Welcome to your go-to source for Chattanooga’s top events! As the breeze cools and the leaves turn, Chattanooga’s Halloween scene is returning from the grave with lots of spooky fall fun and events. From haunted houses and trails to halloween pet parades, apple festivals, pie runs, and more, here is a list of fun things to do throughout the month of October.
October 1
Southern Adventist University’s A Taste of Southern gala celebrates the impact that has transformed and uplifted students’ lives for more than 130 years, featuring pre-show performances, dinner, community awards, and a performance by award-winning artist, Wintley Phipps. All proceeds benefit scholarships for first-generation college students.
October 1 – November 1 (Thursday – Sunday Nights)
This award-winning haunted house experience is not for the faint of heart! Dread Hollow offers nights of terrifying fun with three haunted houses and three horror-themed escape rooms, complete with realistic special effects. Parental discretion is advised. Buy timed-entry tickets in advance online.
October 2-3
Come fiddle about at the 19th annual 3 Sisters Festival – a free two-day festival that honors the musical legacy of bluegrass fiddler, Fletcher Bright. Featuring some of the biggest names in traditional and not-so-traditional bluegrass, the premier event will take place at Ross’s Landing and include a wide variety of onsite vendors serving food, soft drinks, beer, and wine.
October 3
After nearly 18 months of renovations, the highly anticipated Reopening of the Walnut Street Bridge is set for October 3. To celebrate the occasion, the City of Chattanooga invites the community to walk the newly renovated bridge and enjoy live entertainment and family-friendly fun from noon to 3 p.m. The fun will start at Walnut Street Plaza.
October 3
For 19 years, Dare to Dance has dazzled fans and been the Chattanooga Kidney Foundation’s largest annual fundraising event. Based on the popular TV show “Dancing With the Stars,” guests will enjoy a full dinner while watching 11 Chattanooga celebrities take to the dance floor with a professional dance partner to help raise funds for local kidney patients.
October 3
Get ready for Vintage Crocodile’s 2nd annual fall vintage market – Croctober Fest 2026. From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Electric Crocodile North location, attendees can shop and browse unique finds at the outdoor vendor market while listening to live music performed on the shop’s porch stage.
October 3
Crabtree Farms invites the community to their Field to Feast seasonal fundraising gathering! Celebrating Crabtree’s Department of Development and the community relationships that help make the farm’s work possible, guests will enjoy a multi-course seasonal dinner, thoughtfully curated beverages, meaningful storytelling, and an intimate evening centered on food, community, and impact.
October 3
The Tennessee Valley Heart Walk is a family- and dog-friendly (leashes are required) event that brings the community together to get active, raise life-saving funds, and support the mission of the American Heart Association. Beginning at 8 a.m., walkers of all ages and abilities are invited to Chattanooga State Community College to celebrate heart health.
October 9
Join Preserve Chattanooga at their premier wine-tasting experience and fundraiser – Best Cellars. In the elegant setting of St. John’s Restaurant, registered attendees will enjoy a night of curated wines and expertly paired cuisine by executive chef, Patrick Sawyer – all backdropped by the melodies of saxophonist Robert Crabtree. Tickets are required.
October 9-10, 16-17, 23-24, 31
The Chattanooga Zoo will be transforming into a family-friendly spooky safari at Boo in the Zoo! Members and non-members alike will enjoy fun decorations, a bounce house, photo opportunities with characters like Elsa, Spiderman, and many more, and plenty of candy as they trick-or-treat across the Zoo. Please note that the Zoo closes at 3:30 p.m. on these dates before reopening from 4-8 p.m for Boo in the Zoo.
October 9-10
Enterprise South Nature Park is getting a spooky makeover in October for their Haunted Trail Fest. With three trail experiences, there are Halloween festivities for everyone. The Haunted Trail offers a spooky two-mile stroll that is filled with ghoulish actors, creepy scenes, special effects, and incredible monsters; The Too Cute To Spook Trick or Treat Trail invites children ages 12 and under to dress up and trick-or-treat from family-friendly booths; and the Glow Trail is a not-so-spooky stroll that’s lit up by thousands of dazzling Halloween lights.
October 10
Join Shop The Market At LLC for their fur-raising Spooky Paws Pet Parade at Tennessee Riverpark. Spooky decorations and eerie halloween tunes will fill the park as pets of all shapes and sizes strut their stuff in costumes that range from cute to downright creepy. With an art and farmers market as well, there will be prizes for the best-dressed pets and seasonal treats for all.
October 10
Pour the perfect cup at Wine Over Water – Preserve Chattanooga’s food and wine festival and fundraiser. Held at Renaissance Park, registered attendees will enjoy an elevated late-afternoon celebration along the Tennessee River with unlimited traditional and nonalcoholic wine tastings, a complimentary charcuterie box from Bleu Fox Cheese Shop, live music, and more.
October 17
Head to Ross’s Landing for the Chattanooga Pride Festival – a day to celebrate the local LGBTQ+ community and promote LGBTQ+ visibility, acceptance, and advocacy in the region. Attendees will enjoy a parade, live entertainment, music performances, vendors, food stalls, informational booths, and opportunities for community engagement.
October 17-18
The Cleveland Apple Festival takes place each year on the Bradley County Courthouse Square. Come enjoy an arts and crafts show, live music, food booths, a petting zoo, the Apple Blossom pageant, and, of course, the apple dessert contest. Net proceeds are donated to nonprofit organizations in the Cleveland area.
October 17-18
Don your favorite festive German attire for the 25th annual Chattanooga Oktoberfest. Enjoy two festive days of German food and tradition, including oompah music, craft brews, and local vendors. Visitors of all ages can also look forward to viewing and participating in the annual Mr. and Ms. Chattanooga Oktoberfest® Contest on Saturday evening.
October 23
Figure out who done it (or you’re next) at the Creative Discovery Museum’s Drink and Discover: Camp Fear event! Featuring a mystery that’s inspired by classic ‘80s summer camp adventures, the museum will transform into an evening of spooky fun where adults 21+ can dress up and become campers in an after-hours experience with drinks, games, puzzles, and more.
October 24
Hosted by the Chattanooga Track Club, the 50th annual Signal Mountain Pie Run 10K is set to start and end at Preutt’s Market. Registered racers will enjoy stunning sunrise views of the valley and fall leaves as they run the course, as well as a post-race festival with music, refreshments, and the opportunity to snag a whole pumpkin pie!
October 24-25
Returning to Coolidge Park, AVA’s local arts festival, Between The Bridges, invites attendees to celebrate the depth and diversity of Chattanooga’s creative community. Partnering with Scenic City Clay Arts, H*Art Gallery, the Photographic Society of Chattanooga, and SPLASH, the event will allow guests to soak in the lively festival atmosphere while browsing 50 local artists displaying and selling their artwork.
October 25
Celebrate Chattanooga’s rich musical heritage and vibrant arts community at the Chattanooga Jazz Festival! Filling the heart of the city with the sounds of jazz, blues, and funk, the free community event features live performances from an impressive lineup of local talent, great food, and a lively atmosphere in one of the city’s most iconic venues – the Chattanooga Choo Choo.
October 25
Ready, set, go register for the 7 Bridges Marathon – Chattanooga’s oldest and biggest marathon event. With five different races beginning and ending near the Chattanooga Theatre Centre on Tremont Street – the 7 Bridges Marathon, 4 Bridges Half Marathon, 4 Bridges 10K, Family Fun Run, and the 2 Bridges 5K – registered racers will enjoy event shirts and custom medals, as well as a post-race party with a live DJ and donut truck.
Abby Callahan, BA, Cum Laude
Abby Callahan is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Spanish and the distinction of cum laude. Prior to joining CMC Media & Marketing Group as editor/digital content specialist, Abby successfully fulfilled roles in marketing and event planning, as well as strategic communications and storytelling for a wide variety of initiatives. Today, Abby leads ideation, conceptualization, and development for numerous health & wellness, business, sports, and lifestyle articles published in print and online for HealthScope® and CityScope® magazines as well as Choose Chattanooga® and Choose Huntsville™ – premier publications serving Southeast Tennessee, North Georgia, and North Alabama. She also contributes to the development of blogs and other content shared on the publications’ digital platforms. Off the clock, she enjoys thrifting, sewing and designing her own clothes, climbing, and going on adventures with her husky, Hazel.