Tarryn Aimee Smith, and three-man band Highbeams. Additional Summer Music Weekend activities include virtual scavenger hunts and a Rock City Birds of Prey raptor show.
Nightfall
Sept 3 & 10
Chattanooga’s free concert series at Miller Plaza and Miller Park concludes in September with two evenings of live entertainment. On September 3, Mojo Whiskey opens at 7 p.m., with main act Waylon Thibodeaux – a self-taught Cajun/Zydeco musician hailing from Louisiana – to follow at 8 p.m. Then, on September 10, Stereofeet opens for rock ‘n’ roll duo SUSU featuring Liza Colby and Kia Warren.
Sunset Cinema in Miller Park
Aug 5
A free community event held at Miller Park, Sunset Cinema makes the perfect date night, family outing, or night out with friends. The City of Chattanooga is partnering with local organizations to show three movies during the month of September: The Proud Family Movie on the 4th (in partnership with Urban League of Greater Chattanooga), The Karate Kid on the 11th (with Move N Groove Kidz), and The Secret Life of Pets on the 18th (with McKamey Animal Center). Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, lawn chairs, and a few dollars for food.
Chattanooga Street Food Festival
Sept 5
Save your appetite (and break out those stretchy pants) for the 2021 Street Food Festival at First Horizon Pavilion. The Chattanooga area’s best food trucks are gathering to provide a diverse menu ranging from empanadas, pizza, tacos, and barbecue to donuts and ice cream. Indulge in the fun from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and don’t forget to browse the Sunday Market offerings as well!
Moon River Festival
Moon River Festival returns to Coolidge Park for two days celebrating the best in folk, indie, and Americana. Wilco and Lord Huron will headline a group of 20+ performers that includes Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors and Old Crow Medicine Show, but music is only half the equation this year. Festival-goers will also have access to family-friendly activities, local food vendors, on-site football viewing, and much more.
The Fall Market at Collegedale Commons
For a fun fall outing for all ages, check out The Fall Market at Collegedale Commons from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Arts and crafts and food vendors will be set up in and around Founders Hall, and several family-friendly activities are also in the works. Admission is free for attendees.
Sips N Sparkles
Ready for a ladies’ night out? Hosted by Fischer Evans and Shuptrine’s Gallery, Sips N Sparkles supports the Chattanooga Kidney Foundation’s Dare to Dance fundraiser. From 5 until 7 p.m. at Fischer Evans Jewelers (801 Market Street), come shop fine jewelry, premium floral arrangements, exquisite pieces from Shuptrine’s Gallery artists, spa and wine tasting packages, and more – all to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.
Kickin’ It for Kids with Cancer
These two nights full of soccer, food, and fun benefit the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer’s mission to erase the effects of childhood cancer. The foundation has been partnering with the women’s soccer team at Lee University for nearly a decade, and you can kick it with the Lee University Lady Flames on September 17. A second opportunity to get involved with this fundraiser is September 25, when you can cheer on the Chattanooga Red Wolves.
Crabtree Farms Fall Plant Sale & Festival
Get a jumpstart on your fall garden at Crabtree Farms’ annual Fall Plant Sale & Festival. A local favorite, this event offers sustainably grown vegetable, fruit, herb, and flower starts and seeds. Live music, arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, and children’s activities are also in store, all taking place from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Be checking online for a plant sale guide that will be posted closer to the event!
Ruby Falls Battle Below the Clouds
Amateur grillers and smokers can put their skills to the test at the 6th annual Ruby Falls Battle Below the Clouds. Awards will be presented to Best Pulled Pork, Best Ribs, Best Wings, and Grand Champion. This all-day event, which also features live bluegrass bands, activities for children, prize drawings, and barbecue for purchase, is free for spectators. Proceeds benefit kids with pediatric cancer and their families through the Lana’s Love Foundation.
Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga
Drawing triathletes from near and far to the Scenic City, this IRONMAN event is a thrill for participants and spectators alike. Head downtown to watch the competitors tackle a 2.4-mile swim in the Tennessee River, 116 miles of biking into North Georgia, and a two-loop marathon run that finishes at Ross’s Landing; all total, IRONMAN Chattanooga (presented by McKee – A Family Bakery) is more than 144.6 miles.
