events Archives | A Thought and a Half | Southern Food & Lifestyle Blog

As much as I love summer, I’m always super excited when fall comes around. There’s so much to love about this season, from all pumpkin everything to football to sweater weather and beyond. I’ve already had my one obligatory pumpkin spice latte of the season, so now I’m ready for everything else.

This summer in Chattanooga was jam packed with some amazing events, and the fall calendar is no different. There will be things to do almost every weekend now through the holiday season. My calendar is going to fill up quickly with all sorts of special events.

Here are 11 things to do in Chattanooga this fall!

In general, I’m a huge fan of apple picking and going to pumpkin patches. There are plenty of places in Tennessee and North Georgia to pick apples of any and all varieties. I’m a fan of R&A Orchards in Ellijay, Ga. I came back last year with nearly two pecks of apples that I turned into applesauce and apple butter.

If shows and concerts are more your style, the Tivoli Theater has a fantastic schedule for the 2016-2017 season. If you’re looking for any special events, here’s what’s happening in Chattanooga now through the end of the season:

3 Sisters Bluegrass Festival – Sept. 30 – Oct. 1 // Two whole days of nothing but bluegrass, at Ross’s Landing right down by the Tennessee River. This year marks 10 years of the festival, and the lineup for this year can be found on their website. The best thing about 3 Sisters Bluegrass Festival: it’s completely free.

Wine Over Water – Oct. 1 // It’s exactly what it sounds like: a wine festival set overlooking the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga. This is one of the best things to do this fall in Chattanooga. Sample wines from over 100 wineries and taste food from some of the best local chefs. Are you a red or a white person?

Rock City’s Rocktoberfest – October 1-30 // One of Chattanooga’s iconic landmarks and attractions transforms into an autumnal paradise with fall foliage and all things German. There will be German food, beer, music, dancing, characters in costume and more to bring the true Oktoberfest spirit.

Autumn Children’s Festival – Oct. 1-2 // Want to get the kids out for a day of pony rides, face painting, carnival games and more fun? Get the family together for the Autumn Children’s Festival at the Tennessee Riverpark.

11 things to do in #Chattanooga this fall + a GIVEAWAY! Click To Tweet

Handcrafted Wishes – Oct. 7 // Here I am with my food and drink benefit events again! Spend an evening at the Hunter Museum of American Art tasting great local food and craft beer, playing some games, listening to live music, and best of all, giving back to the community. All proceeds from the event’s ticket sales and silent auction go toward the local Make a Wish Foundation chapter. Check out their website for more information about restaurants and breweries that will be there. Did I mention it’s on the rooftop of the Hunter Museum, overlooking the river and the bluff? Talk about a view. *This event is 21+ only.

Best Town (For)Ever – Oct. 14 // Did you know that Chattanooga was voted Outdoor Magazine’s Best Town Ever two years in a row? Well, it was. And it’s still awesome. We’re celebrating that again with live local music, delicious food, an outdoor expo and everything else that makes Chattanooga such a wonderful place. The festivities take place on the 700 block of Cherry Street on Oct. 14.

Cleveland Apple Festival – Oct. 15-16 // Speaking of apple picking, check out the Cleveland Apple Festival up in downtown Cleveland, Tenn., the weekend of October 15-16. Aside from apples galore, there will be an arts and crafts show, live music, food booths, hay rides, activities for the kids and more. All net proceeds from the festival will go toward other non-profit organizations in the Cleveland area.

Chattanooga Oktoberfest – Oct. 15-16 // Not to be confused with Rocktoberfest, of course. Who doesn’t love a good German celebration? This is Chattanooga’s premier Oktoberfest event, held at the First Tennessee Pavilion (where the Sunday farmer’s market is). It’s filled with German food, lots of beer (or bier, as the Germans say), music, dancing and good times. Prost!

Chattajack – Oct. 22 // Paddling up the Tennessee River for more than 30 miles? Sounds amazing. Or crazy, depends on your perspective. Whether you’re paddling or watching, this is one of Chattanooga’s biggest outdoor events of the year. I kind of really want to train for it for 2017. Maybe.

Head of the Hooch – Nov. 5-6 // Watch from one of Chattanooga’s bridges or along the banks of the river as hundreds of rowers race in the second largest regatta in the country. I’m a fan of just standing on the walking bridge and watching from above.

What are you excited for in #Chattanooga this fall? Click To Tweet

Main x 24 – Dec. 3-4 // Okay, so this is a bit past the fall, but it’s still one of the biggest events and most exciting things to do in Chattanooga. Mainx24 is a 24-hour festival that includes everything from food, to live music, to parades, to people in the streets and everything in between. There will be more than 100 events in the 24 hours, so there’s plenty of things to check out and experience. Plus, this year is the festival’s 10th anniversary, so if it’s not on your calendar already, it should be.

And that’s not all! I’m super excited for this giveaway: enter below for your chance to win two general admission tickets to Handcrafted Wishes on October 7 at the Hunter Art Museum! All you have to do is leave a meaningful comment on this post and you’re entered.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enter TODAY and stay tuned – the giveaway closes October 1 and a winner will be announced October 3!

There are tons of exciting and awesome things to do in Chattanooga this fall. Which events are you most excited for this fall?

I moved to Chattanooga halfway through last summer. Even though I saw and did a lot during the second half of the summer, there’s still a lot from the spring and early summer that I missed. Checking out local events calendars makes me giddy with excitement at how many big events are coming up this spring and summer.

Here are 9 upcoming Chattanooga events you should be super excited about!

I’m pumped for all of them. Seriously. My social calendar is going to be pretty full between now and the end of the summer.

Chattanooga Film Festival (March 31 – April 3) // Experience four days of independent films, from genres including biopics, action and adventure and everything in between. This is the festival’s third year running. The CFF is a great event for movie and film aficionados to get a glimpse at local filmmakers and their works, and to establish film as one part of Chattanooga’s growing art and culture scene. This year’s opening film is a Hank Williams biopic called “I Saw the Light.” Read more about some of the featured films here.

Taste 2016 (April 7) // Who doesn’t love a good food-tasting event? Guests at Taste can enjoy food and drink samples from some of the best dining in Chattanooga, while listening to local live music. But it’s not just a food-tasting event. Taste is a major benefit for the Chattanooga Kidney Foundation. Every penny raised through ticket sales stays in Chattanooga and goes toward patient services in town.

Restaurants in attendance this year include: 1885 Grill, FIVE, Chelsea’s on Thorton, Milk & Honey, FEED Co. and more!

taste 2013 — From Taste 2013, via Taste on Facebook.

taste chattanooga 2013 — From Taste 2013, via Taste on Facebook

4 Bridges Art Festival (April 16-17) // Each year, the Association of Visual Arts (AVA) puts on the 4 Bridges Art Festival to showcase local, regional and national artists, and to support and advance the visual arts in Chattanooga’s art scene. For two days, locals can come over to the Tennessee Pavilion and check out over 150 artists’ work, chat with artists themselves and purchase works straight from the makers. 4 Bridges has been named one of the “Prime 50” Fine Arts Fairs in the nation, so you know it’s going to be pretty awesome.

Jazzanooga (April 22-24) // Did you know that April is Jazz Appreciation Month? For the sixth year, Jazzanooga will celebrate jazz music and its impact on music in general, both in Chattanooga and beyond. Performers this year include Arturo O’Farrill, Christian McBride Trio, Julian Lage and more. Jazzanooga is much more than a music festival; it’s involved in the community through its Jazzanooga Youth Music Academy and weekly radio show. But for one weekend in April, it’s all jazz everything.

Mark your calendars for these 9 awesome #events coming to #Chattanooga this spring! Click To Tweet

Chattanooga Farmers Market (April 24) // One of my favorite things to do on Sundays is check out the farmer’s market. From fresh, organic produce, to delicious baked goods, to locally-made t-shirts, soaps and other gifts, I always find something to bring home. The fresh-cut flowers are always a nice touch to my apartment, too. Opening weekend is April 23-24. Check out the Chattanooga Market website to see a schedule of special events throughout the spring and summer!

Chattanooga FC Season (May – July 2016) // Okay, so it’s not a singular event, but the season is almost here! Going to a CFC game was one of the first things I did when I moved to Chattanooga last summer. I may be more of a casual soccer fan, but man I cannot wait until CFC games start back up again. Even if you’re not a soccer enthusiast, it’s still really fun to go to CFC games, watch the guys on the field–sorry, “soccer pitch”–and listen to the creative taunts from the Chattahooligans, CFC’s own hype crew. Maybe I’ll pick up more of the actual game rules and play this year?

Tennessee Whiskey Festival (May 21) // Tennessee is home to some of the nation’s best whiskey. Chattanooga celebrates that amazing whiskey and those that make it this May at the Tennessee Whiskey Festival. Guests can sample whiskey from around the state and region, enjoy food along with their spirits and try their feet at dancing (which may be difficult, depending on how many whiskey samples you’ve had). The whiskey festival benefits H*Art Gallery, a non-profit organization that provides outreach and support to other local non-profit organizations that offer art classes and art therapy to their clients. Ready to taste over whiskey from over 20 distilleries? I am.

Uncorked (May 21) // I love wine and I love music, so the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera’s Uncorked event was basically made for me. Uncorked is an evening of music, food, wine and a good time, all benefiting the CSO. I’m particularly excited for this one.

Hey #CHA, check out these 9 upcoming #events you should be excited about! Click To Tweet

Riverbend Music Festival (June 10-18) // Who knew Chattanooga had a whole week-long music festival with some pretty sweet headlining acts? Riverbend celebrates 35 years this June with a crazy awesome festival in store. This year’s acts include Thomas Rhett, Brett Eldredge, Heart, Hawk Nelson, .38 Special, REO Speedwagon, Salt & Pepa and more. And it all happens down on the Riverfront. It’s the perfect summertime event.

And of course that’s not all of the awesome events Chattanooga has to offer. I didn’t get even get to the rest of June, July and August. Hello Southern Brewers Festival!

There is so much to be excited about in Chattanooga this spring and summer. I know I’ll be attending as many of these events as I can. Which ones will you be at?

Want to see more of my adventures in Chattanooga and be a part of them? Follow me on Snapchat: @thekrobertson!

For more information on awesome upcoming events, check out ChattanoogaFun.com.

Here are 11 things to do in Chattanooga this fall!

Here are 9 upcoming Chattanooga events you should be super excited about!

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