Welcome to your go-to source for Chattanooga’s top events! September marks the beginning of the ‘ber months – meaning the Scenic City is gearing up for an array of fall festivities and activities. From lantern-lit ghost tours to wizard-themed train rides, paddleboard 5Ks, fall festivals, and more, here is a list of fun things to do throughout the month of September.
September 3
Hosting the 17th annual National Treasures: Party at Point Park, the National Park Partners invite attendees to enjoy a day of celebration on Lookout Mountain. The event will feature live music from The New Dismembered Tennesseans, professional photos at Umbrella Rock, a classic southern food buffet, and much more.
September 5
Lula Lake is opening for their first Open Gate Day of the month on September 5! The public can explore more than eight miles of trails with bluff views and a breathtaking, 120-foot waterfall. Reservations are made by the car at $16 each. (All proceeds go towards the preservation of Lula Lake.)
September 5
Kick off the fall season at Ringgold’s most exciting seasonal celebration – The Ultimate Fall Fest! With the highly anticipated cake walk and pumpkin art contest, as well as a KidZone, food trucks, local vendor market, and more, the free event is packed with fun activities for all ages.
September 6, 13, 17, 24, 27, 30
Join Ruby Falls on select nights throughout September for their Lantern Tour: Ghost Walk Edition, complete with thrilling ghost stories from Ruby Falls’ 97-year history. Guests will walk to the waterfall by lantern light and see the sites of different spooky encounters. This event is not suitable for children younger than age 12.
September 11
Acoustic, pop-country artist, Kylie Morgan, is making a stop at The Signal during her Healed Cowgirl Tour! Hear her hit songs, “You Had Me At Howdy,” “Then You Happened,” “Like My Own,” and more live as she celebrates her journey of personal recovery, new love, and moving on.
September 12
Hosted by Love Without Reason, the 5K 10K Run4Love is a race to raise awareness and funds for children with craniofacial differences. Inspired by the late Philip Mathews, Love Without Reason has provided nearly 1,500 free facial surgeries to date, and all proceeds from the 5K and 10K help to support Phillip’s dream: “until the World is Cleft Free.”
September 12
Hear inspiring family stories and celebrations at the Austin Hatcher Foundation’s 19th annual Celebration of Life and Hope! The gala-style event includes live and silent auctions, live music, an open bar, specialty cocktails, food, and entertainment – all in support of families affected by childhood cancer.
September 12
Get ready for an evening of authentic bluegrass music, beautiful blooms, and mountain views at Flat Top Mountain Farm’s Bluegrass & Blooms festival. From 6 to 10 p.m., guests can pick seasonal flowers and take in the mountain views, as well as enjoy good food while hearing local Dunlap artist, Hannah Danley, perform live.
September 13
Chattanooga Top Chef is coming to the Chattanooga Market at First Horizon Pavilion for a live, high-energy cook-off! From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., attendees can watch as talented local chefs shop the market for ingredients, face the challenge of incorporating a surprise ingredient, and race the clock to impress a panel of judges with their delicious creations. The Market will remain open until 4 p.m. for shopping and browsing.
September 14
Join fellow golfers for some friendly competition and celebration at the 35th annual Memorial Foundation Golf Invitational tournament – Chattanooga’s premier golf event! All funds raised will specifically impact cardiac and cardiovascular care at CommonSpirit Memorial, ensuring the latest technology is available locally and the highest level of care is provided.
September 18-20 & 25-27
Step into a magical world of adventure at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s third annual Rails, Wizards & Spells train experience. Before boarding the train at platform 4.501, guests will enjoy access to Wizards Way Village, fun outdoor games and activities, a tractor ride to Chickamauga Creek and back, as well as handcrafted wands, special charms to hold spells, and tasty treats for purchase. Wizard attire is encouraged!
September 18-19
Indulge in the finest cheeses and beers from around the world at Shop the Market At’s Cheese and Beer Festival. Featuring a curated selection of gourmet cheeses, craft beers, and an array of domestic and imported offerings, the free event invites guests to sample, shop the vendor market, and enjoy unique culinary creations.
September 19
Make waves in the fight against pancreatic cancer at River Gorge Excursions’ Paddle for PanCAN 2026! Launching from Suck Creek Boat Launch, the out-and-back 5K river race invites new and experienced kayakers and paddleboarders to venture upriver toward Williams Island before racing back to the finish line. All proceeds benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
September 19
Move for a good cause at the seventh annual Run4Kids, a 5K run and one-mile walk hosted by the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga. The race will begin at 9 a.m. at the Tennessee Riverwalk’s Hubert Fry Center. All proceeds aid the RMHC in their mission to help families stay close to their sick children and offer them the comforts of home.
September 25-27
Visit Crabtree Farms for their annual Fall Plant Sale & Pollinator Festival! This family-friendly event invites attendees to enjoy live music, free presentations by local educators and nonprofits, local vendors, and food trucks while shopping a variety of sustainably-grown edible, flowering, and medicinal plants – plus some fruiting shrubs and trees – that are perfect for every home garden.
September 26
Get your bacon on at the Chattanooga Bacon & Barrel Festival! With the purchase of a general admission ticket, guests will enjoy unlimited samples of signature bacon-themed dishes, 12 whiskey samples, live music, fun photo ops, and more. This event is only open to those 21 and older.
September 27
Are you ready for Chattanooga’s biggest annual triathlon – IRONMAN Chattanooga? The 140.6-mile race will include a 2.4-mile swim in the Tennessee River that has earned the Athletes’ Choice Award multiple times, a bike ride across a scenic course, and a race through the downtown streets for a final push to the finish line. Registration is required.
September 29
Come experience War of the Wheels – a one-of-a-kind pottery throwdown and Scenic City Clay Arts’ biggest fundraiser of the year. Attendees can enjoy tasty food and drinks while “boosting” or “busting” some of Chattanooga’s best ceramic artists with donations as they compete to test their creativity and skill through multiple fast-paced challenges. Tickets are required, and this event is only open to those 18 and older.
Abby Callahan, BA, Cum Laude
Abby Callahan is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Spanish and the distinction of Cum Laude. She also graduated Magna Cum Laude from Chattanooga State Community College, earning honors through the Global Scholars Honors Program. 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 of numerous health, wellness, business, sports, and lifestyle articles published in print and online for HealthScope®, CityScope®, and Choose Chattanooga® magazines – premier publications serving S.E. Tennessee and North Georgia.